Surf Forecasts:
Lake Ferry surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 15s period, S swell with 12,540 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lake Ferry this week:
The surf forecast for Lake Ferry over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lake Ferry in the next 16 days are 5.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lake Ferry over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get stuck into what's coming our way for Lake Ferry.
Straight up, the first week and a half is looking pretty grim. We've got a long stretch of near-flat, poor conditions that really isn't worth paddling out for. The real story here is a big pulse of swell that arrives mid-next week, but bring your big-wave board and be ready for some serious power.
Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th of August are nothing to write home about. Tiny swell, with heights around 2ft dropping to 1ft. The wind is offshore from the NE, which is the right direction for this sandbar, but the energy is weak (79 to 45 combined energy). It's just too small to get excited about. Friday 14th is glassy but even smaller at 0.7ft, so forget it.
The whole weekend into the start of next week is a write-off. The swell gets messy on Sunday 16th with a 10ft S’ly swell, but it’s short period at 8 seconds and the wind is a strong cross-onshore 12 mph from the S, making it a choppy, onshore mess. Not a good time.
Now, Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th show a bit more size, but the conditions are marginal with onshore winds. There's some energy building but it's not clean.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday 19th of August is the standout, but it’s a beast. A massive 15ft S groundswell hits the sandbar, with a long 16-second period. The combined energy is a huge 10468. The wind is light and variable, clean, but this swell is simply too big for most at Lake Ferry. This one is for the experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a battle. Thursday 20th is your best bet if you're looking for something big but manageable. The swell drops to a still-chunky 7ft from the S with a 12-second period. The wind goes offshore from the NNE in the morning (3 mph), then glassy in the afternoon. This is excellent, heavy surf for experienced surfers. Expect a lot of water moving around.
After that, Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd still have decent S’ly swell (5ft to 6ft, with long periods up to 18 seconds) but the wind gets strong from the NNW, making it a cross-offshore mess. Still plenty of energy, but it won’t be as clean.
The last few days of the forecast, from Sunday 23rd onward, the swell fades back down to flat, poor conditions as the wind swings onshore again from the SSW.
So, for the whole 16-day window, there's nothing for beginners. For the experienced crew, Thursday 20th of August is your day. Clean, solid 7ft to 7ft S’ly swell with good period and glassy to offshore wind. It will be big and powerful, likely keeping the crowds to a minimum. The 19th is for the insane crew who want to charge massive, clean walls.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Sun afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sat night, calm by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 8 | SSE 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 7 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SSW 15 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 9 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 49 | 33 | 29 | 17 | 7 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 46 | 88 | 972 | 1055 | 488 | 147 | 387 | 575 | 281 | 147 | 810 | 5234 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:05PM1.45m | 4:29AM1.28m | 5:01PM1.44m | 5:26AM1.28m | 5:57PM1.41m | 6:23AM1.27m | 6:53PM1.37m | 7:20AM1.26m | 7:49PM1.32m | 8:16AM1.25m | 8:43PM1.26m | 9:11AM1.24m | 9:36PM1.22m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:44AM-0.02m | 10:28PM0.03m | 10:42AM-0.03m | 11:26PM0.02m | 11:41AM-0.02m | 00:22AM0.03m | 12:40PM0.00m | 1:17AM0.04m | 1:38PM0.03m | 2:11AM0.06m | 2:34PM0.07m | 3:02AM0.09m | 3:29PM0.11m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | |  | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SSW 4 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SE 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 7 | SSW 15 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 12 | S 9 | — |
| kJ | 49 | 23 | 29 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 46 | 88 | 7 | 128 | 120 | 147 | 387 | 575 | 281 | 113 | 390 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSE 10 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 12 | SSW 12 | SE 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SE 13 | SSW 12 | — |
| kJ | 21 | 33 | 14 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 24 | 6 | 85 | 9 | 233 | 195 | 7 | 57 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | S 15 | S 19 | SW 18 | S 8 | SSW 16 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSW 15 | E 11 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ENE 9 | S 19 | SSW 15 | E 8 | SE 15 | SE 14 | — | S 16 | — |
| kJ | 9 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 24 | 7 | 8 | 21 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 128 | 1 | 8 | 8 | — | 5 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | E 6 | — | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 3 | — | SSW 3 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | S 8 | S 8 | — | S 7 | — | — | S 8 | S 9 | S 12 |
| kJ | 4 | 71 | — | 4 | 8 | 1 | — | 4 | 6 | 1 | 63 | 972 | 1055 | 488 | — | 239 | — | — | 147 | 810 | 5234 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 10 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 34 | 106 | 164 | 112 | 112 | 106 | 64 | 23 | 91 | 91 | 130 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Lake Ferry Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Lake Ferry provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Lake Ferry can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Lake Ferry surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Lake Ferry) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Lake Ferry may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Lake Ferry is 28 km (17 miles) from Lower Hutt. If you plan a holiday in The Wairarapa, look for hotels and other accommodation in Lower Hutt. Lower Hutt has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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