Lake Ferry Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, checking in from the New Zealand region. We’ve got a long, bleak run ahead for most of the 16-day window. The only real standout is a big, powerful swell that rolls in right at the tail end, but it’s going to be a tough wait. The first week is basically a write-off, with strong southerly winds and messy, onshore conditions that just won’t let up. The crowds are always a possibility at Lake Ferry, but honestly, nobody’s going to be out there.

Lake Ferry is a sandbar setup, fairly consistent but exposed to the south. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild. From Wednesday the 8th through to the end of the second week, it’s a grim story. Surf quality is poor, with strong southerly winds gunking it up. Swell energy is moderate to strong (558 to 3904), but it’s all short-period, wind-driven chop. Thursday the 9th sees a 13ft swell from the south with a 9-second period, but it’s ugly, windy, and lumpy. Definitely not for beginners, and honestly, not even that appealing for experienced surfers in these conditions. There’s a tiny window on Saturday the 11th with a 4ft, very long-period (17 seconds) swell from the SSW, but the wind is cross-shore and the energy is moderate (761). On Sunday the 12th we get a bit of relief: a clean 3ft swell from the SSW with a 13-second period and light offshore winds from the NNE. It’s surfable, but the energy is weak (335). The next week is even worse, with tiny waves, some glassy conditions on Sunday the 19th but with a 1ft, 22-second period swell – that’s a very long period for a beach break, so it’ll likely break too straight.

Now, the standout. Don’t get too excited yet, but check the 21st of July. A massive 12ft, very long-period (16 seconds) swell from the south slams in, with glassy conditions on the Tuesday morning. The combined energy is enormous (6017). The problem? It’s predicted to be too big for this break. It’s a genuine expert-only proposition, and even then, you’d need to be very careful. The following day, Wednesday the 22nd, is the real gem. Lake Ferry cleans up with a 7ft swell from the south (12-second period) and offshore winds from the NNE. The energy is strong (1197), and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is the best on offer, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the forecast.

The second week is a real grind. A few small, clean waves on the 22nd and 23rd, but nothing to write home about. The setup is a sandbar, so with all that south swell and wind, it’s looking more like a kite-surfing session for most of the period. Stay patient, and don’t bank on the big day until it’s closer.

Rusty.

Read more