Surf Forecasts:
Lighthouse Reef surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSE swell with 559 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lighthouse Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Lighthouse Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lighthouse Reef in the next 16 days are 1.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 11s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lighthouse Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's chew the fat on Lighthouse Reef for the next couple weeks.
Gotta be honest, the first week is a tough slog. We're kicking off with nada on Tuesday the 8th; it's tiny 0.7ft dribble. From then until Thursday morning the 10th, it's just not worth getting the wetsuit on.
Finally, Thursday morning the 10th gives us a pulse. Swell comes up to 4ft from the SSW. The energy is still low (153), and the period is a short 6 seconds, so it's not going to win any prizes, but the wind is a light cross-offshore making it clean. It's surfable but very ordinary. The afternoon goes to hell with rain and strong onshore winds, so hit the morning session.
Friday the 11th is a bit of a head-scratcher. The swell drops to 1ft, but the period stretches out to a very long 18 seconds. That's proper groundswell, but on a beach and reef setup, those long lines can wall up. The morning is clean, but the real gem is Friday afternoon with glassy conditions. The energy is low (89), but a glassy afternoon on a long-period swell is a rare score. It's tiny, but it'd be silky smooth.
Now, the real standout. Saturday morning the 12th is the best of the whole forecast. The swell is a solid 3ft from the SSE with a long 17-second period. The combined energy is a strong 486, and with a light offshore wind from the NW, it'll be clean. For an advanced break like this, that's the session to circle. The water is a touch warmer than average for this time of year, which is a nice bonus.
Sunday morning the 13th is another good shout, with similar 3ft swell and a clean offshore breeze, though the energy drops to 282. Still a solid session.
The second week gets sketchy. There's a pulse of energy on Thursday the 17th with 3ft swell and 408 energy, but the wind is a moderate cross-offshore, making it only marginal. The long-range outlook is mostly small, with the best chance of a clean wave being Saturday morning the 19th, with 2ft swell and 293 energy under a cross-offshore breeze. But that's a promise from a week and a half out, so don't book the time off yet.
Overall, it's a slow start, but Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th are your best bets. Get out there for the clean morning windows.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 3°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Fri afternoon, min 4°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 6 | SSE 19 | SE 18 | SE 18 | SE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SE 16 | SE 13 | SSE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 55 | 97 | 36 | 83 | 78 | 75 | 162 | 481 | 475 | 558 | 249 | 212 | 144 | 140 | 99 | 50 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 1:00AM2.46m | 1:30PM2.44m | 1:51AM2.47m | 2:32PM2.43m | 2:42AM2.44m | 3:26PM2.37m | 3:36AM2.41m | 4:12PM2.26m | 4:30AM2.36m | 4:52PM2.13m | 5:19AM2.31m | 5:30PM2.03m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:45PM0.53m | 7:11AM0.58m | 7:34PM0.51m | 8:05AM0.48m | 8:24PM0.51m | 8:59AM0.43m | 9:15PM0.53m | 9:55AM0.43m | 10:05PM0.54m | 10:49AM0.47m | 10:52PM0.55m | 11:38AM0.54m | 11:37PM0.58m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 8 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 5 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | E 4 | E 4 | E 9 | E 9 | S 5 | E 8 | SSE 5 | SE 18 | SE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SE 16 | SE 13 | SSE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 55 | 20 | 21 | 15 | 78 | 75 | 162 | 481 | 475 | 558 | 249 | 212 | 144 | 140 | 99 | 50 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 10 | SE 8 | SE 13 | E 8 | SSE 19 | SE 18 | SSE 5 | E 8 | S 6 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | SSE 18 | E 13 | SE 17 | E 12 | E 12 | — |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 32 | 36 | 83 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 3 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 8 | SE 8 | S 18 | S 17 | SSE 16 | E 16 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 4 | E 8 | NE 7 | — | S 22 | E 13 | E 10 | E 12 | — | — | E 12 |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 9 | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ENE 4 | — | SSW 6 | SSE 5 | — | — | — | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 3 | — | 97 | 22 | — | — | — | 151 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 136 | 162 | 113 | 136 | 1 | 0 | 141 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 155 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Lighthouse Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Lighthouse Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Lighthouse Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Lighthouse Reef 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 (Lighthouse Reef) 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 Lighthouse Reef 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.
Lighthouse Reef is 4 km (2 miles) from the city of Timaru. If you plan a holiday in Canterbury, look for hotels and other accommodation in Timaru. Timaru has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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