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Surf Forecasts:

Lighthouse Reef surfForecast / Canterbury / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 pm Friday 09 Jan 2026 NZDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Lighthouse Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Lighthouse Reef sea temperature is
18.3° C
 (Which is 4.7°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lighthouse Reef this week:

The surf forecast for Lighthouse Reef over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Jan 12) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Lighthouse Reef in the next 12 days are 1.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jan 13) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 7s period and expected on Monday (Jan 12) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Mon 12th Jan)2.5ft (0.8m) 6s
Best Surf 4AM (Mon 12th Jan)2.5ft (0.8m) 6s
Most Powerful 4PM (Tue 13th Jan)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lighthouse Reef over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 25°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sun morning, calm by Sun night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Fri
09
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.6
SE
0.5
SE
0.5
NE
0.2
SSE
0.2
E
0.4
ENE
0.2
ENE
0.2
SSE
0.9
SSE
0.6
SSE
0.8
SE
0.6
SE
1.1
SSE
0.5
SE
0.4
SE
0.5
E
0.7
SSE
0.7
ESE
0.6
ESE
1
ESE
0.5
ESE
Period(s) (?)4745465157121110101010844554
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)1122622132227394137822404925291618204911
Wind
(km/h)
15
ENE
10
N
5
NNE
15
NW
30
NNW
5
NW
40
NW
25
S
20
NNE
25
ENE
20
NNE
5
S
20
ESE
10
NW
10
N
25
SE
20
SE
15
SE
15
SE
10
SE
15
SSW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on		cross-
off		crossoffcross-
off		cross-
off		offcross-
on		cross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
off		glassonoffcross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		oncross-
on		cross
High Tide
/ height (m)
9:34PM
2.00
9:58AM
2.03
10:35PM
1.94
10:53AM
1.95
11:31PM
1.93
11:50AM
1.93
12:20AM
1.97
12:44PM
1.96
1:02AM
2.01
1:27PM
2.01
1:42AM
2.06
2:01PM
2.07
2:22AM
2.10
Low Tide
/ height (m)
3:31AM
0.80
4:01PM
0.76
4:28AM
0.84
5:01PM
0.75
5:31AM
0.83
5:55PM
0.74
6:32AM
0.78
6:44PM
0.74
7:23AM
0.74
7:29PM
0.73
8:06AM
0.73
8:11PM
0.72
8:44AM
0.76
Fri
09
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Sunrise--6:01--6:03--6:03--6:05--6:07--6:07--6:09
Sunset9:21--9:21--9:20--9:20--9:19--9:19--9:17--
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
Rain (mm)
-----2262-------114131
Temp. °C161525252323201515151415161519151312121314
Feels °C (?)141324231817139111011121313161110991212
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Latest Updates

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Discover more articles and updates in the Greenroom.

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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Lighthouse Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for Lighthouse Reef at:
surf-forecast.com

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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 12 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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