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Surf Forecasts:

Lighthouse Reef surfForecast / Canterbury / New Zealand

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 pm Tuesday 27 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
16.6° C
 (Which is 2.4°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 Wednesday (Jan 28) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Lighthouse Reef in the next 12 days are 0.9m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jan 27) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Feb 03) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Wed 28th Jan)2.5ft (0.7m) 9s
Best Surf 1AM (Wed 28th Jan)2.5ft (0.7m) 9s
Most Powerful 7PM (Tue 27th Jan)3ft (0.9m) 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 Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Thu afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
27
Wednesday
28
Thursday
29
Friday
30
Saturday
31
Sunday
01
Monday
02
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.9
SSE
0.9
SSE
0.7
SE
0.6
SE
0.4
ESE
0.3
ESE
0.3
ESE
0.3
ESE
0.7
SE
0.2
SSE
0.3
SSE
0.3
E
0.3
E
0.3
E
0.3
SSE
0.2
E
0.2
SSE
1.1
ENE
0.5
E
0.3
E
0.3
ENE
Period(s) (?)1010991111111061313111011131185666
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)1711688459392322203717352119203397691666
Wind
(km/h)
5
SW
5
SE
5
WNW
15
NNE
15
E
10
NNW
10
N
5
S
10
NE
20
NE
20
ENE
0
W
10
SE
20
NE
10
N
5
SE
15
ENE
10
N
10
N
15
NNE
10
NNW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off		onglasscrosscross-
on		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
on		crosscrosscross-
on		glassoncross-
on		cross-
off		glasscross-
on		cross-
off		cross-
off		crosscross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
10:32AM
2.05
11:33PM
2.19
11:34AM
2.12
12:31AM
2.30
12:39PM
2.23
1:25AM
2.41
1:38PM
2.35
2:22AM
2.50
2:31PM
2.43
3:23AM
2.56
3:19PM
2.46
4:24AM
2.59
4:08PM
2.42
Low Tide
/ height (m)
4:58PM
0.63
5:37AM
0.86
5:56PM
0.64
6:45AM
0.82
6:55PM
0.65
7:42AM
0.74
7:53PM
0.62
8:33AM
0.68
8:49PM
0.56
9:23AM
0.67
9:42PM
0.50
10:14AM
0.69
10:34PM
0.47
Tuesday
27
Wednesday
28
Thursday
29
Friday
30
Saturday
31
Sunday
01
Monday
02
Sunrise6:24--6:24--6:26--6:28--6:30--6:31--6:33--
Sunset-9:08--9:07--9:07--9:06--9:05--9:04--9:02-
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
1--------------------
Temp. °C131413181917222314141414131414161715252522
Feels °C (?)121312161717192211101013111111141515232321
  • 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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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:
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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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