Surf Forecasts:
Lyall Bay surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 7s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, SSW swell with 4,417 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lyall Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lyall Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Lyall Bay is off to a slow start, so don’t rush down just yet.
Sunday the 6th is a total loss – 25+ mph cross-off winds and tiny, weak swell. Monday the 7th sees a size increase but it’s lumpy and cross-onshore. Tuesday the 8th is glassy with a 2ft south swell, but the energy is low (123). A few long-period lines at 10 seconds will offer clean, small waves for a patient surfer.
Wednesday the 9th morning has a clean offshore breeze and 2ft from the south. Tiny, but rideable. The rest of the week is small and ordinary until Friday the 11th morning, when a very long 19-second SSW groundswell pushes in at 2ft, with offshore NNW winds and moderate energy (523). That long period can make the beach break a bit straight, but the offshore wind will keep things tidy.
The first real standout is Saturday the 12th afternoon. The wind goes light offshore from the NNW, and the swell builds to 6ft from the SSW at 11 seconds, with energy climbing to 1094. Clean, punchy waves for most. Crowds are possible here.
Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th go big – swell over 10ft, too large for Lyall Bay. Expert-only territory. Tuesday the 15th is the pick of the run: both sessions have offshore north winds, a solid 6-6ft S swell at 12 seconds, and energy around 988. Clean, powerful, and well-shaped.
After that, strong winds return. The 16th is messy, the 17th brings a huge 13ft onshore mess. Friday the 18th morning is marginal with a clean offshore look at 7ft, but quality is questionable. From the 19th onward, it’s mostly blown out or too big, with strong offshore winds making it hard work.
Water temp is about average for the season.
Keep your eyes on the 12th and 15th – those are your windows.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 43mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NNW on Sun afternoon, calm by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, strong winds from the NNW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 10 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 6 | SSW 19 | S 18 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 72 | 201 | 133 | 90 | 574 | 285 | 102 | 90 | 79 | 51 | 34 | 33 | 23 | 18 | 104 | 379 | 283 | 167 | 381 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 11:37PM1.62m | 12:02PM1.74m | 00:30AM1.61m | 12:56PM1.74m | 1:26AM1.59m | 1:52PM1.74m | 2:24AM1.58m | 2:48PM1.72m | 3:22AM1.57m | 3:46PM1.70m | 4:19AM1.57m | 4:43PM1.67m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:52AM0.51m | 6:25PM0.49m | 6:41AM0.48m | 7:15PM0.48m | 7:33AM0.47m | 8:07PM0.49m | 8:30AM0.47m | 9:03PM0.51m | 9:29AM0.47m | 10:02PM0.55m | 10:29AM0.49m | 11:04PM0.59m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 30 | 7 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | ESE 8 | S 8 | SSW 14 | S 20 | S 7 | S 8 | SSW 17 |
| kJ | 72 | 201 | 133 | 147 | 16 | 43 | 96 | 90 | 79 | 51 | 34 | 33 | 23 | 11 | 104 | 30 | 240 | 149 | 381 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 9 | — | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NNW 6 | SSW 19 | S 18 | NW 18 |
| kJ | 4 | 3 | — | 48 | 47 | 21 | 21 | 33 | 27 | 17 | 22 | 23 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 283 | 167 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | — | — | N 16 | — | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | S 19 | S 18 | SSW 14 | S 22 | E 8 | NW 19 | NW 18 | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | 5 | — | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 18 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 13 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | SSW 10 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | SSW 6 | — | NW 4 | WNW 6 |
| kJ | 260 | 431 | 467 | 90 | 574 | 285 | 102 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 299 | 287 | 81 | 379 | — | 23 | 145 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 77 | 126 | 108 | 108 | 59 | 59 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 77 | 77 | 0 | 59 | 0 | 110 | 116 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Wellington | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Lyall Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Lyall Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Lyall Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Lyall Bay 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 (Lyall Bay) 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 Lyall Bay 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.
Lyall Bay is 6 km (4 miles) from the city of Wellington. If you plan a holiday in Wellington, look for hotels and other accommodation in Wellington. Wellington has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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