Lyall Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.33° S 174.80° E

Lyall Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 12 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Lyall Bay sea temperature is
11.8° C
0.5° 

Lyall Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Lyall Bay surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,512 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 15s period with ESE 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 Thursday (Jul 16) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Lyall Bay in the next 16 days are 1.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Thu 16th Jul)1ft (0.3m) 15s
Best Surf 9AM (Fri 17th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 14s
Most Powerful12PM (Fri 17th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.


G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve got the outlook for Lyall Bay – and to be honest, it’s a bit of a slow burn before we get to the good stuff.

The next week or so is pretty flat and uninspiring. The first recommendation isn’t until the afternoon of 12 July, and it’s just 3ft SSW swell with a middling 11-second period and weak wave energy (224). Northerly offshore wind keeps it clean, but the overall quality is very ordinary. That’s followed by a string of days with tiny swell – we’re talking 0.6ft to 2ft for most of the 13th through the 16th. The morning of the 16th does go glassy with a light SE breeze, but with only 1ft ESE swell and 14-second period, it’s more of a longboard float than a proper surf.

The real spark appears on 17 July. Friday morning has 3ft ESE swell (341 energy), and by Friday afternoon it’s building to 3ft from the ESE with a 16-second period and 457 energy. Moderate offshore northerlies at 20 km/h keep it clean. This is the first true standout – a small but tidy groundswell for the experienced crew on the log.

Then from 18 July, things get messy. Saturday is all onshore gunk, with 3ft and then 5ft S swell but hammered by 45 km/h southerlies. Not worth paddling out.

The next real highlight arrives 20 July. Monday morning sees 6ft SSW swell (1234 energy) with light NW cross-offshore wind, but Monday afternoon is the pick of the whole run: 6ft S swell (1646 energy), 17-second period, glassy conditions with a light west breeze. That’s excellent surf for experienced surfers – big, clean lines, long period. This is your target session. The water temp sits at 12°C, about normal for the time of year.

Tuesday 21 July is still very good. Morning has 4ft S swell (1226 energy) and NE cross-offshore, while the afternoon goes glassy with 4ft S swell and a 12-second period. Clean, fun, and manageable for a wider range of surfers.

From 22 July onward, the quality drops. The 23rd and 24th are dominated by strong onshore winds and short-period SE windswell – ugly. By 25 July, there’s a massive 12ft S swell (1942 energy) with 8-second period, but that’s simply too big for Lyall Bay and better suited to experts on a bigger, more exposed set-up. The light NW cross-offshore on the 25th afternoon doesn’t help the dump factor. The last few days into 27 July fade back to small, ordinary surf with 2ft easterly swell and generally poor conditions.

So, bottom line: the best surf on offer is the afternoon of 20 July with that glassy 6ft S groundswell, and the afternoon of 17 July for a smaller, clean ESE pulse. Don’t bother before that unless you’re desperate for a 1ft glass-off.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon night, min 7°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Sun night, strong winds from the NW by Tue afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed night, min 8°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Wed night, calm by Thu night).

Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sun
19
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
4
4
3
0
0
3
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
S
10
0.4
SSW
13
0.6
S
13
0.4
SSW
12
0.3
SSW
9
0.2
SSW
9
0.2
E
13
0.2
SSW
16
0.2
SSW
16
0.2
SSW
15
0.2
SSW
15
0.3
ESE
16
0.5
ESE
16
1.7
SSW
14
1.8
SSW
14
1.4
SSW
11
0.9
ESE
15
0.9
ESE
14
0.8
SSW
21
0.9
SSW
20
1.4
S
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
100
53
119
47
16
7
14
26
24
22
23
50
147
1223
1251
478
372
352
599
667
977
Wind (km/h)
30
N
35
NNW
40
NNW
40
N
40
NNW
45
NW
40
NNW
35
NNW
40
NNW
40
NNW
15
NW
20
N
10
ENE
15
N
25
N
5
WNW
40
S
30
SSE
20
N
40
NNW
25
NNW
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
glassy
on
on
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
3:01AM1.65m
3:22PM1.83m
4:01AM1.66m
4:20PM1.85m
5:00AM1.65m
5:20PM1.84m
5:59AM1.65m
6:20PM1.81m
6:57AM1.65m
7:19PM1.77m
7:54AM1.65m
8:17PM1.73m
8:48AM1.66m
Low Tide
9:05AM0.55m
9:44PM0.53m
10:06AM0.51m
10:48PM0.52m
11:06AM0.48m
11:52PM0.50m
12:05PM0.45m
00:53AM0.49m
1:04PM0.44m
1:50AM0.49m
2:02PM0.46m
2:44AM0.51m
3:01PM0.49m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
light rain
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:43
7:43
7:43
7:41
7:41
7:41
7:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:08
5:08
5:09
5:10
5:12
5:13
5:13
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
9
12
12
13
13
13
13
13
13
14
13
12
11
11
11
11
9
9
7
11
11
Feels °C
2
4
5
6
6
5
5
7
6
7
10
7
9
6
6
8
-1
1
-1
4
6
  • 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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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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