Lyall Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.33° S 174.80° E

Lyall Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 14 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Lyall Bay sea temperature is
13.1°C
1.0° 

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 14 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, SSW swell with 1,512 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period with S 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 11s period. 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 1.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 7s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Mon 14th Sep)5ft (1.5m) 11s
Best Surf 9PM (Mon 14th Sep)5ft (1.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 6AM (Mon 21st Sep)5.5ft (1.7m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s run through what’s in store for Lyall Bay. The start is a bit slow, but there’s some decent swell lined up. This covers the next 16 days, and the first real chance to get wet is Monday the 14th of September.

Monday morning the 14th is the kick-off. Swell is 6ft out of the south with a 12-second period, giving a moderate combined energy (911). The wind is light offshore from the north, so it’s glassy – expect very good conditions. Water temp is 55°, right around average for this time of year. By Monday afternoon, the swell drops to 5ft, still south, period 11 seconds, and the wind stays light offshore – still good surf but a little smaller.

Tuesday the 15th fades to 3ft with a 10-second period, and the wind picks up to 15 mph from the north, offshore but cranking. It’s clean but tiny – poor surf. Wednesday and Thursday stay small and blowy, with near-gale winds, so nothing worthwhile.

Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th are still rough. Saturday morning has a brief window with 2ft south-southwest swell, 14-second period, offshore wind, and moderate combined energy (352) – clean but barely knee-high. Not worth a paddle.

The standout arrives Monday the 21st of September. Morning swell jumps to 6ft out of the south-southwest with a very long 15-second period, and the combined energy is strong (1499). Wind is offshore from the north-northwest at 22 mph – fresh offshore, clean lines, but stiff. This is groundswell, so expect good shape with longer lulls, better suited to points or reefs around here.

Wednesday the 23rd of September is for experts only. Swell hits a huge 13ft out of the south with a short 9-second period – combined energy is massive (2924). That’s too big for Lyall Bay, and the data says the same. Wind is cross-offshore and clean, but only big-wave specialists should even think about it.

Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th settle down a bit. Thursday morning has 7ft south swell with 14-second period and strong offshore wind – combined energy strong (1887). It’s still big but more manageable. Friday morning brings 5ft from the south, 12-second period, moderate offshore wind, and good surf expected – clean and solid.

The best stretch comes Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th of September. Monday afternoon sees 5ft south swell (10-second period) with gentle offshore wind from the north-northwest – combined energy moderate (857) and very good conditions. Tuesday morning the 29th is the pick: 6ft south swell, 12-second period, light offshore from the north, combined energy moderate (844), and the call is “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s the one – clean, consistent, and not too crowded.

So the first week has a few bright spots, notably the 14th and the standout on the 21st. The second week gets better from the 24th onward, with Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th being the real gems. Long-range stuff is always a bit iffy, but this looks promising.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Mon afternoon, near gales from the NNW by Wed morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Thu night, calm by Fri night).

Mon
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
0
1
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
S
11
1.1
S
11
0.8
SSW
10
0.7
S
9
0.5
S
8
0.4
SSW
9
0.3
SE
11
0.3
SE
10
0.3
SSW
15
0.3
SSW
14
1.6
S
6
2.1
S
7
1.4
S
6
0.7
SE
11
0.8
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
11
0.5
SSW
10
1.3
S
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
655
275
128
85
36
25
19
18
42
36
190
384
163
128
280
281
192
66
57
293
Wind (km/h)
10
NNW
20
N
30
N
35
N
40
N
50
NNW
50
NW
40
NNW
35
N
35
NNW
30
S
30
S
5
W
10
N
10
N
25
NW
5
WNW
25
SSE
30
SSE
15
N
Wind State
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
on
on
glassy
off
off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
off
High Tide
7:30PM1.60m
7:56AM1.64m
8:22PM1.59m
8:44AM1.64m
9:11PM1.58m
9:31AM1.63m
9:57PM1.57m
10:16AM1.61m
10:39PM1.55m
11:00AM1.58m
11:20PM1.52m
11:43AM1.56m
00:00AM1.49m
Low Tide
1:46AM0.67m
2:16PM0.63m
2:35AM0.69m
3:10PM0.66m
3:22AM0.70m
3:59PM0.68m
4:08AM0.72m
4:45PM0.68m
4:51AM0.72m
5:28PM0.67m
5:31AM0.72m
6:07PM0.67m
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
mod rain
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:20
6:18
6:16
6:16
6:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:07
6:08
6:09
6:10
6:12
6:13
6:14
 mm
8
1
Temp °C
12
11
12
13
12
13
13
13
13
13
9
10
10
10
13
14
13
11
10
11
Feels °C
10
8
6
6
4
3
3
5
6
6
1
5
7
5
8
9
12
6
4
5
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  • 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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