Surf Forecasts:
Lyall Bay surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 11s period, SSW swell with 7,716 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 13s 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 5.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 7s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 18ft (5.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, the kooks are in for a shock at Lyall Bay. That first pulse on Tuesday the 1st is legit solid, just too much for most. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is a touch warmer than we’d normally see for early spring, so you can get away with a thinner suit for the first session.
Tuesday morning the 1st is the standout, hands down. We’ve got a 10ft south swell rolling in with a lovely 12-second period and glassy easterly breeze. The energy is pumping at 2568, and those waves will be clean and lined up. Don't even think about it if you're not confident, this is big for the bay – over 8ft, so experts only. The wind swings northerly and goes offshore in the afternoon, and it actually jumps to 12ft with a longer 13-second period. The energy reading is massive at 4112, and it'll be clean. This is the best on offer, but it's a serious wave.
Wednesday the 2nd gets messy quick. The morning is still surfable at 7ft from the south with offshore winds, but the wind is howling at 19 mph, and it's tricky. The afternoon gets worse – a 8ft south swell but the wind is strong and cross-off, making it lumpy.
From Thursday the 3rd through to Monday the 7th, it’s dead. A long flat spell. Tiny, blown-out junk. Not worth paddling for. The wind is relentless and strong for days.
Tuesday the 8th brings another solid pulse, but again it’s big. A 10ft to 12ft south swell with a 11-second period. The wind is light cross-onshore, so it won't be perfect, but there's energy (2928). Still, it's too big for most.
Wednesday the 9th morning is a shout for the bold. We have a 10ft southeast swell with a 12-second period and a 16 mph offshore north wind. The energy is still huge at 2482, and it will be clean. But this is still well over the 8ft mark – for experienced chargers only.
Then we go into another quiet stretch with small, wind-affected waves through the end of the first week and into the second. The wind keeps ruining it.
Finally, we get a flicker of hope for Monday the 14th afternoon. A 8ft south-southwest swell, but the period is a short 7 seconds, which is usually junky. The wind is light offshore, so it'll be clean, but it's not the real deal.
The real long-range standout is Wednesday morning the 16th. This is two weeks out, so take it with a grain of salt, but the charts look promising. We have a solid 7ft south swell with a very long 14-second period combined with a moderate offshore NNE breeze at 16 mph. The energy will be over 1907. That long period will wrap into the bay beautifully, creating some powerful, walled-up waves. It’s listed as excellent for experienced surfers, so again, not for the learner crew. Keep an eye on this one.
That’s your lot for Lyall Bay. Big, clean, and serious at the start, then a long dry spell with a couple of big ones bookending it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, near gales from the NNW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the NW on Sat morning, near gales from the SSW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 7 | SSW 10 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2568 | 4112 | 2530 | 1609 | 2313 | 1070 | 480 | 266 | 146 | 33 | 26 | 28 | 40 | 120 | 82 | 50 | 51 | 84 | 1123 | 5541 | 5277 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 8:18PM1.56m | 8:38AM1.62m | 9:10PM1.59m | 9:27AM1.67m | 10:00PM1.61m | 10:16AM1.71m | 10:48PM1.62m | 11:08AM1.73m | 11:37PM1.62m | 12:02PM1.74m | 00:30AM1.61m | 12:56PM1.74m | 1:26AM1.59m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:06PM0.65m | 2:39AM0.67m | 3:02PM0.62m | 3:27AM0.63m | 3:55PM0.59m | 4:15AM0.59m | 4:46PM0.55m | 5:04AM0.55m | 5:36PM0.51m | 5:52AM0.51m | 6:25PM0.49m | 6:41AM0.48m | 7:15PM0.48m | ||||||||
6:46 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
Feels °C | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 1 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSW 7 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | — | — |
2568 | 4112 | 2530 | 1609 | 2313 | 1070 | 480 | 266 | 146 | 33 | 26 | 28 | 37 | 120 | 82 | 31 | 51 | 84 | 18 | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 17 | S 17 | SE 13 | — | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | N 14 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 9 | E 8 | ENE 10 | — | — |
— | — | 287 | 1491 | 7 | — | 5 | 5 | 6 | 30 | 24 | 21 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 50 | 17 | 1 | 18 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 15 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | SE 10 | — | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 7 | NW 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 10 | S 12 |
— | — | 25 | 18 | 67 | 172 | 171 | 476 | 275 | 966 | 165 | 113 | 94 | 54 | 207 | 494 | 882 | 145 | 1123 | 5541 | 5277 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 38 | 59 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 108 | 116 | 115 | 61 | 54 | 77 | 158 | 64 | 113 | 110 | 263 | 25 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Wellington | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











