Lyall Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.33° S 174.80° E

Lyall Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 19 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Lyall Bay sea temperature is
12.0° C
0.4° 

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 19 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 8s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 19s period, S swell with 4,097 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s 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 (Jul 21) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 16s 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 Lyall Bay in the next 16 days are 2.4m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Tue 21st Jul)7ft (2.1m) 16s
Best Surf12AM (Sun 26th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 8s
Most Powerful 3PM (Mon 20th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 19s

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


The Lowdown

Imperial

Alright, you landlocked dreamers, let’s talk about our lineup. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a slow dance, but there’s one morning that’s got my heart racing.

The real gem is coming up on Tuesday morning, July 21st. A S swell pushing 6ft, with a 14-second period that’ll have some real heft, and a clean offshore N wind. The combined energy is a solid 1112. That’s the one to call in sick for.

We kick off Monday morning the 20th at Lyall Bay with a S swell at 6ft, but it’s cross-on from the SE at 10 km/h. The energy is pumping (1894), but the wind is making it a bit of a battle. That afternoon, it gets bigger to 8ft from the S with a massive 19-second period – that’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is huge (4152), but the wind is onshore from the SSE at 15 km/h, so it’s messy.

Now, Tuesday morning the 21st is the one. 6ft of S swell, a 14-second period, and a clean offshore N wind at 15 mph. The energy is a solid 1112. It’s going to be a bit of a paddle, but the waves will be clean and lined up. Tuesday afternoon drops to 5ft, still with the offshore wind, and the energy is 813. It’s going to be a good, long session.

Wednesday morning the 22nd is a glassy little gem. The swell drops to 4ft from the S, but the wind is absolutely glassy at 0 mph. The energy is weak (327), but the conditions will be silky smooth. It’s a small wave cruiser, perfect for a log. That afternoon, the wind goes onshore and the swell drops to 2ft, so that’s it.

Then we hit a dead zone. From Thursday the 23rd all the way to Wednesday the 30th, it’s mostly a bust. Swell is tiny, wind is howling offshore at times but too strong to paddle into, or the waves are just too small. The energy values are all under 250, which is weak. There’s a big spike on Sunday the 26th with a massive 15ft S swell, but it’s cross-on from the SSW at 25 mph, and the forecast says "poor surf conditions" – that’s a washing machine for experts only.

The next potential highlight is way out on Monday, July 27th. The forecast shows a 12ft S swell with a 10-second period, and a clean offshore NNW wind at 9 mph. The combined energy is very strong (3021). The finder says it’s predicted to be too big for this break, so this is strictly for the big wave chargers. It’s a long-range call, so don’t book the day off yet, but it’s a promising one.

The following week, from Wednesday the 29th on, the swell shifts to the ESE. Sizes are smaller, around 4ft, and the wind is strong offshore. It’s clean, but you’ll be fighting the wind. The energy is weak to moderate (606 to 540). There’s a small window on Saturday, August 1st, with glassy conditions and a tiny 1ft to 2ft SE swell, but the energy is very weak (162). It’s surfable, but not much to write home about.

The very end of the forecast, Sunday, August 2nd, sees a return of SSW swell, 8ft with a 10-second period, and a cross-off NNW wind at 19 mph. The energy is moderate (2575). It’s another one for the logbook, but not a standout.

Water temp is about average for this time of year. Nothing wild.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue night, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu night, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, strong winds from the NNW by Fri morning).

Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
3
4
3
2
2
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
S
14
1.8
S
14
2.4
S
19
2.1
S
16
1.7
S
14
1.5
S
13
1.3
S
12
1.1
S
12
0.7
SSW
12
0.5
SSW
12
0.4
SSW
12
0.4
SSW
9
0.3
SSW
9
0.3
S
9
0.2
SSE
9
0.2
SSW
15
0.3
SSW
16
0.4
SSW
14
3.5
SSW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1373
1225
4097
2316
1081
782
488
316
152
83
57
29
15
14
8
21
47
61
1799
Wind (km/h)
20
SSE
10
SE
15
SSE
5
NE
25
N
25
N
15
N
0
WSW
15
S
5
NE
30
N
40
N
40
NNW
50
NNW
45
NNW
40
NNW
10
SSW
35
NW
5
NNW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
on
glassy
off
off
off
glassy
on
glassy
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
glassy
High Tide
9:14PM1.69m
9:40AM1.66m
10:08PM1.66m
10:31AM1.66m
10:58PM1.63m
11:21AM1.65m
11:46PM1.60m
12:11PM1.63m
00:31AM1.58m
12:59PM1.62m
1:17AM1.54m
1:44PM1.61m
2:04AM1.51m
Low Tide
3:37AM0.53m
3:59PM0.54m
4:27AM0.57m
4:53PM0.58m
5:15AM0.61m
5:45PM0.63m
6:00AM0.65m
6:33PM0.67m
6:43AM0.70m
7:19PM0.71m
7:24AM0.73m
8:03PM0.73m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
clear
thunderstorm
clear
light rain
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:39
7:39
7:37
7:37
7:35
7:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:16
5:17
5:19
 mm
3
1
1
23
Temp °C
9
10
10
9
9
9
11
11
11
10
11
12
13
12
12
11
10
10
11
Feels °C
4
6
6
7
3
3
8
8
8
8
4
4
5
3
4
3
6
1
3
  • Map Icons:
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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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