
Surf Forecasts:
Lyall Bay surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, S swell with 2,934 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s 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 08) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at what Lyall Bay has got cookin' for us over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days are pretty ordinary, with tiny waves and less-than-ideal conditions. But don’t you worry, because the real action kicks off later in the week. The water’s sitting at 57°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so you might get away with a slightly thinner wetsuit.
Tuesday the 8th is building but not much to write home about. We’ve got a 2ft south swell, but it’s all over the place with the energy only reaching 115 (weak). The morning is glassy, which is a blessing, but the waves are just too small and weak to get excited about. It’s a knee-slapper, not a stand-out.
Wednesday the 9th is more of the same, with a tiny 2ft swell from the ESE. The morning is clean with a light offshore breeze, but the swell energy is even lower at 73. It’s a paddle-around session, not a surf session.
Thursday the 10th is a write-off. The swell drops to a pathetic 0.7ft, and the wind is howling from the NW at 22 mph. On top of that, heavy rain moves in during the afternoon. Just stay home and watch the cams.
Now, Friday the 11th is where it starts to get interesting. That morning, we get a clean 6ft south swell, with the energy jumping up to 447 (moderate). The wind is glassy from the WNW. This is your first real window of opportunity. The waves will have some punch, but the period is short at 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and sectiony. Still, for a quick session, it’s the best we’ve seen.
Saturday the 12th is a tale of two halves. The morning is messy with a cross-onshore wind, but the afternoon... whoa. The swell jumps to a massive 10ft from the south, and the energy goes ballistic at 2439 (strong). The wind goes light offshore from the north, making it look clean. But here’s the catch – 10ft is a lot of water for Lyall Bay. This is strictly for experts only. The break is a beach break, and with that much south swell, it’s going to be a heavy, moving wall of water. If you’re not a seasoned local, stay on the sand and watch the show.
Sunday the 13th hangs in there with a solid 7ft south swell (energy 1691), but it’s onshore in the morning and cross-onshore in the arvo. The conditions are marginal, but the swell is there for anyone brave enough to deal with the chop.
Monday the 14th is a bit of a mixed bag. The morning is still cross-onshore and messy, but the afternoon is a beauty. The wind swings light offshore from the NW, and the swell is a solid 7ft from the south, with energy at 855. The period is a moderate 10 seconds. This is your second-best option of the whole forecast. The waves will be powerful and clean, but at 7ft, it’s still a bit big for beginners. For the experienced crew, this is a proper session.
After that, the swell tapers off through the rest of the second week. Tuesday the 15th has a 5ft south swell, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph offshore, which will make it bumpy. It’s surfable, but not a standout.
The real standout of the entire forecast, if you’re an expert, is Thursday the 17th. The afternoon sees a crazy 16ft south swell, with energy at a monstrous 6482. This is a big, serious swell. The wind is cross-offshore from the WNW, which will keep it reasonably clean. But this is a beast. At 16ft, Lyall Bay will be a washing machine. Only the most experienced, big-wave chargers should even think about it. The rest of us will be watching from the cliffs.
The final days from the 18th onward are mostly blown out by onshore winds or dropping swell. A few small clean windows on the 20th and 21st, but nothing to rearrange your schedule for.
Bottom line: The best on offer for the average surfer is Friday morning the 11th for a clean, moderate session, or Monday afternoon the 14th for a bigger, cleaner, more powerful wave. The experts should mark their calendars for Saturday afternoon the 12th and Thursday afternoon the 17th – but be warned, those are serious swells.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed morning, min 7°C on Thu afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, near gales from the NNW by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 10 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
90 | 79 | 51 | 39 | 35 | 22 | 18 | 63 | 810 | 282 | 168 | 146 | 285 | 2439 | 2930 | 1691 | 1280 | 987 | 1269 | 855 | 865 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | glassy | off | off | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:52PM1.74m | 2:24AM1.58m | 2:48PM1.72m | 3:22AM1.57m | 3:46PM1.70m | 4:19AM1.57m | 4:43PM1.67m | 5:15AM1.59m | 5:39PM1.64m | 6:10AM1.60m | 6:35PM1.62m | 7:04AM1.62m | 7:30PM1.60m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:07PM0.49m | 8:30AM0.47m | 9:03PM0.51m | 9:29AM0.47m | 10:02PM0.55m | 10:29AM0.49m | 11:04PM0.59m | 11:28AM0.51m | 00:02AM0.62m | 12:25PM0.55m | 00:56AM0.64m | 1:21PM0.59m | 1:46AM0.67m | ||||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 22 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NW 6 | SSW 19 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 | S 6 | S 12 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 10 | S 12 |
90 | 79 | 51 | 34 | 35 | 22 | 12 | 42 | 72 | 282 | 124 | 57 | 128 | 2439 | 2930 | 1691 | 1280 | 987 | 800 | 855 | 865 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 14 | ESE 8 | S 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | — | — | — | NNW 6 | NW 6 | — | — | — |
25 | 16 | 37 | 39 | 33 | 12 | 5 | 63 | 6 | 163 | 168 | 146 | 285 | — | — | — | 15 | 9 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | S 19 | S 18 | SSW 14 | ESE 8 | E 14 | SE 7 | SE 7 | NNW 4 | NW 16 | — | — | — | — | E 10 | — | — | — |
3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NW 6 | NW 6 | SSW 3 | S 7 | — | NNW 4 | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NW 6 | S 4 | S 12 | — | NNW 4 |
— | — | — | — | 14 | 313 | 136 | 8 | 810 | — | 17 | — | — | — | 9 | 29 | 19 | 21 | 1269 | — | 11 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 54 | 77 | 88 | 108 | 116 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 25 | 27 | 0 | 38 |
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.










