Lyall Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 41.33° S 174.80° E

Lyall Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 22 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Lyall Bay sea temperature is
10.6°C
1.3° 

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 22 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 13s period, SSW swell with 1,544 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s period with SSW 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 (Aug 24) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. 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 2.2m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) 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 3.0m 7s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Mon 24th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 14s
Best Surf 6AM (Mon 24th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 14s
Most Powerful12PM (Mon 24th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Looks like this stretch around Lyall Bay is gonna be a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. There’s some decent swell on the horizon, but the wind is gonna be a real pain most of the time, so we’ve got to pick our moments. A few mornings might just be worth the early alarm, but overall, it’s a game of patience.

The first real chance to get wet comes on Monday the 24th of August. The swell bumps up to 7ft from the SSW with a 13-second period, which is a nice solid groundswell. The wave energy is pumping at 1528. The wind is a cross-off from the NNW at 16 mph, which will keep things pretty clean. The afternoon looks even better with a 7ft SSW swell, 19 mph offshore wind, and still that 13-second period – that’s the standout of the first few days. It’s a bit on the bigger side, so maybe not for the groms, but for anyone with a bit of experience, it’s a solid option. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Wednesday morning the 26th of August is worth a mention too. The swell drops to 3ft from the SSW, but it’s a long-period 14-second groundswell with a clean offshore wind from the N at 12 mph. The wave energy is 295. It’s a small day, but those conditions are perfect for a log or a fish. The crowd profile is “sometimes,” so you might have a few mates out, but nothing crazy.

Then there’s a bit of a gap. Tuesday the 1st of September has a big 8ft S swell with a 14-second period and a massive 2667 of energy, but the cross-off wind is 12 mph from the NNW. The forecast is a bit marginal, but if you’re an expert, that morning could be a real session. The size is definitely for the experienced crew only.

The real standout though, and this is a bit of a later call, is Thursday the 3rd of September. The morning is a gem. The swell is only 3ft from the SSW, but it’s a very long-period 16-second groundswell. The wind is light from the ENE at 6 mph, and the wave energy is 761. The conditions are forecast to be “very good” – light winds and a long-period swell will make for some beautifully lined-up waves at Lyall Bay. This is the one to circle on the calendar.

After that, Sunday the 6th of September morning looks promising again. A 6ft SSW swell with a 12-second period, a moderate offshore wind from the NNW at 12 mph, and 1034 of energy. Another “very good” call for conditions. The size is moderate, so it’s a good one for most surfers.

The last week has some big swells, but the wind is just too strong or crossed up to make it worth it. There’s a 10ft S swell on Monday the 7th of September, but with 28 mph cross-off winds, it’s a no-go for a paddle. That setup might be more interesting for the kite crew.

Overall, the best bets are Monday the 24th of August afternoon, and Thursday the 3rd of September morning. The Thursday swell is a bit smaller, but the conditions are as good as it gets. The long-range stuff on the 6th of September is promising but not as certain.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (gales from the NNW on Sat night, light winds from the NNW by Sun night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the NNW on Tue night, near gales from the NNW by Fri afternoon).

Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
2
2
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)
0.7
S
10
0.4
S
10
0.3
S
9
0.8
SSW
7
2.2
SSW
13
2
SSW
13
1.4
SSW
12
1.2
S
11
1
S
10
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
1.1
SSW
15
1.2
SSW
15
1.3
SSW
17
1.3
SSW
16
1.1
S
13
1.1
S
12
1.1
S
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
98
31
16
53
1521
1259
589
345
218
350
276
269
605
666
1045
939
427
377
333
Wind (km/h)
55
NW
50
NW
45
WNW
30
WNW
25
NNW
30
NNW
30
NW
25
NW
25
NNW
20
NNW
20
N
40
NNW
45
NW
40
NNW
45
NNW
45
NNW
50
NNW
55
NNW
45
NNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
High Tide
00:39AM1.51m
1:05PM1.58m
1:24AM1.48m
1:46PM1.56m
2:09AM1.44m
2:27PM1.54m
2:54AM1.42m
3:09PM1.52m
3:39AM1.41m
3:54PM1.51m
4:26AM1.41m
4:42PM1.51m
Low Tide
6:48AM0.72m
7:25PM0.70m
7:27AM0.73m
8:05PM0.70m
8:07AM0.73m
8:46PM0.71m
8:51AM0.72m
9:30PM0.72m
9:38AM0.71m
10:20PM0.72m
10:28AM0.70m
11:15PM0.73m
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:00
6:58
6:56
6:56
6:54
6:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:46
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:51
5:52
 mm
2
3
3
7
1
Temp °C
13
14
13
11
11
13
13
15
15
13
14
13
14
13
13
13
13
14
12
Feels °C
4
6
2
2
5
7
7
9
9
9
9
6
7
6
5
5
4
5
4
  • 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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