
Surf Forecasts:
Lyall Bay surf forecast from 7 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 11 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 10s period, S swell with 7,591 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s 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 Saturday (Jul 11) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 10s. 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 6.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 20ft (6.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Right, mate, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming up for Lyall Bay.
We’ve got a rough stretch ahead before things clean up. The first week is dominated by strong, onshore winds and some serious size that’s just too messy to enjoy. It’s not until Sunday, the 12th of July, that we finally get a window of clean conditions, but it’s small. For the rest of the run, it’s a mix of either too much wind, too much swell, or not enough energy.
The pattern kicks off with a solid, but sloppy, southerly swell on Tuesday, July 7th. Combined swell energy is high at 1084, but a strong cross-onshore wind has it lumpy and poor. Wednesday and Thursday see the swell absolutely pump up, hitting 18 ft on Thursday morning with over 6000 in combined energy, but it’s pinned by near-gale force onshore winds. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, it’s not going to be pretty. Friday and Saturday are still blown out and messy onshore, though the size drops.
The first real glimmer comes on Sunday, July 12th. The wind swings offshore from the north, cleaning things right up. Swell drops to 3 ft with a long 14-second period from the SSW, and by the afternoon it’s glassy. Combined energy is modest at 415, but for the small-wave crew, this is your cleanest chance. It’s an inconsistent break here in Lyall Bay, so manage expectations. This spot likes a south swell direction, and this one is from the SSW, so it’s working.
After Sunday, it goes flat and clean with offshore winds through Monday, but the swell is too small to paddle onto. By Wednesday, July 16th, we see a spike in size up to 12 ft from the south, but the comment in the data says it’s too big for this break. There’s a brief, glassy moment on Sunday, July 19th with a 10 ft SSW swell, but again, that’s too much size for Lyall Bay to handle well.
The best of the whole run looks like Monday, July 20th. A clean, offshore morning with a 6 ft south swell at 10 seconds. Combined energy is a solid 837. It’s surfable size, good direction, and clean wind. It won’t be huge, but for Lyall Bay, that’s the standout.
Water temperature is 54°F, which is about average for the time of year, so nothing extreme there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 68mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (fresh winds from the SE on Tue morning, near gales from the S by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 11°C on Sun night, min 7°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Fri night, calm by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 8 | S 7 | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 17 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
585 | 661 | 1211 | 1101 | 1462 | 5659 | 6000 | 5126 | 2944 | 635 | 342 | 346 | 219 | 404 | 447 | 308 | 222 | 121 | 71 | 74 | 50 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 10:09AM1.53m | 10:36PM1.55m | 10:55AM1.58m | 11:23PM1.58m | 11:44AM1.63m | 00:12AM1.61m | 12:36PM1.69m | 1:04AM1.64m | 1:30PM1.75m | 2:01AM1.65m | 2:26PM1.80m | 3:01AM1.65m | 3:22PM1.83m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:19PM0.67m | 4:57AM0.65m | 5:09PM0.65m | 5:41AM0.63m | 6:00PM0.63m | 6:26AM0.62m | 6:52PM0.61m | 7:15AM0.60m | 7:47PM0.58m | 8:07AM0.58m | 8:44PM0.55m | 9:05AM0.55m | 9:44PM0.53m | ||||||||
7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | |
— | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | |
mm | 6 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 18 | 20 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 8 | 5 | 5 | 2 | -1 | -2 | -3 | -3 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | S 9 | SSW 14 | E 10 | ESE 11 | — | — | — | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 12 |
418 | 404 | 111 | 104 | 43 | — | — | — | 2049 | 356 | 275 | 179 | 179 | 136 | 447 | 308 | 222 | 121 | 71 | 74 | 50 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | — | S 20 | — | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 |
81 | 74 | 108 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | 92 | 50 | 44 | 68 | 404 | 163 | 107 | 75 | 47 | 17 | 15 | 18 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 15 | S 22 | S 20 | ESE 10 | S 6 | — | — | — | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | — |
7 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 91 | 9 | 69 | 51 | 26 | — | — | — | 9 | 10 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 8 | S 7 | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 |
585 | 661 | 1211 | 1101 | 1462 | 5659 | 6000 | 5126 | 2944 | 635 | 342 | 346 | 219 | 89 | — | — | 2 | 9 | 39 | 68 | 124 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 59 | 59 | 158 | 110 | 194 | 206 | 110 | 206 | 169 | 116 | 158 | 63 | 63 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 38 | 54 | 54 |
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.










