
Surf Forecasts:
Lyall Bay surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 22s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 22s period, SSW swell with 2,947 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 16s period with ESE 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. 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 1.7m 22s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 22s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 22s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down. Lyall Bay is the spot, but you’ve gotta wait. The next few days are a bust, so don’t even bother until Friday the 17th.
Friday morning the 17th, it’s a clean 3ft groundswell from the ESE, with a 16-second period. That’s long-period juice, and with a moderate offshore wind from the NNE, it’ll be clean. The combined energy is moderate at 663. Not huge, but with that period, the waves will have some shape. Friday afternoon bumps up to 4ft from the SSW, still a long 15-second period, and the energy jumps to a strong 1031. Offshore winds holding from the N, so the afternoon session is looking like the pick of the day.
Saturday the 18th morning holds at 3ft from the ESE, clean and offshore, but the afternoon gets weird. A big 5ft S swell rolls in with a very long 23-second period. That’s a lot of energy – 2996 – but it’s a beast. With that period and a cross-off wind, it might be too straight for a beach break like this. Watch it, but it could be more of a challenge than a treat.
Sunday the 19th is the real deal. Morning sees 5ft from the SSW, 16-second period, and a gentle offshore from the NNE. The energy is strong at 1457, and it’s calling for excellent conditions for experienced surfers. But the absolute standout is Sunday afternoon. Glassy conditions. Zero wind. A clean 5ft SSW groundswell at 15 seconds. That’s the kind of session you remember.
Monday the 20th is garbage. Onshore winds and chop ruin it. Tuesday the 21st, though, that’s another banger. Morning has 6ft from the S at a very long 17 seconds, with a light cross-off breeze. The energy is a massive 1700. It’s solid, but only for experienced crew. Tuesday afternoon is slightly smaller at 5ft but still clean with offshore winds.
Things drop off after Tuesday. Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd are okay, with some clean 4ft to 4ft S swells, but nothing special. Then we hit a dead zone from Friday the 24th through to Thursday the 30th. Mostly small, weak, and onshore. Forget it.
Finally, on Friday the 31st, there’s a little hope. A 3ft SE groundswell with a 14-second period, clean and cross-off. The energy is moderate at 359. It’s not a standout, but it’s something to look forward to after a long dry spell.
The water’s about average for this time of year, so no surprises on temperature.
Best bet: Sunday the 19th afternoon for that glassy, perfect 5ft SSW swell. Tuesday the 21st morning for the bigger, more powerful stuff if you’ve got the skills.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Thu morning, calm by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 11°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 14 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | SSW 15 | ESE 15 | S 24 | SSW 22 | S 20 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 14 | S 17 | S 17 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
37 | 52 | 147 | 284 | 744 | 387 | 404 | 2947 | 2037 | 1180 | 948 | 938 | 812 | 919 | 929 | 2124 | 1815 | 1033 | 603 | 488 | 260 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | cross | off | off | cross | on | on | cross-on | off | off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:20PM1.81m | 6:57AM1.65m | 7:19PM1.77m | 7:54AM1.65m | 8:17PM1.73m | 8:48AM1.66m | 9:14PM1.69m | 9:40AM1.66m | 10:08PM1.66m | 10:31AM1.66m | 10:58PM1.63m | 11:21AM1.65m | 11:46PM1.60m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:05PM0.45m | 00:53AM0.49m | 1:04PM0.44m | 1:50AM0.49m | 2:02PM0.46m | 2:44AM0.51m | 3:01PM0.49m | 3:37AM0.53m | 3:59PM0.54m | 4:27AM0.57m | 4:53PM0.58m | 5:15AM0.61m | 5:45PM0.63m | ||||||||
7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | |
— | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 14 | NW 6 | S 7 | S 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | ESE 14 | SSW 22 | S 20 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 14 | S 17 | S 17 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 |
37 | 18 | 63 | 256 | 744 | 367 | 362 | 2947 | 2037 | 1180 | 948 | 938 | 812 | 919 | 929 | 2124 | 1815 | 1033 | 603 | 488 | 260 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | SSW 10 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | S 18 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 |
23 | 52 | 147 | 284 | 392 | 387 | 170 | 342 | 229 | 175 | 170 | 99 | 71 | 55 | 620 | 31 | 31 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | — | — | S 24 | — | — | S 21 | — | SE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 11 | — | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 5 | ENE 5 | E 7 |
2 | 22 | 41 | 154 | — | — | 404 | — | — | 36 | — | 38 | 37 | 123 | 33 | — | 48 | 31 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | SSE 3 | — | — | NW 3 | — | NW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | SSW 3 | — | SE 5 | — | ENE 6 | NNW 3 | — | N 2 |
185 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 3 | — | 30 | — | 10 | 3 | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 77 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 129 | 110 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.










