
Surf Forecasts:
Lyall Bay surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 12 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 8s period, S swell with 1,519 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 3.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about Lyall Bay.
Water temp is around 55°F, which is pretty standard for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.
The first few days are a no-go. Thursday July 9th is a beast – 13 feet of SSE swell, but the wind is screaming onshore at 31 mph. The combined energy is a massive 2351, but it’s a total mess. That’s more of a kiteboarding situation than a surf session.
Friday July 10th is still blown out. 7 feet of swell in the morning, 6 feet in the afternoon, short period, onshore wind. No good.
Saturday July 11th is a tiny, weak lull.
Sunday July 12th is the first bright spot. A 3 foot SSW groundswell with a 12-second period. The morning has a light cross-offshore breeze, and the afternoon turns clean with a light offshore from the N. The energy is weak (288 and 241), but the surf is clean. It’s inconsistent, and the break is a beginner spot, so for a learner it’s your best bet in the first week. Crowds can be a thing here.
The rest of the week (July 13th-16th) is flat. 0.7 feet to 1.0 feet, mostly clean but no power.
Friday July 17th brings a 5 to 5 foot SE swell, but the wind is onshore at 22-25 mph, making it a blown-out wall.
The real sweet spot is Saturday July 18th and Sunday July 19th. We get a 4 to 4 foot SE groundswell with a 13-second period, combined energy in the moderate range (661 and 659). The wind is the key: Saturday morning is glassy, and Saturday afternoon is a clean offshore. Sunday morning is also clean. This is the best, most user-friendly window of the whole forecast. Clean, fun waves.
Then Tuesday July 21st is the heavy hitter. A 4 foot SSW groundswell in the morning with a very long 16-second period (energy of 1242), and a 7 foot S swell in the afternoon. The wind is a gentle offshore all day. That 7 foot swell is for experts only, but the clean conditions and big energy will make for some powerful waves. The long period in the morning will give well-spaced sets.
Wednesday July 22nd offers a 6 foot swell going glassy in the morning, but the period is short.
After that, the winds turn cross-shore and the swell fades.
So, the call: the first week is a bust except for Sunday July 12th for beginners. The standout is Saturday July 18th through Tuesday July 21st. Go for Saturday the 18th afternoon for the cleanest, most fun session, or Tuesday the 21st for the biggest, most powerful, and cleanest swell of the whole outlook.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Thu afternoon, calm by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Sun afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the NNW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thu 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 7 | ESE 10 | S 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2216 | 1519 | 364 | 267 | 177 | 110 | 211 | 284 | 256 | 213 | 133 | 68 | 58 | 49 | 8 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 30 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 00:12AM1.61m | 12:36PM1.69m | 1:04AM1.64m | 1:30PM1.75m | 2:01AM1.65m | 2:26PM1.80m | 3:01AM1.65m | 3:22PM1.83m | 4:01AM1.66m | 4:20PM1.85m | 5:00AM1.65m | 5:20PM1.84m | 5:59AM1.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:06AM0.51m | 10:48PM0.52m | 11:06AM0.48m | 11:52PM0.50m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | |
5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | 5:10 | |
mm | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 |
Temp °C | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | -2 | -2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | ESE 8 | E 9 | NNW 8 | E 10 | NNW 7 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 |
135 | 166 | 286 | 218 | 96 | 71 | 211 | 284 | 256 | 213 | 133 | 68 | 30 | 49 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 30 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 9 | ESE 9 | S 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SSW 13 | ESE 8 | SSW 9 | S 9 | E 9 | S 16 | E 12 | NW 7 | SSW 16 |
— | — | 162 | 47 | 44 | 45 | 68 | 23 | 32 | 26 | 18 | 16 | 58 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 25 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 15 | S 21 | SSW 18 | S 9 | ESE 9 | — | E 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SW 12 | S 12 | S 9 | E 12 | S 15 | SW 14 | E 6 |
— | — | — | 123 | 9 | 110 | 42 | 47 | — | 2 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NW 5 | NW 8 | — | — | SSW 3 |
2216 | 1519 | 364 | 267 | 177 | 72 | 35 | — | — | — | 3 | 45 | 66 | 34 | 121 | 178 | 23 | 14 | — | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 210 | 169 | 110 | 59 | 63 | 63 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 54 | 64 | 59 | 108 | 88 | 59 | 39 |
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.











