
Surf Forecasts:
Lyall Bay surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, S swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 12s period, SSW swell with 9,555 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s 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 03) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 11s. 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 6.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lyall Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, well, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Lyall Bay over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest, but there are definitely a couple of moments that will get the stoke levels up.
The best of the bunch by a long shot comes in on Thursday, the 6th of August. We’ve got a clean 4ft south swell rolling in, with moderate wave energy (803), and the morning is looking absolutely perfect with glassy conditions. That’s the one you want to paddle out for; it’ll be clean, lined up, and a real pleasure. The afternoon isn’t far behind either, with a moderate offshore breeze from the NNW keeping things tidy on the 4ft SSE swell.
Before that, Monday the 3rd of August is a decent way to kick things off. The morning has a 4ft S swell with a nice 13-second period, and a light cross-off breeze at 5 km/h, so it’s clean. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is about average for this time of year. The afternoon picks up a bit with a 4ft SSW swell and a solid 12 mph offshore wind from the north, making for some good, clean faces.
Now, the middle of the week is a write-off. Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th see a massive jump in size with a powerful 18ft and then 13ft SSW swell, but it’s accompanied by brutal onshore winds. The combined energy readings are huge (8110 and 3960), but it’s blown out and messy. That’s not for paddling; that’s a kite day for sure.
After the Thursday stand-out, Friday the 7th of August is a bit of a tease. It’s a 5ft S swell with a very long 16-second period, which has loads of energy (1341), but the strong cross-off winds are going to make it tricky. That long period will also mean it’s better suited for a point or reef than a beach break, and with the wind, it’s a marginal call.
The following week is quiet. From Saturday the 8th right through to the end of the forecast, the swell drops off significantly. We’re looking at waist-high or smaller waves, mostly under 3ft, with a mix of wind directions. There’s a brief moment on Wednesday the 12th of August with a 5ft ESE swell, but it’s a short 7-second period, which is just weak and crumbly. The energy is low (294), and it’s not going to be memorable.
Overall, if you’re keen, you’ve got a solid window on the 3rd, and that Thursday the 6th is the real standout. The rest is a long, flat lull, so make the most of those days.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Mon morning, near gales from the SSW by Tue morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Fri morning, calm by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 16 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
402 | 447 | 1533 | 8110 | 7453 | 5973 | 3953 | 2418 | 1253 | 403 | 327 | 277 | 1065 | 1083 | 566 | 418 | 396 | 650 | 200 | 166 | 185 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:39PM1.52m | 9:01AM1.53m | 9:29PM1.55m | 9:47AM1.59m | 10:17PM1.57m | 10:35AM1.64m | 11:05PM1.60m | 11:25AM1.69m | 11:54PM1.62m | 12:17PM1.73m | 00:46AM1.62m | 1:12PM1.76m | 1:42AM1.62m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:21PM0.67m | 3:05AM0.67m | 3:15PM0.66m | 3:50AM0.66m | 4:07PM0.64m | 4:36AM0.63m | 4:58PM0.61m | 5:22AM0.60m | 5:48PM0.58m | 6:09AM0.57m | 6:39PM0.54m | 6:57AM0.54m | 7:30PM0.52m | ||||||||
7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | |
— | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 4 | -4 | -5 | -5 | -1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | — | — | — | E 19 | S 12 | S 11 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 16 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | NW 8 | S 10 | S 7 | SSE 9 |
402 | 447 | 1533 | — | — | — | 7 | 2418 | 1253 | 327 | 327 | 277 | 1065 | 1083 | 566 | 418 | 396 | 18 | 200 | 70 | 185 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | — | — | — | — | SE 18 | SE 16 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | SE 12 | SE 11 | NW 8 | S 15 | NNW 8 | SSE 10 | NW 8 |
190 | 146 | 57 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 41 | 403 | 284 | 220 | 151 | 40 | 49 | 32 | 67 | 4 | 6 | 166 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | SSW 19 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 10 | SE 15 | S 13 | SSW 10 | SE 12 | — | — | NNW 8 | E 13 | S 15 | NNW 8 | S 14 |
35 | 68 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 73 | 56 | 125 | 125 | 92 | — | — | 23 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | NW 6 | — | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 12 | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 5 | NW 4 | S 10 | S 6 | — | — |
7 | 8 | — | 8110 | 7453 | 5973 | 3953 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 99 | 252 | 202 | 106 | 12 | 650 | 112 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 25 | 195 | 229 | 110 | 110 | 139 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 63 | 63 | 38 | 3 | 25 | 25 | 59 | 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.











