Surf Forecast Lyall Bay: Reports, Cams, Tomorrow’s Conditions

If you’ve ever driven past Lyall Bay on a grey Wellington afternoon wondering whether those white lines on the horizon were worth paddling out for, you already know how quickly conditions can shift. This guide pulls together the most current Lyall Bay surf report alongside tomorrow’s forecast, live camera feeds, and how nearby spots on the South Coast are shaping up.

Current Swell: 1–2ft South · Tomorrow Swell: 1.6m 12s from South (191°) · Wind Today: 15 knots SSE, onshore

Surf Forecast Lyall Bay Tomorrow

Current 48-Hour Detailed Forecast

• Sunday April 26, 2026: Swell building to 1.3m from South (189°) with 11-second period — moderate plus conditions
• Monday April 27, 2026: Swell peaks at 1.6m from South (191°) with 12-second period — the strongest push of this cycle

MetService rates current surf conditions at Lyall Bay as 1–3 (Bad), with reasonable surf possibly affected by light onshore winds and lower swell during the transitional window between Sunday and Monday. The official forecast from New Zealand’s national weather service suggests conditions should improve as the Monday swell settles in.

MetService (New Zealand’s official weather and marine forecasting body) currently rates conditions in the 1–3 (Bad) range, citing light-to-fair onshore winds and lower swell as limiting factors. The rating is expected to shift as the Monday swell builds through the morning.

When Are the Biggest Waves at Lyall Bay?

The swell stair-steps upward from Saturday through Monday, with each day adding roughly 0.2–0.3m of wave height and 1–2 seconds of period. The 12-second period Monday is the critical factor: longer period swells carry more energy and produce hollower waves, even at moderate heights. A 12-second South swell at Lyall Bay typically delivers rideable walls with enough push to handle higher-tide sessions.

Swell and Wind Predictions

South swells dominate Lyall Bay’s best days, and Monday’s forecast aligns with that pattern precisely. The 191-degree direction means the swell arrives perpendicular to the bay’s shoreline orientation, maximising wave face height and period energy.

The catch is the wind: Sunday’s SSE direction at 15 knots created onshore chop, pushing waves inward and softening the face. Monday’s wind forecast isn’t confirmed yet — a shift to northerly would transform the swell from merely rideable to genuinely good. North offshore winds at Lyall Bay blow offshore, setting up cleaner walls and better barrel potential along the left-hand wedge near the airport strip.

Lyall Bay Surf Cam Free

Live Surf Cams for Lyall Bay

Multiple live camera feeds give Wellington surfers real-time visibility before they commit to the drive. The Lyall Bay Surf Cam (Lyall Bay Surf Cam) runs 24/7 with two high-definition cameras streaming continuous views of the beach, the point break near the airport runway, and the shifting sandbanks that characterise the break.

• Lyall Bay Surf Cam — two HD cameras, 24/7 live feed
• CamJam — Wellington webcam operator with Lyall Bay coverage and break analysis
• Good Surf Now — live cam with surf-specific commentary
• Lyall Bay SLSC — beach patrol camera covering the main beach section

Free Viewing Options

All four cameras listed above are freely accessible without a subscription. Surfline offers a free tier with basic cam access, though its premium reporting features require an account. The dedicated Lyall Bay Surf Cam website is the most straightforward option — no login, no paywall, just a live feed.

Titahi Bay Surf Forecast

Titahi Bay Conditions

Titahi Bay sits approximately 20 minutes north of Lyall Bay on the Kapiti Coast, offering a more sheltered option when Lyall Bay is blown out or flat. The bay faces northeast, meaning it picks up different swell angles than Lyall Bay’s south-facing exposure.

For Monday’s South swell, Titahi Bay will likely be smaller than Lyall Bay since the swell approach is oblique rather than head-on. However, when the swell direction swings slightly northeast, Titahi Bay can hold more size than its distance from the peak energy suggests.

Titahi Bay Surf Cam

A dedicated Titahi Bay surf cam is available through the Surfco website, providing live views of the bay’s beach break. Checking both the Lyall Bay and Titahi Bay cameras side-by-side helps surfers decide which spot has better conditions on any given day.

Houghton Bay Surf Forecast

Local Comparisons

Houghton Bay sits between Lyall Bay and the South Coast’s more remote breaks, roughly 10 minutes south of Lyall Bay by car. It faces south-southeast, making it sensitive to the same swell window that feeds Lyall Bay but with a slightly different shadow effect from the surrounding coastline.

During Monday’s 1.6m South swell, Houghton Bay will likely see similar wave heights to Lyall Bay, though the wave shape differs due to the underlying reef structure. Good Surf Now describes Houghton Bay as a punchier option when the swell is large enough, with faster walls that reward experienced surfers.

South Coast Swell Impact

The South Coast as a region — encompassing Houghton Bay, Lyall Bay, and the more remote breaks further south — shares a swell window oriented toward the Southern Ocean. The 191-degree swell direction Monday is optimally angled for both Lyall Bay and Houghton Bay.

What separates Houghton Bay from Lyall Bay is crowd factor: Lyall Bay draws more surfers due to easy parking and proximity to the airport, while Houghton Bay remains less crowded even on good days. For surfers prioritising space over wave consistency, Houghton Bay is worth the short drive.

Surf Forecast Wellington

Broader Wellington Area

Wellington’s surf scene centres on the South Coast, with Lyall Bay, Houghton Bay, and the Lyall Bay-Bombora reef break forming the core options. Further afield, the Makara Beach break and the more remote Tora coastline offer alternatives for adventurous surfers willing to travel.

• Lyall Bay-Bombora: Exposed reef break that only fires when conditions align perfectly — summer tends toward flat here too, according to Surf-Forecast
• Makara Beach: West Coast exposure catches NW swells, complementing the South Coast’s swell window
• Tora: Remote South Coast option approximately 90 minutes from Wellington — best saved for multi-day surf trips

Surf Forecast Tora

Tora sits on the southern Wairarapa coast, requiring a significant drive through the Rimutaka Range. For Monday’s swell, Tora would see similar wave heights to Lyall Bay since both breaks face the Southern Ocean swell window, but Tora’s more remote location means fewer surfers and potentially cleaner conditions on any given day.

The extra drive time isn’t justified for waves that won’t outperform Lyall Bay on a good day — Tora makes sense as a day-trip alternative only if conditions at closer Wellington breaks disappoint, or if surfers specifically want the uncrowded experience.

Timeline and Conditions

Confirmed vs Uncertain

What the data confirms

• Lyall Bay is a reasonably exposed beach break in Wellington, New Zealand, best suited to South swells with North offshore wind
• The break offers both left and right hand waves, with a left-hand point break adding variety
• Good surf occurs at all stages of the tide, though lower tide often produces cleaner wave faces
• Monday’s swell forecast at 1.6m from South (191°) with 12-second period is confirmed across Surf Seeker and aligned with the building trend from Saturday and Sunday
• The Lyall Bay Surf Cam runs 24/7 with two cameras — freely accessible at lyallbaysurfcam.nz
• Water temperature at 58°F (14.4°C) means a 3/2mm wetsuit is appropriate for April conditions

What remains unclear

• Exact hourly breakdown for Monday still pending model confirmation from some forecast services
• Thursday’s predicted peak (some forecast models show 8ft 13s) lacks cross-verification in available data
• Tide times and heights for Monday April 27 have not been published in available search results
• Wind speed and direction for Monday specifically are not confirmed

What Surfers Are Saying

Lyall Bay is a fun left wedge off the airport runway with changeable banks up the beach that picks up South swells best with offshore conditions in a North wind.

— Good Surf Now (Wellington surf community resource)

Lyall Bay can sometimes be crowded, but the beach break offers both left and right hand waves, with good conditions possible at all stages of the tide.

— Surf-Forecast (surf forecasting service)

For Wellington locals watching the swell charts this weekend, the bottom line is straightforward: Monday’s 1.6m 12-second South swell at Lyall Bay is the week’s best option, provided the wind cooperates. If MetService’s next update shows a northerly shift, Wellington surfers should cancel whatever else is planned and get in the water.

Related reading: NZ Gale Warnings · NZ Road Rule Keep Left

While Lyall Bay delivers south swells and SSE winds, the Waihi Beach surf cam provides live views from Coromandel for broader NZ surf planning.

Frequently asked questions