Surf Forecasts:
Houghton Bay surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 11s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, S swell with 2,710 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Houghton Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Houghton Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Houghton Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 16th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Houghton Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Houghton Bay over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow start, but there’s a couple of bright spots if you’re willing to wait.
Right now, and for the first few days, we’ve got tiny waves. We’re talking 0.7ft to 1.0ft, with the combined energy barely registering (24 to 77). The wind is strong and offshore, which would be clean, but there’s just nothing to ride. You’d be paddling for nothing. This stretch runs from Tuesday the 14th right through to Thursday afternoon the 16th. It’s a total write-off.
Things start to get interesting on Friday the 17th. A solid 7ft to 8ft south swell shows up, with a moderate energy level (1890 to 2239). The period is 12 to 14 seconds, so it’s got some grunt, but it’s a bit long for a beach and reef setup like this – it might line up a bit straight. The wind is light and cross-onshore, bringing small ripples. It’s not perfect, but it’s the first real swell of the outlook. The water temp is about 53°, which is pretty normal for this time of year.
The best on offer is Monday the 20th. The morning has a clean 6ft south swell, period 14s, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the northeast. The combined energy is solid (1348). This is a proper groundswell, and the conditions will be clean. Then in the afternoon, it turns glassy with a 5ft SSW swell. That’s the standout window. The best surf of the whole outlook. Get on it.
The weekend before that, Saturday the 18th, has a clean 3ft swell from the ESE with a 14s period, but it’s a bit smaller. Sunday the 19th is a write-off again with onshore winds and choppy surf.
After Monday, the surf fades. Tuesday the 21st still has a clean 4ft swell in the morning, but it drops off fast. From Wednesday the 22nd onward, we’re back to tiny waves (1.0ft to 2ft) with poor conditions. There’s a late pulse on Sunday the 26th with a 5ft to 6ft swell, but it’s short-period (6s) and wind-affected, so it’s messy. Monday the 27th morning offers a clean 3ft swell with a nice 14s period, but it’s small.
Overall, if you’re a beginner, that 7ft+ stuff on Friday the 17th and Monday the 20th might be a bit much. For the experienced crew, Monday the 20th is your day. The rest of the time, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Fri afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, strong winds from the S by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | E 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | ESE 14 | SSW 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | S 14 | S 12 | S 9 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | SSW 22 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 16 | 7 | 14 | 26 | 24 | 36 | 23 | 52 | 147 | 1617 | 1921 | 450 | 431 | 402 | 616 | 700 | 490 | 362 | 1279 | 815 | 636 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:20PM1.85m | 5:00AM1.65m | 5:20PM1.84m | 5:59AM1.65m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:06AM0.51m | 10:48PM0.52m | 11:06AM0.48m | 11:52PM0.50m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — |
 | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
Feels °C | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 9 | -2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | E 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 16 | S 7 | S 14 | S 12 | S 9 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | SE 13 | S 10 | S 10 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 16 | 7 | 14 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 52 | 55 | 1617 | 1921 | 450 | 431 | 402 | 318 | 175 | 490 | 362 | 1279 | 815 | 636 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 10 | S 8 | E 12 | E 12 | ESE 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 22 | SSW 16 | SE 13 | SSW 15 | SE 12 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 8 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 23 | 22 | 147 | 273 | 318 | 403 | 133 | 80 | 616 | 280 | 167 | 225 | 69 | 80 | 53 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 12 | S 18 | S 8 | NW 16 | ESE 14 | E 10 | SW 9 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | S 23 | ESE 14 | SE 13 | SSW 16 | S 19 | — | ESE 12 | ESE 12 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 36 | 8 | 3 | 13 | — | — | — | — | 90 | 127 | 84 | 196 | 259 | — | 53 | 52 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 4 | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | — | S 7 | S 9 | — | — | — | NNW 3 | — |
| kJ | 154 | 195 | 195 | 107 | 68 | 160 | 177 | 17 | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | 554 | 700 | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 109 | 109 | 109 | 60 | 109 | 75 | 75 | 1 | 8 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 109 | 61 | 112 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Wellington | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Houghton Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Houghton Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Houghton Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Houghton 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 (Houghton 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 Houghton 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.
Houghton Bay is 7 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.
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