Surf Forecasts:
Houghton Bay surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 19s period, S swell with 4,141 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 16s period with S 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Houghton Bay in the next 16 days are 2.4m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Houghton Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s take a look at Houghton Bay. This spot’s a beach and reef setup, exposed to south swells – and it can be inconsistent, so when it lines up, you want to be on it. The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, with a lot of average or blown-out days, but there’s one morning that stands out like a diamond in the rough.
We kick off Sunday the 19th with a 5.2ft SSW swell, long 16-second period – lots of energy (1385) – but the wind is onshore, light. It’s marginal, messy. That trend continues into Monday the 20th: a 5.6ft S swell early, cross-onshore chop, then Monday afternoon the swell jumps to 7.9ft S with a 19-second period, huge energy (4196), but still onshore wind – not clean, frustrating.
Tuesday the 21st brings a change: morning has a 5.9ft S swell, 14 seconds, and a solid N offshore wind at 15.5 mph. That’s clean, moderate energy (1256). Winds stay offshore through the afternoon, but the swell drops a touch to 5.2ft. It’s surfable, but still only marginal. Wednesday and Thursday go downhill fast – swell shrinks, winds turn onshore or get too strong.
Then Friday the 24th – forget it, barely any swell, strong offshore winds that
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu night, min 9°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Wed night, near gales from the NNW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 19 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 9 | S 9 | SSE 10 | S 5 | SSW 14 | SE 16 | S 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1210 | 1088 | 1373 | 1225 | 4141 | 2344 | 1208 | 888 | 497 | 305 | 142 | 95 | 57 | 43 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 17 | 18 | 43 | 742 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off | on | on | glassy | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:14PM1.69m | 9:40AM1.66m | 10:08PM1.66m | 10:31AM1.66m | 10:58PM1.63m | 11:21AM1.65m | 11:46PM1.60m | 12:11PM1.63m | 00:31AM1.58m | 12:59PM1.62m | 1:17AM1.54m | 1:44PM1.61m | 2:04AM1.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:01PM0.49m | 3:37AM0.53m | 3:59PM0.54m | 4:27AM0.57m | 4:53PM0.58m | 5:15AM0.61m | 5:45PM0.63m | 6:00AM0.65m | 6:33PM0.67m | 6:43AM0.70m | 7:19PM0.71m | 7:24AM0.73m | 8:03PM0.73m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  | | | |  | | | | |  |  |  | | | | |
 | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — |
 | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 6 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 19 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 9 | S 9 | NW 7 | S 5 | SSW 6 | SE 16 | S 9 |
| kJ | 1210 | 1088 | 1373 | 1225 | 4141 | 2344 | 1208 | 888 | 497 | 305 | 142 | 95 | 57 | 43 | 15 | 15 | 49 | 17 | 8 | 43 | 742 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 12 | S 19 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SE 12 | S 8 | NW 7 | ESE 13 | SSW 13 | SE 15 |
| kJ | 175 | 170 | 99 | 598 | 55 | 50 | 41 | 31 | 24 | 11 | 64 | 41 | 38 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 17 | 109 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 19 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | ESE 11 | — | ESE 11 | SSW 4 | SE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 11 | S 12 | SSE 10 | S 8 | SSW 14 | ESE 12 | NW 7 |
| kJ | — | — | 125 | 71 | — | — | — | — | 47 | — | 11 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 18 | 15 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 5 | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | SW 3 | S 4 | — | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 7 | W 4 | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | — |
| kJ | — | 50 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 22 | 6 | 2 | 7 | — | 21 | 114 | 282 | 465 | 6 | — | 360 | 326 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 27 | 61 | 28 | 11 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 38 | 114 | 0 | 38 | 60 | 149 | 137 | 114 | 295 | 65 | 114 | 62 |
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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