Surf Forecasts:
Houghton Bay surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, S swell with 2,384 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period with SSE 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 (Aug 11) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s 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 4.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Houghton Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, mate, Rusty here with the outlook for Houghton Bay. It’s a beach and reef setup, inconsistent by nature, so we gotta be patient. The water temp is sitting at 54°, which is pretty much average for this time of year.
There’s nothing worth getting wet for on Monday the 10th or Tuesday the 11th. The swell is small and onshore, making for poor conditions. Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th see clean offshore winds, but the waves are tiny—only 1ft to 3ft. The combined energy is weak, between 41 and 103, so it’s just ankle-biters for the patient. Friday the 14th through Sunday the 16th are all write-offs with onshore winds and junk.
Monday the 17th gets hammered with a big 12ft S swell, but it’s accompanied by howling 28 mph onshore winds and energy readings over 1900. That’s more of a kite session than a paddle.
The first real standout pops up on Tuesday the 18th. It’s a 6ft S swell with a short 8-second period, but the wind is light and offshore from the NW in the morning, leaving it clean. The energy is moderate (681). It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve seen.
Wednesday the 19th is a washout again with strong onshores.
Now, mark your calendars for Thursday the 20th. A solid 6ft S swell with a long 12-second period arrives under clean offshore N winds all day. The energy is strong (around 990). The long period means the sets will have proper punch, and those gaps between sets will make the paddle out easier. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.
Then, Friday the 21st is the absolute pick of the whole run. A 5ft S swell, but with a very long 17-second period, and glassy conditions in the morning. The combined energy is a massive 2173, promising some proper juice. This is groundswell, so expect long, clean lines. It’s excellent for experienced surfers, but that low period could make it a bit straight for the beach break, though the reef might sort it out.
Saturday the 22nd is still surfable with a 5ft S swell (12-second period) but the wind turns cross-onshore, so it gets a little bumpy.
After that, it trails off quickly. Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th morning are small and weak. Monday the 24th afternoon sees a weird 6ft SSW swell with a short 6-second period under offshore winds, which is rideable but messy.
Tuesday the 25th ends the run with a massive 12ft onshore storm swell. For experts only, and even then, it’s grim.
That Friday the 21st is the one to aim for. Glassy, long-period, and plenty of energy. Don’t sleep on Thursday the 20th either.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, gales from the SSW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 7 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 11 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 4 | SSW 18 | S 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 137 | 86 | 349 | 443 | 284 | 158 | 79 | 36 | 47 | 30 | 26 | 29 | 41 | 102 | 50 | 46 | 107 | 144 | 146 | 191 | 1222 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | glassy | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 2:07PM1.78m | 2:41AM1.61m | 3:04PM1.79m | 3:41AM1.60m | 4:02PM1.77m | 4:39AM1.60m | 5:01PM1.75m | 5:37AM1.60m | 6:00PM1.72m | 6:34AM1.61m | 6:58PM1.68m | 7:30AM1.63m | 7:55PM1.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:24PM0.50m | 8:45AM0.49m | 9:22PM0.50m | 9:45AM0.47m | 10:24PM0.51m | 10:46AM0.45m | 11:28PM0.53m | 11:45AM0.45m | 00:28AM0.54m | 12:44PM0.47m | 1:24AM0.56m | 1:42PM0.51m | 2:17AM0.58m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  | |  | | |  | |
 | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — |
 | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 3 | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Feels °C | 9 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 5 | -5 | -5 | -6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | SSW 15 | ESE 8 | SSW 16 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 16 | ESE 10 |
| kJ | 137 | 86 | 120 | 106 | 284 | 158 | 79 | 36 | 21 | 30 | 26 | 22 | 41 | 21 | 50 | 26 | 19 | 38 | 55 | 191 | 33 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 4 | NW 9 | NNW 8 | S 14 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | S 10 | SE 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | NW 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SSW 15 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | S 17 | SSW 16 | ESE 9 | SE 16 |
| kJ | 13 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 82 | 31 | 19 | 25 | 47 | 16 | 17 | 29 | 16 | 5 | 21 | 7 | 107 | 144 | 146 | 43 | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | SE 12 | SSW 15 | NW 8 | S 13 | S 12 | S 16 | S 11 | ESE 12 | NNW 8 | SSE 9 | NNW 8 | SSW 15 | SE 9 | S 20 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 |
| kJ | 21 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 23 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 5 | S 7 | S 8 | — | NE 3 | NNE 2 | NNW 4 | NNW 3 | NNW 5 | NW 4 | E 3 | ENE 3 | ESE 8 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 7 |
| kJ | — | 8 | 349 | 443 | — | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 102 | 18 | 46 | 57 | 102 | 73 | 66 | 1222 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 27 | 61 | 62 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 114 | 149 | 228 | 205 | 194 |
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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