
Surf Forecasts:
Houghton Bay surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 23s period, S swell with 2,003 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 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 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 15s. 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 1.4m 23s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Thu 16th Jul) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 23s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Houghton Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been watching this stretch like a hawk. Right now, the surf is flat, and it’s gonna stay that way for a few days. The first real hope comes on Friday the 17th.
Houghton Bay is a beach and reef set-up, and it’s usually inconsistent. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing weird going on there. The first wave worth paddling for hits Friday morning. Swell jumps to 6ft from the SSW, with a period of 14 seconds—that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is strong (1647), and the wind is nearly glassy, just a slight air from the ENE, making it clean. This is for experienced crew only, as it’s overhead. The swell direction (SSW) matches the optimum (S) pretty well, so it should line up. Friday afternoon keeps the 6ft, but the period drops to 12 seconds; still offering clean, offshore wind from the N. This is the standout window—Friday is your day.
Saturday morning the 18th drops to 3ft ESE, with moderate energy (575) and fresh offshore wind from the N. It’s clean but smaller. Saturday afternoon gets interesting with a 2ft swell from the S, but a long period of 23 seconds. That’s very long period groundswell, and the combined energy is still moderate (842). The wind goes glassy, offshore from the N. This long period stuff can be a bit straight at a beach break, but the reef might help shape it. It’s worth a look.
Sunday the 19th brings 4ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, but the wind is cross-on from the SE, making it fairly choppy. The energy is strong (1386), but the conditions are messy. Monday the 20th has 6ft S swell, but the wind is cross-on or onshore, so it’s not great. Tuesday the 21st sees a drop to 4ft S swell, but the wind is offshore from the N, so it cleans up. The energy is moderate (536). It’s surfable but not a standout.
After Tuesday, the swell fades fast. Wednesday the 22nd is small and ordinary, and from Thursday the 23rd through to Sunday the 26th, it’s mostly flat with tiny 0.7ft to 2ft swells. The wind is often strong offshore, but there’s no wave to ride. It’s a real lull. Monday the 27th has a little bump of 2ft SSW with a long 18-second period, light wind, and clean conditions. The energy is modest (288). It’s worth a paddle if you’re desperate, but it’s small.
Then, on the 30th of July, Thursday morning, things get big again. Swell hits 8ft from the SSW, with an 11-second period and strong energy (1530). The wind is offshore from the N, gentle breeze, and it’s clean. That’s expert-only territory, but it’s a solid pulse for those who can handle it.
Overall, the best surf is Friday the 17th, with a solid 6ft SSW groundswell and clean conditions. The Saturday afternoon long-period pulse is a neat change-up, but Friday is the one to circle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Wed night, calm by Thu night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tue 21 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | ESE 14 | SSW 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | S 10 | ESE 14 | S 23 | SSW 22 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
14 | 26 | 24 | 36 | 23 | 52 | 147 | 1363 | 1025 | 432 | 362 | 384 | 1858 | 1057 | 871 | 847 | 1063 | 915 | 771 | 505 | 339 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | off | off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 10:31AM1.66m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:27AM0.57m | 4:53PM0.58m | |||||||
— | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | |
— | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | S 10 | S 9 | ESE 14 | SSW 22 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 |
14 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 52 | 147 | 1363 | 1025 | 432 | 202 | 342 | 1858 | 1057 | 871 | 847 | 1063 | 915 | 771 | 505 | 339 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 7 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | S 8 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 |
1 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 23 | 22 | 16 | 284 | 318 | 393 | 362 | 116 | 261 | 175 | 170 | 101 | 71 | 56 | 33 | 31 | 31 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 8 | NW 16 | ESE 14 | E 10 | SW 9 | NW 6 | — | — | — | S 24 | S 23 | S 22 | SSW 22 | — | S 19 | — | — | ESE 12 | — | — |
6 | 1 | 10 | 36 | 8 | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | 11 | 384 | 987 | 154 | — | 262 | — | — | 13 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NW 4 | — | — | — | — | E 3 | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 |
188 | 49 | 88 | 154 | 209 | 34 | — | — | — | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 5 | 15 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 109 | 54 | 75 | 109 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 61 | 28 | 61 | 28 | 1 | 28 | 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.











