Surf Forecasts:
Houghton Bay surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 6 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, S swell with 1,504 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 11s. 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 2.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 06) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Houghton Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's look at what's on the menu for Houghton Bay.
We're starting with a bit of a wait. Wednesday the 5th is a total washout – a big, messy 12 ft south swell with 30 km/h onshore winds. Just forget it. The week starts to show some life on Thursday the 6th afternoon. The wind swings offshore from the NNW at a light 5 km/h, and we get a clean 5 ft SE swell. It's not big, but it's clean and glassy. That's your first real chance.
Friday the 7th brings a bigger 5 ft to 6 ft south swell, but the wind is screaming at 35-40 km/h. It's clean-ish, but the energy is all over the place. Not worth it. Saturday the 8th morning is much better: a 5 ft south swell, light WNW wind, and clean conditions. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is about average for this time of year.
The standout for the whole stretch is Sunday the 19th. We've got a solid 8 ft SSE swell with a moderate offshore wind from the north. The combined energy is pumping at 1240 (moderate to strong), and the forecast says excellent conditions for experienced surfers. If you've got the skills, that's the day to be out. The water will still be cool, but the wind and swell are lining up. Monday the 20th looks good too, with a 7 ft SSE swell and clean offshore wind, but it's a step down in size and energy.
The rest of the run is mixed. There's a small, clean window on the 11th (Tuesday) with glassy conditions in the afternoon, but the swell is only 4 ft. After that, we get a lot of days with either small surf or strong onshore winds. The week of the 14th through the 18th is mostly blown out by strong southerly winds and big, raw swell. That 12 ft stuff on the 18th is for experts only, and even then, the wind is onshore.
So, bottom line: hold out for the 19th. That's the one. The earlier windows are small and clean, but the 19th has the power and the wind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, strong winds from the NNW by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the N on Sun morning, calm by Tue morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2923 | 1504 | 562 | 392 | 322 | 940 | 1006 | 547 | 546 | 382 | 290 | 163 | 123 | 96 | 125 | 173 | 82 | 306 | 275 | 180 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | off |
High Tide | 10:17PM1.57m | 10:35AM1.64m | 11:05PM1.60m | 11:25AM1.69m | 11:54PM1.62m | 12:17PM1.73m | 00:46AM1.62m | 1:12PM1.76m | 1:42AM1.62m | 2:07PM1.78m | 2:41AM1.61m | 3:04PM1.79m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:07PM0.64m | 4:36AM0.63m | 4:58PM0.61m | 5:22AM0.60m | 5:48PM0.58m | 6:09AM0.57m | 6:39PM0.54m | 6:57AM0.54m | 7:30PM0.52m | 7:49AM0.51m | 8:24PM0.50m | 8:45AM0.49m | 9:22PM0.50m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — |
 | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 18 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 |
| kJ | 12 | 1504 | 562 | 392 | 322 | 940 | 1006 | 547 | 546 | 382 | 290 | 163 | 123 | 96 | 125 | 173 | 82 | 306 | 275 | 180 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 16 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SE 10 | SE 12 | SE 11 | NW 6 | SE 11 | S 19 | SSE 14 | S 13 | SSE 12 | NW 8 | NW 10 | SE 12 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | E 5 |
| kJ | — | 41 | 281 | 333 | 230 | 239 | 212 | 76 | 15 | 20 | 7 | 61 | 30 | 15 | 17 | 25 | 72 | 8 | 7 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 12 | SSW 10 | — | S 16 | SE 10 | S 17 | — | — | E 13 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SE 12 | NW 10 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | N 8 |
| kJ | — | 93 | 76 | 56 | 184 | 160 | — | 129 | 16 | 5 | — | — | 3 | 5 | 24 | 6 | 24 | 18 | 7 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | — | — | — | NNW 2 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 5 | WNW 4 | NW 3 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 6 | NW 5 | — | SSE 2 | S 6 | — | ENE 2 | NE 2 |
| kJ | 2923 | — | — | — | 1 | 32 | 115 | 84 | 5 | 11 | 48 | 61 | 170 | 69 | — | 1 | 24 | — | 1 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 233 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 54 | 38 | 0 | 61 | 61 | 15 | 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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