Surf Forecasts:
Houghton Bay surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with 1,754 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. 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 2.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Houghton Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your wettie. Let’s talk Houghton Bay.
It’s been a pretty quiet start with small swells and messy winds for most of the tail end of August. There’s a gap with nothing worthwhile from Sunday the 23rd on – a few days of tiny wind-affected slop best left alone. But things get serious from Monday the 24th. The wave energy cranks up proper with a good groundswell out of the south-southwest hitting 8ft on Monday morning (energy a solid 1754). That combined with light cross-offshore breezes from the north-northwest will keep the lines clean. This is the first true standout – excellent conditions but only for experienced surfers. By Monday afternoon the offshore freshens but it’s still good, just not as glassy.
Tuesday the 25th drops a bit in size to 4ft, but it’s clean with offshore winds. The swell drops further mid-week but stays rideable with gentle offshore winds on Wednesday morning the 26th. Be aware the swell direction here is perfect for this spot, coming right from the south. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
Now, the long-range stuff. There’s a big pulse of energy arriving Sunday the 30th of August around 8ft from the south-southwest (energy 2347) with cross-offshore winds. That looks promising. But the real standout to keep an eye on is Monday the 31st of August into Tuesday the 1st of September. We’re talking a solid 10ft groundswell from the south with a 14-second period (energy 3174) and moderate offshore winds. That’s big, powerful, and only for experts. The swell direction matches the optimum here – it’ll unload nicely. Clean conditions all around. After that, early September sees the swell ease back to the 5ft range with gentle offshore winds, still fun but not as epic. Later in the first week of September it gets smaller again and windier.
Overall, the pick is Monday the 24th of August for the first big clean pulse, and Monday the 31st of August for the biggest, most powerful set. Show up early – this spot can get busy, especially when the south swell lines up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Thu night, gales from the NNW by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Sun night, strong winds from the NNW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 7 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 628 | 1079 | 475 | 322 | 235 | 188 | 98 | 30 | 16 | 40 | 1754 | 1316 | 469 | 240 | 160 | 158 | 390 | 280 | 178 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:13PM1.57m | 11:37AM1.61m | 11:56PM1.55m | 12:22PM1.59m | 00:39AM1.51m | 1:05PM1.58m | 1:24AM1.48m | 1:46PM1.56m | 2:09AM1.44m | 2:27PM1.54m | 2:54AM1.42m | 3:09PM1.52m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:28AM0.69m | 6:02PM0.68m | 6:09AM0.71m | 6:44PM0.69m | 6:48AM0.72m | 7:25PM0.70m | 7:27AM0.73m | 8:05PM0.70m | 8:07AM0.73m | 8:46PM0.71m | 8:51AM0.72m | 9:30PM0.72m | |||||||
 |  | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 11 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 7 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 628 | 1079 | 475 | 322 | 235 | 188 | 98 | 30 | 16 | 40 | 1754 | 1316 | 469 | 240 | 148 | 158 | 390 | 280 | 178 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | ESE 12 | S 16 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | E 15 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 14 | NW 5 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | S 14 | SSW 14 | S 9 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 198 | 15 | 125 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 19 | 20 | 103 | 160 | 57 | 20 | 19 | 53 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | E 9 | ESE 11 | SE 12 | E 14 | — | — | S 16 | S 15 | S 16 | NNW 8 | — | N 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 14 | — | — | ESE 13 |
| kJ | 22 | 6 | 23 | 5 | 4 | — | — | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | — | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | — | — | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNW 4 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | — | — | 11 | 204 | 363 | 177 | 509 | 844 | 186 | 102 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 53 | 18 | 31 | 23 | 92 | 238 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 38 | 60 | 62 | 62 | 124 | 129 | 257 | 137 | 0 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 54 | 62 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Wellington | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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