Surf Forecasts:
Houghton Bay surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with 2,786 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s 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 Tuesday (Jul 07) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 16s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Houghton Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 05) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Tue 7th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Tue 7th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Houghton Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Right. Let’s talk about Houghton Bay. Beach and reef, exposed to the south, but it’s a spot that doesn’t fire every time—pretty inconsistent. Water temp’s about 54°F, right around average for this time of year, nothing special.
First real surf worth paddling out for is Tuesday, July 7th. Before that it’s flat or tiny all weekend and Monday, so sit tight. Tuesday morning you get a clean 7ft swell out of the ESE, moderate energy (1205), and the wind is barely a breath from the NNE at 3 mph. That’s glassy—perfect for experienced surfers. This is the standout of the whole stretch. Hit the reef for the best shape.
Tuesday afternoon the wind turns cross-onshore from the SSE at 13 mph, and it gets choppy. Not worth it.
Wednesday the 8th starts with a 5ft south swell and glassy wind from the southwest in the morning—clean, small, fun. Energy is moderate at 386. Afternoon sees a jump to 12ft, but with onshore rain and strong wind. Full mess.
Thursday the 9th through Friday the 10th is all blown out: big south swells over 7ft, with gale-force onshore winds. Energy hits over 2000 on Friday—huge power, but useless for paddling. Kite weather if anything.
Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th stay poor: 5ft to 7ft south swells with onshore winds. Choppy and lumpy. Leave it.
Monday the 13th gives you a small, clean window. Morning is glassy with a 3ft south-east swell, low energy (309), but smooth. Afternoon goes totally calm and glassy, same 3ft swell. Good for a longboard, nothing exciting.
Tuesday the 14th through Thursday the 16th stays small—waves under 3ft, with fresh offshore winds from the north. The swell is long-period groundswell from the SSW (up to 14 seconds), which should wrap onto the reef, but it’s weak. Clean, but barely rippable.
Friday the 17th drops further to 2ft or less, still clean but weak, and by Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th you’re looking at 0.7ft to 1ft. Almost flat. The 16-day forecast fades out to nothing.
So, Tuesday the 7th is the one to pencil in. That 7ft clean ESE swell with light winds is your best shot. After that it’s mostly small and clean or big and messy. Not a classic run, but there are a few decent windows if you’re keen.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Mainly near gales. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 65mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, gales from the S by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 6 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 25 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 8 | 122 | 1551 | 609 | 288 | 802 | 486 | 386 | 258 | 1377 | 2045 | 570 | 579 | 1288 | 1984 | 1811 | 1874 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 8:12PM1.50m | 8:42AM1.45m | 9:01PM1.51m | 9:26AM1.48m | 9:49PM1.53m | 10:09AM1.53m | 10:36PM1.55m | 10:55AM1.58m | 11:23PM1.58m | 11:44AM1.63m | 00:12AM1.61m | 12:36PM1.69m | 1:04AM1.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:55PM0.71m | 2:48AM0.69m | 2:42PM0.69m | 3:31AM0.67m | 3:30PM0.68m | 4:13AM0.66m | 4:19PM0.67m | 4:57AM0.65m | 5:09PM0.65m | 5:41AM0.63m | 6:00PM0.63m | 6:26AM0.62m | 6:52PM0.61m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | | |  | |
 | 7:47 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — |
 | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — |
mm | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 5 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 27 | 2 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Feels °C | 1 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 3 | -1 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 2 | -2 | 1 | -2 | -2 | 0 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | NW 8 | E 10 | S 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 8 | E 9 | ESE 11 | SSW 17 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 25 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 8 | 18 | 8 | 609 | 288 | 355 | 486 | 386 | 43 | 88 | 27 | 106 | 116 | 54 | 56 | 49 | 85 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 17 | S 15 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 18 | E 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | E 10 | SSW 13 | — | — | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 61 | 52 | 48 | 74 | 46 | 56 | — | — | 44 | 40 | 31 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 16 | — | NW 9 | S 14 | NW 8 | E 10 | SSW 16 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | SSW 14 | ESE 12 | — | — | — | S 21 | SSW 14 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 5 | — | 3 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 85 | 7 | 6 | 65 | 29 | — | — | — | 8 | 19 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | SSW 6 | S 8 | — | SE 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | — | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 218 | 226 | 276 | 116 | 54 | 122 | 1551 | — | 70 | 802 | 460 | — | 258 | 1377 | 2045 | 570 | 579 | 1288 | 1984 | 1811 | 1874 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 54 | 54 | 65 | 54 | 55 | 61 | 122 | 38 | 27 | 0 | 61 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 61 | 112 | 205 | 205 | 205 | 205 | 114 |
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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