Surf Forecasts:
Houghton Bay surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, S swell with 8,341 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. 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 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) 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 2.2m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Houghton Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, gather 'round. Rusty here to talk about Houghton Bay for the next couple weeks.
First thing: you’re looking at a dead start. From Wednesday the 29th right through the first weekend of August, it’s a write-off. Small lumpy junk, and the wind is howling onshore or cross-off. Don’t bother. Wednesday morning is the only tiny glimmer—a little 3ft ESE swell with a clean N offshore wind at 18 mph. Water temp is 55°F, which is dead normal for this time of year.
Sunday, August 2nd is the real deal. Morning sees a light WNW breeze at 6 mph, crossing off and glassy. We’ve got a solid 8ft S groundswell with an 11-second period. That’s real energy (1747 in the combined reading). It’s a bit heavy for beginners, but for anyone else, that’s the session of the week. The afternoon cleans up at 6ft with a gentle NNW breeze.
Monday, August 3rd follows it up. Morning has 7ft S swell with a moderate N offshore wind at 12 mph, clean. Then the afternoon goes off: a big 12ft S swell (12-second period, 3877 combined energy) with a gentle NNW offshore. That’s solidly in expert territory, powerful and organized.
Tuesday the 4th gets thumped by a 16ft S swell and onshore S winds—nasty, dangerous, a total mess. Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th have smaller, cleaner windows with swell around 6-7ft and lighter winds, but nothing touches that Sunday-Monday combo.
The second week is a desert. From Friday the 7th onward, it’s gales, onshore winds, and tiny, broken swell. The energy drops to nearly nothing. A few days in there the combined energy is just 49 or 19. That stretch from the 7th to the 13th is completely flat and blown out. Wouldn’t wet a suit.
Bottom line: your window is tight. Sunday Aug 2nd and Monday Aug 3rd. S swell, clean conditions, and some real grunt. The rest of it is for the windsurfers or the inside of the pub.
– Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (fresh winds from the N on Wed morning, near gales from the NNW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 11°C on Mon afternoon, min 6°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sat morning, light winds from the NNW by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 16 | SSW 6 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 265 | 217 | 164 | 109 | 74 | 71 | 40 | 38 | 454 | 4386 | 4961 | 3887 | 1685 | 736 | 657 | 1158 | 3877 | 6424 | 8175 | 5876 | 3181 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 4:31PM1.53m | 5:05AM1.41m | 5:16PM1.51m | 5:52AM1.41m | 6:04PM1.50m | 6:40AM1.42m | 6:54PM1.50m | 7:27AM1.44m | 7:46PM1.50m | 8:15AM1.48m | 8:39PM1.52m | 9:01AM1.53m | 9:29PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:20AM0.75m | 11:06PM0.75m | 11:06AM0.73m | 11:57PM0.74m | 11:52AM0.71m | 00:46AM0.72m | 12:39PM0.70m | 1:33AM0.70m | 1:29PM0.68m | 2:19AM0.69m | 2:21PM0.67m | 3:05AM0.67m | 3:15PM0.66m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | |  |  |  | | | |  | | | | |  | | |
 | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — |
 | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Feels °C | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -5 | -4 | -2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 11 | NW 8 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 14 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | S 19 | — | — | — | — | S 12 |
| kJ | 265 | 217 | 164 | 109 | 74 | 71 | 40 | 25 | 55 | 155 | 137 | 149 | 1685 | 736 | 657 | 29 | — | — | — | — | 3181 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | ESE 11 | SE 15 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 13 | SSE 13 | S 22 | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 20 | 40 | 125 | 67 | 60 | 35 | 28 | 23 | 37 | 19 | 18 | 8 | 62 | 402 | 9 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | SSW 9 | — | S 18 | — | — | ESE 12 | SE 16 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | S 19 | S 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 5 | 8 | — | 6 | — | — | 14 | 38 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 12 | — | NNW 4 | NW 4 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | — |
| kJ | 30 | 102 | 251 | 222 | 184 | 415 | 217 | 293 | 454 | 4386 | 4961 | 3887 | — | 23 | 6 | 1158 | 3877 | 6424 | 8175 | 5876 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 38 | 54 | 61 | 62 | 65 | 62 | 124 | 124 | 109 | 109 | 109 | 112 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 61 | 205 | 112 |
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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