Surf Forecasts:
Houghton Bay surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 12s period, S swell with 9,253 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m 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 6.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) 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 23) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Houghton Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Houghton Bay.
It’s a beach and reef setup down here, and we're starting off the run on August 16th with a fair bit of grunt in the water, but the wind has it all chopped up. Those first few days are a write-off. The swell is pushing a solid 15 ft on Sunday with a god-awful 34 mph southerly roaring straight onshore. The combined energy is pumping at a massive 3386, but it’s messy, dangerous, and not worth suiting up for. This garbage pattern hangs around right through until the 19th, with big numbers, dropping period, and wind that just won’t let up.
We finally catch a break Thursday afternoon the 20th. The swell drops to 5 ft from the south, but the wind goes glassy – dead calm – out of the northeast. It’s clean as a whistle, and the combined energy is a moderate 589. That’s the first real window for a paddle, though it’s a bit inconsistent here.
The 21st of August, Friday morning, has a 5 ft south swell, period stretching out to 13 seconds, and clean but cross-off conditions with a moderate breeze from the northwest. Decent shape. The real moment of the week, though? The afternoon of the 21st. The swell holds at 6 ft from the south, and the period touches 16 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The wind is offshore from the north-northwest at 19 mph, leaving it clean and lined up. The combined energy is strong at 1642. For a spot that can be inconsistent, this is a solid session for intermediate surfers.
The swell backs right off over the 22nd and 23rd. Small, choppy, not worth talking about. The weekend is flat.
But don’t write this forecast off. Come Wednesday the 26th of August, things get interesting. Morning brings an 12 ft south-southwest swell with an 8-second period – steep, powerful, and clean. The combined energy is 1369. Then the afternoon goes glassy, with a 16 ft south-southwest swell and a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is massive at 4767. That is big, powerful, and clean. If you’re an experienced surfer, this is your session. It's going to be a freight train on the takeoff.
Thursday the 27th stays solid with an 12 ft southerly swell and a clean 12 mph offshore, though the period drops back. Friday the 28th morning still has 10 ft on offer from the south, with clean cross-off breeze and a combined energy of 2336. That's another good one for experienced crew.
After that, things break down again at the end of the month. The 29th brings rain and onshore wind, and by the 31st, it’s all but gone.
The best bets: glassy session on the afternoon of the 20th for a calm paddle, or the standout sessions for experienced surfers on the afternoon of the 26th and morning of the 28th.
Be safe. This stretch has some serious juice.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SSW on Sat night, light winds from the S by Mon afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Tue night, calm by Thu morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 12 | S 8 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 14 | S 13 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 13 | S 16 | S 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1193 | 3314 | 3009 | 1916 | 836 | 435 | 420 | 1786 | 3459 | 9253 | 4735 | 5306 | 1977 | 650 | 577 | 585 | 623 | 1630 | 663 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 7:30AM1.63m | 7:55PM1.65m | 8:23AM1.64m | 8:49PM1.63m | 9:14AM1.65m | 9:40PM1.61m | 10:02AM1.64m | 10:28PM1.60m | 10:50AM1.63m | 11:13PM1.57m | 11:37AM1.61m | 11:56PM1.55m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:24AM0.56m | 1:42PM0.51m | 2:17AM0.58m | 2:40PM0.55m | 3:08AM0.61m | 3:35PM0.59m | 3:57AM0.64m | 4:27PM0.63m | 4:44AM0.66m | 5:16PM0.66m | 5:28AM0.69m | 6:02PM0.68m | |||||||
— | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | -1 | -4 | -4 | -4 | -1 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 9 | S 19 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SE 8 | E 10 | E 10 | — | SE 13 | SE 13 | S 13 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 13 | S 16 | S 13 |
5 | 60 | 30 | 273 | 222 | 269 | 119 | 69 | 32 | — | 28 | 7 | 1977 | 650 | 577 | 585 | 623 | 1630 | 663 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | E 8 | S 20 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 16 | ESE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 13 | SSW 16 | S 17 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
7 | 12 | 31 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 65 | 47 | 10 | — | — | — | 24 | 20 | 7 | 86 | 454 | 12 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | — | — | SE 15 | ESE 15 | SE 15 | SE 14 | ESE 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 11 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | — | SE 12 |
17 | — | — | 9 | 23 | 9 | 8 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 6 | 14 | — | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 12 | S 8 | S 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 14 | — | — | NW 3 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 |
1193 | 3314 | 3009 | 1916 | 836 | 435 | 420 | 1786 | 3459 | 9253 | 4735 | 5306 | — | — | 4 | 15 | 41 | 28 | 20 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 228 | 228 | 205 | 112 | 112 | 112 | 62 | 62 | 258 | 114 | 137 | 62 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 38 |
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.











