North Melrose Northwest Southgate | West Island Bay South Cook Strait | |
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Houghton Bay and Valley is one of the southern suburbs of Wellington, New Zealand.
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Wellington storm houghton bay 21 06 2013
Etymology
Houghton Bay was named after Captain Robert Houghton, who was the person responsible for the powder magazine on Matiu / Somes Island, and later the signal station at Mount Albert above Houghton Bay.
Location
It is between Island Bay and Lyall Bay, on the rocky shores of the Cook Strait. It has two beaches, Houghton Bay and Princess Bay, used by surfers, swimmers and divers.
Character
Houghton Bay and Valley is predominantly a residential area, but also contains the southern part of Wellington's Southern Walkway, the Buckley Road reserve, Houghton Valley School and the Southern Headlands Reserve. Along with other parts of Wellington's South Coast it is a popular recreational diving spot, within the Taputeranga Marine Reserve. In 2005 the decommissioned frigate HMNZS Wellington was sunk off Houghton Bay, and is now an artificial reef and dive location. Houghton Bay has a long history as a favourite surf spot of locals, and is smaller sister to neighbour and primary surfing locale Lyall Bay. On the hill overlooking the breakers is the legendary Wellington dance and dining venue, The Pines.
In the 19th century The Hermit of Island Bay lived in a nearby cave.
Transport
The primary residential and access streets are Hungerford Road, View Road and Houghton Bay Road.
Artists
Houghton Valley and Bay are home to musicians and artists, and to the Haewai Meadery and Wind Farm.
Aurora Australis
The Aurora Australis can be seen, as the light pollution is shielded to some degree by the range of hills along the coastline. Photos and reports are available online at Sharing Space. Aurora Report
A dark sky is necessary as most aurorae are weak and barely visible to the naked eye at this latitude.