Houghton Bay is famous for being the location of the dive reef formerly known as HMNZS Wellington (F69), a Leander class frigate.
The SinkF69 Charitable Trust was formed solely for the acquisition of the retired frigate, utilising the vessel to create an artificial marine reef and a recreational diver facility. The Trust obtained all necessary consents in 2003, with the frigate being acquired for one dollar from the Royal New Zealand Navy in April 2005. Placement onto the seabed was completed successfully on the 13th November 2005. There were hundreds of people there to watch the event (including me), both on the hills and along the foreshore. Good views are to be had from the location of GC6JM62 (Cook Strait Lookout) cache, on the hills to the south-east.
The F69 sunken wreck is 1.1km from the shore.
There is parking close to GZ, and the Metlink Wellington #23 Houghton Bay bus goes pretty close to the location.
Reasonably high muggle area, so some stealth required.