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Mahia Reef surfForecast / Gisborne and Mahia / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Monday 20 Apr 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Mahia Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Mahia Reef sea temperature is
16.7° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Mahia Reef this week:

The surf forecast for Mahia Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Apr 24) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Mahia Reef in the next 16 days are 5.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Apr 22) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Apr 21) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Fri 24th Apr)5ft (1.5m) 8s
Best Surf 9PM (Fri 24th Apr)5ft (1.6m) 8s
Most Powerful 6AM (Wed 22nd Apr)18ft (5.5m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mahia Reef over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 44mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon afternoon, gales from the SSW by Tue night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
2
1
1
0
0
2
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.2
S
0.2
S
1.9
S
2.3
S
4
S
5
S
4.5
S
3.5
SSE
3
SSE
2.5
SSE
1.9
SSE
1.5
SSE
1.5
SSE
1.5
S
1.3
S
1.3
S
1.3
S
1.1
S
1
S
0.9
S
0.6
S
Period(s) (?)881010111111101099888991010101016
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)557161058330260174294237714331062579329313331247258365244198159174
Wind
(km/h)
5
N
5
W
25
W
30
W
25
WSW
60
SSW
45
S
35
S
25
S
25
SSW
10
SSW
5
W
10
SSW
5
W
5
N
20
NE
15
NNW
10
WNW
10
E
10
W
5
NW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
glassoncross-
on
oncross-
on
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
crosscrosscross-
on
crossglassglasscross-
off
cross-
on
onoffcross-
on
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
8:06PM
1.93
8:37AM
1.81
8:59PM
1.93
9:34AM
1.78
9:55PM
1.89
10:30AM
1.74
10:54PM
1.82
11:26AM
1.68
11:54PM
1.75
12:22PM
1.61
12:52AM
1.69
1:20PM
1.55
1:47AM
1.63
Low Tide
/ height (m)
2:26AM
0.13
2:46PM
0.13
3:24AM
0.11
3:43PM
0.12
4:21AM
0.11
4:40PM
0.12
5:19AM
0.11
5:38PM
0.12
6:17AM
0.12
6:34PM
0.14
7:13AM
0.14
7:31PM
0.18
8:06AM
0.17
Mon
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Sunrise--6:41--6:41--6:43--6:43--6:45--6:46--6:47
Sunset5:32--5:31--5:30--5:29--5:28--5:27--5:24--
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
-71-161442-1-----------
Temp. °C171614151512131313131313141214151416151516
Feels °C (?)1714101013144781012121012111115131416
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Mahia Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


Information about the Mahia Reef Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Mahia Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Mahia Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Mahia Reef 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 (Mahia Reef) 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 Mahia Reef 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.

Mahia Reef is 49 km (30 miles) from the city of Gisborne. If you plan a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Gisborne. Gisborne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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