Surf Forecasts:
Mahia Spit surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, E swell with 517 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Mahia Spit this week:
The surf forecast for Mahia Spit over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Mahia Spit in the next 16 days are 1.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 5.0m 11s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mahia Spit over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SSE on Sat afternoon, near gales from the SW by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Wed night, min 8°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the W by Fri morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 9 | S 10 | S 12 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SSE 14 | S 9 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
875 | 668 | 313 | 252 | 326 | 246 | 220 | 167 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 88 | 17 | 10 | 5 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:50PM1.64m | 8:17AM1.54m | 8:41PM1.61m | 9:08AM1.52m | 9:30PM1.55m | 9:58AM1.49m | 10:19PM1.49m | 10:47AM1.45m | 11:07PM1.43m | 11:35AM1.41m | 11:54PM1.37m | 12:23PM1.37m | 00:42AM1.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:12AM0.03m | 2:30PM0.06m | 3:02AM0.05m | 3:22PM0.10m | 3:51AM0.09m | 4:12PM0.15m | 4:37AM0.14m | 5:00PM0.21m | 5:24AM0.20m | 5:48PM0.27m | 6:09AM0.26m | 6:36PM0.32m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | |
5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | |
mm | 5 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | -2 | -1 | -1 | -4 | -4 | -4 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 10 | SE 9 | S 14 | — | — | SE 14 | SE 14 | — | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 12 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 |
875 | 668 | 313 | 252 | 326 | 246 | 220 | 1104 | 92 | — | — | 47 | 29 | — | 1230 | 856 | 717 | 694 | 1474 | 1292 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 | ENE 9 | SE 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | E 10 | ENE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 9 | S 16 | E 10 | E 16 |
25 | 98 | 214 | 121 | 9 | 313 | 277 | 167 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 98 | 88 | 183 | 2 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SE 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 11 | SE 14 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 19 |
21 | 121 | 344 | 402 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 44 | 29 | 17 | 10 | 7 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 5 | SSW 8 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 6 | S 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 14 | S 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 125 | 1418 | 2715 | 2938 | 2285 | 162 | 1171 | 2736 | 6691 | 6622 | 4668 | 4899 | 1681 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 100 | 2 | 112 | 152 | 164 | 164 | 164 | 86 | 112 | 170 | 321 | 290 | 169 | 89 | 56 | 101 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Mahia Spit Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Mahia Spit provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Mahia Spit can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Mahia Spit 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 Spit) 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 Spit 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 Spit is 48 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.











