Mangamaunu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a coffee and listen up. I’ve been staring at the charts for our little slice of paradise, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s some serious firepower on the horizon.

The real story here is the push of energy that’s coming in. We’re looking at a proper run of swell, not just knee-high dribble. The standout, without a doubt, is Mangamaunu. This is a world-class point break, and it’s not for the faint of heart—it’s an advanced wave, and it’s very consistent. It’s exposed to the south, and the optimum swell direction is from the southeast, so keep that in mind.

The first real crack at it kicks off on Wednesday, August 5th. We’re talking a solid 12 ft of south swell, with a 12-second period. The energy is pumping hard, a massive 6168 (combined energy). That’s a lot of water moving. The wind is a gentle offshore from the WSW, so you’re looking at clean, groomed walls. This is expert territory only—anything over 8 ft and you’d better know what you’re doing. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so a steamer is probably a good idea for the dawn patrol.

The next morning, Thursday, August 6th, is a gem. The swell drops to a more manageable 6 ft from the SSE, but the wind is glassy—a light NW breeze at 5 km/h. The energy is still moderate (945), and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” The period is a solid 10 seconds, so it’ll have some shape. This is a much more user-friendly size, but still solid.

Friday, August 7th is another one to circle. The morning delivers a 5 ft south swell, but the period is a very long 14 seconds, and the energy is up at 1207. That’s a groundswell. At a point break like Mangamaunu, that long period is a dream—it’ll draw in beautifully with long, rifling walls. The wind is a light cross-off from the WNW, keeping it clean. The afternoon goes glassy with a NW wind, and the swell drops slightly to 5 ft with a 13-second period. That’s a solid day.

The weekend sees a drop in size. Saturday and Sunday (August 8th and 9th) are small, with 3 ft to 4 ft of swell, but the wind is glassy again. It’ll be a fun little board day, nothing to get too excited about.

Then we get a bit of a lull. Monday, August 10th, picks up to 6 ft, but the wind is a moderate cross-off from the WSW at 20 km/h, and the period is a short 8 seconds. The wave comment says “marginal.” That’s more of a choppy, short-period mess. Tuesday the 11th looks poor with onshore winds and small, short-period swell.

Things start to look a bit more interesting again on Thursday, August 13th, with a glassy 5 ft wave from the east, but it’s still a short period (7 seconds). It’s surfable.

The real return to form looks like it’s shaping up for Friday, August 14th. The morning brings a 8 ft east swell with an 8-second period, and the energy is back up to 1220. The wind is a clean cross-off from the SW. The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s a solid, powerful wave.

The following week, starting Monday, August 17th, we see another pulse. The morning of the 17th is a clean 5 ft southerly swell with a 7-second period and energy of 582. The wind is a gentle cross-off from the SW. Not the best period, but clean.

The absolute standout for the second week is Tuesday, August 18th. The afternoon is a glassy, 7 ft south swell with a 10-second period and energy of 1116. The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That is a dream session—no wind, proper size, and a good period. Mark it.

Then, on Thursday, August 20th, the morning is glassy with a 6 ft SSE swell and a very long 12-second period, with energy of 1441. That’s another absolute classic. The long period will make it a bit more challenging at a beach break, but at a point like Mangamaunu, it’s pure gold.

So, to sum it up: Thursday the 6th morning is your best early call for a clean, fun size. Friday the 7th is a classic groundswell day. The true standouts, the ones that will have you calling in sick, are the afternoons of Tuesday the 18th and the morning of Thursday the 20th. They’re a bit further out, so the forecast could shift, but right now, they look like complete magic.

Stay safe out there, and don’t be a hero if it’s too big.

Rusty.

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