
Surf Forecasts:
Mangamaunu surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 13s period, SE swell with 2,032 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Mangamaunu this week:
The surf forecast for Mangamaunu over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Mangamaunu in the next 16 days are 2.4m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mangamaunu over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got Mangamaunu on the menu for the next couple of weeks, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag but with some absolute crackers in the mix.
The overall pattern starts nice, fades away for a bit, then comes roaring back with some serious power. The first few days are the clear standouts before we hit a lull, and then the second week ramps up into proper, heavy, expert-only territory.
Tuesday, July 21st is where you want to be. Morning kicks off with clear skies, a light offshore wind from the West, and a solid 5ft south swell pumping in with a long 14-second period. The combined energy is strong at 923, and it’s going to be clean as a whistle. By the afternoon, the wind drops to a dead glassy calm, the swell is still 5ft, and it’s just pure, lined-up perfection. This is the best of the whole run. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so a 3/2mm should be fine.
Wednesday, July 22nd is still good but smaller. A 3ft south swell with a cross-offshore wind in the morning keeps things clean. The energy drops to 223, so it’s a bit more relaxed. Afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-onshore wind though.
Thursday, July 23rd through Friday, July 24th is a quiet period. Swell drops right off. The energy falls to two-digit numbers, barely a ripple. You'd be struggling to get wet.
Saturday, July 25th gets interesting for the wrong reasons. The morning is blown out by an 18 mph wind, but the afternoon sees a jump in size to 8ft from the SSW. The problem is the period is short at 7 seconds, and it’s still cross-offshore with a fresh breeze, making it lumpy. The energy is moderate at 765 but it’s not clean.
Sunday, July 26th shows some promise again. A 3ft swell from the ESE with a very long 14-second period and a cross-offshore wind. The energy is 521, and the waves will have good shape, but it's not huge.
Monday, July 27th is another standout. The morning has a 4ft easterly swell with a 15-second period, very long period groundswell, and clean cross-offshore winds. The energy is 1028, moving into strong territory. The afternoon is even better: 6ft, glassy, and a 13-second period. The energy jumps to 1387. This is excellent, powerful surf. It’s getting into the size where it’s for the more experienced crew, but the conditions are pristine.
Tuesday, July 28th and Wednesday, July 29th see a bump in size but a drop in quality. We’re looking at 7ft and 6ft swells, but the winds turn cross-shore and cross-onshore, putting a bit of chop on the face. The energy is high (1635 and 893), but the conditions are only marginal.
Thursday, July 30th cleans up again. Morning brings a 5ft ESE swell, long 13-second period, and a light cross-offshore wind. Energy is 883, and it’s clean. This is a good session.
Friday, July 31st starts clean with a smaller 4ft ESE swell, but the afternoon gets blown out again by a 15 mph southerly.
Saturday, August 1st is a wild card. The morning is glassy, with a 7ft SSW swell but a short 8-second period. The energy is 905. The afternoon jumps to 8ft, which is big and pushing into expert-only territory, with a light cross-onshore wind.
Sunday, August 2nd is firing. The morning is glassy, with a 6ft south swell carrying a 14-second period. The energy is 1248. This is excellent, powerful surf for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets bigger at 8ft, but the wind turns onshore.
Now, Monday, August 3rd through Wednesday, August 5th, things get serious. The swell really cranks up. We’re talking 16ft on Monday morning with a 14-second period and a combined energy of 8397. That is massive. The wind is light, but the swell is way too big for this break. It’s a warning in the data: the break can’t handle this size. This is for the absolute elite, and even then, probably not. It settles to 12ft on Wednesday, but still a huge 15-second period and 5503 energy. The wind is cross-shore, making it tricky on top of the size. This is not a paddle-in session for anyone but the most experienced heavy-water surfers.
So, to wrap it up: the best all-round session is Tuesday, July 21st – clean, lined-up, and fun. The second best is Monday, July 27th for those who want a bit more power. After that, it’s a waiting game with a few good windows, but the end of the run is for the big-wave chargers only.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 3°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 13 | SSE 13 | NNE 5 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | NNE 6 | NE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 7 | SE 16 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | S 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1472 | 844 | 663 | 336 | 199 | 89 | 55 | 34 | 15 | 13 | 45 | 11 | 50 | 57 | 558 | 258 | 268 | 312 | 229 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:55PM1.52m | 10:26AM1.47m | 10:48PM1.45m | 11:19AM1.45m | 11:40PM1.39m | 12:10PM1.43m | 00:30AM1.35m | 12:59PM1.43m | 1:18AM1.33m | 1:45PM1.43m | 2:04AM1.32m | 2:30PM1.44m | 2:48AM1.32m | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:14AM0.13m | 4:39PM0.19m | 5:04AM0.18m | 5:32PM0.25m | 5:52AM0.23m | 6:23PM0.30m | 6:39AM0.27m | 7:13PM0.33m | 7:24AM0.30m | 8:00PM0.34m | 8:09AM0.31m | 8:46PM0.34m | |||||||
— | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 7 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
Feels °C | 4 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 13 | NE 4 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SE 18 | S 7 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 |
1472 | 844 | 663 | 336 | 199 | 67 | 55 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 35 | 113 | 17 | 22 | 150 | 181 | 268 | 312 | 229 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | S 9 | NE 8 | NNE 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SE 16 | SSW 15 | E 11 | E 12 |
88 | 70 | 70 | 31 | 23 | 89 | 34 | 34 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 57 | 51 | 258 | 73 | 61 | 103 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NE 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 12 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SE 13 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | ENE 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
— | 2 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 26 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 50 | 27 | 6 | 50 | 41 | 69 | 37 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 5 | — | — | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NW 2 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | — | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 7 |
— | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | — | 45 | 579 | 1 | 207 | 558 | — | 139 | 204 | 220 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 51 | 123 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 173 | 104 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Kaikoura and Marlborough | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Mangamaunu Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Mangamaunu provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Mangamaunu can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Mangamaunu 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 (Mangamaunu) 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 Mangamaunu 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.
Mangamaunu is 89 km (55 miles) from the city of Blenheim. If you plan a holiday in Kaikoura and Marlborough, look for hotels and other accommodation in Blenheim. Blenheim has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










