Surf Forecasts:
Mangawhai Heads surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, NNW swell with 226 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Mangawhai Heads this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Mangawhai Heads in the next 16 days are 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) 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 1.5m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mangawhai Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, looking at the Mangawhai Heads (Mangawhai Heads) outlook. Gotta tell you, the next couple of weeks are a tough stretch.
From now until the end of September, we're in a proper lull. Most days are pumping out tiny, weak surf – ankle to knee-high at best. The energy's barely there, and the wind's usually a cross-off or cross-shore mess. Swell direction's not really locking in with that ideal northeast either.
Water's sitting around 60°F, which is pretty standard for this time of year.
The only time things wake up is right at the end. Sunday the 27th, we finally get a pulse of energy – enough to push a foot-and-a-half swell from the east at a long 14-second interval. The wind goes glassy, with a light north-northwest breeze that'll have it looking like a millpond. It's still small and ordinary, but it'll be clean as a whistle for a longboard.
Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th keep that same clean, tiny run going with glassy conditions and waves around a foot-and-a-half.
Other than that little window, it's a flat, quiet period. If you need a fix, aim for that glassy Sunday at the end of the month or the following morning.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the N by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 13 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | N 6 | N 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 23 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 26 | 15 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 40 | 24 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 4 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:26PM2.22m | 9:52AM2.17m | 10:08PM2.14m | 10:35AM2.10m | 10:50PM2.03m | 11:19AM2.02m | 11:33PM1.93m | 12:05PM1.93m | 00:19AM1.83m | 12:55PM1.85m | 1:10AM1.74m | 1:49PM1.79m | 2:06AM1.69m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:51AM0.13m | 4:11PM0.26m | 4:32AM0.20m | 4:55PM0.35m | 5:14AM0.29m | 5:39PM0.45m | 5:57AM0.39m | 6:26PM0.54m | 6:44AM0.47m | 7:17PM0.62m | 7:36AM0.54m | 8:12PM0.68m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 10 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 13 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | N 6 | N 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 11 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 |
| kJ | 23 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 26 | 15 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 40 | 24 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | NE 13 | E 9 | NE 13 | NNE 11 | NNE 11 | E 13 | NE 10 | E 13 | NE 12 | NE 11 | N 7 | E 13 | E 13 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NW 5 | N 7 | E 11 |
| kJ | 5 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | NE 14 | N 12 | E 8 | E 8 | N 11 | E 13 | — | E 12 | E 12 | SSE 6 | NE 11 | SE 10 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 8 | N 8 | E 15 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 2 | — | — | SW 2 | — | — | NW 3 | N 5 | N 6 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SW 5 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 4 |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | 54 | 134 | 14 | 17 | 89 | 71 | 46 | 42 | 43 | 42 | 37 | 17 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 42 | 98 | 97 | 166 | 166 | 166 | 393 | 73 | 393 | 201 | 5 | 225 | 186 | 297 | 309 | 393 | 393 | 309 | 297 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Northland | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Mangawhai Heads Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Mangawhai Heads provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Mangawhai Heads can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Mangawhai Heads 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 (Mangawhai Heads) 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 Mangawhai Heads 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.
Mangawhai Heads is 46 km (29 miles) from the city of Whangarei. If you plan a holiday in Northland, look for hotels and other accommodation in Whangarei. Whangarei has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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