Surf Forecasts:
Mangawhai Heads surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, ESE swell with 121 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Mangawhai Heads this week:
The surf forecast for Mangawhai Heads over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Mangawhai Heads in the next 16 days are 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) 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 0.7m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Fri 31st Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mangawhai Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a good look at what’s on the cards for Mangawhai Heads over the next couple of weeks.
Starting off, it’s a bit of a slow one. The first week or so is pretty ordinary, with long gaps of nothing really worth paddling out for. The first few days from Friday the 31st of July through to Tuesday the 4th of August serve up small, weak waves. The best of that early period is Friday morning, with a 3 ft swell from the north but a short period of 7 seconds, and clean offshore winds from the west-northwest. The water’s sitting at 59°, which is about normal for this time of year. The combined energy is only 139 (weak), so it’s really just a knee-high dribble for the beginners. After that, it’s flat and messy for days.
Now, the real standout is a solid pulse of swell arriving a week later. On Sunday the 9th of August, a big swell starts building but it’s blown out by strong onshores. The real magic happens on Monday the 10th of August. That morning, we’ve got a 15 ft groundswell from the northeast with a period of 12 seconds – that’s a proper long-period groundswell. The combined energy is a massive 5834 (very strong), and the wind is light cross-offshore from the southwest, keeping it clean. This is a big, powerful wave that’s only for experienced surfers, but if you’re comfortable in that size, it’s going to be pumping. The direction is from the northeast, which matches the optimum swell direction for this spot. It carries on into Tuesday the 11th with 10 ft swell from the east-northeast and clean cross-off winds, still a heavy wave. Wednesday the 12th drops to 7 ft but stays clean, a solid option for experienced surfers who want a slightly more manageable size.
So, if you’re a confident surfer and you can handle big, powerful groundswell, mark your calendar for the 10th and 11th of August. That’s the best on offer. The first week is a write-off for most.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | N 7 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 | NE 16 | ESE 5 | E 7 | ESE 6 | NE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 12 | NE 14 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 71 | 64 | 62 | 38 | 41 | 57 | 107 | 51 | 28 | 17 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:39PM2.11m | 8:53AM1.96m | 9:17PM2.13m | 9:34AM1.98m | 9:56PM2.14m | 10:16AM1.99m | 10:35PM2.14m | 10:59AM2.00m | 11:17PM2.11m | 11:46AM2.00m | 00:03AM2.08m | 12:36PM1.99m | 00:53AM2.04m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:32PM0.29m | 3:05AM0.37m | 3:13PM0.28m | 3:45AM0.33m | 3:52PM0.29m | 4:24AM0.30m | 4:33PM0.31m | 5:04AM0.28m | 5:15PM0.35m | 5:46AM0.28m | 6:01PM0.39m | 6:32AM0.28m | 6:52PM0.43m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | E 11 | NNE 6 | E 7 | ESE 6 | E 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 |
| kJ | 71 | 45 | 20 | 11 | 39 | 7 | 107 | 51 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 | NNE 6 | NE 15 | NE 15 | ENE 14 | NE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 5 | E 5 | E 4 | E 4 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 63 | 64 | 62 | 38 | 6 | 34 | 34 | 20 | 28 | 17 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | NE 18 | NE 17 | E 13 | NE 16 | NE 10 | N 6 | E 10 | E 9 | NE 16 | NE 15 | NE 14 | NE 18 | NE 18 | NE 16 | SE 6 | NE 15 | N 11 | NE 18 | NE 18 | NE 16 |
| kJ | 5 | 12 | 11 | 31 | 41 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 4 | W 4 | WSW 3 | — | ESE 3 | ESE 5 | S 2 | S 3 | SSW 3 | W 2 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | WSW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | N 4 |
| kJ | 10 | 12 | 2 | — | 5 | 57 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 73 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 369 | 369 | 248 | 10 | 166 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 90 | 73 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Northland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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