Surf Forecasts:
Mangawhai Heads surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 12s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, N swell with 55 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 17 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 12s period with NE 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 Thursday (Sep 17) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 4s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Mangawhai Heads in the next 16 days are 1.0m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 1ft (0.3m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 1ft (0.3m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mangawhai Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Mangawhai Heads over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with ya – it’s a tough stretch. The wave energy is really struggling to get going, with the combined swell energy barely cracking 88 (weak) at its best, and mostly sittin’ in the 20s and 30s. That’s flat spell territory for this exposed beach and reef set-up. We’ve got a solid gap of no real surf from now until roughly Thursday the 17th of September.
The water temp is sittin’ around 60°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year – nothin’ wild there.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting, but ya gotta keep your hopes in check. From Thursday the 17th of September morning, we finally see a little bump. The swell direction is from the north, which is about as good as it gets for this spot – the optimum is NE. The swell’s a tiny 3ft with a short period of 5 seconds, so it’s gonna be a bit crumbly and weak. The wind is light from the NNW, giving us clean conditions. The combined energy is 70 (still weak). This is the one window that’s surfable, but it’s not gonna light the world on fire.
If you’re really jonesin’, Thursday the 17th morning is the pick of a very average lot. It’s not big, it’s not powerful, but it’s clean and the swell direction is right. After that, it drops right back off into tiny, weak dribble for the rest of the forecast. No standouts to speak of, just a brief, ordinary window.
– Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 14 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 14 | NNE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | N 5 | N 5 | NE 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 32 | 32 | 23 | 24 | 31 | 17 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 41 | 55 | 21 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 7:12PM2.29m | 7:36AM2.18m | 7:59PM2.30m | 8:23AM2.21m | 8:43PM2.28m | 9:08AM2.20m | 9:26PM2.22m | 9:52AM2.17m | 10:08PM2.14m | 10:35AM2.10m | 10:50PM2.03m | 11:19AM2.02m | 11:33PM1.93m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:40AM0.13m | 1:57PM0.13m | 2:26AM0.09m | 2:43PM0.14m | 3:09AM0.09m | 3:28PM0.19m | 3:51AM0.13m | 4:11PM0.26m | 4:32AM0.20m | 4:55PM0.35m | 5:14AM0.29m | 5:39PM0.45m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 6:08 | — | — | 6:08 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 14 | NNE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 32 | 32 | 16 | 16 | 31 | 17 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 20 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 14 | NNE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | ENE 9 | ENE 12 | ENE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 13 | E 9 | NE 13 | NNE 11 | NNE 11 | N 11 | NE 10 | N 11 | N 5 |
| kJ | 29 | 18 | 23 | 24 | 8 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 13 | NE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 12 | ENE 9 | N 14 | N 14 | N 13 | N 13 | N 13 | E 8 | NE 14 | E 8 | E 8 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | E 14 | NE 12 |
| kJ | 27 | 26 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 21 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 2 | SW 2 | SSW 2 | — | — | — | — | NE 8 | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | — |
| kJ | 17 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | 41 | 55 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 124 | 10 | 42 | 124 | 5 | 10 | 42 | 145 | 166 | 30 | 166 | 30 | 30 | 71 | 71 | 219 | 73 | 0 | 73 | 0 |
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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