Mangawhai Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, looking at the next couple of weeks at Mangawhai Heads. This is a beach and reef setup that can be a bit hit and miss, and honestly, the start of this forecast is a bit of a letdown. We’ve got a few rough days to get through before we find anything worthwhile.

We kick off on Sunday, the 9th of August, but it’s not a day for a paddle. Light rain and a stiff NNW breeze at 12 mph have things messy, with a weak 5ft swell from the north, a short period of only 6 seconds, and very low energy (175). The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Sunday afternoon is just as grim with a 6ft onshore bump and strong cross-shore wind.

Monday the 10th shows a flicker of hope. The morning has a clean 4ft swell from the NNE with a light SW cross-off breeze at 6 mph. It’s not pumping, but it’s surfable. The swell period is still short at 8 seconds, and the energy is moderate (247). Monday afternoon stays clean but drops to 4ft.

Tuesday the 11th is the first real standout. The morning is glassy with a slight SE breeze at 3 mph, and we’ve got a waist-high 3ft swell from the NNE, 8-second period, and weak energy (133). It’s not big, but it’s clean and workable. The afternoon turns onshore and messy.

Wednesday the 12th is a write-off with a strong ENE breeze and building 6ft to 7ft swell, but all that energy (378 to 431) is ruined by a choppy cross-onshore wind. Thursday the 13th morning offers a clean 3ft with light NW winds, but it’s ordinary.

Then we get to the best of the bunch. Friday the 14th morning is glassy with a WNW breeze at 3 mph and a clean 4ft swell from the NNE, 6-second period, moderate energy (192). It’s a nice little window for a longboard or a fun fish. The standout though is Saturday the 15th morning. We’ve got a clean 4ft swell from the NE with a 9-second period, moderate energy (177), and a clean offshore W breeze at 9 mph. That’s a solid combo for Mangawhai Heads—clean, offshore, and a bit of period behind it. Crowds can be a factor here at times, so get in early.

After that, it drops off. Sunday the 16th is small and clean but tiny. Monday the 17th morning brings a 5ft swell from the east, 8-second period, with a clean SSW cross-off breeze. Energy jumps to 302, which is solid, but the period is short and the direction isn’t ideal for this spot. Still, it’s the last decent session before a long dry spell.

From Tuesday the 18th all the way through to Sunday the 24th of August, it’s pretty much a desert. The swell gets weaker and weaker, wind is onshore or cross-shore, and the energy drops to tiny numbers—down to 26 at one point. There’s nothing worth paddling out for until Monday the 24th of August, when a 5ft swell from the NE appears, but it’s accompanied by a stiff onshore ESE breeze at 12 mph and poor conditions. That one’s a pass.

So bottom line: your best bet is Saturday morning the 15th of August—clean, offshore, and a little bit of period. Tuesday the 11th morning and Friday the 14th morning are also worth a look for a quick session. After that, it’s a long wait.

Rusty.

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