Surf Forecasts:
Mangawhai Heads surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, NNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, NNW swell with 266 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period with N 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 (Sep 04) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s is also forecast. 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 1.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mangawhai Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: this outlook for Mangawhai Heads is a tough one. The next 16 days are mostly flat and disappointing. There’s a long gap right at the start with no surf worth paddling out for, stretching from the 2nd of September all the way through to the 9th. The swell is tiny, under 2 ft, and the wind is often offshore or cross-offshore, but the waves just don’t have any push. The combined wave energy is weak, sitting between 15 and 85 (weak energy), and the water temp is 59°, which is about normal for the time of year.
You’ll see a few mornings with clean lines and offshore breezes, but with such small swell, it’s really just a flattish paddle. The first sniff of something surfable comes on the 10th of September – Thursday morning – with a long-period groundswell (14 seconds) pushing in from the NE at 1 ft. The combined energy jumps to 57 (weak energy), and the wind is a gentle offshore from the WNW, making it clean. But let’s be real, 1 ft is barely a wave. It’s surfable but very ordinary.
The real standout, the only one worth getting a little excited about, is on the 15th of September – Tuesday morning. Mangawhai Heads gets a pulse of 4 ft swell from the E, with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy bumps up to 273 (moderate wave energy), and the wind is a gentle cross-offshore from the NNW, keeping it clean. This is the best on offer, but the short period means the waves will be a bit crumbly and less powerful. It’s a beach and reef setup, fairly consistent, and with a beginner-friendly size, but if it gets bigger than that, it could be a bit much for learners. Crowds are possible here, so don’t expect solitude.
After that, it drops back to tiny, clean, and weak again. The second week is all about that one Tuesday morning window. Long-range, mind you, so keep an eye on the charts.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Sat night, fresh winds from the W by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | N 6 | N 7 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | NNW 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 7 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | NE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 21 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 266 | 77 | 54 | 24 | 10 | 10 | 14 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:35AM2.13m | 10:52PM2.15m | 11:23AM2.11m | 11:40PM2.10m | 12:15PM2.07m | 00:34AM2.03m | 1:13PM2.04m | 1:34AM1.97m | 2:17PM2.02m | 2:39AM1.94m | 3:24PM2.04m | 3:47AM1.94m | 4:29PM2.09m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:53PM0.30m | 5:19AM0.20m | 5:42PM0.35m | 6:08AM0.24m | 6:36PM0.41m | 7:02AM0.28m | 7:36PM0.45m | 8:03AM0.32m | 8:43PM0.47m | 9:09AM0.32m | 9:51PM0.45m | 10:15AM0.30m | 10:57PM0.38m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:06 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 8 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | N 6 | N 7 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | NNW 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | 21 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 223 | 77 | 54 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 11 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 12 | ENE 10 | N 11 | NNW 3 | N 11 | N 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | N 10 | — | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | NE 9 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 8 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 14 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | — | N 11 | — | N 11 | — | — | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | E 11 | NE 16 | NE 16 | NE 17 |
| kJ | 4 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | W 3 | W 3 | NW 3 | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 6 | SW 2 | WSW 2 | SW 2 | — | N 4 | N 6 | NNW 8 | W 4 | WSW 4 | SW 3 | WSW 3 | W 3 | WSW 4 |
| kJ | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | — | 5 | 22 | 57 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 19 | 117 | 266 | 27 | 30 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 166 | 166 | 331 | 369 | 393 | 393 | 393 | 415 | 26 | 75 | 166 | 171 | 90 | 415 | 50 | 72 | 17 | 30 | 222 | 166 | 30 |
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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