Surf Forecasts:
Mangawhai Heads surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, NNE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, NNE swell with 1,003 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period with NNE 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 2.4m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Mangawhai Heads in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mangawhai Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about what’s going down at Mangawhai Heads for the next couple of weeks.
It’s a quiet start, mate. Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th are dead flat – tiny, messy waves, no good. The first real glimmer comes on Saturday the 29th. The morning’s still a mess with rain and cross-shore wind, but the afternoon turns it on. The wind drops to a light, glassy NW, and the swell jumps to 8.2ft from the NNE. The combined energy is strong (1770), and while the period is short at 8 seconds, the conditions are glassy and clean. This is proper for experienced surfers only – too big for beginners. The water temp is 57.9°, which is about average for the time of year, so nothing out of the ordinary.
After that, it fades fast. Sunday the 30th drops to under 3ft, and even with offshore winds, the waves are too small. Monday the 31st through the first week is a long flat spell – swell stays under 2.5ft, and the energy is weak. There’s a slight bump on Tuesday the 8th of September with a 3ft N swell, but it’s short period and weak energy (98). Nothing special. The 16-day window is mostly a dud, so if you want a wave, you’ve got to be on it Saturday afternoon. That’s your best shot. Good luck.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 10 | NNE 9 | N 3 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 9 | 8 | 7 | 47 | 126 | 182 | 652 | 1003 | 343 | 105 | 138 | 135 | 97 | 67 | 92 | 90 | 73 | 52 | 36 | 35 | 46 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:48PM2.01m | 7:02AM1.92m | 7:28PM2.09m | 7:45AM1.99m | 8:07PM2.15m | 8:26AM2.05m | 8:46PM2.19m | 9:08AM2.10m | 9:26PM2.20m | 9:51AM2.12m | 10:08PM2.19m | 10:35AM2.13m | 10:52PM2.15m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:39PM0.38m | 1:12AM0.43m | 1:22PM0.32m | 1:53AM0.35m | 2:04PM0.27m | 2:34AM0.27m | 2:45PM0.25m | 3:13AM0.21m | 3:26PM0.24m | 3:53AM0.18m | 4:09PM0.26m | 4:34AM0.18m | 4:53PM0.30m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 11 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 10 | NNE 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 5 | — | — | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 10 |
| kJ | 9 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 763 | 343 | 105 | 138 | 135 | 97 | 67 | 92 | 90 | 73 | 52 | 36 | 35 | 46 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 15 | — | E 13 | E 13 | NNE 8 | NNW 7 | — | N 6 | — | — | — | NW 5 | — | — | N 12 | N 11 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | 4 | 3 | 81 | 10 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 10 | E 11 | N 11 | N 11 | E 15 | — | — | — | SE 5 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 12 | — | N 12 | — |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 3 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 3 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | SSW 3 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | W 3 | W 3 | WNW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | 7 | 47 | 126 | 182 | 652 | 1003 | 5 | 12 | 28 | 32 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 17 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 73 | 86 | 73 | 393 | 407 | 73 | 73 | 0 | 115 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 50 |
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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