Mangawhai Heads Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.08° S 174.60° E

Mangawhai Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 03 Oct 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Mangawhai Heads sea temperature is
15.2°C
0.1° 

Mangawhai Heads surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Mangawhai Heads surf forecast from 2 Oct 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 3 Oct, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period, NNE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 4 Oct, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 7s period, E swell with 681 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 3 Oct, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s 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 (Oct 03) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 17s. 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 2.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Oct 04) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Oct 03) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Sat 3rd Oct)1.5ft (0.4m) 9s
Best Surf10PM (Sat 3rd Oct)1.5ft (0.4m) 9s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sun 4th Oct)8ft (2.5m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mangawhai Heads over the next 16 days.


Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, fresh winds from the ESE by Thu night).

Saturday
3
Sunday
4
Monday
5
Tuesday
6
Wednesday
7
Thursday
8
Friday
9
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
NNE
9
0.3
NNE
9
0.5
NNE
9
2.1
E
7
2.2
E
8
1.8
E
7
1.4
E
6
1.6
E
7
1.5
ENE
8
1.3
ENE
7
1.1
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
7
0.8
E
7
0.7
E
7
0.7
ENE
7
0.6
NE
8
0.9
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
8
2
E
7
1.9
E
7
2.3
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
8
16
44
384
534
340
162
229
240
177
124
77
68
50
51
54
110
125
366
397
604
Wind (km/h)
15
WSW
20
SW
10
W
35
ESE
30
ESE
25
E
25
ESE
25
ESE
20
E
15
E
15
E
10
ESE
10
ESE
15
E
5
NE
10
E
15
ENE
25
E
30
E
30
E
30
E
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
off
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
on
glassy
on
on
on
on
on
on
High Tide
12:59PM2.15m
1:20AM2.02m
1:59PM2.09m
2:22AM1.95m
3:03PM2.05m
3:30AM1.91m
4:09PM2.05m
4:37AM1.91m
5:12PM2.08m
5:41AM1.96m
6:09PM2.12m
6:38AM2.03m
7:00PM2.16m
Low Tide
7:26PM0.37m
7:48AM0.27m
8:28PM0.41m
8:51AM0.32m
9:35PM0.43m
9:56AM0.35m
10:41PM0.40m
11:01AM0.34m
11:43PM0.34m
12:02PM0.31m
00:39AM0.27m
12:58PM0.28m
1:29AM0.20m
clear
clear
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:56
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—
6:54
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—
6:52
—
—
6:52
—
—
6:50
—
—
6:48
—
—
6:47
—
—
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
—
7:25
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—
7:25
—
—
7:27
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—
7:28
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7:29
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—
7:30
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—
7:30
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 mm
—
—
6
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1
Temp °C
16
16
13
12
13
13
13
13
13
14
14
13
15
15
15
16
16
14
14
14
15
Feels °C
12
12
11
5
7
8
7
7
8
10
11
11
14
13
15
14
14
12
9
9
10
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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