Surf Forecasts:
Mangawhai Heads surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, E swell with 262 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period with E 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. 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 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mangawhai Heads over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here.
Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a tough watch for Mangawhai Heads. This is a beach and reef set-up, exposed to the swell, but the ocean is just not cooperating. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing, with nearly two weeks of small, unimpressive swell and ordinary conditions. The first real surfable day doesn't even show up until Saturday, August 1st, and even then it’s a tease.
The water is sitting at 60°F – bang on average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.
The first ten days or so are a write-off. From Sunday the 19th right through to Friday the 31st of July, we’re looking at tiny waves – mostly 0.7ft to 2ft – with weak energy readings barely cracking 80 (most are in the teens and twenties). The swell direction is all over the shop, mostly from the east or southeast, and the periods are short and junk. Even when the wind goes offshore or glassy, there’s just no swell to work with.
Tuesday the 21st sees a little bump of 4ft from the east, but the wind is onshore and choppy, and the period is a pathetic 6 seconds – that’s windswell mush. The energy hits 137, but it’s not worth paddling out for.
The first real glimmer comes on Saturday, August 1st. The morning is still tiny at 1ft, but the afternoon brings a spike – 6ft from the NNW with clean cross-off winds from the SW at 9 mph. The energy jumps to 397, which is a solid moderate pulse. That’s the standout. It’s a short period (7 seconds) so it’ll be a bit crumbly, but for this dead stretch, it’s the best you’ll get.
Sunday the 2nd has a morning of 1ft (NE, 14 secs, 72 energy) with clean conditions, but the afternoon goes cross-shore and messy. By Monday the 3rd, it’s back to the doldrums.
If you’re a beginner, that 6ft on August 1st is a bit much – it’s into the intermediate zone. For everyone else, it’s the only window. The break is fairly consistent, and crowds are possible, but with the long run of flatness, you might have it to yourself. The swell direction from the NNW is not the NE optimum, but beggars can’t be choosers.
Honestly, the whole 16-day window is a struggle. It’s the kind of run that’s normal for this area when the swells are off. Hang in there, forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 14 | E 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | N 6 | E 9 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 64 | 56 | 58 | 30 | 29 | 262 | 109 | 54 | 21 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 61 | 26 | 58 | 56 | 31 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 10:48AM2.14m | 11:13PM2.27m | 11:40AM2.06m | 00:01AM2.16m | 12:31PM1.98m | 00:49AM2.03m | 1:24PM1.91m | 1:39AM1.92m | 2:17PM1.85m | 2:30AM1.83m | 3:12PM1.82m | 3:24AM1.78m | 4:06PM1.81m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:09PM0.15m | 5:44AM0.16m | 5:59PM0.26m | 6:32AM0.24m | 6:49PM0.38m | 7:20AM0.32m | 7:40PM0.49m | 8:08AM0.40m | 8:32PM0.58m | 8:58AM0.46m | 9:27PM0.64m | 9:50AM0.49m | 10:22PM0.65m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — |
 | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 12 | ESE 11 | E 6 | E 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 10 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | N 6 | N 7 | E 11 | N 5 | E 10 |
| kJ | 64 | 56 | 58 | 30 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 54 | 21 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 61 | 22 | 58 | 29 | 31 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | N 7 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | E 11 | E 7 | E 9 | N 6 | E 11 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 25 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 26 | 12 | 56 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 9 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | ESE 11 | E 10 | — | E 10 | E 11 | — | E 10 | N 8 | N 8 | NE 8 | E 16 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 8 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 8 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | SW 3 | — | — | SSW 2 | E 7 | E 6 | — | — | — | SW 3 | SW 3 | WSW 2 | — | — | NNW 5 | W 3 | SW 3 | W 4 | W 4 | SW 4 |
| kJ | 2 | 4 | — | — | 1 | 262 | 109 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 63 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 41 | 40 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 5 | 0 | 30 | 81 | 73 | 26 | 5 | 30 | 71 | 166 | 146 | 86 | 408 | 171 | 393 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 17 |
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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