Mangawhai Heads surf break

Mangawhai Heads surfForecast / Northland / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Tuesday 21 Apr 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Mangawhai Heads surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Mangawhai Heads sea temperature is
19.8° C
(Which is 1.2°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

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 Tuesday (Apr 28) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. 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 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Apr 24) at 12PM. 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 Tuesday (Apr 28) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Tue 28th Apr)2ft (0.6m) 7s
Best Surf12AM (Wed 29th Apr)3.5ft (1.1m) 9s
Most Powerful12PM (Fri 24th Apr)8ft (2.5m) 8s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Thu night, fresh winds from the ESE by Fri morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tue
28
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.5
E
0.6
E
0.7
E
1.4
ESE
0.9
ESE
0.9
ESE
1.4
E
2.3
E
2.5
E
1.9
E
1.2
E
0.9
ENE
0.5
ENE
0.2
E
0.2
E
0.2
N
0.4
NE
0.2
N
0.2
N
0.6
NE
0.9
NNE
Period(s) (?)111111676677766589146131379
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)578211614579681585696813281065416661514131342135
Wind
(km/h)
15
SW
20
S
15
S
20
SSE
15
SSE
15
SSE
15
SSE
30
ESE
35
ESE
20
E
10
ESE
10
SE
5
S
5
SSW
0
SE
10
WSW
10
WSW
20
SW
10
WSW
10
SW
15
SW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off
crosscrosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
crosscross-
on
ononcross-
on
cross-
on
crosscross-
off
glassoffcross-
off
cross-
off
offcross-
off
cross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
10:26PM
2.35
10:45AM
2.19
11:20PM
2.29
11:41AM
2.10
12:18AM
2.20
12:41PM
2.00
1:18AM
2.12
1:45PM
1.91
2:21AM
2.06
2:51PM
1.87
3:23AM
2.02
3:54PM
1.87
4:20AM
2.01
4:52PM
1.90
Low Tide
/ height (m)
4:52AM
0.19
5:11PM
0.08
5:49AM
0.25
6:08PM
0.17
6:49AM
0.32
7:07PM
0.26
7:52AM
0.37
8:10PM
0.34
8:55AM
0.40
9:13PM
0.40
9:56AM
0.39
10:14PM
0.42
10:52AM
0.36
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tue
28
Sunrise-6:50--6:52--6:52--6:54--6:54--6:54--6:56-
Sunset--5:47--5:45--5:45--5:44--5:43--5:42--5:40
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
heavy rain
mod rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
Rain (mm)
------117210-----------
Temp. °C121313141313131515161716141517141717161718
Feels °C (?)99911991089121515121417121413141516
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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