Mount Maunganui Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, grab a coffee and listen up. I’m Rusty, and I’ve been watching this stretch of coast for a lifetime. So let’s get into it.

Alright, look, the next week and a half is a bit of a mixed bag. We’re in a flat spell, but like a good Southern Ocean storm, things are brewing for the tail end of the month. The first few days are a write-off, but I’ll talk you through the waiting game.

From Saturday the 18th right through to the 25th, you’re looking at tiny, un-rideable stuff. The swell is barely a ripple, with a combined energy reading of just 8 (weak) and water temps sitting at 57°F, which is a touch colder than usual for this time of year. It’s clean, sure, but that’s about it. For a spot like Mount Maunganui that needs a bit more push, this is a dead zone. The handling is poor, and the wind is a cross-offshore that just isn’t doing anything for us.

The first real sign of life comes on Sunday the 26th of July. The morning session at Mount Maunganui will see a tiny 2ft swell from the NE, with a combined energy of 84 (still weak). The conditions are ordinary, but you might get a few knee-high sliders. By the afternoon, the wind swings to a light offshore from the SW, with a 2ft E swell and a very long period of 9 seconds. It’s clean, but the size is still a struggle.

Now, get your wetsuit ready because Monday the 27th is the standout. The morning brings a proper jump in energy. We’re looking at a 6ft easterly swell with a combined energy of 488 (strong). The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SW, keeping it clean. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s a bit of a windswell, but at that size, Mount Maunganui will be offering some solid, rideable waves. The afternoon settles down to 5ft, but the energy is still moderate at 289. It’s a good day for a confident intermediate, but for beginners, it’s pushing the limit.

Tuesday the 28th keeps the fun going. The morning is a treat: a 5ft swell from the ENE with a period of 9 seconds and a clean offshore wind from the S. The combined energy is 311 (strong). This is a sweet spot for the Mount. The afternoon will see a drop in size to 4ft, with a stronger cross-offshore, making it a bit more tricky.

After that, the swell hangs around but gets a bit messy. Wednesday the 29th shows 4ft from the ENE, but the wind turns cross-shore and then cross-onshore, which will put some chop on the surface. The energy is still there (253-279), but the quality drops. Thursday the 30th is a step down to 3ft, and the wind is onshore, so it’s time to find a different spot or just watch the horizon.

The first few days of August are a return to the small stuff. A 2ft to 1ft E swell with glassy conditions on the morning of the 31st, but the energy is weak. It’s a patchy, ordinary stretch.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th of July at Mount Maunganui. That’s where the real energy is. The Monday morning is the biggest, with a 6ft E swell (strong energy at 488), and the Tuesday morning is a classic, with a 5ft ENE swell and a clean offshore wind. The water is a bit cold, the crowds are a possibility, but the waves will be there.

Rusty.

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