Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui is the Bay of Plenty's consistent cornerstone—an east-facing beach break that enjoys a natural advantage over New Zealand's west coast spots: prevailing offshore winds. While the Tasman-facing breaks battle afternoon onshores, "The Mount" often stays clean all day, making it one of the country's most user-friendly waves. The iconic volcanic cone rises behind the beach, the vibrant holiday town offers every amenity, and multiple peaks along the main beach ensure there's space for everyone. Hart Street traditionally holds the best banks, while the Blow-Hole point section provides an alternative in southwest winds.
Mount Maunganui surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NE (45°)
- Direction range
- 20° - 60°
- Size range
- 0.5m - 2m
- Ideal size
- 1.2m - 1.6m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- WSW (240°)
- Offshore range
- 200° - 280°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
- Optimal range
- 0.3m - 1.4m
Water temp
19°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
7/10
Access: 15min from Tauranga Airport. Multiple peaks along main beach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Mount Maunganui?
Mount Maunganui is a beach break in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Mount Maunganui?
Mount Maunganui picks up swell from the NNE round to the ENE, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the NE. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. It starts working at around 0.5m and handles up to about 2m, with the sweet spot around 1.2 to 1.6m. Period matters too: aim for 12s or longer, as anything under 8s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Mount Maunganui?
A WSW wind is dead offshore at Mount Maunganui, and anything from the SSW round to the W keeps it clean. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Mount Maunganui?
Mount Maunganui is at its best around mid tide, roughly 0.3m to 1.4m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Mount Maunganui?
The most reliable run of swell at Mount Maunganui comes Nov to Mar. There's a second window in Apr to May and Oct too. Summer NE swells best. Prevailing offshore winds unlike west coast.
How cold is the water at Mount Maunganui?
The water at Mount Maunganui averages around 19°C, so you'll want a 3/2mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Mount Maunganui good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 4/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. It gets busy (crowd 7/10), so mind the pecking order. Popular beach - watch for swimmers. Rips in channels.
How do I get to Mount Maunganui?
The nearest airport on our list is TRG, then it's roughly a 15-minute drive. 15min from Tauranga Airport. Multiple peaks along main beach.
What other surf spots are near Mount Maunganui?
The closest breaks we track are Whangamata Bar (55 km), handy when Mount Maunganui isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Apr, May, Oct
Summer NE swells best. Prevailing offshore winds unlike west coast.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Whangamata Bar
🌊 Cyclone swell magic • Premier beach break left • Coromandel gem
Whakatane Heads
🥝 Right-hand point • NNE swell magnet • Bay of Plenty
Raglan
🥝 New Zealand's finest • Black sand point breaks • 300m rides
Raglan - Manu Bay
🇳🇿 One of Earth's longest lefts • Endless Summer legend • Kiwi soul
Manu Bay
🥝 Raglan's inside section • Endless lefts • Kiwi icon
Whale Bay
🥝 Left-hand point • SW swell magnet • Raglan
Plan a trip around Mount Maunganui
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