Kaikōura – Mangamaunu
Kaikōura, Canterbury (Kaikōura), New Zealand
Sports: Surfing
Best time to go: June–July
Mangamaunu is a boulder point about 15 km north of Kaikōura, where the Seaward Kaikōura Range rises almost straight from the sea. On south-easterly to easterly swells the wave peels down the point as a long right over rounded stones, giving long rides on good days. North-westerly and westerly winds blow offshore.
The bottom is rocky, the current along the point can be strong, and the line-up is shared by locals and travelling surfers. The 2016 Kaikōura earthquake lifted parts of this coast and changed some of the breaks; Mangamaunu still works but differently from before. Fur seals and dolphins are common in the water here. The coast road (State Highway 1) runs right beside the point.
Month by month at Kaikōura – Mangamaunu
- January: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 17°C, air 20°C (nights 14°C), 26 sunny days, 14 rainy days
- February: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 17°C, air 20°C (nights 14°C), 22 sunny days, 14 rainy days
- March: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 2.1 m, water 16°C, air 19°C (nights 12°C), 26 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- April: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 2 m, water 15°C, air 18°C (nights 11°C), 22 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- May: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 2.2 m, water 13°C, air 16°C (nights 8°C), 21 sunny days, 10 rainy days
- June: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 2.3 m, water 12°C, air 13°C (nights 7°C), 19 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- July: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 2.4 m, water 11°C, air 12°C (nights 6°C), 20 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- August: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 2.2 m, water 10°C, air 13°C (nights 5°C), 24 sunny days, 12 rainy days
- September: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 2 m, water 11°C, air 15°C (nights 7°C), 25 sunny days, 13 rainy days
- October: 5 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 2 m, water 12°C, air 17°C (nights 8°C), 27 sunny days, 13 rainy days
- November: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 14°C, air 19°C (nights 11°C), 27 sunny days, 14 rainy days
- December: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 16°C, air 20°C (nights 13°C), 25 sunny days, 15 rainy days
When is the best time to go surfing at Kaikōura – Mangamaunu?
June–July, when the waves are biggest.
How warm is the water at Kaikōura – Mangamaunu?
10°C to 17°C over the year: a 4/3 full suit in the warmest month, a 5/4 with hood, boots and gloves in the coolest.
How windy is Kaikōura – Mangamaunu?
About 51 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in December.
Figures from 4 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).
Spots near Kaikōura – Mangamaunu
- Nelson – Rabbit Island (127 km)
- Wellington – Lyall Bay (138 km)
- Christchurch – New Brighton (158 km)
- Christchurch – Sumner (163 km)
- Plimmerton (164 km)
- Waikanae Beach (190 km)
- Foxton Beach (238 km)
More: All spots in New Zealand · Surfing in New Zealand
Compare with: Wellington – Lyall Bay vs Kaikōura – Mangamaunu · Kaikōura – Mangamaunu vs Christchurch – New Brighton · Kaikōura – Mangamaunu vs Christchurch – Sumner