Mana island, New Zealand
Also within 20 km of Porirua
- Illusions - Plimmerton Surf spot · 1.5 km from Porirua
- Titahi Bay Surf spot · 1.5 km from Porirua
- Titahi bay beach Surf spot · 1.5 km from Porirua
- Plimmerton Bar Surf spot · 1.6 km from Porirua
- The Pa Surf spot · 3 km from Porirua
- Scouts den Surf spot · 18 km from Porirua
Watch this spot We email you when Mana island is worth the trip.
About Mana island
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NW (306°), so it takes swell from the NW. The wind blows offshore from the SE (126°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 3–11 ft of swell. The sea is about 13°C in July, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 17°C in January, its warmest (3/2 wetsuit). The town to stay in is Porirua, 5.7 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots.
Water about 14°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 29 h 30 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. MDW to WLG, changing at DFW and AKL.
See flights MDW → WLG · Skyscanner from about £750 returnAdGetting there. 50 min from the airport to Mana island.
Accommodation.
Stay in PoriruaAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Porirua (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Porirua 10 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 5 places to stay · where Mana island stays
Places to stay in Porirua · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Porirua · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Porirua · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
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Where it is
Mana island on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 51, good | 3 ft9 s | 193kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 4 knots | 13°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 22, too small | 3 ft10 s | 140kJ | wind from the north-east, 3 knots | 14°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 40, fair | 3 ft10 s | 156kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 4 knots | 13°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 10, too small | 3 ft9 s | 102kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 16 knots | 14°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 9, too small | 2 ft9 s | 54kJ | wind from the north-east, 15 knots | 15°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 8, too small | 2 ft8 s | 33kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 9 knots | 15°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 7, too small | 3 ft6 s | 45kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 20 knots | 15°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 3, too small | 2 ft7 s | 27kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 22 knots | 14°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft10 s | 17kJ | wind from the north-west, 23 knots | 15°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 1, too small | 1 ft9 s | 26kJ | wind from the north-west, 27 knots | 16°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 5, too small | 2 ft8 s | 55kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 22 knots | 14°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to WLG, changing at DFW and AKL, then 50 min by road. About 29h 30 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Mana island
Best 16:00 to 19:00 local time: 3 ft at 10 s, wind 4 kn (7 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 3 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to WLG, changing at DFW and AKL, then 50 min by road. About 29h 30 door to door
The plan picks the best of 6 spots near Porirua each day: Illusions - Plimmerton, Mana island, Plimmerton Bar, The Pa, Titahi Bay, Titahi bay beach.
Rough cost
About £1,385–£2,675 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to WLG, estimated from distance and season, changing at DFW and AKL, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £750–£1,560 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £45–£80 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £225–£375 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £230–£430 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £100–£165 |
| Total | £1,385–£2,675 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Porirua
- Spicy bitesIndian · 1.4 km from the centre
- Hell Pizza ManaPizza · 1.6 km from the centre
- Burger WisconsinBurger · 1.8 km from the centre
- Natraj Authentic Indian CuisineIndian · 1.8 km from the centre
- Topor BistroPolish · 1.8 km from the centre
- Kams Fish & Chip ShopFish and chips · 1.9 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
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