Mania reef, New Zealand
Also within 20 km of Pauanui
- pauanui Surf spot · 3.9 km from Pauanui
- Sailors Grave Surf spot · 6 km from Pauanui
- Opotere Surf spot · 7.1 km from Pauanui
- Onemana Surf spot · 12.1 km from Pauanui
- Whangamata Estuary Surf spot · 17.8 km from Pauanui
- Clark Island Surf spot · 19.1 km from Pauanui
- Double Brown Surf spot · 19.1 km from Pauanui
- Donut Island Surf spot · 19.6 km from Pauanui
Watch this spot We email you when Mania reef is worth the trip.
About Mania reef
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces E (102°), so it takes swell from the E. The wind blows offshore from the W (282°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 3–12 ft of swell. The sea is about 15°C in August, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 22°C in February, its warmest (2 mm shorty). The town to stay in is Pauanui, 6.5 km away (about 15 min by car).
Water about 16°C: 3/2 wetsuit. 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 26 h 50 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Auckland International Airport (AKL), changing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
See flights MDW → AKL · Skyscanner from about £740 returnAdGetting there. 2 h 05 from the airport to Mania reef.
Accommodation.
Stay in PauanuiAd
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 Pauanui (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Pauanui 11 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 3 places to stay · where Mania reef stays
Places to stay in Pauanui · Booking.com AdTairua 19 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 16 places to stay
Places to stay in Tairua · Booking.com AdWhangamatā 31 min by car · rooms from £85 a night · 2 places to stay
Places to stay in Whangamatā · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Pauanui · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Pauanui · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
Mid-range 
Luxury Where it is
Mania reef on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for beginners, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for beginners | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 15, too small | 2 ft4 s | 8kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots | 15°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 13, too small | 1 ft5 s | 7kJ | wind from the north, 8 knots | 16°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft9 s | 13kJ | wind from the south, 4 knots | 16°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 11, too small | 1 ft10 s | 16kJ | offshorewind from the north-west, 5 knots, offshore | 17°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 15, too small | 1 ft9 s | 15kJ | offshorewind from the west-south-west, 10 knots, offshore | 18°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft9 s | 10kJ | wind from the south-west, 4 knots | 17°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 6, too small | 1 ft7 s | 5kJ | wind from the north-east, 3 knots | 18°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft10 s | 10kJ | offshorewind from the west-south-west, 7 knots, offshore | 17°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 8, too small | 1 ft5 s | 4kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 7 knots | 19°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 16, poor | 3 ft5 s | 39kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 12 knots | 20°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 34, too small | 2 ft5 s | 25kJ | offshorewind from the west-north-west, 3 knots, offshore | 18°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 beginner surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to AKL, changing at DFW, then 2h 05 by road. About 26h 50 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to AKL, changing at DFW, then 2h 05 by road. About 26h 50 door to door
The plan picks the best of 2 spots near Pauanui each day: Mania reef, Opotere.
Rough cost
About £1,430–£2,735 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 AKL, estimated from distance and season, changing at DFW, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £740–£1,530 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £100–£170 |
| 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 | £1,430–£2,735 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Pauanui
- Miha Restaurant at Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort1.3 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
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.