
Surf Forecasts:
Raglan-Manu Bay surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 1 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, W swell with 5,346 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Raglan-Manu Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Raglan-Manu Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Raglan-Manu Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 01) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Raglan-Manu Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Manu Bay here in Raglan. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, but there are definitely some windows where it’ll be worth your while.
The forecast kicks off nicely on Monday, July 27th with a solid pulse of groundswell. We’re talking 7ft from the west with a long 13-second period – proper energy heading into that famous point. The wind’s a light south-easterly, giving us clean, cross-off conditions. This is advanced territory at that size, so it’s for the experienced crew only, but the quality is there. The combined swell energy is sitting at strong (1376), so there’s plenty of grunt. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no shocks there.
Into Tuesday morning, July 28th, the swell drops a touch to 5ft, still from the west-southwest with a 12-second period. The wind swings easterly, light and cross-off again, keeping things clean. It’s a decent option for a wider range of surfers, but not quite a standout.
Now, we hit a bit of a lull. From Wednesday, July 29th, right through to the end of the month and into early August, the surf gets smaller, wind turns onshore or cross-onshore, and conditions go pretty ordinary. There’s a big stormy spell from Friday, July 31st into Saturday, August 1st – wind howling out of the west to north-west, swell ramping up over 12ft, but it’s a messy, choppy mess. That’s kite-surf territory, not paddle surfing. The combined energy is massive (5346 on Saturday morning), but the quality is poor. Not one for the log.
Things start to settle again on Sunday, August 2nd, but the wind is howling out of the south at 22 mph. The swell is still a solid 8ft to 8ft from the west-southwest, and despite the wind being cross-off, it’s fresh and strong. The surface might be clean, but it’s a battle to get out. That’s more for the experienced, or maybe just a session to watch.
Here’s the standout window: mark your calendar for Tuesday, August 4th. The morning is looking absolutely glassy, with the wind swinging east at just 3 mph. The swell is 5ft from the west-southwest with a very long 17-second period – that’s proper groundswell, meaning lined-up, powerful waves. The combined energy is strong (1209). This is a point break, so those long-period waves will wrap in beautifully. It's a good size for experienced intermediates as well, not just the pros. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, but with that quality on offer, it’ll be worth sharing the peak. The afternoon looks clean and cross-off too, but the morning glass-off is the pick.
Wednesday, August 5th, and Thursday, August 6th, continue with clean, cross-off conditions and swells around 5ft to 5ft, with period dropping a bit but still good. Good solid surf, just not the absolute gem that Tuesday morning is.
Into the second week, from around August 7th, the swell starts to fade and the period drops. It's all clean, cross-off wind, but the size gets smaller – down to 3ft or less. Surfable, but nothing to write home about. By the weekend of August 9th and 10th, we’re into that small, clean, grovelly range. It’ll be fun on a longboard or a fish, but don’t expect barrels.
So the call is clear: if you can only surf one day in the next fortnight, make it Tuesday, August 4th, early. That glassy, long-period west-southwest swell at Manu Bay is the true standout. The rest is either too messy or too small.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed afternoon, min 5°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 8 | W 9 | W 14 | W 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1640 | 1376 | 1109 | 781 | 497 | 343 | 254 | 206 | 202 | 850 | 724 | 606 | 269 | 836 | 1775 | 5112 | 5346 | 4731 | 2767 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:48AM2.46m | 9:10PM2.65m | 9:30AM2.58m | 9:47PM2.78m | 10:08AM2.69m | 10:22PM2.88m | 10:43AM2.78m | 10:57PM2.97m | 11:17AM2.84m | 11:31PM3.01m | 11:51AM2.86m | 00:05AM3.02m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:43AM0.78m | 3:01PM0.66m | 3:23AM0.66m | 3:40PM0.54m | 3:59AM0.55m | 4:16PM0.43m | 4:35AM0.45m | 4:50PM0.35m | 5:10AM0.38m | 5:24PM0.29m | 5:45AM0.33m | 5:59PM0.28m | |||||||
— | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 8 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | NW 7 | — | — | — | W 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 |
1640 | 1376 | 1109 | 781 | 497 | 343 | 254 | 206 | 202 | 850 | 724 | 606 | 195 | — | — | — | 5346 | 4731 | 2767 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | W 16 | WSW 17 | W 16 | — | — | — | WSW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 5 | 21 | 29 | 127 | — | — | — | 269 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 190 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | W 8 | W 9 | W 14 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 69 | 99 | — | 836 | 1775 | 5112 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 228 | 228 | 108 | 109 | 108 | 109 | 96 | 215 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Raglan and West Waikato | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Raglan-Manu Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Raglan-Manu Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Raglan-Manu Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Raglan-Manu Bay surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Raglan-Manu Bay) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Raglan-Manu Bay may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Raglan-Manu Bay is 42 km (26 miles) from Hamilton. If you plan a holiday in Raglan and West Waikato, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hamilton. Hamilton has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










