
Surf Forecasts:
Raglan-Manu Bay surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 15s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 15s period, WSW swell with 2,119 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 15s period with WSW 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Raglan-Manu Bay in the next 16 days are 2.2m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Raglan-Manu Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got just one spot on the radar this time, and it’s a classic: Raglan-Manu Bay. This is a world-class point break, but the next 16 days are a real mixed bag. The first week is mostly a write-off, with clean waves few and far between. The magic really starts to show up in the second week, and I mean *proper* magic.
The water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so nothing to worry about there.
We start off Tuesday, 4th August, with a messy 8ft swell from the WSW. That’s a lot of water moving around – the combined energy is a massive 2033 (strong energy) – but the wind is a fresh cross-shore, so it’s lumpy and choppy. Not worth paddling out. The afternoon cleans up a bit with a cross-off breeze, but it’s still a marginal call.
Wednesday morning, 5th August, the swell drops to 6ft but the period is a juicy 14 seconds, so it’s got some real grunt. The wind is cross-off, so it’s clean. But the combined energy is still 1143 (moderate to strong), and it’s a bit raw for the average punter. Still, it’s a step up. Thursday, 6th August, is a dud with tiny waves, and Friday isn’t much better.
The weekend is a no-go, with onshore winds and messy conditions. Sunday afternoon, 9th August, we get a brief moment of glass with a 3ft swell from the WSW, but the period is 15 seconds, and the energy is 679 (moderate). It’s a glassy window, but it’s fleeting.
Now, hang on. The real standout for this whole period is the run from Friday, 14th August, into the following week. Friday morning brings a 12ft swell from the W, with a 10-second period. The wind is light and cross-off. The combined energy is 2175 (strong). This is big, powerful surf. It’s for experts only – over 8ft, so beginners stay on the beach. The afternoon blows out to 13ft (3957 energy). This is serious.
But the absolute best day? Saturday, 15th August. Morning sees a 13ft swell from the W, with a 14-second period and light cross-off winds. The combined energy is a massive 5447 (very strong). This is the best on offer. The weekend continues with big, clean, powerful swell. Sunday, 16th August, morning is 10ft from the W, 16-second period, light cross-off, and energy of 5779. Another belter.
Monday, 17th August, the swell is still 10ft+ but the wind turns cross-shore, so it’s not as clean. We get a second wind on Tuesday, 18th August, with glassy 12ft waves from the WSW. That’s a morning session for the brave. The week closes out with a solid 8ft on Wednesday, 19th August, with clean cross-off winds.
The bottom line: the first week is a washout. Don’t bother. The second week, from Friday 14th August through to Wednesday 19th August, is a feast of big, powerful, clean groundswell. The big days are Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August. This is a point break, so those long-period swells (14-18 seconds) will wrap in beautifully, but they’ll be heavy. Crowds are possible at any time, so get out early.
This is a spot for the experienced crew. If you’re not comfortable with 10ft+ waves, sit this one out. But if you are, get ready for a proper session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue morning, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue morning, calm by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | W 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1093 | 1019 | 651 | 1143 | 659 | 451 | 233 | 129 | 103 | 56 | 37 | 125 | 315 | 256 | 504 | 432 | 387 | 331 | 378 | 644 | 543 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:41PM2.73m | 1:56AM2.79m | 2:24PM2.63m | 2:43AM2.66m | 3:16PM2.53m | 3:41AM2.53m | 4:24PM2.44m | 4:57AM2.44m | 5:57PM2.45m | 6:27AM2.46m | 7:20PM2.60m | 7:44AM2.59m | 8:22PM2.82m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:55PM0.51m | 8:20AM0.48m | 8:42PM0.64m | 9:07AM0.60m | 9:38PM0.77m | 10:04AM0.73m | 10:47PM0.86m | 11:21AM0.81m | 00:15AM0.85m | 12:53PM0.75m | 1:36AM0.69m | 2:05PM0.57m | 2:37AM0.47m | ||||||||
7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | |
— | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 20 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 |
Feels °C | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 16 | WSW 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | W 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 |
940 | 1019 | 645 | 1143 | 659 | 451 | 233 | 129 | 103 | 56 | 37 | 125 | 315 | 256 | 504 | 432 | 177 | 331 | 378 | 644 | 543 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | — | W 18 | WSW 16 | W 22 | W 15 | W 19 | W 17 | SW 11 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | W 17 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | NW 7 | WSW 16 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 |
— | 906 | 651 | — | 55 | 51 | 9 | 17 | 29 | 23 | 31 | 35 | 34 | 31 | 215 | 231 | 387 | 62 | 354 | 53 | 33 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 21 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | — | W 18 | WSW 18 | WSW 12 | WSW 19 | W 10 | W 9 | NW 7 | NNW 10 | NW 9 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 34 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 25 | 64 | 28 | 124 | 115 | 55 | 21 | 38 | 12 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 3 |
1093 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 236 | 168 | 56 | 56 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 0 | 0 | 228 | 9 | 9 | 228 | 222 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Raglan and West Waikato | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











