
Surf Forecasts:
Raglan-Manu Bay surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, WSW swell with 7,501 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s 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 (Sep 15) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Raglan-Manu Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Raglan-Manu Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer at Raglan-Manu Bay.
The next 16 days start with a real tease. Tuesday morning is the standout early in the period. It’s glassy with that 3 mph ENE breeze and a solid 6ft WSW groundswell with a long 14-second period. The combined swell energy is pumping at 1204 (moderate to strong). It’s an advanced wave, so you’ll need your wits about you, but the conditions will be as clean as it gets. Crowds can show up here sometimes, but for that session, it’ll be worth sharing.
After that Tuesday morning window, the wind turns onshore or cross-shore for days. Wednesday and Thursday are a write-off with messy, choppy conditions. By Friday, the wind swings cross-off but the swell is getting bigger and the breeze is too strong for good surf. Saturday and Sunday see a big, powerful WSW swell over 10ft, but with strong cross-shore winds, it’s just lumpy, blown-out chaos. The combined energy is massive (over 5000), but it’s not doing us any favours. Monday is more of the same—big but messy.
There’s a solid gap of poor conditions from Tuesday afternoon all the way through to the following Tuesday. Then things finally start to look up. On Wednesday the 23rd of September, we’ve got a monster 15ft swell from the WSW with a very long 16-second period and a clean cross-off southerly at 12 mph. Combined energy is a massive 9765 (strong to very strong). This is a proper big-wave session for experts only, and that long-period groundswell will be racing down the point. The wind is clean, but it’s huge, so don’t even think about it unless you’ve got the experience. Thursday the 24th drops to 8ft, still with a clean cross-off, but the wind picks up in the afternoon and lumps it up.
The next real highlight is Friday the 25th of September morning. Glassy conditions with a 7ft WSW groundswell at 14 seconds. Combined energy is 1956 (strong). The water temp anomaly is about average for this time of year. It’s not the biggest, but with zero wind and a long-period groundswell, the point will be running smooth and lined up. Crowds are possible, but it’s worth it.
Saturday the 26th of September morning is another glassy session, with a smaller 4ft swell. Combined energy is 791 (moderate). The wind is calm, so it’ll be clean, but the size is more suited to longboards or a relaxed cruise. After that, the wind turns onshore again into the first days of October and the quality drops off.
Overall, the best windows are Tuesday morning the 15th, Friday morning the 25th, and the big expert session on Wednesday the 23rd of September. The rest is either blown out or too big and messy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 9 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 10 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1776 | 1204 | 970 | 668 | 440 | 269 | 418 | 785 | 899 | 1441 | 1557 | 4772 | 7501 | 5338 | 4267 | 4851 | 5197 | 2516 | 3629 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 00:13AM2.89m | 12:32PM2.83m | 00:47AM2.73m | 1:07PM2.69m | 1:23AM2.55m | 1:46PM2.53m | 2:07AM2.37m | 2:34PM2.36m | 3:06AM2.20m | 3:39PM2.22m | 4:24AM2.10m | 5:05PM2.16m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:30AM0.22m | 6:46PM0.40m | 7:06AM0.38m | 7:25PM0.59m | 7:43AM0.57m | 8:09PM0.78m | 8:26AM0.76m | 9:01PM0.95m | 9:19AM0.93m | 10:07PM1.06m | 10:32AM1.03m | 11:29PM1.07m | |||||||
— | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 9 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 11 | WSW 14 | NW 8 | WSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 14 |
1776 | 1204 | 970 | 668 | 440 | 269 | 418 | 785 | 899 | 64 | 637 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3629 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 20 | WSW 6 | — | W 16 | — | — | WSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 7 | 20 | — | 135 | — | — | 1557 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | — | WSW 14 | — | — | NW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 116 | — | — | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | WSW 9 | — | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 10 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 558 | 1441 | — | 4772 | 7501 | 5338 | 4267 | 4851 | 5197 | 2516 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 295 | 228 | 228 | 247 | 222 | 228 | 247 | 56 | 56 | 120 | 141 | 238 | 247 | 247 | 259 | 238 | 140 |
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.










