Surf Forecasts:
Raglan-Manu Bay surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 16s period, WSW swell with 6,407 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. 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 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Raglan-Manu Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Looks like we’ve got a bit of a slow start, but there’s some real quality brewing for the patient ones. The first proper window of surfable waves doesn’t show up until Thursday morning, the 23rd, so we’re looking at a quiet few days before things kick off.
The standout session is shaping up to be Sunday the 26th. Manu Bay (Raglan) will be pumping with a solid 10ft swell out of the west, and those long-period lines (15 seconds) are going to unload perfectly down the point. The wind is light and offshore from the ENE, so the face will be clean as a whistle. The combined energy is massive (3953), so this is big, powerful groundswell – experienced surfers only, this one. The crowds can be an issue here, but on a Sunday with this size, only the keenest and most capable will be out. The second standout is a bit later, on Tuesday morning, 4 August. We’ve got a 7ft NW swell with a shorter period (9 seconds), but the wind is a dead calm glass-off. The energy is solid (886) and the conditions will be absolutely pristine. This one is more user-friendly than the huge Sunday, but still has some punch. Keep an eye on that one.
Now, before we get to the Sunday glory, here’s the run-down. Thursday morning the 23rd kicks off with clean 4ft WSW swell (14 second period, 527 energy) and a light offshore breeze. It’s small, but the lines will be clean. Friday the 24th is a write-off – messy and windy. Saturday the 25th is a total bomb with a 13ft swell and howling 25 mph cross-shore winds – that’s a skip for paddle surfing, maybe a kite day. Then Sunday the 26th delivers the goods as described. Monday the 27th drops back to 7ft, clean but with a moderate breeze, and the energy is still good (1445). Tuesday the 28th is a smaller, cleaner day (4ft, 491 energy, light offshore). The following week is a mix of clean but smaller swells, mostly in the 3ft to 4ft range, with the exception of Tuesday 4 August which is the second standout. The water temp is about average for this time of year, no major anomaly to report.
So, if you’ve got the skills, Sunday the 26th is the one. If you want something a bit more manageable but still glassy, mark Tuesday 4 August. The rest of the run is small but clean, good for a longboard or a fish.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the N by Fri afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri night, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sat morning, light winds from the ENE by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 7 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | NW 7 | WNW 9 | W 8 | WSW 11 | WSW 16 | W 15 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 321 | 451 | 196 | 94 | 501 | 683 | 551 | 172 | 322 | 943 | 804 | 4275 | 6407 | 3953 | 3269 | 2352 | 1445 | 1275 | 936 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:36AM2.41m | 4:08PM2.31m | 4:37AM2.28m | 5:20PM2.24m | 5:51AM2.22m | 6:41PM2.28m | 7:02AM2.25m | 7:41PM2.38m | 8:00AM2.34m | 8:29PM2.52m | 8:48AM2.46m | 9:10PM2.65m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:29PM0.79m | 9:56AM0.75m | 10:27PM0.93m | 10:54AM0.87m | 11:38PM1.01m | 12:10PM0.91m | 00:57AM0.99m | 1:21PM0.87m | 1:57AM0.90m | 2:16PM0.77m | 2:43AM0.78m | 3:01PM0.66m | |||||||
 |  | |  | |  | |  |  | |  | |  | | | | |  | | |
 | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | 6 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 7 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | — | — | WSW 16 | W 15 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | — |
| kJ | 321 | 451 | 81 | 83 | 501 | 683 | 551 | 172 | 213 | 101 | — | — | 6407 | 3953 | 3269 | 2352 | 1445 | 1275 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 12 | WSW 6 | — | — | WSW 7 | — | WSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 56 | 51 | 49 | 94 | 26 | — | — | 30 | — | 103 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WSW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 7 | — | — | — | — | NW 5 | NW 7 | WNW 9 | W 8 | WSW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 12 |
| kJ | — | — | 196 | — | — | — | — | 49 | 322 | 943 | 804 | 4275 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 936 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 140 | 219 | 0 | 0 | 247 | 219 | 222 | 228 | 169 | 109 | 170 | 108 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 109 | 140 | 171 |
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.
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