Summary
Raglan is hands down the best surf town in New Zealand. First put on the map by the movie Endless Summer in 1966, Manu Bay, in Raglan, quickly became New Zealand’s most famous surf spot. Located a couple hours away from Auckland, on the North Island, this small town will seduce you with its laid back vibe and strong surfing culture. The surf in Raglan is simply astonishing, being considered as one of the best surf spots on the planet!
As soon as you enter Raglan after driving through the winding roads of Waikato, you quickly understand what Raglan is all about. Cafes, restaurants and surf shops are all located around the main street and everyone lives by the rhythm of nature and the ocean.
Many surf spots surround the town of Raglan both for beginners at Ngarunui beach and for advanced surfers at Whale bay or Manu bay, just to name a few.
Manu Bay is the main show in town!
Manu bay is Raglan’s famous surf spot and an absolute goofy footer’s paradise. This rocky point break is consistently fed by south westerly ground swells throughout the year and when conditions are favorable, you might just catch the longest wave of your life right here. On a small day, beginners can try to catch a few waves at Manu Bay but what makes it tricky is getting in and out without hitting you or your board on the rocks. Timing is key.
Throughout the years, New Zealand became a backpackers’ top destination because of its amazing landscapes and the possibility of easily getting a working holiday visa that will allow you to stay in the country for up to 2 years! If such is your desire, Raglan could very well be a good place to settle, work and surf for a while!
When to surf Raglan
Surfing in Raglan, New Zealand is good all year round. However, the best conditions are offered from March to June with lighter winds, less crowds and swell picking up into winter.
December is when the town really comes to life for summer. Waves are smaller and more crowded during that period as well.
January-February March-April May-June July-August September-October November-December
Suitable for: All surfers All surfers All surfers All surfers All surfers All surfers
Air temperature 21°C
70°F18°C
64°F16°C
61°F12°C
54°F16°C
61°F19°C
66°F
Water temperature 19°C
66°F18°C
64°F16°C
61°F14°C
57°F14°C
57°F17°C
63°F
Crowd Very crowded Fairly crowded Few people Few people Few people Fairly crowded
Swell concistency 70% 75% 80% 82% 83% 75%
Swell height 6ft 6ft 8ft 8ft 8ft 7ft
Where to stay in Raglan
Browse our interactive map to find the best place to stay in Raglan!
Best hotels and resorts in Raglan:
Low budget : Raglan Backpackers is located in the heart of Raglan with a waterfront property.
Best value : Raglan Sunset Motel for a great place to stay, well located and comfortable.
Getting there
Raglan is located about 2 hours south of Auckland and 45 minutes from Hamilton. You can get there by bus, from Hamilton, or by renting a car and driving to the coast.
Safety/things to know
-Respect the locals
-Look out for rocks when tide gets low
-Winds are pretty strong from April to November
-The best way out is to jump off the rocks right at the peak. Be very careful when doing so as you only get one chance.
Surf spots in Raglan
Ngarunui beach
The main beach break and the best surf spot for beginners in Raglan. Most of the surf is located right in front of the lifeguard tower and the car park. Works on all tides.
Wave direction : Right
Bottom : Reef
Best tide : High
Skill level : Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NE
Manu bay
Manu Bay is Raglan’s most famous surf spot. An extremely long left-hander breaking over rocks that peels nice and slow. On low tide, Manu Bay can get a bit hollow and barrels will be found on a good swell. The higher tide will make the wave a bit more chunky and will require the surfers to manage their speed carefully by staying in the pocket on few occasions. Paddling out can be done from the point which requires a jump off the rocks or from the boat ramp which is easier but will take longer.
Wave direction : Left
Bottom : Rocks
Best tide : Any
Skill level : Any
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : E
Whale bay
Whale Bay is next up the point after Manu Bay and is a bit trickier than Raglan’s famous spot. The takeoff zone is more critical and hollow while the wave itself is faster. Should be kept for advanced surfers.
Wave direction : Left
Bottom : Rocks
Best tide : Any
Skill level : Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : E
Indicators
After Whale Bay comes Indicators, the first break in the whole bay. On an epic day, Indicators connects all the way to Manu Bay which is absolutely rare as on most occasions, all three spots break individually.
Wave direction : Left
Bottom : Rocks
Best tide : N/A
Skill level : Advanced
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : E
Ruapuke beach
It will take you just under 30 minutes on a dirt road to get to Ruapuke, a beautiful and secluded beach that usually picks up the SW swell better than Raglan. If waves are too small in town, head to Ruapuke where they should be a few feet bigger. The setup is a regular beach break with a little point break on the right.
Wave direction : Left and right
Bottom : Sand and rocks
Best tide : N/A
Skill level : Any
Optimal swell direction : SW
Optimal wind direction : NE