Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Raglan. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Raglan encompasses a series of world-class, left-hand point breaks situated on the rugged west coast of New Zealand's North Island. The primary surfing zones, including Manu Bay, Whale Bay, and Indicators, rely on a seafloor composition of ancient volcanic boulders and dark igneous rock. As immense, deep-water swells generated in the Roaring Forties travel across the Tasman Sea, they collide with this defined coastal topography, peeling flawlessly along the headlands. A south-easterly offshore wind is essential to hold up the steep, racing faces, maximising the wave's functional volume. The wave mechanics feature rapid, high-velocity take-offs that transition into exceptionally long, workable walls, allowing for extensive carving manoeuvres and occasional tube sections. Due to the sharp boulder bottom, strong sweeping currents, and the sheer length of the rides, it demands high levels of cardiovascular fitness and technical proficiency. It is best suited for intermediate to advanced surfers capable of navigating long, leg-burning lefts.
Heads up: rip risk elevated, and rocks exposed at low tide.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 57% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Noticeably cleaner air than a typical city. Good conditions for prolonged outdoor activity.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 09:12
Good water clarity: ~11m visibility
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Raglan
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile →Partly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Raglan is the week of 30 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Raglan is New Zealand's most famous surf spot, a series of world-class left-hand point breaks on the Waikato coast of the North Island. Indicators, Whale Bay, and Manu Bay offer progressively longer lefts wrapping around the headland. Manu Bay is the longest, offering rides of up to 200+ metres. Black sand, green hills, and a laid-back creative community.
Needs west or south-westerly groundswell from the Tasman Sea. A south-easterly wind is offshore. Best at mid to high tide for the points. Consistent year-round with the biggest swells in autumn and winter (March-August). The 3-8ft range covers the different breaks. Manu Bay is most consistent.
Indicators: defined, shorter left at the top of the headland (intermediate). Whale Bay: longer, more powerful (intermediate-advanced). Manu Bay: the longest ride, mechanical left along the rocks (intermediate). Each has a defined take-off zone.
Rocky coastline at all points. Sea urchins (kina). Cold water (wetsuits year-round). Currents along the points on bigger days. The rocks at Manu Bay are close to the wave face.
Car parks at each break along the coast road. Short walks to the water. Raglan town (10 minutes) has full facilities including excellent cafes.
Busy on good days, particularly at Manu Bay which is the most accessible. 20-30 people on a solid swell at Manu Bay. Indicators and Whale Bay are slightly less crowded. The local crew are generally friendly. Weekends bring Auckland visitors (90 minute drive).
Raglan is one of the world's best left-hand point breaks and worth the journey. Manu Bay is the most consistent and longest ride. The black iron sand is distinctive. The town has a creative, alternative community with excellent cafes, bars, and markets. Hamilton (30 minutes) provides urban amenities.
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Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 29 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Raglan tend to be best between 08:00 to 11:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 59/100
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