Raglan (Manu Bay) Surf Season
Waikato, New Zealand · part of the Raglan (Manu Bay) spot guide
Prime is roughly April to September, peaking May to August, when Southern Ocean and Tasman Sea winter storms sit in the right latitude band to fire consistent long-period southwest-to-west groundswell straight into the point, with cold-season easterly-quadrant winds more often offshore. Raglan is genuinely year-round, but winter delivers the biggest and most consistent swell — June is often rated the single most consistent month.
Where the swell comes from
Southern Ocean and Tasman Sea mid-latitude winter storms for the long-period southwest-to-west-southwest groundswell that wraps the point, plus closer Tasman lows for shorter-period west-southwest windswell.
Historic swells at Raglan (Manu Bay)
"The Endless Summer"
Bruce Brown filmed Manu Bay’s long left for the 1966 surf film, cementing its global fame — the canonical documented Raglan moment, since the spot’s reputation rests on consistency rather than a single legendary swell.