Manu Bay
Also known as: Raglan (Manu Bay section), 'The Point'
One of the world's best and longest left-hand point breaks, from The Endless Summer (1966); cold-water, Southern-Hemisphere-season stress case.
Best time to surf
Works year-round; best autumn-winter Mar-Aug (Southern-Hemisphere winter - inverse of SEA dry season)
Shoulder season: Genuinely all-year; summer smaller/lighter with warmer water
The wave
Break type: Point break (left)
Bottom: Rock (basalt boulders)
Wave direction: Left
Typical wave length: Long - inside section of Raglan's point; long peeling left walls; links Whale Bay / Indicators / Outsides for rides up to ~600m
Ideal swell: SW Tasman groundswell; consistent year-round
Ideal wind: Offshore SE
Working tide: Best around low-to-mid tide (some sources mid-to-high on size)
Difficulty & skill
Difficulty (1-5): 3 (Manu Bay inside); Whale Bay / Indicators push 4
Skill level: Intermediate (Manu Bay long walls); advanced when overhead
Options for a mixed group: The point is a natural ability ladder - beginners at lifeguarded Ngarunui Beach; intermediates on Manu Bay's long walls; advanced up the point to Whale Bay / Indicators.
Safety & hazards
COLD water; basalt-boulder rocks (entry/exit); rips and currents; rocky reef. Booties recommended.
Ngarunui is the lifeguarded beach (Raglan SLSC, summer); the point is unpatrolled; Raglan medical centre; Waikato Hospital (Hamilton) ~45-60 min
Crowd, access & conditions
Crowd & localism: Can be crowded (growing); localism mild but present in the critical upper point sections
Access & parking: Manu Bay car park (~8km from town); rock entry or the boat ramp (safer); no boat
Surf schools & rental: Lessons and board/wetsuit rental in Raglan (ISA-certified coaches); beginner lessons at Ngarunui, not the point
Water temp & wetsuit: ~13-15 C winter low to ~18-21 C summer high; 3/2mm summer, 4/3mm winter (booties/hood in winter). Cold-water stress case.
Crowds, access and local conditions change - confirm locally before you paddle out.
Around the break
Facilities: Basic at the point (car park; no overnight camping); full facilities in Raglan town 8km away
For non-surfers: Strong - Raglan cafes and galleries, Bridal Veil Falls, Mt Karioi walks, black-sand beaches, Maori cultural sites
Location
Nearest hub: Raglan
-37.8255, 174.8018 (approximate) (Manu Bay car park)
Live conditions
Today's swell, wind and tide are a runtime layer - check the live sources: Surfline / Surf-Forecast Raglan-Manu Bay spot pages (water temp from Surf-Forecast satellite SST; live swell/wind is runtime)
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand surf report. Coordinates are approximate.