Watersports in Raglan, New Zealand
New Zealand's legendary left-hand point break — long rides and raw coastline
Raglan is a small town on New Zealand's North Island west coast, famous for its string of left-hand point breaks that produce some of the longest rides in the Southern Hemisphere. Manu Bay and Whale Bay peel for hundreds of meters when the swell is right. Beyond surfing, the harbour and estuary offer sheltered paddling, and the exposed coast picks up consistent westerly wind for kite and wing foiling. The landscape is dramatic — black sand beaches, bush-covered headlands, and a laid-back Kiwi surf culture.
Best Season
Surfing: March to October (biggest swells). Wind: October to March (westerlies).
Wind
W/SW 15–25 knots, strongest in spring/summer
Water Temp
14°C in winter, 20°C in summer. 4/3mm winter, 3/2mm summer.
Highlights
World-class left-hand point breaks, black sand, lush scenery, surf culture
Popular watersports in Raglan
Here's why riders travel to Raglan — and what to expect when you get there.
Surfing
Manu Bay and Whale Bay are world-class left-hand point breaks with rides over 300 meters on good days.
Track surfing sessions →Stand Up Paddle
Raglan Harbour and the Wainui estuary offer calm, scenic paddling with bush-covered shorelines.
Track stand up paddle sessions →Wing Foiling
Westerly winds hit the exposed coast. The harbour entrance has flat water with wind funnelling through the heads.
Track wing foiling sessions →Kiteboarding
The exposed west coast catches strong westerlies. Ocean Beach and the harbour area offer kite-friendly setups.
Track kiteboarding sessions →Top spots in Raglan
Where to go, what to expect, and which sports work best at each spot.
Manu Bay
Iconic left-hand point break. Long, mechanical walls when the swell is clean W/SW. Can barrel on bigger days.
Whale Bay
The next point south of Manu Bay. Longer, mellower rides. Requires a walk through the bush to access.
Ocean Beach (Ngarunui)
Black sand beach break exposed to the Tasman Sea. Good for surfing and kite launching. Lifeguard patrolled.
Raglan Harbour
Sheltered harbour with wind funnelling through the heads. Flat water for wing foiling and paddleboarding.
Track every session in Raglan
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Compare sessions across different spots in Raglan to find where you ride best. Share your routes with friends and keep a log of every trip.
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