Manu Bay Wave Surf

Manu Bay Wave Surf is located in Raglan, Waikato, New Zealand, a region known for its consistent coastline and a true swell magnet.

The Waikato region is situated between the cold of Antarctica and the heat of Australia, pinched by year-round storm systems, which reinforces the idyllic scenario, with wave heights of up to 25 feet and a 20-second swell period perfectly possible. The region is home to New Zealand's most famous wave and surf town, Raglan, which is situated a mere 2hrs drive from Auckland. Incredibly long and graceful lefthanders hug the headlands at a series of bays in Raglan, providing a world-class playground for a multitude of local, regional, and international surfers.Manu Bay is the innermost of the three Raglan points and is home to Raglan's Point Boardrider surf club. It is one of the longest left-hand point breaks in New Zealand and comes alive during S-SW swells that wrap around the nearby headland. Manu Bay starts with a hollow barrel section over the Ledge before bending into a walling section that can race for 300m. Larger swells will occasionally break far enough out to link up with Whale Bay and even Manu Bay, but it is a place for experienced surfers only.The best conditions reported for surf at Raglan-Manu Bay occur when a Southwest swell combines with an offshore wind direction from the Southeast. Raglan-Manu Bay in West Coast Auckland is a quite exposed point break that has fairly consistent surf and can work at any time of the year. Offshore winds are from the southeast. Waves can be okay even in light onshore winds. Most of the surf here comes from groundswells, and the best swell direction is from the southwest. The beach breaks consist of lefts, and it is best around low tide. Sometimes it can be crowded, so surfers should take care of rocks and locals.Visitors can drive from Raglan along the coast road south and come upon Manu Bay, a fantastic scenic location and a dream for surfers. Enormous waves, towering cliffs, and black sand beaches make it a picturesque location. The grounds are a credit to Raglan, and it is great to watch the waves, the surfers, and young people opening up the back of their camper van and the whole kitchen falling out. It is a great launching spot for surfers, and visitors can spend all day there watching them and enjoying a walk along the beach.