Kitesurfing in Raglan: the harbour sea breeze and the bar
Raglan Harbour works best on hot summer days, when a strong westerly sea breeze comes in. The harbour is flat to choppy, the bar has waves up to 2 m, and the outgoing current is very strong.
Yes, Raglan can be good for kitesurfing and windsurfing from December to February, as long as the day is hot. An old local windsurf guide says the harbour works best on hot summer days, when a strong westerly sea breeze comes in. It is an intermediate spot, and Raglan is a surf town too.
Facts as of November 2026, from the sources listed at the end of this page.
Where do you kitesurf in Raglan?
Inside Raglan Harbour. Kite Jungle describes it as a lagoon with a sand beach. The harbour works in north-westerly, westerly and south-westerly wind, and the water is flat to choppy. Out at the bar the waves reach up to 2 m.
| Raglan Harbour | |
|---|---|
| Wind | North-west, west, south-west |
| Best days | Hot summer days with a westerly sea breeze |
| Water | Flat to chop inside, waves up to 2 m at the bar |
| Level | Intermediate |
How windy is Raglan in summer?
There is no long wind record for the harbour. Windfinder’s Raglan / Kite Beach station measured only from October 2015 to February 2017 and no longer reports, which is too short to describe a typical summer, so we do not quote it here. Watch the forecast for a hot, sunny day and a westerly.
What should you watch out for?
- The outgoing tidal current can reach 8 knots. Do not ride the ebb unless you can stay upwind with ease.
- The bar is a popular surf spot, so watch out for surfers.
The details here come from an older, undated windsurf guide, so check conditions locally before you ride.
Where else can you ride on the North Island?
In the Bay of Plenty, Mount Maunganui has warm north to north-easterly sea breezes and the Pilot Bay kite spot. Auckland has harbour sailing and several kite beaches.
How do you get there?
Hamilton International Airport (HLZ) is about 43 km from Raglan.
How windy is Raglan from December to February?
Share of days with at least three consecutive daylight hours at 11 knots (4 Beaufort) or more, over the last 10 southern summers (2015/16 to 2024/25).
| December | January | February | Mean daylight wind | Most common direction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raglan Harbour | 62% | 57% | 46% | 11 kn | WSW |
Our calculation from NASA POWER hourly wind at 10 m (MERRA-2 model), 09:00 to 18:00 local solar time. The model grid is about 50 km wide, so it smooths out local sea breezes and gusts: use these figures to compare spots and months, and check a local forecast before you go.
Where do people ride at Raglan right now?
Explore+ in the Waterspeed web app shows recent sessions on a map, with sport and top speed, so you can see which spots are working before you go. Open Explore+. To record your own sessions, Waterspeed runs on iPhone, Android, Apple Watch and Wear OS, and syncs Garmin, COROS and Suunto.
FAQ
What wind does Raglan Harbour need?
North-west, west or south-west. It works best on hot summer days with a strong westerly sea breeze.
Is Raglan good for beginner kitesurfers?
The local windsurf guide rates Raglan Harbour as intermediate, mainly because the outgoing current can reach 8 knots.
Which airport is closest to Raglan?
Hamilton International Airport (HLZ), about 43 km away.
