Ngarunui Beach
Also known as: Ocean Beach
Raglan's lifeguarded sand-bottom learner beach - where beginners belong (not the point).
Best time to surf
Works year-round; best autumn-winter Mar-Aug
Shoulder season: All-year; summer smaller/lighter with warmer water
The wave
Break type: Beach break
Bottom: Sand
Wave direction: Both (sheltered L and R peaks)
Typical wave length: Gentle beach-break peaks; tide-independent
Ideal swell: WSW groundswell; works all year; quality not tide-affected
Ideal wind: Offshore SE
Working tide: Any tide
Difficulty & skill
Difficulty (1-5): 1
Skill level: Beginner (all levels welcome)
Options for a mixed group: THE correct beginner anchor for Raglan - the lifeguarded learner beach, sand bottom, with surf schools; the base for the mixed-group split up the point.
Safety & hazards
Rips (can reach hazard levels when crowded); cold water; shore break
Ngarunui lifeguarded (Raglan SLSC, summer); points unpatrolled; Raglan medical centre; Waikato Hospital ~45-60 min
Crowd, access & conditions
Crowd & localism: Can get crowded when working; low localism (learner beach)
Access & parking: Beach car park ~1km from town; the only lifeguarded Raglan beach
Surf schools & rental: Lessons and board/wetsuit rental in Raglan (ISA-certified coaches); beginner lessons at Ngarunui
Water temp & wetsuit: ~13-16 C winter to ~18-21 C summer; 3/2mm summer, 4/3mm winter (booties/hood in winter)
Crowds, access and local conditions change - confirm locally before you paddle out.
Around the break
For non-surfers: Raglan cafes/galleries, Bridal Veil Falls, Mt Karioi walks, black-sand beaches, Maori cultural sites
Location
Nearest hub: Raglan
-37.8120, 174.8280 (approximate)
Live conditions
Today's swell, wind and tide are a runtime layer - check the live sources: Surfline / Surf-Forecast Raglan spot pages (live swell/wind is runtime)
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand surf report. Coordinates are approximate.