Updated daily · Saturday, September 19

Where you’d rather be

Every day we run live forecast models over 25 of the world’s great waves — swell size, period, direction and wind, each judged against what that spot actually likes — and answer one question: where would you rather be right now?

Today’s call

Raglan (Manu Bay)

Fun
New Zealand — Waikato · Intermediate+

New Zealand's most famous wave: a long, mechanical left point made famous by The Endless Summer, peeling over boulders for rides that can stretch past a minute. Black sand, green hills, cold water, all class.

2.2m swell @ 12s from the SW · wind 33 km/h cross-shore (SW)
06:15noon18:14
Tide -0.30.9m First quarterlocal time · dot = now
If you’re going
The board

Shortboard or mid-length — the wall loves trim. Our guide to the best surfboards covers every option.

Getting there

Two hours south of Auckland via Hamilton; Manu Bay's car park looks straight down the point. Open the map

Also worth the plane ticket

Lagundri Bay (Nias)

Sleepy
Indonesia — Nias Island

1.6m swell @ 12s from the SSW · wind 20 km/h cross-shore (SSE)

Hossegor (La Gravière)

Sleepy
France — Landes

2.0m swell @ 10s from the NW · wind 8 km/h glassy (E)

The full board

SpotTodayConditions
Raglan (Manu Bay)New Zealand — WaikatoFun2.2m swell @ 12s from the SW · wind 33 km/h cross-shore (SW)
Lagundri Bay (Nias)Indonesia — Nias IslandSleepy1.6m swell @ 12s from the SSW · wind 20 km/h cross-shore (SSE)
Hossegor (La Gravière)France — LandesSleepy2.0m swell @ 10s from the NW · wind 8 km/h glassy (E)
Arugam BaySri Lanka — East CoastSleepy0.7m swell @ 11s from the S · wind 7 km/h glassy (SW)
MundakaSpain — Basque CountrySleepy2.0m swell @ 10s from the NW · wind 13 km/h cross-shore (ENE)
Malibu (First Point)USA — California, Los AngelesSleepy0.7m swell @ 12s from the S · wind 9 km/h onshore (SW)
UluwatuIndonesia — Bali, Bukit PeninsulaSleepy1.1m swell @ 9s from the SSW · wind 15 km/h offshore (ESE)
SupertubosPortugal — PenicheSleepy2.1m swell @ 9s from the NNW · wind 8 km/h glassy (N)
Bells BeachAustralia — VictoriaSleepy1.1m swell @ 10s from the SW · wind 30 km/h offshore (WNW)
Lower TrestlesUSA — California, San ClementeSleepy0.7m swell @ 12s from the SSW · wind 12 km/h onshore (WSW)
ChicamaPeru — La LibertadSleepy0.7m swell @ 9s from the SW · wind 25 km/h offshore (S)
Teahupo'oTahiti — French PolynesiaSleepy2.6m swell @ 9s from the SSW · wind 19 km/h onshore (S)
Cloud 9Philippines — SiargaoSleepy0.8m swell @ 9s from the NE · wind 8 km/h cross-shore (SSE)
Puerto EscondidoMexico — OaxacaSleepy1.2m swell @ 10s from the SSW · wind 13 km/h onshore (SW)
PavonesCosta Rica — Golfo DulceSleepy0.9m swell @ 9s from the SSW · wind 13 km/h onshore (SW)
Punta de LobosChile — PichilemuSleepy1.1m swell @ 8s from the WSW · wind 5 km/h glassy (W)
Margaret RiverAustralia — Western AustraliaSleepy4.6m swell @ 11s from the WSW · wind 39 km/h onshore (W)
Mount MaunganuiNew Zealand — Bay of PlentySleepy0.7m swell @ 7s from the NNE · wind 31 km/h offshore (WSW)
CloudbreakFiji — TavaruaSleepy1.1m swell @ 5s from the SW · wind 24 km/h cross-shore (S)
Anchor PointMorocco — TaghazoutSleepy0.9m swell @ 6s from the NNW · wind 7 km/h glassy (SW)
Snapper RocksAustralia — Gold CoastSleepy0.9m swell @ 7s from the SE · wind 10 km/h onshore (NNE)
RinconUSA — California, Santa BarbaraSleepy0.6m swell @ 5s from the W · wind 9 km/h onshore (SW)
Soup BowlBarbados — BathshebaSleepy0.8m swell @ 5s from the ESE · wind 17 km/h onshore (E)
PipelineHawaii — Oahu, North ShoreSleepy1.1m swell @ 7s from the E · wind 26 km/h cross-shore (E)
Jeffreys BaySouth Africa — Eastern CapeSleepy1.4m swell @ 6s from the ESE · wind 6 km/h glassy (ESE)

These are model forecasts, not eyewitness reports — conditions at each spot are taken from its local midday forecast, and every wave has moods no model sees. Learn to read the numbers yourself in our guide to the best surf forecasts. Forecast data by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).