Raglan weather in January
January in Raglan: nice, rainy, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#3 of 12 months in Raglan · #432 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 82/100 (tier A)
- Days
- 22°C
- Nights
- 16°C
- Wet days
- 12
- Sun
- 11.7 h
- Humidity
- 78%
- Daylight
- 14 h
Traveller notes on Raglan in January
Raglan-forum threads on January call it the easy month for a first surf trip: New Zealand's summer brings warm air and warm-enough water that some sessions work in just boardshorts, a change from the wetsuit-year-round reputation the country's south gets. Swells run smaller than the bigger winter groundswells the point break is famous for among experienced surfers, but posters say that's exactly what makes January approachable for someone still building skills - consistent, rideable, less intimidating. The one thing regulars warn newcomers about is the sun itself: New Zealand's UV is unusually strong for the latitude, and more than one thread recommends a rash guard for sun protection rather than warmth. The record: 22C days, 15.8C nights, 98mm across nearly 12 days, a 20.6C sea, 78 percent humidity, wind averaging nearly 25 km/h and over 14 hours of daylight - genuinely long summer days, with rain still a regular feature.
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Raglan climate normals — January
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Raglan in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsSoundsplash, Summer holiday peak, Summer holidays in New Zealand(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Raglan's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Best weatherRaglan's weather peaks January–March, best around February.
January includes Soundsplash.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Raglan in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
Soundsplash
15–25 Jan · usuallyMusic festivalCrowdedBook earlyAn all-ages music festival that grew out of an eco-reggae gathering in 2001, held over two days and nights at Wainui Reserve with camping on site. The town's summer beds are gone well before it. Source ↗
- Hazard
Ngarunui Beach rips
1 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallyRip currents & big surfRaglan's surf club carries out more rescues than any other in New Zealand, most of them at Ngarunui, where rips and holes catch swimmers outside the flags. Lifeguards patrol weekends and holidays from Labour Weekend to Easter. Source ↗
- Holiday
Summer holiday peak
20 Dec – 31 Jan · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook earlyAccommodation demand peaks from mid-December through January, when holiday parks and baches fill with Waikato and Auckland families. Manu Bay's line-up gets crowded even on small days. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Raglan — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Raglan?
Raglan in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Raglan?
- January in Raglan: nice, rainy, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Raglan on SeasonMap's comfort score (82/100).
- What is the weather like in Raglan in January?
- In January, Raglan averages a daily high of 22°C and a low of 15.8°C, with about 97.7 mm of rain over roughly 11.8 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Raglan in January?
- Raglan has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 32 in January.
Within 300 km: Auckland's Pohutukawa in flower around 25 Nov – 10 Jan, and Paihia's Bay of Islands Sailing Week around 20–31 Jan.