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Best things to do in Raglan

When I think of the essential slow travel experiences of the Waikato, Raglan comes pretty high up the list. In this piece I’m going to explain why you should check out this arty, surfy little town and its harbour and beaches.

Raglan is a great place to base yourself for a few days. It ticks all the boxes for slow travel.

If you’re staying in Hamilton, Raglan is a wonderful day trip.

What’s not in this post: I’m not going to recommend where to stay, that’s a post for another day. (But Raglan has great visitor accommodation for various budgets.) I’m also not going to cover surfing and mountain biking, because this is outside the scope of the Waikato Day Tripper.

Raglan is the cool cousin of the Waikato. It has an arty, beachy vibe that easily makes sense to visitors, when other places in this region need a bit more time to get to know them. (Which is what the Waikato Daytripper is all about.)

It’s easy to fall in love with Raglan. It’s quirky, and a bit wild.

This is a place where you’ll find artists, musicians and healing practitioners of all kinds, from massage to breathwork to yoga teachers. There’s also a strong core of environmental activism.

I’m not a Raglan insider – I’m a visitor. I’ve been living “over the Divvy” from Raglan for nearly 20 years. (“The Divvy” is the local nickname for the winding hill section of State Highway 23 between Hamilton and Raglan.)

I’ve spent holidays in Raglan and I’ve also enjoyed many day trips to Raglan. As soon as you step out of the car, you’re in a different headspace.

Keep reading and I’ll share what there is do in Raglan, and when are the best times to visit.

In foreground long dark brown sculptural branches and bunches of dull green leaves, and green grass. Through the branches is a harbour at low tide with wide stretches of mudflat and pale blue water. On the far side of the water is the other side of the harbour with dark green bush down to the water’s edge. Above the bush is blue sky with white clouds.
Watching the tide ebb and flow: Low tide at Raglan, on the Whaingaroa Harbour, seen through the sculptural branches of a pohutukawa tree.

Harbour, surf beaches, a mountain, plus a little town

Raglan is a small town on the Whaingaroa Harbour, on the west coast of the North Island. It’s about 45 minutes’ drive from Hamilton.

As well as the peaceful tidal harbour, there is a black sand surf beach, Ngarunui, about ten minutes’ drive out of town. And a few minutes’ drive further along the coast there’s Manu Bay, which is legendary in the world surfing community. (I am not a surfer but even I know it’s a big deal!) Further along the coast is Whale Bay, which is another famous place for serious surfers.

The mountain overlooking Raglan is Karioi, a 2.4 million year old extinct volcano, which has bush reserves and a famous (steep) walking trail to the summit.

Seems like this place has everything you’d want for a small holiday!

What to do in Raglan

You can swim, surf, paddle the harbour in a kayak, sit around drinking coffee, listen to live music, and much more. The town has a range of small boutiques, art galleries, cafes and restaurants. It also has a well supported local music scene and arts community.

When you’re planning a trip to Raglan, it’s always a good idea to check the local events calendar. And, also, ask the local experts at the Raglan iHub, the community visitor information centre.

Flat grey sand beach stretching into the distance with footprints in the sand and on left blue-green harbour water with white ripples
Walking along Whaingaroa Harbour towards Raglan. Often there will be nobody else on the beach.

How to say the local place names

Are you wondering how to pronounce the place names? Here’s a useful guide on how to pronounce local place names, from Waikato University.

Including how to say Whaingaroa, the name of the harbour.

On the same page it shows how to say Karioi – that’s the mountain.

I haven’t yet found a good pronunciation guide for Ngarunui – that’s the beautiful surf beach. I suggest you ask the people at the information centre.

Where to swim at Raglan

I love the laid-back, unpretentious beach vibe at Raglan.

There are two swimming options here: in the harbour; or head to Ngarunui and take a dip in the surf alongside body boarders and surfers.

Both the harbour and Ngarunui are black volcanic sand beaches.

If you’re looking for white sand, head across to the Bay of Plenty (on the East side of the North Island), where there are miles and miles of white sand beaches.

Swimming in the harbour

Harbour swimming is best at high tide, so check the tide charts.

Walk across the footbridge from Raglan town centre towards the campground. In summer you’ll see families of all ages paddling in the harbour, and teenagers joyfully jumping off the bridge. It’s a local tradition. Local health and safety authorities have tried to stop this (it’s not without risk), but they seem to have given up.

After the footbridge, turn right and walk along the harbour towards the sea. You’ll find plenty of places to swim.

Grey footbridge across smooth blue-green water, held up by grey pillars in the water, two people standing on bridge looking into water.
The footbridge across Whaingaroa Harbour, between central Raglan and the campground. In summer the bridge has lines of teenagers jumping off into the water.

Swimming in the surf

Ngarunui Beach (also sometimes known as Wainui Beach and Ocean Beach) is the main beach for surfing, swimming and walking along the coast.

It’s a black sand beach with some dangerous rips, hence there’s a regular surf patrol.

I recommend you only swim when the surf patrol are on duty.

It’s a fairly long walk down the hill from the carpark to the beach – but worth it.

Kayaks and boat trips

Hire kayaks from Raglan Kayaks on Bow St (central Raglan) and paddle around in the harbour.

If you paddle across to the other side of the harbour, be careful not to disturb seabirds nesting in the rocks.

Up the harbour, Raglan Adventures at 42 Lorenzen Bay Rd also hire canoes.

There are various boat tours of the Whaingaroa Harbour. I haven’t yet experienced these, but they come highly recommended.

Find out about boat tours here: Raglan boat charters

What about surfing?

Surfing is beyond the scope of the Waikato Daytripper! But I can’t write about Raglan without mentioning surfing, in case that’s a priority for one of your family members or fellow travelers. You can hire boards and get surfing lessons at Ngarunui Beach.

Experienced surfers will head for Manu Bay and Whale Bay. But those bays definitely aren’t suited for swimmers. Or beginner surfers.

Surf beach with blue water and black sand seen in distance, through busy green trees and flax flower spikes.
Ngarunui Beach is the popular surf beach near Raglan.

Biking at Raglan

There’s a cycle path beside the road from Raglan to Wainui Reserve Bush Park near Ngarunui Beach. You can hire bikes at a couple of places, check with the information centre for details.

There are also mountain bike trails, but the Waikato Daytripper prefers gentler cycle paths.

Shopping in Raglan

Raglan is a good place for low-key shopping. There are small boutiques (many with an arty, often hippie vibe), gift shops and art galleries. More than once I’ve done my Christmas gift shopping on a day trip to Raglan.

On Raglan wharf, a 20-minute walk out of town at the end of Wallis St, there’s well-known New Zealand ceramicist Tony Sly’s pottery shop, plus Soul Shoes, a famous local shoe maker, and Raglan Fish, my favourite place for fresh fish.

There are also a few second hand shops, including Kahu’s Nest, at the Xtreme Waste recycling centre, a short drive out of town.

Music and arts

While you’re in Raglan, catch a gig at one of the local venues, including the Yot Club, the Yard Music Café in Volcom Lane, the Old School Arts Centre or the Harbour View Hotel.

Raglan hosts festivals in various music genres throughout the year. Soundsplash in late January is (mainly) for the kids. (Not a good idea to visit that particular weekend if you want a quiet vibe.) There’s a local folk festival in May and a biennial ukulele festival in September.

Raglan Arts Weekend (in late October, on Labour Weekend) is a lively portal into the local arts community, with open studios, galleries and design stores.

Last year the festival included over 65 artists working across a wide variety of media, from sculpture and textiles to painting, photography, and more.

To ramp up the atmosphere, the Raglan country and blues festival takes place on the same weekend.

Find out about upcoming arts and music events via the Raglan Old School Arts Centre. Or check the information centre events calendar.

Where to eat

Raglan has some good food places, from sandwich bars to sit-down restaurants.

Some of my favourites include Iso Bar for a special meal (and superb non-alcoholic cocktails); for coffee, Raglan Roast’s original hole in the wall shop on Volcom Lane; and for fresh fish, Raglan Fish on the wharf. You can buy fish to take home and cook, or eat at the restaurant.

For a frozen treat in summer I love Raglan Gelato, they have a pop-up stall in the main street.

Orca has the best location of the Raglan eateries, across the street from the harbour, on the corner of Wallis St.

For chocolate lovers, La La Land is highly recommended.

For foodie insider tips, see The Spinoff’s guide to where to eat in Raglan – their recommendations include The Shack (it’s also a music venue), Ulo’s Kitchen, and Sidekick for sandwiches.

Brown weatherboard shed half covered in green leaf vines, Raglan Roast in letters above the open doorway, three people entering beneath the leaves.
This is the original Raglan Roast “hole in the wall” coffee stall, in Volcom Lane, Raglan.

Eco-activism at Raglan

Raglan folk are loud and proud about environmental values. There’s a big sign on the way into town reminding visitors to bring a reusable cup and bag, to reduce the food packaging waste in local landfills. Most of the local hospitality venues are on board with this.

If you’re interested in the community activism side of environmental issues, check out the Whaingaroa Environment Centre. Raglan has a strong core of environmental activism, including KASM, which spearheads opposition to black sand mining on west coast beaches, the award-winning Whaingaroa Weedbusters, who protect Raglan’s unique landscapes by removing invasive plants and restoring native habitats, and the Karioi Project, which protects and restores the bush reserves on the mountain.

Activities include beach clean events, and the Raglan Growers’ Market on Fridays from spring to autumn. Māui Dolphin Day is a community festival in March which highlights the endangered Popoto/Māui Dolphin and the importance of the marine environment.

Xtreme Waste is the innovative local community recycling and waste management organisation. For second-hand bargains, Kahu’s Nest, at 186 Te Hutewai Rd, is their retail wing.

Hakea Retreat, on Aotea Harbour (on the other side of the mountain), is an off-grid community offering permaculture workshops and other events, including an annual gathering in January.

When to visit Raglan

Any time of year is great – depending on what you want to do.

In summer the community will be buzzing with seasonal visitors.

In winter it will be much quieter and you may even have the beach to yourself. After a brisk walk, warm up in the sauna at Solscape – it has the most glorious views across the ocean.

In foreground green lawn edged with colourful flower beds, at left person in pink t-shirt seated on bench looking at distant blue ocean.
The view from Solscape, over the Tasman Sea.

Things to do near Raglan

Wairēinga Falls/ Bridal Veil Falls

A dramatic waterfall and short walk on the far side of Karioi from Raglan. Access is via Te Mata Road off the Hamilton/Raglan Highway (SH23). Turn left into Kawhia Road, 1 km past Te Mata and travel another 4 km to the car park. The walk is 20 minutes each way.

Mt Karioi track

The Karioi Track is a scenic but steep 3 hours walk (each way) to the summit of the mountain. There is an alternate track on the other side of the mountain. It is less steep, but less scenic. (I haven’t walked either of these trails yet.)

Ruapuke Beach

Ruapuke Beach is a beautiful remote ocean beach on the far side of Karioi from Raglan.

Sunset at Ruapuke Beach is a gorgeous experience. But don’t swim – the beach has dangerous rips and there’s no surf patrol.

After walking on the beach, head to Pumula for a sauna – they’re highly recommended.

While you’re at Ruapuke, also check out Barrelled Wines, for wine tasting (or stay overnight).

Te Toto Gorge

Te Toto Gorge is a beautiful reserve and historic place overlooking Whale Bay. It’s an amazing view.

However, most of the online information about this reserve fails to mention that it’s not an easy drive from Raglan (or from Ruapuke either). The road to Te Toto Gorge is one of the scariest, narrowest, most bumpy and winding roads you’ll find in the whole of New Zealand. It’s not for the faint-hearted!

And when you get there, the small parking lot is often full. No camping is permitted and phone access may be dodgy.

Day trips from Raglan

I’m pretty sure you’ll get into a Raglan state of mind and not want to leave. But here are some options.

Waitomo caves

The Waitomo glow-worm caves are one hour and 20 minutes’ drive, so this is a do-able day trip if you’re based at Raglan.

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton is 45 minutes’ drive over the Divvy, with Hamilton Gardens (worth a day trip) and beautiful riverside walkways. Here’s my post about what there is to see at Hamilton Gardens.

Taitua Arboretum

Taitua Arboretum is on the way to Hamilton, about half an hour’s drive from Raglan. Here’s my post about this beautiful tree park.

Aotea Harbour and Kāwhia Harbour

Aotea Harbour is the next harbour south of Whaingaroa. There are places where you can swim at high tide. It’s very peaceful but a bit muddy.

Kāwhia Harbour is south of Aotea, along winding, bumpy roads. But it’s a popular trip to experience the hot water spots on the beach at low tide.

Raglan in brief

A chill, arty, beachy little town with a harbour, surf beaches and a mountain.

There’s plenty of scope for a slow travel holiday. Swim, kayak, walk, browse shops, eat, hear music, etc.

How to get to Raglan

By car: It’s 45 minutes’ drive along State Highway 23 from Hamilton, depending how fast you enjoy driving. The road is well sealed, but mostly only two lanes, and there are some winding parts. From Auckland, it’s about two hours’ drive.

Buses: The Route 23 Raglan bus service between Hamilton and Raglan currently has return trips four times a day on weekdays, and more frequently at specific times. Two of the buses go all the way to Manu Bay and Ngarunui Beach (and there are racks for surfboards). The trip takes approximately one hour. Check Busit for the timetable.

Taxis: There are taxis at Raglan but the service is somewhat limited (if you’re used to big cities), due to the small size of this place.

By bicycle? I don’t recommend cycling to Raglan – there isn’t space for a bicycle lane along the edge of the road, most of the way.

Where to find out more

The Raglan iHub at 13 Wainui Rd is the community tourist information centre. They have a wealth of local knowledge. And, they have a great “what’s on” calendar, plus tide charts, on their website.

Are you ready for Raglan?

I hope I’ve given you plenty of reasons to include Raglan in your Waikato travel plans.

If you enjoyed this post, sign up to my email list to stay in touch. I’ll let you know whenever I publish new ideas for day trips around New Zealand’s green heartland.

And check out my post with more essential Waikato adventures.

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