Introducing Raglan
Raglan may well be NZ’s perfect surfing town. It’s small enough to have escaped mass development – perhaps due to a mainstream Kiwi preference for the safer white-sand east-coast beaches – yet it’s big enough for a bit of bustle. There are several good eateries and a bar that attracts big-name bands in summer.
Advertisement
Nestled near the south head of the Raglan Harbour (Whaingaroa), the nearby ocean bays are internationally famous for their breaks and attract surfers from around the world. Bruce Brown’s classic 1964 wave-chasing film The Endless Summer features Manu Bay. The harbour is excellent for kayaking, fishing and swimming. This all serves to attract fit guys and girls from all over the world; Raglan may also be NZ’s best-looking town.
It’s exactly the sort of laid-back, charming place that sees you shuffle your itinerary to extend your stay.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
RE: Drive from Auckland to new Plymouth
by LisaMNZ 28 August 2011
I think most of ranjon's suggestions involve heading south of NP & then back up. Which would definitely be an interesting route; but…
In our shop
Bags feeling light?
Coffee table looking bare?
Get your guidebooks, travel goods, even individual chapters, right here.
Advertisement
Raglan
-
Raglan Overview
- Getting there & around
- Hotels
- Forum
- Trips
- Show map Close map
Things to do
- All things to do (16)
- Activities (5)
- Entertainment (1)
- Restaurants (5)
- Shopping (2)
- Sights (3)
- Tours (0)
Make it happen
Related trips
Our favourite Raglan Blogs (beta)
-
Raglan Beach, New Zealand
Blog: Pommie Travels - 17 February 2011
This beautiful beach is in Raglan, a place I visited on my two-week visit to the North Island of New Zealand. Raglan is a laid-back town on the West Coast of the North Island and was about a 45 minute drive from where I was staying in Hamilton. This black sand beach I believe is [...]
-
Waikato and Waitomo
Blog: 12FOOT3 - 21 November 2008
Our first destination after Auckland was Raglan, which is in Waikato, and where Robert and Chuck told us about a world class left point surf break (Jeremy brought his surfboard on the trip and will sell it when we leave Australia). Raglan is about 3 hours drive from Auckland; it is directly west of the [...]
