Rock-It Kitchen

Top choice in Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula

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Around 3km from town adjacent to surf beaches, Rock-It Kitchen combines rustic decor – it's housed in an old woolshed – with the area's best food. New Zealand wines and beer from west Auckland's Hallertau brewery combine with Scotch fillet steak and truffle potato mash for dinner, and the all-day breakfast of kumara hash cakes is popular with hungry surfers.

During summer, the outdoor tables are the place to be, and if the tide's right, it's even possible to steer a kayak way up the Wainui estuary from Raglan.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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Nearby Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula attractions

1. Old School Arts Centre

1.45 MILES

A community hub, the Old School Arts Centre has changing exhibitions and workshops, including weaving, carving, yoga and storytelling. Movies screen here…

2. Mt Karioi

4.42 MILES

In legend, Mt Karioi (756m), the Sleeping Lady (check out that profile), is the sister to Mt Pirongia. At its base (8km south of Whale Bay), Te Toto Gorge…

3. Waireinga

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Just past Te Mata (a short drive south of the main Raglan–Hamilton road) is the turn-off to the 55m-high Waireinga, 4km from the main road. From the car…

4. Ruapuke Beach

7.74 MILES

Whale Bay marks the end of the sealed road, but a gravel road continues to the wild spans of Ruapuke Beach, 22km from Raglan. It’s dangerous for swimmers…

5. Post Box Gallery

17.47 MILES

This volunteer-run gallery and shop is worth checking out to purchase interesting works and souvenirs from the increasing number of artists and designers…

6. Kawhia Regional Museum & Gallery

17.55 MILES

Kāwhia's modest waterside museum has local history, nautical and Māori art and artefacts, as well as regular art exhibitions. Don't miss the huge fossil…

7. Ocean Beach

17.93 MILES

Four kilometres west of Kāwhia is Ocean Beach and its high, black-sand dunes. Swimming can be dangerous, but one to two hours either side of low tide you…

8. Maketu Marae

18.24 MILES

From Kāwhia Wharf, a track extends along the coast to Maketu Marae, which has an impressively carved meeting house, Auaukiterangi. Two stones here – Hani…