Raglan - New Zealand's Surfing Mecca

West of Hamilton and just 2 hours from Auckland, NZ's surf town is a great escape if you're looking for a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. Catch a wave, explore black sand beaches, waterfalls or pay the quirky shops a visit. I'd also be grateful for any support in the way of: 🌺subscribing to my page 🌺sharing this guide 🌺saving this guide 🌺leaving a review THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Read less

Updated ago

Raglan

@sarahgeiger

Raglan is NZ's surf mecca and this lively small town with hippie flair is the perfect destination to spend some days at the ocean or explore the stunning landscape with beautiful waterfalls. The town is situated west of Hamilton and just 2 hours from Auckland, making it a perfect weekend getaway as well.

Add to

Details

FOOD AND DRINKS

Raglan Harbour View Hotel

@sarahgeiger

A great place in town for a dinner. I can highly recommend getting a pizza and the nachos. Nice atmosphere to have a drink as well.

Add to

Details

Raglan Bakery

@sarahgeiger

If you're looking for tasty pies, you shouldn't miss out on this place. Well worth it to grab on and enjoy it sitting at the waterfront.

Add to

Details

Raglan Roast

@sarahgeiger

This small shop offers the best coffee in Raglan. If you're looking for your daily dose of caffeine, you definitely have to check out this spot.

Add to

Details

WHERE TO STAY

Te Kopua Whanau Camp

@sarahgeiger

There are no freedom camps in Raglan but if you're looking for a low-priced spot, this camp is perfect for you. On arrival you have to register, fill out a card and put it in the box together with the cash. There are coin operated hot showers.

Add to

Details

Raglan Holiday Park

@sarahgeiger

Very beautiful camp and located right at the beach. There's all the amenities you need and everything is impeccably clean and well looked after. Just outside the town center and you can easily walk as there is a footbridge connecting the peninsula where the camping is located with Raglan's town center.

Add to

Details

Raglan Backpackers, Surf, Kayak, Paddle Board Hire & Waterfront Lodge

@sarahgeiger

A great hostel with ocean views and garden, nice common areas for socializing and even a jacuzzi and sauna. Make sure to book the hostel in advance as it is very popular and fills up quickly.

Add to

Details

Raglan Sunset Motel

@sarahgeiger

Great place if you want to stay in the town center of Raglan. The rooms are tastefully furnished and decorated with a beach vibe. The river is just 100 m away and it is a short walk to the beach. There are BBQ facilities and even a jacuzzi. A perfect base for your stay in Raglan.

Add to

Details

WHAT TO DO

Ngarunui Beach

@sarahgeiger

A super beautiful beach and perfect to go for long walks, a swim or surfing. There are showers and changing rooms and at the car park there are surf rentals.

Add to

Details

Michael Hope Lookout

@sarahgeiger

Definitely worth stopping by here. The lookout provides views over Ngarunui Beach, the ocean and the gorgeous coastline. There are benches and picknick tables. Bring your lunch and enjoy those stunning views while eating!

Add to

Details

Raglan Surf School

@sarahgeiger

Raglan is the perfect place for surfing, whether you're experienced or a beginner. You can't leave this surf mecca without having been on the board yourself at least once. You can find the Raglan Surf School right at Ngarunui Beach and I had a blast with them. Don't miss out on a surf lesson!

Add to

Details

The Space Raglan

@sarahgeiger

Another popular activity in Raglan is yoga. Doesn't matter how experienced you are, there are classes for everyone. Check out The Space which is located at the main street.

Add to

Details

Raglan Kayak & Paddleboard

@sarahgeiger

There's a limestone coast in Raglan and the best way to explore it is by renting a kayak and discover the rock formations. Depending on the time of the year, you could get lucky and even see some orcas. If you're not a kayak fan and prefer a paddleboard, go for it!

Add to

Details

Bridal Veil Falls

@sarahgeiger

The Bridal Veil Falls is 55 meters high and really impressive. It's a very beautiful waterfall, nestled in amazing nature and fern forest and it's just a wonderful place. This waterfall is definitely recommended and counts to one of my favourite in NZ. There's 4 lookouts, one from the top, the second a bit further to get a full view of it, another from the middle of the height of the falls and the last one is down at the pool. I liked the middle one the best!

Add to

Details

Ruapuke Beach

@sarahgeiger

Super beautiful and remote black sand beach. To reach it you take a short walk through the dunes from the parking lot. Please stick to the path to not damage the flora. This piece of wild and rough coastline is definitely worth a visit.

Add to

Details

Thank you for reading till the end!

Have the best time during your visit in Raglan!🙂

Writing these guides takes up quite some time so if you liked my guide and want to support my work, I'd be very happy if you leave a tip. This will help me to continue my travels and provide you with more content.

Interested in exploring more of New Zealand with me?

Sarah

Available for hire

New Zealand

I've had the privilege to live in this beautiful country for more than 2 years during Covid and explore it thoroughly in my van. The best way to make the most of your visit, is to travel by car/van to be able to get to all the places you want to visit and discover the more remote destinations as well. My travel guides include popular destinations, off the beaten track spots and hidden gems, travel tips, hikes and to do's, the best free camps, other accommodation options and recommendations on where to eat. To sum it up, everything you need to know to give you a great travel experience! I will slowly add more and more guides here, so save this post to receive updates. Enjoy reading! 🙂 I'd also be grateful for any support in the way of: 🌺subscribing to my page 🌺sharing this guide 🌺saving this guide 🌺leaving a review THANK YOU SO MUCH!

50+ • Backpacker • Couples • Groups • Vegan • Vegetarian • Female Solo • Family • Adventure • Boutique • Budget • Camping • Coffee • Design • Foodie • Luxury • Outdoors • People & Culture • Photography • RV • Relaxation • Road Trip • Romantic • Slow Travel • Sustainable/Eco • Van Life • Wellness • Wine

Free

Guide

* * *

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah

Available for hire

❗PLEASE NOTE❗ I'm trilingual. I offer my services here in English but I can also provide them in German 🇩🇪 and Spanish 🇪🇸 if you contact me ✨ Hi everyone 👋🏻 I'm Sarah from Germany and my biggest passion is everything related to travel. I not only LOVE to organize my own travels but also help others make travelling and especially planning easier. Below you can find some facts about me to get to know me a little better 😊 🌏 I'm backpacking solo around the world since 2017, exploring new places and cultures. I love to travel off the beaten path as I think this is the best way to experience local life and discover places away from mass tourism. 🗻 I've lived in New Zealand for 2,5 years, exploring this beautiful country in my van and I've also lived in Australia and Uruguay for one year each. 🥥 I always try to spend as much time as possible in one country to be able to explore it thoroughly. The first thing I usually do is wandering the streets to get a feel for the place, visiting local markets and also trying all the food. 🏞️🏝️ I love the outdoors, hiking, chasing waterfalls, driving around with the scooter, scuba diving and snorkeling. 🤔Have initial questions or need quick advice? Hit the “Contact Me” button to send me a message! I’d love to hear from you.

Read less

Send A Tip

Support Sarah’s work.

Select your tip amount

$10

$20

$50

Or type in other amount

Explore related destinations

Ngarunui Beach, Wainui Road, Raglan, Neuseeland

Hamilton, Neuseeland

North Island, Neuseeland