Raglan: A Surfer's Paradise

If you fancy escaping the city for a few days, you’re a keen surfer, and you want somewhere a bit livelier than Piha or Muriwai, grab your board, hire a car and drive roughly two hours south west from Auckland to Raglan. It’s famous for its surfing, its music, its bohemian vibe, and for being one of the locations where the classic surf film “The Endless Summer” was shot. This place will not disappoint.

Just 35 to 40 minutes from Hamilton, you’ll find the black sand beaches that the west coast of the Waikato is known for. Here’s why we love it, and what’s changed since we were last there.

In this article

• Raglan’s laidback vibe
• The surf: Manu Bay, Whale Bay and Ngarunui Beach
• Bridal Veil Falls (Waireinga)
• Te Toto Gorge and Mount Karioi
• Nearby side trips
• Your questions answered

Raglan’s laidback vibe

Raglan is a small village where everyone seems welcome. The streets are lined with cafes and surf shops, and the whole place has a relaxed, friendly energy. It’s a safe environment to bring the kids to, and just as easy as a solo traveller; within an hour you’ll feel right at home. We also found our obligatory fish and chips down at the wharf, now trading as Raglan Fish (it was previously known as Raglan Seafoods), a must for any budget traveller.

Raglan “fush n chups”.

The surf

A ten minute drive outside the village will get you to Raglan’s best-known breaks. Manu Bay, also called The Point, has one of the longest, most accessible and most consistent left-hand point breaks in the Southern Hemisphere, and it’s the wave “The Endless Summer” made famous. It’s still the reason most surfers make the trip to Raglan.

Whale Bay is another great spot, with excellent left point breaks that work well across a range of tides. It’s more challenging than Manu Bay though, since access is over exposed rock, so it’s really one for experienced surfers only.

If you’re learning, or you’ve brought the kids, head to Ngarunui Beach instead. It’s Raglan’s main patrolled beach, with paid lifeguards on duty daily through the main summer season and volunteer patrols on weekends and public holidays either side of that, plus several surf schools running lessons. It’s a much gentler, safer introduction to the coastline than the point breaks.

Shuttle buses run out to the surf spots in summer, and you’ll find plenty of surf schools operating out of Raglan’s main street if you want a lesson, whatever your level. Book ahead in peak season and check current pricing online, as it changes operator to operator.

Bridal Veil Falls (Waireinga)

If you’ve never seen a proper waterfall, Waireinga / Bridal Veil Falls will do the job. It has a 55 metre plunge and is a short, easy 10 minute walk from the car park to the upper viewing platform. Make the effort to walk down to the base too; it’s even more spectacular from below, and we’ve been lucky enough to visit twice, each time genuinely in awe.

One change worth knowing about: the track is no longer suitable for wheelchairs following storm damage in recent years, so check DOC’s current track status if accessibility matters for your visit.

Bridal Veil Falls, revisited years later.

Te Toto Gorge and Mount Karioi

Te Toto Gorge, where the Tasman Sea meets towering volcanic cliffs formed by ancient eruptions from Mount Karioi, is the next stop. Keep driving past Whale Bay and Manu Bay, and don’t turn back even once you hit unsealed road. The dramatic high cliffs are not to be missed, and relatively few visitors make the journey out here. You can get close enough to the edge to properly appreciate the scale of the gorge.

From the Te Toto Gorge car park, two tracks climb to the summit of Mount Karioi, taking around three to three and a half hours one way depending on which route you take. Both are open year round, but water is scarce on the mountain, especially in summer, so carry plenty with you, and note dogs aren’t permitted on the track. The last stretch of Whaanga Road up to the car park is narrow and unsealed, so take it slowly. If you don’t fancy the full summit, the road beyond the car park loops past a few quiet, secluded beaches that make a lovely picnic stop before looping back round to Bridal Veil Falls.

You can’t beat a picnic spot like this.

Nearby side trips

If you’ve got a little extra time, Raglan isn’t far from the Waitomo Caves, where you can tie in a trip to explore some of the North Island’s best cave systems. A side trip to Kawhia is also worth it for the lesser-known hot water beach there, best visited around low tide.

If you need somewhere to stay beyond a campground, book ahead. Raglan is a genuinely small town, which also means “no room at the inn” is a real risk in the height of summer. We’d suggest checking BookaBach beforehand, and your usual booking site for current availability of motels and hotels in the area.

For more of the North Island, our 10 tips for planning a road trip and how to travel New Zealand on a budget guides are worth a read before you set off. Raglan also works well as one stop on a longer loop; our New Zealand travel itineraries hub has full route suggestions, and volcanic Tongariro National Park makes a striking contrast if you’re continuing your trip inland.

It’s hard to return to reality after a road trip like this.

Your questions answered

What is Raglan famous for?

Its world-class left-hand point breaks, especially Manu Bay, the location that helped make the 1966 surf film “The Endless Summer” famous. Beyond the surf, it’s known for its relaxed, bohemian village atmosphere, its black sand beaches and its cafe culture.

Is Raglan good for beginner surfers?

Yes. Ngarunui Beach is Raglan’s patrolled, learner-friendly beach with lifeguards on duty in summer and several surf schools running lessons for all levels. The famous point breaks (Manu Bay and Whale Bay) are better suited to experienced surfers.

How far is Raglan from Auckland and Hamilton?

Around two hours’ drive south west from Auckland, and about 35 to 40 minutes from Hamilton. It’s an easy day trip from either city, though we’d recommend staying at least a night or two to make the most of it.

Is Bridal Veil Falls wheelchair accessible?

No, not currently. Storm damage has affected the track in recent years, so it’s no longer suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The walk itself remains an easy 10 minute stroll from the car park for most visitors, with steps down to the lower viewing platform.

Can you climb Mount Karioi?

Yes, via two DOC tracks from the Te Toto Gorge car park, both open year round and taking around three to three and a half hours one way to the summit. Water is scarce on the mountain, dogs aren’t allowed, and the access road is narrow gravel for the final stretch.

What else is there to do near Raglan?

The Waitomo Caves and the hot water beach at Kawhia both make good side trips if you have extra time, alongside the region’s other waterfalls and walks around Mount Karioi.