Raglan

Raglan sits on a harbour at the mouth of the Waingaro and Opotoru rivers, and its reputation rests on Manu Bay, a left-hand point break a few kilometres south that produces very long, consistent rides when a west or south-west swell lines up with the reef - it appeared in the 1966 surf film The Endless Summer and has been on the international surfing map ever since. Whale Bay and Indicators are the neighbouring breaks. The town itself is small, with a main street of cafes, galleries, a good bookshop and a long-established alternative and arts community; it has kept that character better than most surf towns partly because the road in from Hamilton is winding enough to discourage casual traffic. The harbour is used for kayaking and paddleboarding, Bridal Veil Falls is twenty minutes south, and Karioi, the volcanic hill behind the town, has a hard summit track.

History

Ngāti Māhanga occupied the area in the late 18th century, and the earliest of at least 81 archaeological sites date to about 1400; the Māori name Whāingaroa means "the long pursuit". The Wesleyan missionaries James and Mary Wallis settled here in 1835, the name Raglan was adopted in 1858, and the first coach link to Hamilton began in 1880 (Wikipedia, Raglan, New Zealand).

What you'll find

• Manu Bay - the long left-hand point break the town is known for.
• The black-sand coast - Ngarunui and the beaches south of the harbour.
• The main street - cafes, galleries and the arts community.
• Karioi - the volcanic hill behind, with a steep summit track.

When to go

December to April for swimming and the town; the surf works year round on the right swell. Weekends bring Hamilton traffic; midweek is calmer.

Before you go

The point breaks are for experienced surfers and the local lineup is protective - beginners belong at Ngarunui with a school. The road from Hamilton is winding. Accommodation is limited and books out in summer.

Nearby

Bridal Veil Falls is south; Hamilton is forty-five minutes east.

Key facts