Mention the 3,000 person town of Raglan to a surfer and they’ll conjure images of perfect left-hand waves peeling along its coastline. Say it to a non-surfer, and you might be met with a blank stare. If you’re road tripping around New Zealand, even without a surfboard strapped to your roof, here’s why you’ll want to stop in at this cool coastal town just a little over two hours from Auckland.
It’s a surfer’s paradise
When my friend and her partner announced they’d be tying the knot in New Zealand, I packed my surfboard and wetsuit along with a pair of heels and my most formal dress. I couldn’t go to the North Island of New Zealand without catching a wave in Raglan. It’d be sacrilegious. And while Raglan has incredible waves for intermediate and experienced surfers, it’s perfect for beginners, too.
Take a lesson at Ngarunui Beach, where you can rent surfboards, wetsuits, and sign up for lessons in the parking lot. Hostels, like Raglan Backpackers, can also arrange lessons and rental gear — and the hostel has a Jacuzzi for a post-surf warm up. When your lessons or your surf session is over, head to the top of the hill at Ngarunui Beach and watch as the swell lines roll in.
The coffee shops don’t get better than this
The town of Raglan may not have many shops, restaurants, and cafes — the main area consists of one small street — but the few that it does have are incredible. Pop into Raglan Roast or Morning Glory Coffee Co. for one of the best cups of coffee you’ll ever have, especially if you’re coming from the States. When hunger strikes, there’s Wyld Raglan for big breakfasts made from local ingredients, kiwi classics at the Raglan Harbour View Hotel, and always-busy ULO’s Kitchen for Asian fusion. The good thing is, you can’t really go wrong as poor restaurants tend to have a short lifespan in a place like this.
The locals treat you like a friend
In many tourist destinations, it’s easy to feel invisible to locals. After all, why would they notice someone who will be gone in a few hours as they go about their day? I’ve certainly been guilty of ignoring temporary visitors, coming from and living in a destination that relies heavily on tourism.
So I was surprised when a few locals took the time to chat with my partner and me with no other motive than getting to know us. At New Wave Surf shop, the shopkeeper showed us the behind-the-scenes of his wetsuit repair station and told story after story of his surf travels since the 1970s. The woman working at one of Raglan’s outdoor shops was similarly chatty while showing us around her store.
While Raglan undoubtedly has the issues that many tourism destinations do when it comes to tourists crowding and impacting local culture, it’s a tourist destination where you feel like locals are interested in, rather than resentful of, those who stop in.
There are art galleries galore
With the sea and a rolling fern-carpeted landscape as their muse, artists of Raglan have no shortage of inspiration. Stroll along Bow Street in Raglan and you’ll pass a handful of art galleries and surely pass signs advertising upcoming art workshops and events. Within walking distance from one another, there’s the Jet Collective, Matapihi Art Gallery, and Show Off. Local artists also have private galleries, available for viewing if you call ahead. If you want to really embrace the town’s art scene, plan your trip during Raglan Arts Weekend, which typically takes place in October.
You won’t get bored of its land adventures either
Touch down in New Zealand and it won’t take long to find a trail weaving into dense forests or along lonely beaches. Raglan has plenty of land adventures in store if you don’t feel like dipping into its chilly waters. Lace up your hiking boots and trek to Bridal Veil Falls for a wispy cascade roaring over moss-covered rocks, hike to the top of Te Toto Gorge Lookout for incredible views of the sea, and search for bird life at the Wainui Reserve Bush Park.
If you’re happy to be on the water, there’s paddle boarding, kayaking, and whale watching to enjoy. Orcas migrate past Raglan from December to March and humpback whales come from June to July.
Surfing might have been what brought me to Raglan, but it’s everything else that’ll keep me coming back again and again.
