Things to do in Raglan

Raglan sits on the west coast of the Waikato, roughly 2 h 30 min by road from Rotorua via Hamilton, so it works better as an overnight stop than a day trip. The town is built around surfing: Manu Bay, just south of the harbour, holds one of the longest lefthand breaks in the world, with rides that can run several hundred metres on a good swell.

Board and wetsuit hire in town runs from around 25 to 45 NZD for a few hours, and a beginner lesson typically costs 80 to 120 NZD. Inland, Mount Karioi (756 m) is the base for commercial canyoning trips, roughly 4 to 5 hours including gear and a waterfall abseil, priced from around 250 NZD per person.

The west coast surf is best for experienced riders outside midsummer, when swells are more consistent.