Major city · New Zealand
RaglanWhāingaroa
Give Raglan 2 nights if you surf or walk; 1 night is enough if you only want the town, the harbour and one beach.
Raglan is a small west-coast town on a harbour mouth, about 45 minutes from Hamilton on State Highway 23. It is known for its left-hand surf breaks, its arts and market scene, and short walks to waterfalls and a gorge. There is no public transport inside town, so a car or the shuttle decides what you can do.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- NZD
- Best months
- Nov–Apr for surf and beach weather; Mar–Apr for smaller crowds
- avoid Mid-Dec–end Jan (accommodation books out), Jul–Aug for beach days
- Airports
- HLZ · AKL
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- New Zealand ↗Visa-waiver visitors need an NZeTA (with the tourism levy) before travel, including many transit passengers; others need a visa. Apply only through Immigration New Zealand or its official app, and check the rules for your passport.
- New Zealand ↗Declare all food, plant and animal products, and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots and tents, on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration; undeclared risk items bring instant fines.
- New Zealand ↗Drive on the left; give way as signed at one-lane bridges; an English-language licence or one with an approved translation or International Driving Permit is required.
- New Zealand ↗Freedom camping is restricted: sleep in a vehicle only where signed as allowed, and in many places only in certified self-contained vehicles.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Raglan111 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Raglan, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD, NZ$).New Zealand-wide
- SIM or eSIMOne NZ, Spark and 2degrees sell tourist SIMs at Auckland and Christchurch arrivals and in supermarkets; passport not required.New Zealand-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe almost everywhere; follow boil-water notices in small rural schemes.New Zealand-wide
- TippingCafé or restaurant: Nothing expected; 10% for very good service at dinner is a bonus.New Zealand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets I. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.New Zealand-wide
- SafetyRaglan is a small, low-crime town; the real risks are the sea (rocks, rips, cold water), rough bush tracks and the drive on narrow, unsealed roads.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets in every town and at most lookouts; DOC long-drops on tracks.New Zealand-wide
- Emergency numbers111 police, fire, ambulance · 105 Non-urgent police · *555 Traffic (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day morning and Christmas Day by law; small-town shops close by 17:00 and on Sunday afternoons…Shops closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day morning and Christmas Day by law; small-town shops close by 5:00 PM and on Sunday afternoons…New Zealand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckHLZ Hamilton Airport (About 1 h by road via State Highway 23; check current schedules.).
- Getting aroundNo public transport inside town.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeNZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5)
- Sit-down mealDinner main in a bar or restaurantNZ$25–40 (≈ US$15–25)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekNZ$20–50 (≈ US$12–30)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personNZ$45 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedMotel or lodge double room, a night, per roomNZ$200 (≈ US$120)
- High-end bedMotel or lodge double room, a night, per roomNZ$380 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget NZ$80 (≈ US$50) · Mid NZ$150 (≈ US$90) · High NZ$280 (≈ US$170)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HLZ Hamilton Airport (About 1 h by road via State Highway 23; check current schedules.) · AKL Auckland Airport (About 2.5–3 h by road; the usual arrival point for international flights.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Care
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Feb
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Mar
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Apr
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
May
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jun
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Jul
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Aug
Avoid
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Sep
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Oct
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Nov
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Dec
Care
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Best: Feb–Apr, Nov. Mixed: Dec–Jan. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)), coolest Jul (6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C) low), wettest Jul (16 rain days), driest Jan (8). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Raglan: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
8 rd
Feb
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
8 rd
Mar
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
9 rd
Apr
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
11 rd
May
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
13 rd
Jun
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
15 rd
Jul
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
16 rd
Aug
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
15 rd
Sep
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
14 rd
Oct
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
13 rd
Nov
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
11 rd
Dec
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No public transport inside town. Bus Route 23 links Raglan with the Hamilton Transport Centre, and on weekends it also runs between the township and Manu Bay. One taxi/shuttle service covers the town and beaches. A car makes the falls, the gorge and the Karioi tracks reachable.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Waireinga/Bridal Veil Falls
goDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min return from town
Drive State Highway 23 towards Te Mata, turn onto Kawhia Road to the falls carpark, then a 20-min walk
55 m falls; the track is short but slippery after rain.
Te Toto Gorge
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min each way
Drive Whaanga Road to the Te Toto Gorge carpark
Steep track down; the round-the-cliff route is overgrown and unmarked.
Mt Karioi summit
cautionDoor to door: 6–7 h return
Drive Whaanga Road to the Te Toto Gorge carpark, then walk
Rough and relatively difficult; a full day, not an afternoon.
Hamilton
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus Route 23 from the township to the Hamilton Transport Centre
Useful for connecting to the rest of the country; check the timetable.
Waitomo
goDoor to door: About 1 h 45 min
Drive via State Highway 23 and State Highway 3
Glowworm caves; better as a stop on the way south than a return day.
Pirongia
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive via State Highway 23 and State Highway 39
Short forest walks on the way to or from Hamilton.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Raglan township (Bow St, Wallis St, Rose St)
Walk to cafés, the wharf and the harbour; best for one night without a car.
Wainui Road / Whale Bay side
Closer to the surf beaches and Wainui Reserve; 5–10 min drive from town.
Kopua / Marine Parade
Holiday-park and motel beds by the estuary; good for families and campervans.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- NZ$80–140 (≈ US$50–85) excl. bed
- Mid
- NZ$140–250 (≈ US$85–150) excl. bed
- High
- NZ$250 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or lodge double room1 × 2 nights × NZ$200 | NZ$400 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × NZ$150 | NZ$600 |
| Bus Route 23, Hamilton to Raglan, one way2 × NZ$15 · check | NZ$30 |
| Group surf lesson, 2 hours2 × NZ$75 · check | NZ$150 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × NZ$30 | NZ$60 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | NZ$124 |
| Trip total≈ NZ$341 per person per day, bed included | NZ$1,364≈ US$850 |
2026 estimate in New Zealand dollars; flights and rental car excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | NZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Café lunch or fish and chips | NZ$15–28 (≈ US$9–17) |
| Dinner main in a bar or restaurant | NZ$25–40 (≈ US$15–25) |
| Surfboard rental, half daycheck | NZ$30–50 (≈ US$18–30) |
| Group surf lesson, 2 hourscheck | NZ$70–90 (≈ US$45–55) |
| Petrol, 91 octanecheck | about NZ$2.50–3.00 (≈ US$2) per litre |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | NZ$20–50 (≈ US$12–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Surf breaks sit over rock and strong currents; surf with a school or a local if you are new.
- The Karioi summit track is rough and takes about 3 h each way: start early, carry water.
- Te Toto Gorge track is steep and partly overgrown; do not count on a marked loop.
- Accommodation is scarce from mid-December to the end of January: book ahead.
- Left-hand driving, one-lane bridges and unsealed roads on the Whaanga Road side.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 111
- Non-urgent police
- 105
- Traffic
- *555
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
RaglanWhāingaroa
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ki tēnei wāhi, koaTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance111
- Non-urgent police105
- Traffic*555
Embassy
No embassies in Raglan; the US, UK, Canada and Australia have embassies or high commissions in Wellington, and most countries have consulates in Auckland.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Route 23, Hamilton Transport Centre → Raglan: about NZ$15 (≈ US$9), about 1 h (check)
- Raglan Shuttle, town → Manu Bay: short fixed fare, ask on booking (check)
- Petrol, 91 octane: about NZ$2.50–3.00 (≈ US$2) per litre (check)
Say or show
- Kia ora — Kia ora — hello / thank you (kee-ah or-ah)
- Ngā mihi — Thank you (ngah mee-hee)
- Koa — Please (koh-ah)
- Kei hea te one? — Where is the beach? (kay heh-ah teh on-eh)
- Ka taea te utu mā te kāri? — Can I pay by card? (kah tah-eh-ah teh oo-too mah teh kah-ree)
- Kei hea te wharepaku? — Where is the toilet? (kay heh-ah teh fah-reh-pah-koo)
Raglan has one taxi/shuttle service and limited weekend bus service to Manu Bay: book ahead in summer.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Raglan. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr for surf and beach weather; Mar–Apr for smaller crowds · avoid Mid-Dec–end Jan (accommodation books out), Jul–Aug for beach days · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for HLZ and AKL: last bus and shuttle times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: township and wharf, Wainui Reserve, Manu Bay and Whale Bay, Waireinga and Te Toto.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (falls carpark, gorge track, Karioi summit, museum) and eat pages with last orders.
- Surf-school and rental fixtures so the learn-to-surf day can go green.
Sources
- officialHamilton & Waikato Tourism — Raglan
- officialDepartment of Conservation — Waireinga/Bridal Veil Falls
- officialDepartment of Conservation — Karioi summit tracks
- officialBusit — regional services (Route 23)
- officialRaglan Shuttle
- secondaryWikivoyage: Raglan (New Zealand), revision 5014468 (CC BY-SA 4.0)