Summer brings a yearning to explore, unplugging from routine and resetting the compass as rubber hits the road in a direction of adventure. Making the most of New Zealand’s reputable landscapes and point breaks, it’s good to know the lay of the land as we ease back into the summer routine.
Packing up the car and hitting the road, our team took to the rugged west coast of Raglan to explore the best this small local town has to offer with some memorable stops along the way.
Lookout: Manu Bay
Gaining international attention after featuring in the movie ‘Endless Summer’, Manu Bay is renowned for providing one of the longest and most consistent left-hand breaks in the world. Before waxing your board, park up top of Manu Bay and check out the surf with northward views along the coast.
Stay: Raglan Harbour View Pub
An iconic part of Raglans history, the Raglan Harbour View Pub based in the heart of town is your one stop shop for character and charm. With it’s fair share of world-famous visitors, we’ve been told that the likes of Robert Plant and Martin Clunes have enjoyed a few beers at this historical gem. Catch up with your mates over a cold one, fill up on a decent meal and hit the hay upstairs in one of their many colonial styled rooms.
Eat: Rock It Kitchen
An old shearing shed turned café, Rock It Kitchen is a mandatory stop on the summer roadie. Fill up on the aptly named ‘Breakfast of Champions’ and take in the relaxed vibe that Raglan is known for with a picturesque setting amongst toi toi and a tidal stream flowing past the bottom of the garden.
Surf: Whale Bay
Great surf is what draws any keen surfer to Whale Bay with a left point break that works well on all tides. Not for the faint hearted, Whale Bay is the wild west in its purest form, jump off the rocks at the western end of the bay and join the line-up.
Go: Raglan Fish
A classic kiwi go-to, fish and chips are the quintessential summer meal. Situated a short distance out of town on the working Raglan wharf, Raglan Fish is the local one stop shop for the freshest seafood around. Watch the salty dogs prepare their nets and fill up on the freshest fish and beer battered chips that put every other offering to shame.
