Raglan is one of the most famous holiday destinations in New Zealand and one of the best surfing spots in the world. It’s surprising, therefore, that I’d never been until last week weekend!
It was a wintery day – not raining, but with a cold light and a cold wind. On our way to Raglan, we stopped at the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls. We had a picnic with us, but waited to eat it until we’d got to Raglan.
Raglan turned out to be a charming town, full of nice, slightly different shops. There were crafts and antiques and souvenirs and clothes – and lots of places to get fush ’n’ chups! The air smelled so tantalising! Naturally, there were heaps of surfing-relating shops, but there was also a lovely little shop with this display in the window:
And even the poles down the streets were decorated:
We came to the conclusion that it would be a great place to spend a week if you were after a quieter sort of holiday, or looking for some artsy items with which to furnish your house. Or you if you were mad on surfing, of course.
And the surfing!
Despite it being such a cold day, there were lots and lots of surfers. We ended up having our picnic at Whale Bay, a rocky beach with spectacular waves. I’d never seen waves like them! Watching the surfers go was fascinating.
POMS AWAY! 
Aw, looks charming, and the surfing looks fab.
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[…] It’s true what they say: in New Zealand, you’re never far from a beach. And practically every beach is gorgeous, uncrowded and unspoilt by human development. From the rugged beaches of the West Coast to the golden beaches of the Coromandel, you’re sure to find your own special spot. My favourite beach is Cathedral Cove, but Bethells Beach comes in a close second. I absolutely adore black sand beaches – it feels like walking on velvet. New Zealand has many good surfing beaches, with perhaps the most famous being Raglan. […]
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