INSPO Fitness Journal July 2017

Raglan MTB Track:
Raglan has an awesome new mountain
bike track – Te Ara Kakariki, Raglan Ocean
Trails, overlooking Ngarunui Beach. I had to
dust off my old BMX/MTB skills from my
childhood years for this one but the track is
suitable for people of all levels so hit it as fast
or as slow as you want.
The track is one-directional and is 5km
long so can take anywhere from 15minutes
to 40 minutes to complete, based on your
speed. The best place to park is at the carpark
at the very end of Riria Kereopa Memorial
Drive and make your way up to the track
from there. If you need to rent a bike drop
into Cyclery Raglan for a rental and make
sure you ask the owner Dirk about the conditions
of the track (the clay can get pretty
slippery over the wet winter months).
Waicliff culture tours:
While you may have already experienced
Waireinga-Bridal Veil Falls, the guided cultural
tour offered by Waicliff Cultural Tours
– a local tourism business run by tangata
whenua – sheds a completely new light on
one of Raglan’s most visited attractions.
The tour takes just over an hour and is
usually held at dawn. During the tour you
will be introduced to the story of Waireinga,
which is the area’s original name with its own
whakapapa (genealogy). As part of the tour,
your guides will impart knowledge around
Mātauranga Māori, (which encompasses the
Māori way of knowing – and the connectedness
that knowledge has with the environment
out of which it was derived.) and you
will also experience a cultural performance
and historical re-enactment performed by
tangata whenua.
Tattooed Rocks:
This is my favourite Raglan attraction by far:
the mysterious tattooed rocks (previously
found whole but now split) that sits on the
foreshore half way between Manu Bay and
Ngarunui Beach. The rock itself is a large
boulder with visible patterns that have been
carved into the rock.
There have been some fierce controversies
around the rocks’ origins with some claiming
they were carved by Maori to commemorate
a great event or mark a coastal boundary
between tribes and some claiming the rocks
date back beyond Maori occupation and some
even claiming they were markings from an
ancient alien visitor. The tattooed rocks have
intrigued historians for years and to this day
remain quite mysterious.
Ruapuke Beach:
A little off the beaten track, Ruapuke is a bit
of a hidden gem. While it can take around
40 minutes to get there, don’t let the winding
gravel road put you off. You’ll be treated to a
long stretch of raw, uncrowded West Coast
coastline. Also if the swell is small at the points
in Raglan (Manu Bay etc.) you’ll more than
likely find a small wave at Ruapuke depending
on the direction of the swell and wind.
There are two ways to get to Ruapuke.
You can either follow Whaanga Rd, (past
Whale Bay and Indicators) or take the Te
Mata Road turn off before Raglan. Once
there you could pop in and see Penny and
Wayne and go for a wild ride on the beach
with Wildcoast Ruapuke Horse Adventures.
Papanui Point:
A rocky outpost on the Ruapuke coastline.
The point is a wild and rugged cliff that overlooks
the Tasman Sea, providing spectacular
views of Mount Taranaki on a clear day.
Then of course there are the awesome
eateries and shops for those wanting to relax
after an action-filled day. If you plan to spend
a few days (or more) exploring Raglan, there’s
a host of unique accommodation options
available, from tepees and bell tents to train
carriages and silo tanks.
Experience Raglan on horseback
Surf and Turf Horse Riding, offers many unforgettable rides
all located in and around 5km of Raglan township in the
stunning Waikato.
We customise your tour to fit any level of rider, with a range
of locations close to Raglan - the harbour, on the hills around
the Te Uku Wind Farm and on the beach.
K6489R
• Farm Rides
• Beach Rides
• Fun on Horseback
• Farm/Beach Combo
• Sunset Rides
• Swim with Horses
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
M: 0274 352 648 E: petra@raglanhorseriding.co.nz
www.raglanhorseriding.co.nz
INSPO – FITNESS JOURNAL JULY 2017
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