Ruapuke Whaanga road
The sealed road ceases at Whale Bay. The gravel Whaanga Road is narrow, unsealed with a gravel surface. You do not require a 4WD however care is required. Whaanga Road traverses farmland with sweeping vistas of coast and mountain. The road has a number of hairpin bends. Drivers dip between pastoral views to mature stands of Kaunka forest. Take care driving through the precipitous Te Toto Gorge.
Driving this route to Ruapuke beach is an adventure and highlights the remoteness of the beach. The road is considered a New Zealand dangerous road due to very poor visibility around the hair pin bends and steep drops. The route runs from Ruapuke Beach Road towards Wainui Road and is 18.3 km long. The road is regularly well graded and suitable for 2WD vehicles. The road is not suitable for longer length motorhomes.
Top sights on Ruapuke Whaanga road
- Mount Karioi walking track
- Ruapuke Beach
- Aotea Beach
- Magnificent coastal scenery between Raglan and Aotea harbours
- Remote with ancestral Maori Maraes throughout the area denoting people have been here for a very long time
- Scenic route to the picturesque settlement Kawhia
- Te Toto Gorge with its native Kaunka forest and lush vegetation
Raglan, Waikato Ruapuke beach
Ruapuke Beach has a very steep descent to the car park. The beach is a long stretch of black iron sands, an iconic view of wild meet west coast beach, New Zealand style. It is uncrowded, you could have the beach to yourself. The surf is powerful and only experienced swimmers should take the plunge. The beach is a spectacular site of natural beauty. A very special place worth the detour to spend time simply absorbing the atmosphere of the elements.
The truly isolated and awe-inspiring beach is a classic wild west coast of the North Island, New Zealand beach. Ruapuke exposed black sands are fringed by steep pasture-covered hills and headlands at both ends enclose the beach.
Watching the rolling boil of surf violently pounding the black sand beach is memorising. There are obvious off shore rips and cross-currents.
There is a white mist from surf spray creating a moody atmosphere and the huge piles of bleached driftwood add to the elemental beauty. This is a beach for walking along watching nature’s powerful display and is a popular horse trekking destination.
Surfcasting fans can sometimes be spotted at Ruapuke Beach perched on a large driftwood log with a sandwich and thermos nearby.
The surprisingly large carpark (at the end of the precipice road descent has a compostable toilet. There are no cafes or shops nearby. There is a remote privately owned camping grounds for the intrepid surfer.
For more information about Raglan beaches check out
Discover 35 Things to Do in Raglan, New Zealand and enjoy a classic seaside town.
Where is Ruapuke Beach located
The narrow winding unsealed gravel Waanga Coast Road starts at Whale Bay and heads south to Ruapuke between Mount Karioi and Ruapuke and Aotea Beaches beyond. Check out what lies beyond on a Raglan day trips to Kawhia and Aotea Harbours inland route – Best Bits.
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