Most travellers come to Raglan for its world-class surfing. Experienced surfers head to Manu Bay, but beginner surfers are advised to start at Ocean Beach. Please note that access is now restricted to Whale Bay as Māori regard this as a sensitive spiritual area.
Raglan Surfing School is popular with many backpackers. It is run by Karioi Backpacker Lodge and they also rent surfboards and wetsuits.
The Northern Explorer train service stops in Hamilton en route between Auckland and Wellington.
Hamilton railway station is located on Fraser Street in Frankton, which is a half-hour walk into the city centre; although local buses stop on Queens Avenue just a short walk from the station.
The Hamilton Transport Centre is Hamilton’s main bus and coach station. It handles both local and regional bus services as well as InterCity Coachlines long distance coach services.
InterCity Coachlines have direct coach services linking Hamilton with Auckland, Cambridge, Gisborne, Hastings, Napier, New Plymouth, Otorohanga, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Taupo, Tauranga and Wellington.
InterCity coaches depart from platforms A–D and most local buses depart from platforms E–V. Buses to Cambridge and Te Awamutu leave from Bryce Street and ManaBus and Naked Bus services and buses to Raglan depart from Anglesea Street.
Hamilton International Airport, 12km south of central Hamilton, is New Zealand’s tenth-busiest airport. Air New Zealand have flights from Hamilton to Christchurch, Palmerston North and Wellington.
Super Shuttle run a door-to-door shuttle bus service between the airport and central Hamilton.
The Taranaki Pioneer Village is an open-air museum that depicts life over 100 years ago and features 40 historic buildings including Mangatoki Church, Okato Cottage, Pembroke School, Stratford Courthouse and Tariki Railway Station.
The Around the Mountain Circuit is a popular five-day walk that circles Mount Taranaki (Mount Egmont) and during summer there is a shorter three-day version at a higher altitude. There are huts located at one-day intervals along the track.
One of the most popular activities in the park involves climbing Mount Egmont/Taranaki, however it is dangerous and over 60 people have died attempting it. The best time to climb is January–March when there is very little snow on the mountain. The ascent can be done in one day with the return climb taking 8–10 hours.
The Mount Taranaki Summit Track is the main route up the mountain, which departs from the North Egmont carpark outside the Egmont National Park Visitor Centre.
The climb can be broken into two sections: the hike to Tahurangi Lodge, followed by the steeper climb up the scree slopes of the mountain. Once you’re at the summit, you will need to climb back down again.
From the National Park Visitor Centre, the track follows a boardwalk before following a gravel Tahurangi Translator Road to the Tahurangi Lodge. The lodge is privately-owned but there is a public toilet near the lodge and a small shelter room at the lodge in case you need to take shelter from the rain.
After passing the lodge, follow the poled route through the Hongi Valley and then make your way up the steep scoria slopes towards the Lizard (2134m) which leads towards the crater.
There is ice in the crater year round. You will need crampons (and possibly an ice axe) if you want to cross the crater.
Allow 5–6 hours for the climb up and another 3–4 hours for the climb back down.