Karioi Lodge is one of the best spots to enjoy the great outdoors plus we are walking distance to Whale & Manu Bay - the surfing heart of Raglan & also nearby to many other Raglan activities. Helping you to organise and book local activities & transport is a complimentary service for guests. Read on below for the low down on activities you can get amongst at the Karioi Lodge & surrounding area or just click on an activity in the tables immediately below...

DAILY SURFING LESSONS... Half day beginner surf lessons are held everyday starting at Karioi Lodge and finishing up at Ngarunui Beach - a beautiful sandy beach ideal for learning to surf. Lessons run twice daily in the summer and once a day in the winter. We will run a lesson with one person no problem - no minimum numbers needed! Lessons include the use of a surfboard, wetsuit, all transport to and from beach & an after surf sauna back at base. Free pickups and drop offs from Raglan Township if you're not already staying with us.

Annual Golf Tournament	Surf Lesson - Land Practice	Bush Walks

 

Half day private lessons are also an option for those wanting more one on one instruction or who are seeking to improve intermediate or advanced surfing skills. Private lessons are essential to book ahead of time and include all equipment (although you can bring your own if desired) & transport. For more info check out the Raglan Surf School Website.

THE LOOP TRACK BUSH WALK... The Karioi lodge is set on 110 acres of coastal nature reserve and has its own bush track - known as the loop track. This bush walk is not for the weak hearted as it has its steep moments but of course what goes up must come down and after a bit of a slog uphill follows a different path back down to the lodge. Total time to walk the track usually takes about 45 minutes to an 1 hour - although known to be a bit shorter or longer for the fitness gurus & couch potatoes. Try to beat the record time round the track if you're feeling up to the challenge! At times you can see the sea - but mostly this track has impressive native bush with spectacular Puriri trees & Nikau groves. Don't forget to grab a map at the office, write your name on the board before you depart & check back in on your return.

TRAMPING MT KARIOI... Enjoy tramping the Mountain at your doorstep! This tramp takes approximately 4-6 hours and is classed as a day tramp. Consequently you need to be prepared if you're undertaking this adventurous journey with water, snacks, warm clothes and good footwear. You can go up the mountain directly from the lodge and come back on the same route or alternatively follow one of two other tracks back down. Please note that if you don't come back on the Karioi Lodge track you'll need to walk quite a way back to the lodge on the road or arrange for somebody nice to pick you up at a pre-arranged time. See below for information on the Karioi climbers pickup and drop off service.

Summer Su	Hire some Surf Gear	West Coast Sunsets

EVENING SAUNAS... The lodge has a Scandinavian style sauna which is in operation for guests to use most nights, free of charge, starting from 6pm. A cold outdoor shower is right outside the sauna so you can cool off and heat up as many times as you like.

ENJOY WHALE & MANU BAY... Whale Bay & Manu Bay are the heart of Raglan Surfing & are only a short walk down the hill from the Karioi Lodge. If you don't surf yourself you can watch how its done with close up surfing action, explore the rocky coastline & find its treasures both natural, historical & cultural, find yourself a secret swimming spot or if you're really lucky (they can come 2/3 times a year) spot some Orcas on their journey round the rocks and into the Whaingaroa harbour.

RENT SURF EQUIPMENT... Raglan Surf School's surfing equipment is available for hire either directly from the Karioi Lodge or directly from Ngarunui Beach in the summer. Special learner boards, fibre glass boards, mini malibus plus cozy wetsuits & body boards are available. Guests hiring our gear will get free transport to & from the beach plus a guest only discount on any half day board & wetsuit hire!

MOUNTAIN BIKE HIRE... We have a selection of bikes for you to use. We charge a small hire fee of $5 for half a days use. Locks & helmets are provided. There are no tracks specifically for mountain biking in Raglan but they are handy for checking out the bays, biking to town (8kms each way) or biking to Te Toto Gorge for the short coastal walk & sensational sunset viewing!

FLYING FOX & ROPES COURSE...The infamous flying fox (or zipline) & ropes course are free for guests to use. Seems to be popular at night when the only light you'll see on the way down is the twinkling of glowworms. Get your adrenalin flowing! Have a bit of fun balancing your way around the ropes course & getting over the swinging log.

JOIN THE DAILY TOWN RUN... Everyday there is transport to Raglan Township so guests can enjoy relaxing at one of Raglans cafes, shop, explore & check out the markets. You can stay in town for 1-2 hours depending on the day. There is a small cost of $1 each way.

PANORAMIC LOOK OUT POINT...The look out point at the lodge has recently been re-invented, landscaped to create a stunning environment for our guests to relax & enjoy life! Sun bake on the big round deck, look out over the Tasman Sea with panoramic coastal & mountain views, stretch out with some yoga or enjoy a happy hour on sunset. Whatever floats your boat, its a sensational way to spend a few hours.

WALK TO NGARUNUI BEACH (via Bryant Memorial Track)... This walk to Raglan's main sandy surfing & swimming beach takes about 40-60 minutes each way and passes through a variety of terrain. Start off from the lodge and walk past Whale & Manu Bay with great sea views from the road. At Manu Bay if the tide is co-operating you can opt to take a rocky boulder route around to the beach or you can continue up the road to the top of the hill where you'll soon meet up with the Bryant Memorial track that leads down to the beach. Halfway down there is a great lookout point. Take one route there and another back to see it all (tide permitting).

VIEW THE GLOWWORMS & NATIVE BIRDS...Karioi Lodge is packed with glowworms - visible at night in long stretches of starry galaxies along the banks of the bush driveway leading up to the lodge, and also while your flying down the zipline (if you've got your eyes open that is!). Birds such as the Kereru (native wood pigeon) are protected in N.Z and put on quite a show for guests as do the Tui & bellbirds with their enchanting song.

JOIN OUR SUSTAINABLE GARDENING PROGRAMME...The lodge is proud of its permaculture garden set-up which produces free-range eggs from its great variety of chickens, a year round crop of vegetables & herbs, a mouth watering range of orchard fruits & pretty soon honey from the bee hives! Our organic produce is available for purchase. Any guests with a desire to learn about how the garden works & who don't mind a bit of hard work and getting dirty may be interested in working for us to supplement their accommodation costs. Garden work cannot be promised to guests in advance. It's available for guests already staying at the lodge and only given to keen, hardworking people. Its very seasonal and not always regular depending on what needs doing at the time.

DRIVE TO TE TOTO GORGE FOR A COASTAL WALK & SUNSET...Te Toto gorge offers a short coastal walk (approx 30 minutes down to the coast) with stunning remote coastal views from sheer cliffs. There is a viewing platform at the top - probably one of the finest spots to watch a West Coast Sunset! The walk starts with a steep descent before you come out onto flatter land close to the coast. This area was once used extensively by Maori and the remnants of stone walls can still be seen in places.

WATCH MOVIES & SPORT MATCHES or BROWSE THE NET... For those rainy days and TV addicts we have all the SKY TV channels including sports & movies which you can watch on a 42 inch plasma screen T.V. A small selection of Videos, DVD's and books are also available for guest use in the lounge. Two computers & Broadband internet is available for a small charge.

TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER NIGHTS & OTHER EVENTS... Weekly poker sessions have become a regular evening event for some of the locals and ex-pats of Karioi Lodge. Join them if you dare for Texas Holdem. Everybody welcome. The Karioi Lodge also hosts other fun events such as pot luck dinners & our annual golf tournament for charity.

PLANT A TREE... Over the last 10 years the Karioi Lodge has replaced a large area of land that was filled with exotic pine trees back into its natural form of native trees & plants. Many guests have donated money to pay for a tree which they have planted themselves. You can see for yourself all the wonderful people who've helped in our cause & planted trees by seeing named rocks next to their trees.

RAGLAN ACTIVITIES

RAGLAN KAYAKS...Discover landscapes full of colourful history as you kayak across the harbour to the unique limestone coast. We stop for swims on secluded beaches and take our time so you can really make the most of yours. We include delicious refreshments and snacks along the way too. No experience needed! $70 per person. Duration 3 hours approximately. Rentals available as well as tours.

PLAY GROUND (FOR GROWN UPS)... Manoeuver through our beautiful native bush tracks on our specially designed KARTS. Drivers licence essential $35 for two warm up laps, and a farm tour (Bush track). PAINTBALL Set in lovely native bush surroundings. $30 for 200 paintballs, game lasts until ammo runs out. CLAY TARGETS Test your accuracy $25 for ten clay targets (birds) and 20 rounds. Bookings essential Deposits are required to secure your booking.

HARBOUR CRUISING... A scenic tour of Raglan (Whaingaroa) Harbour. Explore limestone rock formations and learn about the areas history. Adults $20.00 Children $10.00. Times are tide & weather dependent so bookings are essential.

HORSE TREKKING...Extreme Adventures Horse Treks: Experience an extreme horse adventure at Wildcoast Ruapuke. Your trek will take you up the foothills of Mount Karioi, down through bush and farmland on to the beautiful rugged Ruapuke beach. Cost $80 per person Transport to Ruapuke can be arranged at $15 per person (minimum 2 people).

Magic Mountain Horse Treks: Great views and have fun. Horse treks 1 hour $40, 1 and a half hours $55, 2 hours $60. Ride to the Bridal Veil Falls $80. Half hour pony rides $30.

LEARN TO KITE SURF...Kitesurf the Whaingaroa harbour. Learn to kite surf lessons &equipment hire for experienced Kitesurfers available.

KARIOI CLIMBERS DROP OFF & PICK UP TRAMP SERVICE...Raglan Scenic Tours will drop your group off on one side of the mountain, and pick you up six hours later on the other side. $30 per person. Minimum charge for two applies.

RAGLAN SCENIC TOURS...Tours around Raglan and surrounding area. Tours can be arranged to suit your interests. A one hour historic tour shows you the old buildings and sites of local history in Raglan, with a friendly, interesting commentary. Tours in a vintage car can be arranged.

FISHING...Fishing charters available all year round. Minimum numbers/cost involved.

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS...It is an easy walk to the top of the Bridal Veil Falls following the Pakoka River for most of the way. The track is suitable for push chairs but is not wheelchair accessible. The 55-metre Falls are spectacular.

GOLF...Raglans golf course is unreal! You wont find many beautiful 18 hole courses that feel like its your own - you'll be lucky to see many others playing let alone wait for a tee off. Don't hit the sheep & mind the great harbour views - enough to put anyone off their swing!

CREATIVE MARKETS ...Held on the second Sunday of every month. A chance to peruse the creative wares of Raglans artisans, bakers and general crafts.

We can organise & book any Raglan tours you may be interested in free of charge such as Raglan Eco Kayaks, Raglan Harbour Cruises, Wild Coast Horse Treks in Ruapuke, Magic Mountain Horse Treks or Raglan Kite Surfing.

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR RELATED SITES.....
SURF DAMES WOMENS SURF RETREATS	RAGLAN SURF SCHOOL	SLEEPING LADY LODGINGS - LUXURY ACCOMMODATION

Please let us know if you’ve any questions or booking enquiries. We're also home of the Raglan Surf School holding daily surf lessons & offering surf rental equipment, Surf Dames which runs womens surf retreats & Sleeping Lady Lodgings which offers luxury holiday houses right at Whale Bay. We look forward to hearing from you!