Open home planner: From surf bum hang out to ultimate seaside retreat

Saturday, 20 June 2026

Hamiltonians Juvenal Erhahambo, Emma Colombero and Shantelle Flores choose Ngarunui Beach at Raglan for the peace and quiet.

Each week, we bring you our favourite open homes to hit up in a town or suburb near you. This week, our focus is on Raglan, in Waikato. Whether you’re eager to buy, or simply a perpetual property peruser, you’ll find an open home worth taking a peek at here each Saturday morning.

Back in the day, if you wanted a taste of the ultimate surf-bum lifestyle, you headed straight for Raglan, Waikato.

The left-hand point break of Manu Bay, Raglan.

Sitting on a knob of land that juts out into the Tasman, with Whāingaroa Harbour to the north and Aotea Harbour to the south, this tiny town has some of the best surf breaks in the country, including the world-famous Manu Bay and the excitingly named Vortex Bay. It's also home to the internationally renowned Raglan Surf School.

But if you think this town just for shredding epic barrels, you’ve got another think coming.

Raglan is a mix of seaside and countryside.

'That was 30 years ago,' says Ray White Real Estate agent Julie Hanna. 'Now Raglan's been discovered. It's the place to retire, the place to live your dream, pretty much.'

The surf and surfers are still there, but so are the family homes and the sections waiting for buyers to build their dream getaway spots on.

A the 289m² family home at 21 Maataitai Rd.

Hanna says her side of Raglan's market is moving fast. She's 'busy as a bumblebee'.

She listed a property right on the water at 7 Nihinihi Avenue about two weeks ago. With two baches on it - one renovated, one to do up - the property sold for more than $2m after the first open home.

You’re close to everything in this spot.

'That was a person who'd been looking for the right spot for three years,' she says. They found it in Raglan.

Most of her buyers come from Hamilton, or other parts of Waikato, with a smattering from Auckland and overseas. But she also sees a lot of locals - Raglaners love Raglan.

The outdoor living room promises long warm evenings and great entertaining.

About as far from a bach as you can get, the 289m² home at 21 Maataitai Rd is a good example of the kinds of modern, family friendly properties you can find in Raglan now.

The home is a three bed, with two bathrooms, ranged over three floors, with the lower floor given over to a double garage and rumpus room, perfect for the kids, an older teen who needs some space, or a home-run business, studio or workshop.

Surrounded by reserves, so you’ll never be built out, the home has delightful views of the Opotoru River inlet.

You could spruce this place up, or enjoy the rustic holiday home vibes.

With a CV of $1,550,000, the home is for sale with an asking price of $1,755,000. The listing is with Julie Hanna for Ray White.

Open Home Times: Saturday, June 20, 1pm - 1.30pm

Further up the Opotoru valley, the utterly stunning home at 215B Benseman Rd captures a similar view in a very chic way.

Here are out top tips for getting the most out of an open home.

Sitting on the crest of a hill, surrounded by rolling farm land, the house is a single, curved gull wing, looking out to the water.

The passion project of it’s current owner, the house is built to a very high spec, with subtle nods to Mid-century elegance and cosy baches, in the polish concrete floors, plywood panelled ceiling,s and floor to ceiling sliding windows onto the deck.

This home includes a guest wing, and art studio, and there’s plenty of room on the 1.42ha section to build a second dwelling for the rest of the family.

With a CV of $2,670,000, this home has an asking price of asking price $3.6 million. The listing is with Richard Thomson for PGG Wrightson Real Estate.

Open home time: Sunday, June 21 and June 28, 4:00pm - 4:30pm

You can still get a sweet little waterside holiday home in Raglan. Take the little cottage at 39 Rose St, for example. It’s in need of a little TLC, or you could leave it as is and filling with a hodge-podge of second hand, and hand-me-down furniture for that classic holiday home look.

The beauty of this place is the location. It’s right on the water, next door to The Wharf Kitchen and Bar, and a very short drive to the nearest boat ramp. If that doesn’t sound like the ideal holiday right there, I don’t know what does.

With a CV of $1,160,000, the property is for sale with an asking price $1,589,000. The listing is with Julie Hanna for Ray White.

Open Home Times: Saturday, June 20, 12pm - 12.30pm

Want something with even more vintage charm? How about the charming vintage 1920s bungalow at 3 Rose St.

With three bedrooms and one bathroom, this vintage home is packed with period charm, including coffered ceilings, a panelled living room and covered verandah entrance, overlooking the lawn. It also has water views.

With a CV of $1m, the home is for sale price by negotiation, the listing is with Melanie Carroll for Ray White.

Open Home Times: Saturday, June 20, 1pm - 1.30pm.