Ruapuke Beach, Raglan

Ruapuke Beach is a wild remote black-sand beach that is dangerous for swimmers but popular with surfcasting fishermen and experienced surfers, and is located between Raglan and Kawhia on the west coast of the Waikato district. 

The last time we visited here (2007), the only access road was gravel.  These narrow roads, with their twists and bends and dips and hollows, were often used by international car rallies but I believe the road has now been tar-sealed, at least between Raglan and Ruapuke.

At the Raglan end of the beach we found these cave formations along the rocky embankment here.  They were not ‘proper’ caves as they did not go into the bank very deeply – they were just exciting enough for children to play pirates in!

We saw very few shells along the beach, except for pockets of Rams Horns that had been washed up after a recent storm.  A woman was busy collecting them – she had so many that we suspected she was maybe hoping to sell them.

Washed-up Blue Bottle Jellyfish, also known as Portuguese Man-of-War, were plentiful along the beach on the day we visited.    These marine creatures (they are technically not jellyfish) have long venomous tentacles that can deliver a very painful sting (even after being beached), and are responsible for the majority of ‘jellyfish’ stings along our coastlines.

It was low tide by the time we left Ruapuke.  We were alone on the beach, and spent a magical moment standing quietly in awe of the untamed wild beauty of this place.  I can still smell the tang of the ocean waves and hear the sound of the wind.  Some things are just imprinted in your memory forever.

At home today, we woke this morning to rain!  A light steady fall of rain which was great for the garden.  The sun is shining again now, in the afternoon, but there are still rain clouds around.  We are currently under a thunderstorm watch, so we shall see what the rest of the day brings.

Margaret.


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