Off The Beaten Track - The Beach Cottage

Visit the award-winning Hamilton gardens and the Waikato’s most popular visitor attraction. As the sun goes down, be guided by the light of the glow worms and stars and descend into the old freshwater canyon stream flowing down from Mt Karioi. Explore natural underground formations and caves with a canyoning expedition in Raglan. This is a highly rated, truly magical canyoning experience.

Inspired by the European Aufguss, we run guided sauna and ice bath sessions. In groups of up to 12, participants have chance to cool off in a cold shower and ice bath before entering the sauna for the first round. The facilitator will then explain the outline of the session. Then, with peaceful music playing, the first 15 minute round begins, with water mixed with essential oils being added to the rocks, creating scented waves of heat that wash over you, as the facilitator waves around a towel. Between the sauna rounds, there is 5-7 minutes where participants are welcome to rinse off in the shower before going into the ice bath. See our schedule to book into one of our sessions or hire the sauna and ice bath.

Grab your climbing partner and come learn the fundamentals of lead rock climbing on bolted sport routes, with some of New Zealand’s highest qualified instructors. We will have you lead climbing before you know it. The course will cover: Lead belaying, quickdraw placement, clipping methods, safety considerations, how to lower and clean a route safely and lots of climbing. Get in touch now to book yourself onto one of these awesome days. Whether you are a beginner taking the next step, or a seasoned pro, that has perhaps had some time away and wants to sharpen up their skills before going alone once more, we’ve got you covered. Equipment, from our office to the crag and back and free photos all included.

Discover the Famous Pancake Rocks with Raglan Kayak. Step into an ancient world on our signature Limestone Express kayak tour. Backed by 20+ years of local expertise and a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award putting us in the top 10% of activities worldwide, our passionate guides bring Raglan’s spectacular coastline to life. You’ll paddle straight into the heart of the iconic Pancake Rocks, navigating a unique limestone labyrinth only accessible by kayak. Discover hidden beaches, spot local wildlife, and hear captivating stories of our rich culture and legends. Fully equipped, safe, and family-friendly (ages 8+), this top-rated guided excursion is an unforgettable way to experience Whāingaroa. Book today.

UP Surf Coaching is all about providing high quality surf coaching for those that want more than a one off experience. Our aim is for you to actually feel like a surfer at the end of one of our surf courses – ready to surf on your own with confidence. On the 'Become a Surfer' course you will be equipped with all the skills and knowledge you need. Group sizes are always 6 or less people - you get a lot of personal attention and have space to move around without a huge crowd all around you. The course progresses in stages from mastering the basics in the whitewater, using your rails and starting to focus on surfing across small waves, then getting you out the back to catch bigger unbroken waves. You'll be surprised how fast you progress.

Nikau Cave is less than 90 minutes drive southwest of Auckland, has thousands of glowworms and amazing formations, but no crowds. The 90 minute tour is personal and unhurried. Located on a working farm, the cave is 1km long with a stream running through it and is in its natural state. Most of the cave is open and spacious, except for a 12m length which must be crawled through. We provide a helmet and flashlight. A moderate level of fitness is required and a change of clothes and shoes with good tread. Surrounded by a river, the café is designed to showcase the stunning landscape. The seasonally inspired menu offers a range of fresh and locally produced dishes and drinks. Bookings are essential for caving.