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Raglan Road: Highway 23, Waikato
Photo: Johnragla · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Drives Waikato, New Zealand Auckland, Waikato and the Coromandel

Raglan Road: Highway 23

SH 23, Whatawhata Road, Raglan Road · Hamilton → Raglan

Sweeping24 mi35 min1,500 ft climbHigh point ≈ 700 ftOne way
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The drive

State Highway 23 is the road from Hamilton to Raglan, and this drive follows it out from the western edge of the city: 38 km (24 mi) in about 35 minutes. It starts on Whatawhata Road in Dinsdale, so the first minutes are suburban.

At Whatawhata the road meets State Highway 39, then crosses the Waipā River and climbs over a summit into the Waitetuna valley. It passes Te Uku and follows the streams down to Raglan on the Whaingaroa Harbour. The curves are mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch.

The town at the end is known for its harbour and its surf beaches.

Along the way

  1. Hamilton
  2. Raglan
Elevation
1,500 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 700 ft
HamiltonRaglan
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
HamiltonRaglan
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • NZTA has added rumble strips, wider centrelines, wider shoulders and passing lanes on the Hamilton to Raglan road, so the safer stretches are well marked.
  • A slip on the Raglan Deviation closed the road in early 2023 after Cyclone Gabrielle, and it can be affected by storms, so check NZTA's journey planner in wet weather.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check NZTA Journey Planner.

Questions about this drive

How long does Raglan Road from Hamilton take?

State Highway 23 from Hamilton to Raglan is 38 km (24 mi) and takes about 35 minutes.

Is the Raglan Road twisty?

State Highway 23 has mostly gentle curves with one twisty stretch as it climbs over the summit into the Waitetuna valley.

What is the road number from Hamilton to Raglan?

It is State Highway 23, also called Raglan Road, and it meets State Highway 39 at Whatawhata.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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More drives near here

All 8 drives in Waikato, New Zealand ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Raglan Road: Highway 23, from Hamilton to Raglan