Lake Tutira Campsite
Tutira area
4.1 29 reviews
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Lake Tutira Campsite
Camp at the southern end of the freshwater lake, and walk to Table Mountain Trig for views of inland Kaweka, Maungaharuru Range and coastal Hawke’s Bay. Enjoy fishing, swimming, kayaking and sailing on the lake.
A large, low cost camping area, for all vehicle types, on the foreshore of Lake Tutira.
$5 per vehicle, per night. Pay online at the website link.
If you have the time, you'll be rewarded here. It's generally very quiet and alot of time and energy has been put into the walks and interpretation around this place.
The lake is a little sick, but is bouncing back, I've enjoyed witnessing the change of Tutira over the past 15 years.
Spot X - A side trip to Boundary Stream / Shine Falls / Bell Rock Walk won't disappoint, enough said....
Notices
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Lake Tūtira Road closure
The entry road to Lake Tutira closest to the Tutira diary (northern entry) is closed due to flooding. The entrance closest to Napier (southern entry) is open. The road through to the Hawke's Bay Regional Council campground is soft and potholed following submersion during high lake levels. Drive with care.
First published on 23 January 2026. Last reviewed on 14 February 2026.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Lake Tūtira Campsite is categorised as a DOC Basic Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing.
DOC Basic Campsite
Basic campsites have very limited facilities so you need to be fully self-sufficient. There are basic toilets and water may be from a water tank that is untreated, stream or lake. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Access may be by road or boat.
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Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.
Details
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Organisation |
DOC Hawkes BayCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Hawkes Bay ▷ Tutira |
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Categories |
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Operating Season And Hours |
The campsite is available for camping. Specific hours or days are not provided. |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Directions Napier Office Office |
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Coordinates |
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Websites |
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Basic Camping
Google Maps
Reviews
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Absolutely stunning place to camp.
Marian -
Awesome place, with an exhausting view!
Jonathan Schlie -
Stunning campsite right on the lake.
Amul -
Was a nice wee spot.
Kate -
Beautiful place, just by the lake.
Anders Knutsson
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Unfortunately arrived at this campsite to find the road in closed, presumably due to the lake being so full and having flooded the site.
However there was no notice on council website, they still took my $5 payment that day. Guess it’s a “donation”.
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Great spot, lots of space and was quite busy when visiting between Christmas and New Years.
Beware of wandering geese - they just want pats!
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Was a nice wee spot.
Was quite busy but nothing terrible. Make sure to bring your own toilet paper
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Absolutely stunning place to camp.
Heaps of room for caravans, campers and tents. Enjoyed the various walks, and the glorious views over the lake. Love kayaking around the lake and swimming is enjoyable as well. Long drops have no smell and most campers donate a roll of toilet paper. Does need signs stating No Dogs, as quite a few visited whilst we were there. Also a go slow sign would be good as some people drive too fast spreading dust everywhere. Overall, favourite place to camp, we will definitely be back soon.
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Arrived after finding out a local campsite was full on Labour Weekend.
We turned up at about 3pm and found a spot at the top of the campsite. Busy spot on Labour Weekend but apparently quiet at other times. Lots of sandflies near the lake. Long drops clean and don't smell which is always a nice surprise!
Highly recommend this spot.
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Really like this spot.
Grabbed a park right in the lake front. A nice little hike close by. The long drop is surprisingly clean and doesn't smell. Beautiful spot for sunset
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Lake Tutira was great!
Stayed for one night. Hardly any sand flies or mozzies. Swans are very friendly came right up to our tent while we were eating. Quite a big space too.
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Our family of three stayed in Lake Tutira overnight from 4th May 2019.
The weather was perfect with no or very little wind. 6 other campers shared a large area designated for camping. There was no other noise than trucks passing by on the other side of the lake. The water seemed to be clean but we did not swim. The campground is surrounded by kettle. And anywhere we went strong kettle farm like smell was present. And not only the smell. I personally dislike the fact that kettle and sheep have access right onto the lake bank. It degrades the human recreational area purpose altogether and there is no joy having a picnic amongst animals feces. Except for this we love Lake Tutira and come often in any season.
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Beautiful place, just by the lake.
Good hiking trails around the campsite. Definitely worth a visit.
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Beautiful setting in a paddock surrounded amongst tress for shade.
Three Composting long drops (bring your own toilet paper), no kitchen or shower facilities but running water that requires boiling first.
Approximately 700 metres from the road so you can hear the vehicles in the distance but nothing to worry about.
All the campers apart from one small group got a little noisey but apart from that it’s a stunning place to stay.
About 4 different walking tracks start from the camp grounds.
No cell phone coverage.
We will definitely be coming back :)
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Stunning campsite right on the lake.
Can hear some noise from the road across the lake but not loud enough to keep you awake. Nice sheltered area with benches for picnic and good trails here too. Drop toilet was ok, clean but no toilet paper
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Pretty spot by the lake.
Only thing that put me off were the black swans who were nosey and weren't scared off by me shouting at them and waving sticks!
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Really nice little campground.
The scenery is beautiful and there is ample space. It feels quite private, but you are close enough to the road (across the lake) to hear some noise during the night. Still, we really liked this spot!
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Unfortunately arrived at this campsite to find the road in closed, presumably due to the lake being so full and having flooded the site.
However there was no notice on council website, they still took my $5 payment that day. Guess it’s a “donation”.
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Great spot, lots of space and was quite busy when visiting between Christmas and New Years.
Beware of wandering geese - they just want pats!
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Was a nice wee spot.
Was quite busy but nothing terrible. Make sure to bring your own toilet paper
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Lovely spot to pitch your tent, plenty of room for 30+ tents/caravans/motor homes.
Clean toilets, 3 long drops in total.
Does have water but boil first. Lake was good to swim in.
There is a few short walks next to the camp.
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Absolutely stunning place to camp.
Heaps of room for caravans, campers and tents. Enjoyed the various walks, and the glorious views over the lake. Love kayaking around the lake and swimming is enjoyable as well. Long drops have no smell and most campers donate a roll of toilet paper. Does need signs stating No Dogs, as quite a few visited whilst we were there. Also a go slow sign would be good as some people drive too fast spreading dust everywhere. Overall, favourite place to camp, we will definitely be back soon.
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Arrived after finding out a local campsite was full on Labour Weekend.
We turned up at about 3pm and found a spot at the top of the campsite. Busy spot on Labour Weekend but apparently quiet at other times. Lots of sandflies near the lake. Long drops clean and don't smell which is always a nice surprise!
Highly recommend this spot.
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Really like this spot.
Grabbed a park right in the lake front. A nice little hike close by. The long drop is surprisingly clean and doesn't smell. Beautiful spot for sunset
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Lake Tutira was great!
Stayed for one night. Hardly any sand flies or mozzies. Swans are very friendly came right up to our tent while we were eating. Quite a big space too.
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Our family of three stayed in Lake Tutira overnight from 4th May 2019.
The weather was perfect with no or very little wind. 6 other campers shared a large area designated for camping. There was no other noise than trucks passing by on the other side of the lake. The water seemed to be clean but we did not swim. The campground is surrounded by kettle. And anywhere we went strong kettle farm like smell was present. And not only the smell. I personally dislike the fact that kettle and sheep have access right onto the lake bank. It degrades the human recreational area purpose altogether and there is no joy having a picnic amongst animals feces. Except for this we love Lake Tutira and come often in any season.
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Beautiful place, just by the lake.
Good hiking trails around the campsite. Definitely worth a visit.
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Stunning campsite right on the lake.
Can hear some noise from the road across the lake but not loud enough to keep you awake. Nice sheltered area with benches for picnic and good trails here too. Drop toilet was ok, clean but no toilet paper
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Pretty spot by the lake.
Only thing that put me off were the black swans who were nosey and weren't scared off by me shouting at them and waving sticks!
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Really nice little campground.
The scenery is beautiful and there is ample space. It feels quite private, but you are close enough to the road (across the lake) to hear some noise during the night. Still, we really liked this spot!
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Fees are on donation, and what a fantastic place this was!
Birds and sheep keep you company. We got a beautiful morning with mirror reflection of the landscape in the lake, just stunning...
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Nice little camp right on the Lake Shore, long drop toilets only but okay.
Some nice walks around the lake, you can hear the road noise from the other side of the lake, but it's not that bad.
Lot's of friendly sheep not scared of humans at all. Paradise on earth if you like sheep, as they are all around you, and you can watch them all day long.
Meeeeh!!!
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Good place with toilets and water, a few shelters if it is raining.
You cannot swim or do any water activities on the lake, anyway good place to spend the evening, lots of walks to do.