Holdsworth Campsite
Masterton
4.5 16 reviews
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Holdsworth Campsite
At the eastern park entrance beneath the Tararua Ranges. Enjoy walks, fishing and swimming nearby. There are also grassed areas for sports.
A large campground at the end of a 15km sealed road. Lots of things to do including walks and river fishing / swimming.
Notices
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Predator control for Southern Tararuas
To control possums and prevent the spread of bovine TB, we plan to distribute non-toxic cereal bait pellets by helicopter on 4 March 2026.
The area will remain open. Warning signs will be placed at all main access points to the operational area. View a factsheet and map (PDF, 4,380K)
DOC will distribute toxic bait containing 1080 within a month of applying the non-toxic bait.
This operation is part of OSPRI's TBfree programme.
First published on 3 March 2026.
Accommodation
DOC Campsite Pricing
Holdsworth Campsite is categorised as a DOC Standard Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing. Prices vary for some campsites and may include seasonal pricing. Visit the DOC website for exact pricing.
DOC Standard Campsite
Standard campsites have a more limited range of facilities and services than Serviced campsites. These campsites have toilets, a water supply that could be treated or untreated tap water, or from a stream or lake, and vehicle or boat access. Bring your own soap for washing hands. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Wood BBQs and fireplaces, cold showers, picnic tables, a cooking shelter and rubbish bins may be provided; this will vary from site to site.
| Feature | Value | Value |
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| Unpowered Site | Adult | $15.00 to $20.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Child | $7.50 to $10.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Infant | $0.00 per night |
Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.
Details
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Organisation |
DOC WairarapaCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Wairarapa ▷ Masterton |
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Basic Camping
Google Maps
Reviews
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Great spot.
Don Strachan -
Nice standard DOC campsite.
Max -
Beautiful campsite right next to the stream.
Sebastian -
Awesome place for stay overnight.
Lukas Kuratko -
So spacious and well cared for.
Lauren
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Nice standard DOC campsite.
Plenty of space to set up, clean toilets and several sheltered spaces for cooking and eating.
Flush toilets available by the car park as well.
Heads up: zero cell reception (with Spark)
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Beautiful campsite right next to the stream.
You have some clean toilets and some which are more or less "dump holes". Sheltered seating areas are available. Bring insects repellent with you against the sandflies and mosquitoes.
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Amazing campsite, toilet was clean and had so much space!
We initially only went there because of the Rocky Lookout hike (which I can also highly recommended if you want to do a 1hr hike to a nice view of the forest) and where pleasantly surprised we could stay for the night at the campsite with our motorhome.
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So spacious and well cared for.
Beautiful spot, will come back for walks. Lovely welcoming caretaker too. Only a couple of flushing loos but that's all you need.
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There’s something about a place that feels like it is loved and well cared for.
Winter Review:
It’s in the smalll touches
Clean flush toilets with hooks installed to hang your belongings, benches under shelter, easy payment at steel ranger at entrance.
Even on the most wet day in July where we were the only campervan on site (after an easy access on 15km of sealed roads), the campsite had a warm feel.
The start of many incredible looking trails, were we on a hiking trip & rain wasn’t so torrential we definitely would have loved it as a base to explore surrounding trails.
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Very large site with plenty of space even in the middle of the summer break.
Long drop toilets are alright, and had toilet paper. Taps for water, but it advised to boil before consuming. Great spot for swimming in the river, and lots of walks and tramps to do with various levels of difficulty. Our site got a little bit windy, but we weren’t in a particularly sheltered spot. Friendly people, we paid $8 per adult per night, and you can either pay exact cash into a drop box or visit the ranger and pay via card. We’ll definitely be back.
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A simply fabulous camp area.
Lots of space private campsites, fires allowed with permit. Note there are more than two flush toilets we know of at least five with other long drops. There are great shelters, really good walks. Best of all Eric the caretaker/ranger hard-working, very friendly and helpful.
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Is Epic too strong of a word?Nah, this DOC campsite is Epic.
How a campsite can be so large yet feel secluded I an unsure. There is vast amounts of grass campsites and several tucked away corners that offer privacy and wind protection. Only three flush toilets for a site this big is not enough, but there is a fresh water supply with taps throughout the camp. The real gems are the incredible bush walks suitable for a range of fitnesses; you can literally climb a 1700m mountain from here. Plus, and it is a big plus, there a several wild swimming spots to discover for those hot summer days. Epic.
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Great spot.
Good shelter from NW or W weather if you get in early and tuck in on the left. Bit of hike to find the loo but maybe that's just me. Sun takes a long time to come up over the hills if need to dry out after a wet night.
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Awesome place to stay with heaps of campsites and lots to do in the area.
There are two flushing toilets and a couple of longdrops. No showers on site. But we were able to have a campfire with a permit. Very friendly campsite warden as well.
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Awesome place for stay overnight.
Clean facilities, shelters, drinking water, nice hikes around and very friendly and helpful ranger. Recycle bins on site.
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Beautiful well maintained campground surrounded by mountains and a range of well kept and pleasant walks.
Caretaker was really friendly. Toilet blocks, drinking water and sheltered table areas provided.
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Outstanding facility.
Great caretaker and well kept. Plenty of walks and trout in the stream. Well worth a day or two. Good access in with a sealed road all the way. Narrow in parts but no issues. Well done DoC.
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Excellent large campsite at the base of Tararua Forest Park - nice river and plenty of tracks to walk.
Surrounded by mature bush
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