Maitai Bay Campsite
Karikari Peninsula
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Maitai Bay Campsite
This Kaitaia area campsite is popular with families. Camp in a sheltered bay nestled amongst beautiful pohutukawa trees.
Swimming, boating, short walks and relaxing is about it at Maitai Bay - a beautiful far North campsite. A sheltered beach with private campsites is the way it rolls. You will not be disappointed!
Please note that the last few km's are on unsealed roads, but good enough for campervans. Please take your rubbish with you. The sites work on a first in first served basis.
Notices
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Puwheke Beach and Karikari Beach access roads closed
The access roads to Puwheke Beach and Karikari Beach will be closed on 10 and 11 April 2025 for roading maintenance.
First published on 9 April 2025.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Maitai Bay 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Unpowered Site | Adult | $10.00 to $15.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Child | $5.00 to $7.50 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Infant | $0.00 per night |
Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
|---|---|---|
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Organisation |
DOC NorthlandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kaitaia |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
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Websites |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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4.0/5
The upper camp area has ocean views but the lower area is close to flush toilets and cold shower.
$15 per adult. Beautiful beach.
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4.5/5
I don't believe I spent 2 days at a Tokerau POP and this place was just over the hill.
What a stunning spot it is. Idyllic beach and adequate facilities
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4.5/5
100% NZ, awesome beach, clean facilities.
Rough gravel road for couple of ks...perfect stay
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4.5/5
Very quiet midweek in November.
Lovely beaches minutes from the camping spot. Out of peak months you need to leave cash in an envelope, so bring exact change if you don’t have a DOC pass.
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4.5/5
Nice campground near a beautiful beach.
Hundreds spots available on a green grass
Clean toilets but no soap everywhere
Cold showers.
Perfect place to go hiking around.
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4.0/5
DOC campsite at end of long drive.
Two beautiful bays to walk and explore. White sand. We stayed in campervan at top site. As it is winter only a few sites that weren't boggy that could be used. Only us and 1 other van. Looks like they allow campers on lower site near toilet block. Resident DOC manger not friendly. Also some not very friendly locals who have access to drive on beach in very unroadworthy vehicles.
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5.0/5
Amazing camping :) Lots of space, nice toilets and beautiful views!
Without a doubt one of the highlights of my trip in Northlands :)
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4.5/5
We stayed in June and liked it at the bottom park as we were the only ones there.
Beautiful beach.
Had a flat tyre in the morning (Sunday of course) and the local guy at the campside hut was not helpful giving us info where we can get tyre fixed. Found a real great guy on main road and he works 7 days a week. His sign is right outside. Warren 0277489402. Job done!
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3.5/5
Epic place to stay, facilities are lacking but are as described.
One of the long drops / showers was filled with flies so we used another one of the other facilities on site. We stayed here over waitangi weekend and had no issues.
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4.0/5
We tried staying here but when we arrived found that it was fully booked!
It looked beautiful.
It is accessed by a semi short gravel road. We did it with our caravan and it was slow going.
When we got here they referred us to an other DOC campsite 1.5 hours away, which they knew had room.
It would be better if there was a booking system or direct number to call. It would have saved us a good 1hr+ drive.
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4.0/5
Amazingly clear water two beautiful bays easily accessible from campsite.
Complete recycling setup however require payment for dumping / collection of rubbish. Showers and toilet nice however composite toilets had excessive flies.
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4.5/5
Beautiful grounds; lots of space, clean bathrooms.
Cold shower only, which we didnt see but its winter so we didn't look, either. Staff person was polite and friendly. Would recommend, & return. On your way, gravel road.
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5.0/5
We stayed in July in a campervan.
Didn’t book and there was plenty of space. So pleased we found this place. Great facilities and what a beach/beaches. Highly recommend.
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5.0/5
A beautiful slice of heaven.
Came on Easter weekend with a lot of locals enjoying their break. What a courteous bunch to camp with 👍👍
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4.5/5
Spent a lovely couple of days here.
There was lots of space and plenty of trees to find shade under, the beautiful bay and good clean facilities (flush toilet and cold shower). Paid $13 pppn for a tent pitch.
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3.0/5
Beach camping is always the positive.
Showers are outdoors so no privacy. Toilets not the cleanest.
There’s no one in the office the 2 days we were there so not sure how you’re suppose to pay if you don’t have any cash on you?? Had to call the city council later to set up payment.
Grass area for camping. Lots of shade. Beach is nice which really made it enjoyable. Clean grounds, no rubbish etc laying around.
EXTREMELY BAD FOR BUGS.
Beautiful to visit for the day but would not highly recommend.
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3.0/5
Great location right next to the beach.
Flush toilets in a block near the beach with outside cold showers. Lots of flies around at night time and also some kids making a nuisance nearby at night. The camp backs on to a public road and some people (kids?) threw rocks and one hit our van and then ran off up the road. We told the guy who is the ranger there and he said it is a common problem. If we had known before we would have not camped up near that road side.
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4.0/5
The upper camp area has ocean views but the lower area is close to flush toilets and cold shower.
$15 per adult. Beautiful beach.
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4.5/5
I don't believe I spent 2 days at a Tokerau POP and this place was just over the hill.
What a stunning spot it is. Idyllic beach and adequate facilities
-
4.5/5
100% NZ, awesome beach, clean facilities.
Rough gravel road for couple of ks...perfect stay
-
4.5/5
Very quiet midweek in November.
Lovely beaches minutes from the camping spot. Out of peak months you need to leave cash in an envelope, so bring exact change if you don’t have a DOC pass.
-
4.5/5
Nice campground near a beautiful beach.
Hundreds spots available on a green grass
Clean toilets but no soap everywhere
Cold showers.
Perfect place to go hiking around.
-
4.0/5
DOC campsite at end of long drive.
Two beautiful bays to walk and explore. White sand. We stayed in campervan at top site. As it is winter only a few sites that weren't boggy that could be used. Only us and 1 other van. Looks like they allow campers on lower site near toilet block. Resident DOC manger not friendly. Also some not very friendly locals who have access to drive on beach in very unroadworthy vehicles.
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5.0/5
Amazing camping :) Lots of space, nice toilets and beautiful views!
Without a doubt one of the highlights of my trip in Northlands :)
-
4.5/5
We stayed in June and liked it at the bottom park as we were the only ones there.
Beautiful beach.
Had a flat tyre in the morning (Sunday of course) and the local guy at the campside hut was not helpful giving us info where we can get tyre fixed. Found a real great guy on main road and he works 7 days a week. His sign is right outside. Warren 0277489402. Job done!
-
3.5/5
Epic place to stay, facilities are lacking but are as described.
One of the long drops / showers was filled with flies so we used another one of the other facilities on site. We stayed here over waitangi weekend and had no issues.
-
4.0/5
We tried staying here but when we arrived found that it was fully booked!
It looked beautiful.
It is accessed by a semi short gravel road. We did it with our caravan and it was slow going.
When we got here they referred us to an other DOC campsite 1.5 hours away, which they knew had room.
It would be better if there was a booking system or direct number to call. It would have saved us a good 1hr+ drive.
-
4.0/5
Amazingly clear water two beautiful bays easily accessible from campsite.
Complete recycling setup however require payment for dumping / collection of rubbish. Showers and toilet nice however composite toilets had excessive flies.
-
4.5/5
Beautiful grounds; lots of space, clean bathrooms.
Cold shower only, which we didnt see but its winter so we didn't look, either. Staff person was polite and friendly. Would recommend, & return. On your way, gravel road.
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5.0/5
We stayed in July in a campervan.
Didn’t book and there was plenty of space. So pleased we found this place. Great facilities and what a beach/beaches. Highly recommend.
-
5.0/5
A beautiful slice of heaven.
Came on Easter weekend with a lot of locals enjoying their break. What a courteous bunch to camp with 👍👍
-
4.5/5
Spent a lovely couple of days here.
There was lots of space and plenty of trees to find shade under, the beautiful bay and good clean facilities (flush toilet and cold shower). Paid $13 pppn for a tent pitch.
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5.0/5
One of the most beautiful beaches I have seen in New Zealand.
Beautifully maintained spacious site and great facilities.
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3.5/5
Great location and a lovely beach.
The facilitys were tidy and well spread through the site.
I almost had an issue when the ranger came round to check everyone had paid (as there was nobody in the office) as she had no idea about the campsite passes and started making out as if that was my fault! In the end she begrudgingly excepted that it might be something she needed to learn more about and went on her way
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5.0/5
Nice big campsite and plenty of space.
Basic toilets, cold showers outside. The beaches here are stunning and worth a visit.
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3.5/5
Highly recommend if you’re travelling cheap, really nice spot amongst trees.
The showers had no doors so were semi private. Beach is AMAZING - especially for boogie board surfing!
