Kakaho Campsite

Kakaho Campsite - Pureora Forest Park

Kakaho Campsite

Pureora Forest Park

10 Rankers Reviews

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11 Te Kuiti

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Kakaho Camping Ground

Information

Kakaho Campsite

Beside Kakaho Stream and dense podocarp forest. Swim in the stream or walk the Rimu Track through thick forest before climbing to a stunning viewpoint.

Kakaho Camping Ground is a large camp site on the Taupo side of the Pureora Forest Park, nestled right next a beautiful stream and lush podocarp forest. A good base to access walks to the top of Mt Pureora and Mt Titiraupenga.

DOC Campsite Pricing

Kakaho 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

Organisation

DOC Waikato

Central government organisation

Location

North IslandWaikatoTe Kuiti

Categories

  • Activity__basic_facility_campingBasic Camping

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-38.5771288102782

175.727634137634

Latitude
-38.5771288102782
Longitude
175.727634137634

Websites

Reviews

    ✓ Scenic remote location

    ✓ Nice flat grassy spots

    ✓ Fire pits available

    ✓ Pleasant river and stream

    ✓ Good for relaxing

    𐄂 Rough access road

    𐄂 Uneven grounds

    • Day or two after NY.
    • Large camp sites with fire pits.
    • The roads a bit rough to get to this site.
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    8/10 5
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    7/10 1
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    6/10 0
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    5/10 1
    10%
    4/10 0
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    3/10 0
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    2/10 0
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    1/10 0
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  • 4.5/5

    Drive is certainly not to be underestimated, and certainly makes it feel like you're in the middle of nowhere.

    Plenty of 4wder rough types around with huge quads on trailers which was slightly intimidating but ultimately they were harmless.

    A few cool walks we didn't get to checl out fully and places to set up bonfires which was cool. Only there one night, would have liked to have stayed longer

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago and experienced in January 2022

  • 2.5/5

    We booked via the Docs site for this spot on a Saturday night.

    Winter review:

    Due to torrential rains the days before, the few kilometers of gravel road to the large but uneven grass site (which was a short steep descent into) was riddled with water filled pot holes.

    Upon arrival at dusk, there were some locals in 4WD getting set up for a night- sawing branches for a bonfire and giving off an unwelcoming air.

    We decided to leave them to their peace and headed back out (after a quick use of the basic drop toilet) as we were also worried a bit of rain may find us bogged there.

    A shame we couldn’t experience the nice things other reviewers said about it.. could have just been our bad luck

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    The roads a bit rough to get to this site.

    A few kilometres with deep pot holes that can't really be avoided.

    Once there you'll forget the road. Several nice flat grassy spaces surrounded by bush, rocky crags and a small river.

    The walk to the river blessed us with a whio sighting. It spied us quickly and silently flew further downstream.

    Although there's a fee for the stay its hard to pay when the fee lock-box has been vandalised and gone.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Large camp sites with fire pits.

    Make sure you camp on the sites that do not get the western sun as they are very hot in the afternoon. Not much to do for kids. Great to just relax.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Day or two after NY.

    About 5km off main road, of that approx 2km easy gravel.

    Booked the day before and it said only 2 spaces available but the campground was not packed so easy to get a spot. Grassy places to park, tent, etc. Some big trees for shade in certain parts of the grounds. Several sites had open fires. River/stream was wonderfully cold, not deep, but enough for a good dip. I didn't explore much more of the water, didn't seem like the river for a deep swimming hole.

    Very pleasant, long drop toilets seemed fine, needed own loo paper, people appeared respectful and quiet. Decent vibe.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Very nice little campsite by a wonderful little stream, toilets are clean and there's very few other campers out there.

    The fireplaces are alright, the stream supplies clear water great for washing up or even drinking. Payment box is destroyed at the moment so you have to contact someone for payment.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Sweet little camping spot, nice water in the stream, clean long drop, plenty of space, great little fire pits, nice swimming and bush walks.

    So enjoyed this awesome little spot. Some retarded thieves have taken all the picnic tables though.....

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

    Bex's avatar

    Bex

  • 4.0/5

    Lovely, natural and very peaceful campsite that is easy to find.

    We arrived on a Saturday night and there was only 2 other camps there - the area is spacious and has naturally divided areas for privacy. There is a lovely, clean stream that is nice for a dip in hot weather. The drop toilet is also well maintained. The sun drops behind the hill early evening in summer, so the campsite is shaded.

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    This is a great place to camp in the Pureora Forest, have been going there on and off for the past 30 years.

    There are 3 campsites that make up this camping ground, and have fire places, longdrop toilets, there are no showers, but a nice stream beside the camp ground for water supply or bathing. Nice to see and hear the native birds during the day and Moreporks at night. A good bush walk called the Rimu Walk well worth doing, only takes about 30 mins, also further up the road from the camp is a walk to the "centre of the north island" http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6BD1_Centre_of_the_North_Island_New_Zealand........

    Back to nature campsite.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Cute campsite, pretty far away from anywhere really, very buggy.

    Toilets were super clean though

    Reviewed about 24 hours ago

    Ike's avatar

    Ike

  • 4.5/5

    Drive is certainly not to be underestimated, and certainly makes it feel like you're in the middle of nowhere.

    Plenty of 4wder rough types around with huge quads on trailers which was slightly intimidating but ultimately they were harmless.

    A few cool walks we didn't get to checl out fully and places to set up bonfires which was cool. Only there one night, would have liked to have stayed longer

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago and experienced in January 2022

  • 2.5/5

    We booked via the Docs site for this spot on a Saturday night.

    Winter review:

    Due to torrential rains the days before, the few kilometers of gravel road to the large but uneven grass site (which was a short steep descent into) was riddled with water filled pot holes.

    Upon arrival at dusk, there were some locals in 4WD getting set up for a night- sawing branches for a bonfire and giving off an unwelcoming air.

    We decided to leave them to their peace and headed back out (after a quick use of the basic drop toilet) as we were also worried a bit of rain may find us bogged there.

    A shame we couldn’t experience the nice things other reviewers said about it.. could have just been our bad luck

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    The roads a bit rough to get to this site.

    A few kilometres with deep pot holes that can't really be avoided.

    Once there you'll forget the road. Several nice flat grassy spaces surrounded by bush, rocky crags and a small river.

    The walk to the river blessed us with a whio sighting. It spied us quickly and silently flew further downstream.

    Although there's a fee for the stay its hard to pay when the fee lock-box has been vandalised and gone.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Large camp sites with fire pits.

    Make sure you camp on the sites that do not get the western sun as they are very hot in the afternoon. Not much to do for kids. Great to just relax.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Day or two after NY.

    About 5km off main road, of that approx 2km easy gravel.

    Booked the day before and it said only 2 spaces available but the campground was not packed so easy to get a spot. Grassy places to park, tent, etc. Some big trees for shade in certain parts of the grounds. Several sites had open fires. River/stream was wonderfully cold, not deep, but enough for a good dip. I didn't explore much more of the water, didn't seem like the river for a deep swimming hole.

    Very pleasant, long drop toilets seemed fine, needed own loo paper, people appeared respectful and quiet. Decent vibe.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Very nice little campsite by a wonderful little stream, toilets are clean and there's very few other campers out there.

    The fireplaces are alright, the stream supplies clear water great for washing up or even drinking. Payment box is destroyed at the moment so you have to contact someone for payment.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Sweet little camping spot, nice water in the stream, clean long drop, plenty of space, great little fire pits, nice swimming and bush walks.

    So enjoyed this awesome little spot. Some retarded thieves have taken all the picnic tables though.....

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

    Bex's avatar

    Bex

  • 4.0/5

    Lovely, natural and very peaceful campsite that is easy to find.

    We arrived on a Saturday night and there was only 2 other camps there - the area is spacious and has naturally divided areas for privacy. There is a lovely, clean stream that is nice for a dip in hot weather. The drop toilet is also well maintained. The sun drops behind the hill early evening in summer, so the campsite is shaded.

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    This is a great place to camp in the Pureora Forest, have been going there on and off for the past 30 years.

    There are 3 campsites that make up this camping ground, and have fire places, longdrop toilets, there are no showers, but a nice stream beside the camp ground for water supply or bathing. Nice to see and hear the native birds during the day and Moreporks at night. A good bush walk called the Rimu Walk well worth doing, only takes about 30 mins, also further up the road from the camp is a walk to the "centre of the north island" http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6BD1_Centre_of_the_North_Island_New_Zealand........

    Back to nature campsite.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago