Mangawhero Campsite
Tongariro National Park
Photos
Information
Mangawhero Campsite
Camp in the forest on the flanks of Mount Ruapehu; a good base for exploring Tongariro National Park.
The Mangawhero Camping Ground is just 2km up the Mountain Road from Ohakune. A primo place to explore the area, go biking along the Ohakune Coach Road, tramp around Mt Ruapehu, chill in Ohakune, or if you are well prepared its a pretty cheap place to stay during the winter......
Notices
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Ohakune Mountain Road closure 26 September
Ohakune Mountain Road will be closed on 26 September from 2 pm to 7 pm for the Peak 2 Powerkeg multisport event. The road will be closed from Thames Street to the Tūroa Ski Area upper car park.
This road closure affects access to:
- Waitonga and Mangaturuturu car parks,
- Round the Mountain Track,
- huts accessed from the Ohakune Mountain Road,
- Waitonga Falls and Mangawhero Falls tracks,
- vehicle access to Mangawhero Campsite,
- car parking at the Te Ara Mangawhero and the Rimu and Mangawhero Forest loop walks.
The road will reopen from 7 pm.
First published on 15 September 2026.
Accommodation
DOC Campsite Pricing
Mangawhero 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
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC Central North IslandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Ohakune |
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Categories |
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Operating Season And Hours |
Bookings for the 2026/27 season open at 12 noon on Thursday 14 May 2026. Same-day bookings are available online until 8 pm if spaces remain. |
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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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Many people.
Christian -
Great, clean campsite in a beautiful setting.
Hannah -
Delightfully situated with views of mountains.
Clive -
Nice spot, on the road to Ruapehu.
arnaud paquet -
Good spot, $6 per night.
Josefine Sjodin
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Great place.
The local tracks are right at the gate, perfect for cycling or walking. Just 2km to town. Non potable water, quiet and back to nature. 4G internet no issue at all.
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Really basic doc site, longdrop and a few shady spots, not much privacy.
Close to town and peaceful but not much else going to offer.
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Cute little cul-de-sac for campervans and a separate area for tents.
No privacy but plenty of space for everyone and a picnic table in the middle. Toilets are okay - clean enough but, like all other drop toilets, very smelly.
Location is great! Only about half an hour from National Park but there's also great views and some nice walks if you keep heading up Ohakune Mountain Road. Ohakune itself is also just a few mins down the road and it's a lovely little town.
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We recently spent two nights here.
Not a huge campsite but each site is individual which is nice. Little to no signal we found. Toilet provided. Must book ahead, but we didn’t see anyone coming around to check. DOC Campsite Pass is valid here. Find us on Facebook if you’re touring @saltyskin
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Beautiful view of mountain.
Long drop toilet, stank but that's typical of those toilets. Lots of Tui's flying around. Lovely listening to the birds in morning.
Good coffee at Kombi coffee in town 👌
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A great place to stay and explore the local walks.
I spent two nights here with hardly anyone else around. The toilets were clean and had toilet paper. Would happily stay here again.
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Quiet, decent sized and flat pitches.
Good road up to the campsite. You pay $13 pp in an envelope and in the box - someone came to check in the morning but hardly anyone there so very peaceful and pleasant.
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This is a DOC camp site (there is a bit more room if you keep driving round the road).
It's well looked after and the gravel sites are level. The toilet is a long drop but it's substantially housed. There are walking tracks by the river. It's quiet and you can see the mountain. The cost is $13per adult (it has increased).
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Perfect campsite to stay before go to Tongariro alpine crossing.
We were alone and just inside the nature. We liked it so much!
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Wonderful small DOC spot, enjoyed it!
Good view, quiet. Drop toilet okay. Drinking water. Honesty box. Lots of tracks and beautiful ride up the mountain.
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Beautiful scenery and quiet.
We decided on the holiday park because for a little extra you got way more than just a yucky toilet. $13 per person to camp here felt pretty outrageous for what you received.
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Great spot just out of town, good view of the mountain.
As the photos show, the first site is just a little cul-de-sac with taps, a sink and a long-drop. The 2nd site just up the road seemed intended for tent campers. Great bush trail nearby. The toilet, however, was super grim -- poo piled up almost to the top, overwhelming ammonia stench, and flies everywhere. But hey, it's well located and only $6pp.
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Nice DOC camping ground with beautiful views of the mountains with honesty box.
Easy to find and to park the campervan. The one hour round walk which starts at the entrance of the road to the camping grounds shows you the names of all trees.
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The shower block is absolutely amazing, just what you need after a day on the slopes or trails.
Kitchen and TV room is a bit behind what we have had from most other Top 10 camp sites but it has a bit of character. Maybe a good base for skiing or a 1 night stop, not so much for a week of family camping.
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Basic facilities but fine considering the price.
When we arrived around 6 pm we found the first camp site was full but there was a second site a bit further on which was pleasant and well maintained. Access to a river with some nice water holes.
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We ended up here late in the night, so didn't get to enjoy it too much in the daylight hours.
But a very peaceful location and not nearly as cold as I thought.
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Great place.
The local tracks are right at the gate, perfect for cycling or walking. Just 2km to town. Non potable water, quiet and back to nature. 4G internet no issue at all.
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Really basic doc site, longdrop and a few shady spots, not much privacy.
Close to town and peaceful but not much else going to offer.
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Great spot with obvious parking bays well spaced apart.
Nice and quiet. I had a phone signal. Will stay again.
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Cute little cul-de-sac for campervans and a separate area for tents.
No privacy but plenty of space for everyone and a picnic table in the middle. Toilets are okay - clean enough but, like all other drop toilets, very smelly.
Location is great! Only about half an hour from National Park but there's also great views and some nice walks if you keep heading up Ohakune Mountain Road. Ohakune itself is also just a few mins down the road and it's a lovely little town.
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We recently spent two nights here.
Not a huge campsite but each site is individual which is nice. Little to no signal we found. Toilet provided. Must book ahead, but we didn’t see anyone coming around to check. DOC Campsite Pass is valid here. Find us on Facebook if you’re touring @saltyskin
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Beautiful view of mountain.
Long drop toilet, stank but that's typical of those toilets. Lots of Tui's flying around. Lovely listening to the birds in morning.
Good coffee at Kombi coffee in town 👌
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Quiet, decent sized and flat pitches.
Good road up to the campsite. You pay $13 pp in an envelope and in the box - someone came to check in the morning but hardly anyone there so very peaceful and pleasant.
-
This is a DOC camp site (there is a bit more room if you keep driving round the road).
It's well looked after and the gravel sites are level. The toilet is a long drop but it's substantially housed. There are walking tracks by the river. It's quiet and you can see the mountain. The cost is $13per adult (it has increased).
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Perfect campsite to stay before go to Tongariro alpine crossing.
We were alone and just inside the nature. We liked it so much!
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Really nice camp spot, facilities are basic, just a clean long drop, water and a few benches.
But beware (particularly cyclists like myself) this isn't the exact location, it is about 1.5k further away from town, so nipping to town is a bit more of a chore.
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Wonderful small DOC spot, enjoyed it!
Good view, quiet. Drop toilet okay. Drinking water. Honesty box. Lots of tracks and beautiful ride up the mountain.
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Beautiful scenery and quiet.
We decided on the holiday park because for a little extra you got way more than just a yucky toilet. $13 per person to camp here felt pretty outrageous for what you received.
-
Great spot just out of town, good view of the mountain.
As the photos show, the first site is just a little cul-de-sac with taps, a sink and a long-drop. The 2nd site just up the road seemed intended for tent campers. Great bush trail nearby. The toilet, however, was super grim -- poo piled up almost to the top, overwhelming ammonia stench, and flies everywhere. But hey, it's well located and only $6pp.
-
Nice DOC camping ground with beautiful views of the mountains with honesty box.
Easy to find and to park the campervan. The one hour round walk which starts at the entrance of the road to the camping grounds shows you the names of all trees.
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Basic facilities but fine considering the price.
When we arrived around 6 pm we found the first camp site was full but there was a second site a bit further on which was pleasant and well maintained. Access to a river with some nice water holes.
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We ended up here late in the night, so didn't get to enjoy it too much in the daylight hours.
But a very peaceful location and not nearly as cold as I thought.
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A great little campsite, nice view of the mountain, had 3 nights there in June, nice clear nights good frost.
Water supply is the same as Ohakune township so ok to drink. One long drop toilet that was clean. Easy to get a 22 foot caravan in there. Will be back.
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pretty spot, easy to get to, longdrop toilet was clean.
so many stars! frosty in the early morning.