Oparau Roadhouse and Bills Backpackers
Reviews
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Boardwalk Blss
Ranking: 8/10
Midwinter campervanning (late June 2020). We were the only ones at this flat grassy spot next to the Roadhouse. Paid $5 for the one power hookup. Toilet basic but clean; dump station; no potable water but friendly staff pointed us in the direction where locals get their spring water. Good spot to stock up on basic foods if you’re spending time in this rural area.
Graham
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome free camping spot with lovely views and nice grassy area with table's
Its free so how can you not love it , great spot to stay after the hot beach
Michaela
Ranking: 10/10
Fantastic little place. They have 1 powered site that is $5, otherwise non powered is free. Dine in/takeaway dinner, fuel, toilets, shop - no complaints here. The people are lovely! Very helpful.
Dave Kitson
Ranking: 10/10
Not a lot to add - this is an excellent and free site. Amazing shop for such an isolated place. Good breakfast in the morning.
Very helpful and friendly owners and staff.
Don Strachan
Ranking: 9/10
0nly a 9 because they're basically out of water and that's not their fault. Great spot, and FREE! Friendly, helpful owners. Little road noise from time to time but otherwise super. Great views. Get in early (before 5) to get the best spots.
Justyna
Ranking: 10/10
Free campsite, clean toilet. Place is pretty nice but owners.. The most friendly and helpful people in the world! Also, you can be suprised because is possible to buy everything in their shop! 10/10. Thank You Bill.
Lizzievarley
Ranking: 9/10
Free camping, super friendly owner who let me stay in a caravan for the night (I was cycling). Pleasant surrounds, with a big shop with hot meals and lots of food! There were also some cute cats wandering around the property. The lawns at this place were amazing! No showers but toilet facilities are available.
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Luckyoleg
Ranking: 10/10
This is the free campsite.
Owner is very friendly. Very friendly personal in the store too.
There is with wi-fi and toilets. No shower though.
Cafe has power sockets, so you can charge your devices. Great place!
Steffi
Ranking: 9/10
Really friendly Personal at the petrol Station.
Camping for free. And a free dump Station also free WiFi.
Only grey water.
The Public toilets are clean
The Farrs
Ranking: 7/10
Great spot for free. Owners have a little general store/petrol station and parking is on the side lawn. Dump station available & toilets. We had a good interaction with owners but some others near us did not (unsure of situation). Be sure to check in upon arrival!!
Melanie
Ranking: 9/10
We were cautious about this accommodation after having been burned by the Turangi freedom campsite the night before, but at 5pm we pulled into the Oparau Roadhouse and found quite a few campers already there on the grassy area next to the Roadhouse. The toilets, shop and food available were welcome after a long day and the site is lovely and grassy and landscaped with lots of space to park. If you get a spot closer to the road you get some lovely views down the valley and the road wasn't too noisy. Can definitely recommend!
Robbie Cotter
Ranking: 10/10
Lovely campsite, with big petrol garage which you can get everything you need. The owners are great and couldn't be more helpful or friendly. Perfect location for exploring Waitomo and Kawhia! Would definitely recommend staying here.
S Black
Ranking: 4/10
Nice outlook, cafe stops cooking at 630 and not much else around for food. We had an unhealthy meal of pies and fried chicken (not free or discounted despite being the last remaining from the day- we wouldn't normally expect otherwise except quite a few people have mentioned free food.) They have quite a lot of grocery items and petrol. Good free spot tho not much around apart from the hot water beach.
Sophie Turner
Ranking: 10/10
Lovely owners. Flushing toilets. Petrol station, shop and cafe on site. Free wifi and electricity! Best of all - free to camp!
Hannah
Ranking: 10/10
One of the best freedom campsites in New Zealand! We stayed there one night on the way to Raglan - free wifi, free camping , cute little spot with tables and chairs, cafe next door - what more could you want? I ran in just as they were closing to ask if maybe they could fill up our hot water bottles - the owners did this for us and gave us some free chicken - such lovely people, the world needs more people like them - stay here if possible so nice.
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Doreen Gendel
Ranking: 10/10
Very nice place at Bill and Brenda's roadhouse. Stay there for free (not for tents) and in the evening they give you chicken and chips that has not been sold. Bill and Brenda are really nice.
Vincent Rushby
Ranking: 7/10
Great set up, and nice people. Bummer was there were pies at 3:30 but none to be had at 6:30 ! ! Who wants to have dinner that early ! Summertime and closed for food business at afternoon tea time.
Melissa Morin
Ranking: 10/10
Wow what an amazing place! Free place to camp ($5 for power). The owners are so friendly and helpful. We came in the shop to chat with them and they let us use their washing machine, shower and kitchen. Bill gave us pies and chicken. The pies are absolutely amazing, you have to try them!! They made us feel at home.
rachaelandryan
Ranking: 10/10
For a free campsite, this has got to be the best in NZ! Really friendly and helpful owners, stayed 2 nights for free, they have a shop, bar, cafe, petrol station all on site, and flushing toilets :) and it's free for campervans, or only 5 dollars with power. Ooh and lovely pies!
Agathe Dupuis
Ranking: 10/10
Very great place, no view but Bill and Brenda are very great people. We could use washing machine, showers and kitchen for free and Bill gave us very good pies and burgers!
Anne Collet
Ranking: 10/10
It is a general store (gas station), who offer free camping - delicious pies!
Camille Gagnant
Ranking: 10/10
Free camping, great welcome with Brenda's pies! Really nice people!
Cindy Benayoum
Ranking: 10/10
The best campground, nice people, a good place for free and you can use the hot shower for free. Next to the beach and you can eat in the little restaurant in the campground.
Congratulations Oparau Roadhouse and Bills Backpackers
Roy Matthieu
Ranking: 9/10
A place in the middle of nowhere but with all inclusive services (hot shower if you ask the owner, toilet, fuel station, dairy, restaurant). WIFI available. Just perfect.
Ngaire Jury
Ranking: 10/10
In January we spent two days at Oparau Roadhouse. We were in a self contained caravan and parked overlooking a view over trees and hills. The site has some power available, and plenty of room to park. There is some water available, but limited in summer, rubbish, washing machine etc. The staff were so friendly and made us very welcome. We were able to buy a takeaway meal the first evening we arrived which was great for tired travellers. They have petrol available, Lotto, Alcohol, Groceries, postal service. They have a café also and we enjoyed the best whitebait meal we have ever had made with free range eggs. We found this spot through Park Over Properties in our Motor Home Book. Very reasonable to stay there and couldn't fault the service. Close to Kawhia. Highly recommend for a stop over spot.
Ronet
Ranking: 10/10
Best place ever!!! Arrived there with campervan and stayed there 4 days for free. Clean Toilets! Just 15 min away from hot water beach in Kawhia. I could use a washing mashine and used a hot shower also free!!! Also could use tools from workshop to fix van! Thanks to the shop owners Bill and Brenda - great people!
Try the Whitebait fritters and Brenda's pies!
Johannes J
Ranking: 8/10
Nice manager couple, stayed here one night for free. There are just toilets (without light in the night) and the water is non drinkable (grey water). There is also a power socket in the bathroom.
auré bis
Ranking: 10/10
Wonderful place at bill and brenda roadhouse!
Stayed a week, parked free with our campervan and just paid 5$/day to be powered.
Facilities were free to use, also you will find everything you want in their store.
Don't forget to try Brenda's pies.
15min from the sea and the hot springs.
Definitely the best place to stay since ages!
Katrina Gamby
Ranking: 8/10
On edge of sea. $10/night. No facilities. Close to town, lovely overnight spot.
Peter
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome! Bill and his wife Brenda run a friendly little spot and offer up free camping at their road house. It's a great location for getting to the hot beach as well as local caves and waterfalls so be sure to ask them about local attractions. Good cycling tracks in the area too if you have bikes.
And be sure to ask how the garden is going... the fresh produce Bill gave us was part of an awesome dinner!
http://www.oparauroadhouse.com/
Shetim
Ranking: 10/10
Bill & Brenda Rogers are so much more than store owners! Their backpacker's house feels like home and they are so friendly and giving - we ate many an awesome home cooked meal with the table crowded with travelers from all over the world. The grounds around the Roadhouse are beautiful & fantastic for tenting, trailers or just hanging out.
We arrived there as drenched travelers and left as family!
My favorite place in New Zealand!