East Cape Campground
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East Cape Campground
East Cape Campground sits along East Cape Road at Gisborne. You'll be in awe at finding yourself the middle of views and places you never thought possible. Upon entering the site, you'll be greeted with vast green scapes, leading to a stretch of sandy beach. There, you'll find yourself seeming to be in two places at once.
The sea views are exquisite for viewing the first sunrise that comes every day in this area. Imagine waking up to the sound of the waves and seeing the sun in all its glory shining right before you, just before everyone in the world sees it.
Please respect the rare banded dotterels nesting in the sand dunes between the Campground and the beach.
Please pay via the website link on this page.
Details
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Organisation |
East Cape Camp GroundCommercial organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷ Hicks Bay |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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Stunning camp spot.
Off grid, next to a river and right on the beach. Surfing and swimming in the river available. No kitchen, however there are bbq plates. Flush toilets and paid hot showers, take $1 coins with you. No lights either so take a torch.
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An absolutely incredible spot right off the beach.
Facilities aren’t much but for the location they’re more than you’d expect. Waking up to the sunrise is unbelievable, just beware of the wind!
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Beautiful spot with great basic facilities, including flush loos and showers.
Huge area to spread out and enjoy fantastic views from every position. Off grid and remote with amazing night skies and sunrises, run by friendly family.
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Amazing location, with a unique view over the Southern Pacific Ocean, the Hautai beach, and the grass fields, forests and mountains surrounding the East Cape.
In addition to the above, the campsite is just located 10 min. away by car, from the lighthouse, that marks the easternmost point of New Zealand.
However, the establishment provides very basic amenities: nice grass where to install a campervan or tents, bathrooms (unfortunately not very clean ones, urinatory not working, absence of toilet paper and hot shower not working at all), electric barbecues, and basic shelter in case of rain.
Despite the above, I absolutely recommend the place due to its calm, lovely and unique environment that undoubtedly provides an unforgettable experience.
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Very basic campsite in an incredible spot in the middle of nowhere.
Lots of space to park on the grass, you won't be bothered by the neighbours. Come for the view, not the facilities!
Toilets and 2$ hot shower (or free cold shower) but it was rather dirty. Wifi spot next to the reception, no phone service though.
Please note that as of January 2024, the track to the east cape lighthouse is currently closed (there was a big slip). But you can still watch the sunrise from a nice spot on the road right before the hill!
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Brilliant location with excellent views.
Extremely remote with some track roads to get to it but worth the drive. No dump site or WiFi, so a little expensive for facilities still worth it. No staff present but easy to understand lay out and honesty box. Just as an FYI the lighthouse was closed but you can see the sunrise from the road.
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Great view and location if you want to catch the rising sun at the lighthouse.
Do know that all showers and toilets are either not open or not usable. The urinal was blocked and « full ».
In summary, great place to stay if you don’t need access to any of the sanitary facilities. Be wary of the wind, you are on a coastal camping with no protection from the elements.
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The owners should be ashamed.
Wished I had checked the facilities before paying.
- no flat ground to park at all
- no WiFi
- no running water / shower
- ALL toilets clogged up and dirty
The only thing working were the cameras checking the honesty box
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If you want to pinch yourself when you wake up in the morning and watch the Sunrise, then this is the place to go.
Amazing location on the beach, plenty of space, last stop before the Light House. We did not use the basic facilities as they were closed due to Covid restrictions.
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Ae Marika te Tairawhiti, tino ataahua, the east coast just beautiful.
An exposed site next to the beach with stunning views. There is a beautiful looking swimming hole next to the camp site, no cell phone coverage here either and I didn't see the sign that mentioned, travel several ks back towards town to get reception, my bad. Didn't get to use the facilities, I probably needed to inform the owner I was on site so they could come down and turn the water on, again my bad. Sadly the light house entry was closed to the public and for your info there's a public toilet at the light house carpark, there is a roadside notice board as you leave the township informing motorists of road closures and the light house closure but yet again I missed that one too.
I paid $20, $15 for the camp fee and I included $5 for the sticker of the campground, there wasn't a price for the sticker. I simply enjoyed the peacefulness of the camp site.
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Awesome location and great base to catch the sunrise at the lighthouse from.
Plenty of spaces and right on a beautiful beach.
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super fun campsite with all the cows wandering round you while you camp.
We stayed here with the intent of tenting but ended up sleeping in the car as it was quite windy, so bare that in mind. hard to find level ground if you don't get in early but otherwise fantastic! we watched the sun come up then went to lighthouse and found wild horses.
additional info: now costs $15 per adult, showers only accept $1 coins and you need 2 $1 coins for 4 minutes of shower time.
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Stunning camp spot.
Off grid, next to a river and right on the beach. Surfing and swimming in the river available. No kitchen, however there are bbq plates. Flush toilets and paid hot showers, take $1 coins with you. No lights either so take a torch.
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The owners should be ashamed.
Wished I had checked the facilities before paying.
- no flat ground to park at all
- no WiFi
- no running water / shower
- ALL toilets clogged up and dirty
The only thing working were the cameras checking the honesty box
-
Amazing location, with a unique view over the Southern Pacific Ocean, the Hautai beach, and the grass fields, forests and mountains surrounding the East Cape.
In addition to the above, the campsite is just located 10 min. away by car, from the lighthouse, that marks the easternmost point of New Zealand.
However, the establishment provides very basic amenities: nice grass where to install a campervan or tents, bathrooms (unfortunately not very clean ones, urinatory not working, absence of toilet paper and hot shower not working at all), electric barbecues, and basic shelter in case of rain.
Despite the above, I absolutely recommend the place due to its calm, lovely and unique environment that undoubtedly provides an unforgettable experience.
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Beautiful spot with great basic facilities, including flush loos and showers.
Huge area to spread out and enjoy fantastic views from every position. Off grid and remote with amazing night skies and sunrises, run by friendly family.
-
An absolutely incredible spot right off the beach.
Facilities aren’t much but for the location they’re more than you’d expect. Waking up to the sunrise is unbelievable, just beware of the wind!
-
Very basic campsite in an incredible spot in the middle of nowhere.
Lots of space to park on the grass, you won't be bothered by the neighbours. Come for the view, not the facilities!
Toilets and 2$ hot shower (or free cold shower) but it was rather dirty. Wifi spot next to the reception, no phone service though.
Please note that as of January 2024, the track to the east cape lighthouse is currently closed (there was a big slip). But you can still watch the sunrise from a nice spot on the road right before the hill!
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-
Great view and location if you want to catch the rising sun at the lighthouse.
Do know that all showers and toilets are either not open or not usable. The urinal was blocked and « full ».
In summary, great place to stay if you don’t need access to any of the sanitary facilities. Be wary of the wind, you are on a coastal camping with no protection from the elements.
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Brilliant location with excellent views.
Extremely remote with some track roads to get to it but worth the drive. No dump site or WiFi, so a little expensive for facilities still worth it. No staff present but easy to understand lay out and honesty box. Just as an FYI the lighthouse was closed but you can see the sunrise from the road.
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If you want to pinch yourself when you wake up in the morning and watch the Sunrise, then this is the place to go.
Amazing location on the beach, plenty of space, last stop before the Light House. We did not use the basic facilities as they were closed due to Covid restrictions.
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Ae Marika te Tairawhiti, tino ataahua, the east coast just beautiful.
An exposed site next to the beach with stunning views. There is a beautiful looking swimming hole next to the camp site, no cell phone coverage here either and I didn't see the sign that mentioned, travel several ks back towards town to get reception, my bad. Didn't get to use the facilities, I probably needed to inform the owner I was on site so they could come down and turn the water on, again my bad. Sadly the light house entry was closed to the public and for your info there's a public toilet at the light house carpark, there is a roadside notice board as you leave the township informing motorists of road closures and the light house closure but yet again I missed that one too.
I paid $20, $15 for the camp fee and I included $5 for the sticker of the campground, there wasn't a price for the sticker. I simply enjoyed the peacefulness of the camp site.
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Awesome location and great base to catch the sunrise at the lighthouse from.
Plenty of spaces and right on a beautiful beach.
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super fun campsite with all the cows wandering round you while you camp.
We stayed here with the intent of tenting but ended up sleeping in the car as it was quite windy, so bare that in mind. hard to find level ground if you don't get in early but otherwise fantastic! we watched the sun come up then went to lighthouse and found wild horses.
additional info: now costs $15 per adult, showers only accept $1 coins and you need 2 $1 coins for 4 minutes of shower time.
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It was our favourite site on the Cape.
Yes it is basic but the views are amazing and there was loads of room even in the peak Christmas holiday. It actually costs $15 per adult and $10 per child. Showers are $2 for 4 mins. No kitchen but small sink area for washing dishes if you don’t have your own facilities. Highly recommend if you want to get away from the crowds and chill out.
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Worth the trip.
Really remote but such a cool spot. As long as you don’t mind cows but they never came near or bothered us at all. Beautiful spot to wake up to! Really fairly priced, it’s an honesty box.
Toilets and showers are clean and nice
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Great views for sunrise and just a short drive to the lighthouse but perhaps a bit overpriced for basic facilities.
It could do with more stable/flat ground to park up given it costs for $10pp.
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Basic amenities but expected for the remoteness.
Would suggest only self contained vehicles.
Great views of sunset/sunrise and short drive to lighthouse.
Bring chocks if you want to be dead level as it’s just grass and not that level.
Toilets were clean but no lights at night - headtorch needed.
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Despite the views, this is a very disappointing site, no running water for toilets, basins and showers.
Disgusting backed up toilets, no kitchen. You may as well camp in a pig sty!