East Cape Campground
42 Rankers Reviews
6 Face-to-Face
3 Hicks Bay
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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.
$10 per adult, $5 per child
Details
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Location |
North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷ Hicks Bay |
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Reviews
Showing 13 reviews of 42.
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Bri
Ranking: 9/10
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.
Bethan
Ranking: 9/10
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.
East Cape Campground is open for business… Visit Website …now's your chance to take a closer look.
Niven
Ranking: 10/10
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
Amy
Ranking: 8/10
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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ELNZ
Ranking: 8/10
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.
Jolinda
Ranking: 1/10
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!
Schubi
Ranking: 10/10
A great remote spot, good base for watching the sunrise from the East Cape Lighthouse. Like a doc camping, but privately owned, caught up with the owner, who came to check the toilet and the like. OK amenities, no hot water, kind of warm if you have a sunny day :) Get your food, water sorted at the last town, as there’s nothing nearby. Do not be offended if the cows turn up next to your tent, they are super friendly. As described by others, the wind can be annoying, try and find a good spot, use you car as a shield. The beach is nice, but full of hidden rocks, you can find nice spots tho a bit further up north, during mid tide when some natural pools remain in the rocks.
You will love it if you want to have some real camping experience and not the holiday park style...
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Clint Parsons
Ranking: 9/10
Really enjoyed our stay here. Lots of space. Kids loved doing manu's in the river. Good fishing and diving nearby if conditions allow. Showers and toilets nice and clean. Men's showers cold, ladies showers luke warm. Well priced, nice owners
Scott Peaker
Ranking: 10/10
Great spot ! We were going to miss this part of NZ out but managed to fit it in and glad we did.
The drive up is stunning, the campsite in a great location with good clean facilities (toilet block and showers) and reasonably priced ($10pp)
We went up to the light house for the sunrise in the morning which was great. Allow your self about a hour before sunrise to drive and climb the steps to the top. This should allow to to catch the sunrise just before it begins.
Shawn
Ranking: 8/10
Great spot close to lighthouse. Was incredibly windy while we were there so a strong tent or camper reccomend. Note that the price was $10 per adult in Jan 2020 which put us slightly off guard
East Cape Campground is open for business… Visit Website …now's your chance to take a closer look.
Mirco
Ranking: 8/10
Nice landscape but the price shown in the app isn't right. It's 10$ per adult.
Ron Weasley
Ranking: 9/10
Great private camping spot. We were there for 2 nights, the 26th and 27th and it's an awesome, remote spot. Open to motor homes and tents.
The spot gets really windy and there isn't much shelter, so if you have a tent you need to work out where the wind's coming from and use you car as a shield. We had our van so positioned it in such a way that it's catch the least wind.
The beach is really nice and although the surf looks really good, there are a lot of rocks so surfing and body boarding is not advised.
It's 6 kms from the lighthouse so if you're feeling adventurous, like we did, walk along the beach and then in the gravel to the lighthouse.
The facilities are basic, there's water which you need to boil before use, the toilets are no longer long drops, so you have some comfort and the showers are cold water only.
No phone reception, and as it's a very basic site, make sure you have all your supplies as the nearest town is Te Araroa which is 13 kms away.
Great spot. Enjoy!
Jess
Ranking: 9/10
Beautiful remote place, mountains on one side, the beach on the other, there is a track so you can easily walk to get on the beach. No signal or wifi so be prepared to fully enjoy the views! A great place to watch the sunset, rise and look at the stars. To get there you go along a long gravel road with loose cattle (don’t worry they will leave you alone) The area is a nicely mowed field with toilets, (cold) showers, water and sink for dishes and bins for your rubbish and recycling. It is $10 per adult and $5 per child so come prepared with the correct cash. There is a sign in/out book and an honesty box to pay, though while i was there the owners did come around to introduce themselves, have a chat and check everything was okay and that you’d paid. A very windy place so keep that in mind when it comes to using your gas cooker! This is the perfect place to stay to get to East Cape Lighthouse as it is just another 15mins drive (and a 20min walk) up to the lighthouse. A beautiful place to stay with good clean facilities and you would be supporting the locals. I highly recommend it.