Photos
Information
Wainora Campsite
This scenic campsite is at the start of the Cookson Kauri Walk, with attractive water views on the walk.
Wainora Campsite is a scenic camping ground situated in the Kauaeranga Valley within the Coromandel Forest Park near Thames. It offers basic facility camping with attractive water views and serves as the starting point for the Cookson Kauri Walk. The campsite accommodates various vehicle types, excluding large ones, and does not provide powered sites.
Notices
-
Kauaeranga Valley closure for pest control 19-23 October
Kauaeranga Valley will be closed for pest control from 4 pm 19 October until 8 am 23 October, with the area closed daily between 4 pm and 8 am.
The closed area includes 9 km of Kauaeranga Valley Road, 9 campsites, and 13 tracks. See closure map (PDF, 750K).
This closure is made under section 13 of the Conservation Act 1987.
First published on 16 October 2026.
Accommodation
DOC Campsite Pricing
Wainora 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 | $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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Organisation |
DOC CoromandelCentral government organisation |
|
|
Location |
North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Thames |
|
|
Categories |
||
|
Operating Season And Hours |
The camp opens on Friday, October 25. Bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2027. |
|
|
Directions To Coordinates |
||
|
Coordinates |
||
|
Websites |
|
Reviews
-
Beautiful quiet spot in beautiful surroundings.
Clean toilets. Rubbish bins available. The Kauri Walk which directly starts at the end of the site is highly recommended!!
-
A lovely campsite setting with grassed areas amongst the trees.
Rubbish bins on site. Stream close by but there is a great swimming hole down the road five kms at Hoffmans Pool. Several hiking options right from the campsite including the well graded track to the Cookson Kauri. Only a few other campers the two nights we stayed in February.
-
Bush valley location - only us plus 2 others, quiet and peaceful.
$20 for the night. Left our motorhome on the campsite when we did our walk.
-
Nice and quiet place in the forest near the river with enough space.
Don't bother the gravel road because it is really worth it. Beside our place there was a short path to the river. There is only a toilet, no shower and it cost 10 NZD p.p. You can get information about nearby trackings and the weather forecast at the visitor centre, which you pass on the way to the camping ground. We did a nice tracking (billy goat circuit) for roundabout 4 hours. The track was indicated as easy but you need to climb a lot. Nevertheless it was a beautiful track in the surrounding hills and the forest. Bear in mind that you have no cell phone connection in this area.
-
Beautiful, peaceful campground in the native bush.
Bird calls, trees and ferns abound! If you are looking for a nice day hike/walk to see some kauri trees, this is a great launching point. The Cookson Kauri Walk begins at Wainora Campground. The drive is quite far from Thames and from the Kauaeranga Valley Visitors' Center, but well worth it.
