Bucks Road Campsite
Tararua Forest Park
4.3 30 reviews
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Bucks Road Campsite
Enjoy the picturesque campsite above the Tauwharenīkau River set in regenerating bush. Walk the Tauwharenīkau Gorge Track or cool off with a swim in the river.
Enjoy the picturesque campsite above the Tauherenikau River amongst regenerating bush. Camp at the roadend or walk approx 150 m along the track to the right of the Gorge to a grassy area amongst trees. Walk the Tauherenikau Gorge track or cool off with a swim in the river. 3km of the access road is gravel.
Notices
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Predator control for Southern Tararuas
DOC and OSPRI distributed toxic cereal bait pellets by helicopter near this area on 11 and 23 March 2026. Taraua Forest Park will remain open.
A caution period is in place for approximately 8 months. Visitors are advised not to take dogs into the area until the caution period has ended. 1080 is deadly to dogs. How to keep dogs safe around 1080.
First published on 3 March 2026. Last reviewed on 13 April 2026.
Accommodation
DOC Campsite Pricing
Bucks Road 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 WairarapaCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Wairarapa ▷ Featherston |
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Operating Season And Hours |
The campsite operates year-round. Bookings for the 2026/27 season open on Thursday 14 May 2026 at 12 noon. 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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Basic Camping
Google Maps
Reviews
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Lovely area surrounded by gum trees etc.
Lola -
We loved it here.
Cymen Crick -
Not far from Featherston.
Angela Parody -
Standard DOC campsite.
Mike and Caroline -
I stayed here in winter.
Melissa Higgins
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Its a good spot for anyone getting off the ferry in Wellington heading north through the Wairarapa.
It was a very quiet spot right on the edge of native forest. Nice view of the river. Enough reception for messaging.
Gravel road access.
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Nice quiet campsite with good scenery.
Not too far from town.
Got there on a clear day, river was good for a refreshing swim. Nice and deep as well (3+ metres).
Camping spots had quite a few large rocks and holes, so double check where you plan to put your tent.
Road got a bit muddy in the rain, and the track to the river was a bit flooded. Tent spots seemed free from puddles though.
Edges were overrun with tradescantia and blackberries which was a bit sad.
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Basic longdrop toilet.
Awesome river, steep steps to get to and from. Big grassy area at the end of road, with smaller grassy areas on the side leading up to it and offering more private spots. Long gravel and skinny road to get there.
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Beautiful location, best swimming hole ever and loads of birds.
Sadly our stay was ruined by a large group of drunken youths driving dangerously around throughout the day and night. Several resident housebus owners have unleashed dogs roaming round crapping everywhere.
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Lovely, secluded campsite with beautiful views and decent parking.
Minimal cell signal and remember to bring toilet paper and bug repellent.
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Nice campsite with plenty of spaces, and was quiet and peaceful.
Long drop was not in the best condition but not bad, remember your own toilet paper. Great access down a little hill to a beautiful part of the river. Amazing for swims. Lots of mosquitoes though so load up on repellant. No water taps that we could see
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Very clean area and beautiful spot.
Would definitely recommend if you're down south Wairarapa.
Only negative would be the long drop toilet but if you're ok with that it's a no brainer!
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Beautiful spot to stay, bird life all around and the haunting sounds of the native ruru at night was just fantastic.
Seemed to be sheltered considering it was very windy in Featherston at the time
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Lovely spot with plenty of space and track down to the river.
One (ok) long drop toilet, several km of gravel road to entry. Worth a stop to drink your Martinborough spoils!
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Rode here with a motorcycle easy going the metal road is not bad.
Staying one night, found lots of choices to pitch the tent, not a lot of campers about counter about 5. Best part you have reception, mobile and internet
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Lovely area surrounded by gum trees etc.
Short walk down to the river, which is a typically pretty Tararua river. Beautiful walk up into the hill (signposted as "Angler's Access"). Couldn't see any campfire pits, despite what DOC website states about lighting campfires, which was disappointing. Sandflies feasted on us despite using repellant. Arggh. Winds got up to severe gusts, as forecasted, so we had to move to a more sheltered area which seemed to have gravel under the turf.... a few tent pegs died that day! Overall 4/10 for comfort, 10/10 for fun.
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Great campsite, beautiful location with lots of space.
There are steps down to the river which is gorgeous and great for a swim. We did the signposted 'River Access' walk which was beautiful but parts of the track had washed away making it quite a scramble in places! Gaiters would be handy too for the gorse. Definitely recommended though.
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Good flat site, long drop toilet.
Short walk down to a lovely swimming spot in the river. Bring your own toilet paper. No drinking water on tap. We will come here again.
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This was a free DOC campground which was fine.
Nothing super special about it and it was a long drive on a gravel road.
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Its a good spot for anyone getting off the ferry in Wellington heading north through the Wairarapa.
It was a very quiet spot right on the edge of native forest. Nice view of the river. Enough reception for messaging.
Gravel road access.
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Nice quiet campsite with good scenery.
Not too far from town.
Got there on a clear day, river was good for a refreshing swim. Nice and deep as well (3+ metres).
Camping spots had quite a few large rocks and holes, so double check where you plan to put your tent.
Road got a bit muddy in the rain, and the track to the river was a bit flooded. Tent spots seemed free from puddles though.
Edges were overrun with tradescantia and blackberries which was a bit sad.
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Basic longdrop toilet.
Awesome river, steep steps to get to and from. Big grassy area at the end of road, with smaller grassy areas on the side leading up to it and offering more private spots. Long gravel and skinny road to get there.
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Beautiful location, best swimming hole ever and loads of birds.
Sadly our stay was ruined by a large group of drunken youths driving dangerously around throughout the day and night. Several resident housebus owners have unleashed dogs roaming round crapping everywhere.
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Lovely, secluded campsite with beautiful views and decent parking.
Minimal cell signal and remember to bring toilet paper and bug repellent.
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Nice campsite with plenty of spaces, and was quiet and peaceful.
Long drop was not in the best condition but not bad, remember your own toilet paper. Great access down a little hill to a beautiful part of the river. Amazing for swims. Lots of mosquitoes though so load up on repellant. No water taps that we could see
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Very clean area and beautiful spot.
Would definitely recommend if you're down south Wairarapa.
Only negative would be the long drop toilet but if you're ok with that it's a no brainer!
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Beautiful spot to stay, bird life all around and the haunting sounds of the native ruru at night was just fantastic.
Seemed to be sheltered considering it was very windy in Featherston at the time
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Lovely spot with plenty of space and track down to the river.
One (ok) long drop toilet, several km of gravel road to entry. Worth a stop to drink your Martinborough spoils!
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Rode here with a motorcycle easy going the metal road is not bad.
Staying one night, found lots of choices to pitch the tent, not a lot of campers about counter about 5. Best part you have reception, mobile and internet
-
Lovely area surrounded by gum trees etc.
Short walk down to the river, which is a typically pretty Tararua river. Beautiful walk up into the hill (signposted as "Angler's Access"). Couldn't see any campfire pits, despite what DOC website states about lighting campfires, which was disappointing. Sandflies feasted on us despite using repellant. Arggh. Winds got up to severe gusts, as forecasted, so we had to move to a more sheltered area which seemed to have gravel under the turf.... a few tent pegs died that day! Overall 4/10 for comfort, 10/10 for fun.
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Great campsite, beautiful location with lots of space.
There are steps down to the river which is gorgeous and great for a swim. We did the signposted 'River Access' walk which was beautiful but parts of the track had washed away making it quite a scramble in places! Gaiters would be handy too for the gorse. Definitely recommended though.
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Good flat site, long drop toilet.
Short walk down to a lovely swimming spot in the river. Bring your own toilet paper. No drinking water on tap. We will come here again.
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Winter review: Absolutely worth the gravel road drive!
Stunning walking tracks and tucked away from the wind gusts. The gorge below is picturesque (though I may be bias - my fiancé proposed here). Very private in Winter - we were the only ones there. Only improvement is for the drop toilet - not clean at all, but half expected during winter months.
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We showed up at this campsite in the middle of the night, and woke up to paradise.
Very quiet campsite. The few campers there when we arrived left the next morning. We stayed on a few hours to enjoy the peace and quiet. Swam in the river below. Only amenities are a pit toilet, but it's free and is really a lovely spot.
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Not far from Featherston.
Weather was not nice when we stayed but river looked good for a swim in a sunny day. Spacious so good to relax in your tent. No picnic areas and basic toilet.
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Ten minutes off the main drag with a bit of gravel to a flat camping area of about an acre of grass with three gravel bays in a regenerating native bush park.
Long drop loo with no toilet paper or water.
Very short walk to a beautiful series of bends in crystal clear water with multiple pebble and gravel banks and swimming hole options.
Magic.