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Reviews 21
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Similar 9
North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Miranda ▷
Rays Rest Reserve in Miranda is located beachside, next to the Taramaire Wildlife Refuge Reserve. The Franklin District Council allows free-camping for self contained motorhomes and campervans, for up to two nights.
You need a self-containment certificate, and to get in early to secure a good spot! Spaces are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
The wetland environment is a stopover for thousands of migratory birds - drive in, park up, sit back and enjoy the surrounds.
Standard free-camping rules apply: take your rubbish with you, dispose of greywater only in designated dumpstations, and please obey all signage around this environmental gem. Love it!
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21 reviews with the most recent first, showing page 1 of 2.
Anna Brzezińska Talaga
Ranking: 10/10
Nice spot. Easy to find and you can park right near the seaside. There were lots of campers but we still got a spot.
Gena Bond
Ranking: 10/10
Excellent place right on the beach. Crashing waves, beautiful scenery. Lots of spaces and we parked 50m from anyone and there was about 15 campers there. No facilities so needs to be self contained.
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Jason Stalgis
Ranking: 9/10
We really liked this spot. There was a line of about 30 to 40 campers all along the top of the beach! Great spot to have a few beers and watch the sunset. We fished on the beach but didn't catch anything. Locals came down and put a net in. They were really nice people and gave us a few fishing tips. They do get flounder and snapper here. Nothing there except room to get off the road. I don't think I heard a car go past all night but I had put a few beers away.
Tony Waters
Ranking: 9/10
Gorgeous spot.
It was stormy and we were probably a bit keen parking as close to the waves as we did but a great safe spot.
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Leigh Dodds
Ranking: 8/10
Great place for our first stop from Auckland. Easy to find, reasonably quiet (little bit of traffic noise, but ok). Beautiful spot, lovely walk along the beach. Lots of space, there were lots of campers here but we still got a spot. Get here early if you want one further away from the road. Our first taste of free camping, and our first night in a motor home. Recommended. We even felt the big 7.1 earthquake around Hawke's Bay the night we stayed here.
Stuart Morgan
Ranking: 10/10
Great spot. Lot of campers here but plenty of room.
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Laurie
Ranking: 10/10
Came across it by accident and didn't regret it. Great free stop, great views, great wildlife, great beach. Really enjoyed the time here.
Henny Lee
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome! Very nice, quiet place. But it seems very popular. We arrived at midnight from Auckland and almost cannot find a spot to park. In the end it was just perfect, though. My young daughter and I loved to hunt for some seashells in the morning. Then all of us took a short bicycle ride up the coast. And cooked lunch. The stars at night are amazing. Do not come here if your campervan is not certified for freedom camping. There is a caring local that patrols the area to make sure this does not happen.
Many thanks to the farmer who donated this stretch of beach.
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Ron Mollica
Ranking: 10/10
RAY REST, We loved the serenity of the location absolutely Beautiful
EXCELLENT location this definitely is a hidden treasure, i will definitely pass this on to all our Australian friends with photos
Ron & Jenny Mollica
renee verwey
Ranking: 9/10
Nice spot. Easy to find and you can park your van right near the seaside. We found beautiful shells there.
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Robert Jones
Ranking: 9/10
A very nice peaceful place that we really enjoyed, there is quite a lot of bird life. As there are no facilities it is self contained only, which I think helps it. It was very clean with no litter and we found extremely pleasant place to stay.
Elisabeth Tartler
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful beach, clean and quiet. Only self-contained.
Tony Grantham
Ranking: 7/10
Pleasant area on grass with easy access from fairly busy minor road and close to the road. No facilities.
Quiet after about 10 p.m. when passing nearby traffic sporadic. Good opportunity for bird watching and bird centre only 1k away. Interesting shell beach with distant views of the Coromandel Penninsula across the wide bay. Skwaws rule the gull population. On the minus side - just a few drivers appear to get their main entertainment from hootIng their horns, presumably to annoy, on seeing motor homes parked here; (drivers are maybe those who wear wellington boots as a fashion statement)!
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