Waikanae River Mouth

Waikanae River Mouth

Overnight Campervan Parking

30 Rankers Reviews

3 Face-to-Face

3 Waikanae

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Waikanae River Mouth. Top freedom camping!

Information

Waikanae River Mouth

Stay near a river estuary, with beach and river walk options. Overnight parking for up to 4 self contained campervans that can stay a maximum 1 night at the end of Tutere Street, Waikanae Beach

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Kapiti Coast District Council

Council organisation

Location

North IslandWellington RegionWaikanae

Categories

  • Activity__freedom_campingFreedom Camping
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-40.8718908831799

175.009081268311

Latitude
-40.8718908831799
Longitude
175.009081268311

Nearby

Reviews

    ✓ Beautiful scenery

    ✓ Clean and convenient toilet

    ✓ Great view of Kapiti Island

    ✓ Lovely sunsets

    ✓ Close to Wellington

    𐄂 Loud teenagers and motorbikes

    𐄂 Unsafe at night

    • Lovely camp spot with a clean toilet.
    • Lovely little location on the water front.
    • Beautiful location with lovely local walks.
    • One of the best free campsite we had.
    • Nice spot, felt very safe.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 9
    30%
    9/10 8
    27%
    8/10 8
    27%
    7/10 3
    10%
    6/10 0
    0%
    5/10 1
    3%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 1
    3%
  • 4.0/5

    Lovely clean public toilet facilities, was really quiet the night we stayed.

    Beautiful view of the sunset over Kapiti island and the estuary :)

    Reviewed 3 months ago

    NFM's avatar

    NFM

  • 0.5/5

    Truly awful experience unfortunately.

    Seemed so highly reviewed however the teenagers drinking until after 12, their choice of music blasted from the beach, the groups of couples in cars all arriving at the same time and behaving very oddly, the motorbikes doing laps of the camp between 2-5am shouting, flashing their lights and genuinely beeping their horns, and the absolute influx of fisherman arriving at 5:30 meant it didn’t exactly live up to expectations. We felt incredibly unsafe early hours as we were being lapped by lads on motorbikes screaming and shouting. Sounds like a lovely spot in the summer but would avoid off season.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 2.5/5

    Seemed very well reviewed, we were the only ones here and arrived at about 1900.

    Soon after a group of cars with couples in started coming and going... Not long after that large groups of teenagers were coming in and out round the van with mopeds making us feel very uncomfortable. Clearly a locals haunt, wouldn't camp here again on our own.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

    Jos's avatar

    Jos

  • 5.0/5

    Loved this campsite!

    It's a small one with online 4 spaces. Even in winter three out of four spots were taken. Overnight camping only at designated spots, they do check. The toilet is closeby (left hand side as you leave the parking) and very clean and convenient. Take a walk around the beach and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 5.0/5

    Small (only 5 places) but beautifull spot near a bird sanctuary and the beach.

    Only 45 minutes to Wellington. Great to get a goodnight rest if you need to catch a late night ferry. You can only stay one night, would have liked to stay longer.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Nice scenery, perfect spot to see the most beautiful sunset!

    Talking toilet with music was hilarious.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Very nice spot to stay for a night next to the beach and a great view of Kapiti Island.

    Toilet is the one with the music and auto lock, and was cleaned in the morning. Nice toilet however abused by one of the other campers who stayed there. It was open 24hours during our stay. Local construction workers tend to use the toilet also. Only 4 spots and those were filled around 17.00h. during the evening there was some traffic, not sure what they were doing. Didn't feel unsafe.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago and experienced in November 2022

  • 5.0/5

    Lovely camp spot with a clean toilet.

    Toilet only open daylight hours. 2 minute walk to the beach.

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

    Joe's avatar

    Joe

  • 4.5/5

    Great spot.

    Very clean toilet. We got the ferry next morning & was an easy drive to there. Felt safe.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Beautiful location with lovely local walks.

    Can get busy with locals visiting and fishing. All four spaces were taken. We got our space at 4pm with the last remaining taken much later.

    Reviewed about 4 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Nice spot near the estuary with plenty of birds to observe and great for fishing.

    One modern toilet with jazz music! Walk around on the beach and see Kapiti island in the background.

    Reviewed about 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Nice spot, felt very safe.

    Modern toilet. Space for 4 campers. I arrived around 7PM mid-February 2020 and there was one space available.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Lovely clean public toilet facilities, was really quiet the night we stayed.

    Beautiful view of the sunset over Kapiti island and the estuary :)

    Reviewed 3 months ago

    NFM's avatar

    NFM

  • 0.5/5

    Truly awful experience unfortunately.

    Seemed so highly reviewed however the teenagers drinking until after 12, their choice of music blasted from the beach, the groups of couples in cars all arriving at the same time and behaving very oddly, the motorbikes doing laps of the camp between 2-5am shouting, flashing their lights and genuinely beeping their horns, and the absolute influx of fisherman arriving at 5:30 meant it didn’t exactly live up to expectations. We felt incredibly unsafe early hours as we were being lapped by lads on motorbikes screaming and shouting. Sounds like a lovely spot in the summer but would avoid off season.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 2.5/5

    Seemed very well reviewed, we were the only ones here and arrived at about 1900.

    Soon after a group of cars with couples in started coming and going... Not long after that large groups of teenagers were coming in and out round the van with mopeds making us feel very uncomfortable. Clearly a locals haunt, wouldn't camp here again on our own.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

    Jos's avatar

    Jos

  • 5.0/5

    Loved this campsite!

    It's a small one with online 4 spaces. Even in winter three out of four spots were taken. Overnight camping only at designated spots, they do check. The toilet is closeby (left hand side as you leave the parking) and very clean and convenient. Take a walk around the beach and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 5.0/5

    Small (only 5 places) but beautifull spot near a bird sanctuary and the beach.

    Only 45 minutes to Wellington. Great to get a goodnight rest if you need to catch a late night ferry. You can only stay one night, would have liked to stay longer.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Nice scenery, perfect spot to see the most beautiful sunset!

    Talking toilet with music was hilarious.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Very nice spot to stay for a night next to the beach and a great view of Kapiti Island.

    Toilet is the one with the music and auto lock, and was cleaned in the morning. Nice toilet however abused by one of the other campers who stayed there. It was open 24hours during our stay. Local construction workers tend to use the toilet also. Only 4 spots and those were filled around 17.00h. during the evening there was some traffic, not sure what they were doing. Didn't feel unsafe.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago and experienced in November 2022

  • 5.0/5

    Lovely camp spot with a clean toilet.

    Toilet only open daylight hours. 2 minute walk to the beach.

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

    Joe's avatar

    Joe

  • 4.5/5

    Great spot.

    Very clean toilet. We got the ferry next morning & was an easy drive to there. Felt safe.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Beautiful location with lovely local walks.

    Can get busy with locals visiting and fishing. All four spaces were taken. We got our space at 4pm with the last remaining taken much later.

    Reviewed about 4 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Nice spot near the estuary with plenty of birds to observe and great for fishing.

    One modern toilet with jazz music! Walk around on the beach and see Kapiti island in the background.

    Reviewed about 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Nice spot, felt very safe.

    Modern toilet. Space for 4 campers. I arrived around 7PM mid-February 2020 and there was one space available.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Nice view with toilets, only 4 spots

    Reviewed about 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    One of the best free campsite we had.

    Got there around 3pm. Apart from some visiters (kite surfers, dogs) we were the only one staying over night. Toilet closes before 12 pm, but it's very clean and big.

    Walks along the beach& sunset.

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Lovely place to stay and you are on the coast so there will be wind.

    We really enjoyed our free stay but we abide by the rules. Our only objection is that so called self contained small vans park 3 vans in two spaces and no one checks. It needs to be policed continuously. 9.12.18

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Brilliant campsite in the reserve, though very exposed and windy.

    Loads of kite surfers. Very clean toilets - that even speak to you and play music when the door is locked. No showers. A playground about 1.2km walk down the road. If you love driftwood, this is the place for you.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    We stayed in December, lovely spot in the nature reserve near the beach.

    Respect the 4 camper only rule please, security do come & check. Lovely beach full of driftwood. We would of loved to stay 2 nights, but 1 night is the max. Nice & quiet.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Well located campsite with a clean flush toilet nearby.

    However, we were exposed to extreme wind during our stay so check the weather before coming.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Well located free campsite with walk along the beach and good views.

    Reviewed about 8 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Calm and directly by the river.

    Very nice spot to stay. Someone came by and wrote down our register number (only stay for one night). Clean toilet with music. Funny!

    Reviewed about 8 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    A lovely spot by the estuary, amazing sunset great toilets.

    We were a bit confused about where to camp, as there were several campers on the left when we came in, so parked up on grass area near the other campers,13 of us in all camped there. Wasn't till the next morning that we found a sign saying only 4 campers allowed and only in carpark on the right as you come in! Security did come in at about 9pm and wrote down all our number plates but no one asked any of us to move on !!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Awesome location - river, beach and lagoon; some friendly locals telling stories about bird life, very calm and relaxing!

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    A beautiful spot on the river estuary where children could run free on the sand while I cooked dinner.

    The musical loo is charming.

    The camping spot is on the right as you turn in from the road.

    A popular spot for dog walkers and there are houses close by but still felt away from things. A security car pulled up around 9pm and took a note of our number-plate.

    Do check out the lovely bird reserve and native swamp reserve further up the road. They're doing great work.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Enjoy a night with sheep and a beautiful lake around.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 4.0/5

    Good location at the side of the river, looking out towards Kapiti Island and the sea.

    Amazing singing toilets! Stay in there long enough to hear two tracks. And a loo that thanks you for using it! Good beach access. Hard standing. Free site.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

  • 4.0/5

    Lovely little location on the water front.

    Beautiful sunset!!

    Only space for 4 vans, and must be self-contained - warden came round to check late at night.

    Musical public toilet was amusing and clean, other reviews mention it closing, we didn't notice this, it was still open around 9.30pm and at 7am the next morning.

    Reviewed about 11 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    We've stayed here on 2 occasions both for 1 night.

    + Free,

    + Lovely area with direct access to beach,

    + Surprisingly sheltered from the wind,

    + Nice cycle route around estuary.

    - Can only stay for 1 night at a time,

    - On a Saturday night there was 1 occasion of a car wheel spinning out of car park.

    +/- There is a toilet but it is locked over night.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Friendly locals around.

    Beautiful views of Kapiti Island and even South Island in the distance. The singing toilet is entertaining. Excellent spot to walk along the beach. However, not very private.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    A good spot.

    Great for kids that like feeding ducks and swans, plus we saw Royal Spoonbills and NZ Shoveler Ducks. It's popular with the locals, so it's not altogether private. You have to check out the toilet - it's one of those talking ones with music - they make me laugh. I will certainly stay here again.

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago