12 non-powered/tent sites
Adult |
$15/night |
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Child |
$7.50/night |
Infant |
FREE |
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This lakeside campsite is only 15 min from Rotorua. You can swim or fish in the lake.
This is a small and pretty campsite 15 minutes out of Rotorua City. Also known as Lake Ōkāreka Scenic Reserve.
Lake Ōkareka Campsite and day visitor area will be closed for maintenance on Saturday 7 December 2024, reopening on Sunday 8 December 2024.
First published on 5 December 2024.Lake Ōkareka 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.
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 | $10.00 to $15.00 per night |
Unpowered Site | Child | $5.00 to $7.50 per night |
Unpowered Site | Infant | $0.00 per night |
Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC Bay of PlentyCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Tarawera |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
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Websites |
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Feature | Value | Info |
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Overnight Camping Site Cost |
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Overnight Camping Site CostWhat is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? Medium Cost Camping Standard facilities of powered sites and hot showers can be expected. Price is per person per night, based on a powered site for two people. |
Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Camping and any vehicle You are permitted to stay overnight and camp (with a tent) or in any vehicle. |
Campsite Managing Organisation |
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Campsite Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this campsite? DOC Managed This campsite is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation. Lake Okareka Community Association manages site through agreement with DOC |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Paid access/participation The experience costs money to access or take part in. |
Maximum Sites Available |
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Maximum Sites AvailableHow many camping or parking sites are available for staying overnight in? 11 to 15 sites There are between eleven and fifteen campsites/parking spaces available for staying overnight. |
Water Supply |
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Water SupplyIs there fresh water available? No water supply There is no supply of fresh water. |
Booking Required |
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Booking RequiredIs it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? First Come, First Served Sites are allocated in a first come, first served basis. Get in early for the best spot. |
Large Vehicle Access |
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Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? No large vehicles The site is not accessible for large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. Not suitable for vehicles over six metres in length. |
Dogs |
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DogsDoes this establishment allow dogs? No dogs allowed The location does not allow dogs under normal conditions. Their may be be exceptions granted under specific circumstances eg. guide dogs. |
Vehicle Access |
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Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. |
DOC Campsite Category |
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DOC Campsite CategoryWhat category does this Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite fall into? DOC Standard Campsite Department of Conservation Standard Campsites have a more limited range of facilities and services. Toilets (usually composting or pit variety) water supply (tap, stream, or lake) and vehicle or boat access. Wood barbeques and fireplaces, showers (cold), picnic tables, a cooking shelter and rubbish bins may be provided. Standard Campsites generally can not be booked. |
Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. |
✓ Nice spot by the lake
✓ Calm surroundings
✓ Easy access
✓ Great for swimming
✓ Shelter available
𐄂 Dirty toilets
𐄂 No water on-site
Lovely campsite by the lake.
Great cheap camping spot right by the lake.
$15 each per night.
Very well signposted, good surface under foot.
Nice place by the lake.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 19 |
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29% |
9/10 | 14 |
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22% |
8/10 | 13 |
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20% |
7/10 | 11 |
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17% |
6/10 | 2 |
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3% |
5/10 | 2 |
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3% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 1 |
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2% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 3 |
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5% |
4.0/5
Nice camp on the lake w pleasant views and lovely for an evening swim.
Basic toilet and no water but there is drinking water and rubbish at boyes beach a few minutes drive away. Ranger came round and checked bookings/passes at around 7:30. Nice ranger - loved a natter and was great vibes! Well located for lakes and Tarawera trail.
Reviewed 2 months ago
5.0/5
Perfect location right on the lake, local ranger was super helpful and gave tips on the best places to visit in the local area.
Has a somewhat sheltered communal area (roof no sides) for meals, and a long drop toilet. Lake is clean if you can brave a swim, or a quick dip. Easy access to Rotorua and surrounding area.
Reviewed 3 months ago
2.5/5
Place is very nice, right by the lake, rather calm, no nearby road to hear cars passing but it's busy most of the time and toilets are full of insects.
No water - for thst you can go to nearby Boys Beach where is drinking water, clean toilets, trash and showers. The major problem in this campsite in my opinion is some "genious" idea to put 5 extremely bumpy speed bumps on the way down/up what makes your way out of the camp in a van rather hard and unpleasant - my van had problems to go through the bump on a very steep road up the hill - doing it without hitting it hard is rather problematic, big minus for that and DOC paranoia when it comes to those things...
Reviewed 9 months ago
0.5/5
Would not recommend.
Local youth seems to gather to drink at the beach (despite chilly and windy Sunday night). Also lots of late night car movements and dirty drop toilets
Reviewed 10 months ago
3.5/5
Wonderful place for camping and swimming.
You'll need to get there early to reserve a spot on the lake. Easy access. However, the toilets are very dirty and there are rats at night. Showers and flush toilets are at Boys Beach (20-minute walk).
Reviewed 12 months ago
3.5/5
Nice place by the lake.
Especially in nice weather it would be a nice spot, but there is also a shelter. Toilets were not so clean.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
0.5/5
Very expensive for a DOC campsite with basically no facilities apart from a Long drop loo.
Interesting also that we turned up at around 5.30pm and less than 10 minutes later the "contractiol" warden turned up to collect the fee of $15 per person. What a rip off.....might ad well go to the Top 10 for a fraction more.
Interesting also that 2 more vehicles pulled in at around 10pm and nobody turned up to collect their fees. Weird.....yes it's a lovely spot by the lake but please make it fair for everybody!
Reviewed over 3 years ago
4.5/5
Lovely campsite by the lake.
Was quite busy when we visited (New Years). First come first serve (no bookings). Ranger comes around in the evening around 7pm ish to check you in and collect fees. Long drop toilets. No showers but there is cold showers 2 min drive down the road at the Boyes beach site (campervan only site). Very peaceful except for the young guy doing burnouts at 1am in his car!
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
4.5/5
Nice spot.
Could be a bit cheaper but for a site right on the lake it's just what you want, close to Rotorua but quite secluded. Quite popular in high season so definitely get in before 5pm.
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
4.5/5
Great cheap camping spot right by the lake.
Basic facilities but fantastic views made up for it! Get there early to make sure you get a spot - it fills up quickly
Reviewed about 5 years ago
3.5/5
$15 each per night.
Quite pricy considering very basic with only long drop toilets. No running water. Pretty spot overlooking lake, can swim in it. Quite busy so recommend getting there early - ish for a good spot. Vans basically parked right next to each other. Location is a bit out of Rotorua. Warden came round about 8pm to collect payment.
Reviewed about 5 years ago
4.0/5
Scenic waterfront location, quiet, only one other campervan there with us.
Long drop toilets. Chickens and sparrows to keep you company. Nice spot.
Reviewed about 5 years ago
4.0/5
Amazing view of the lake!
Cute ducklings out when we went, track is a little bumpy to get down and toilets could do with a clean perhaps but overall very lovely stay. Lots of backpackers and mountain bikers who were friendly.
Man comes round in the evening and morning to check permits/bookings
Reviewed 3 days ago
4.0/5
Nice camp on the lake w pleasant views and lovely for an evening swim.
Basic toilet and no water but there is drinking water and rubbish at boyes beach a few minutes drive away. Ranger came round and checked bookings/passes at around 7:30. Nice ranger - loved a natter and was great vibes! Well located for lakes and Tarawera trail.
Reviewed 2 months ago
5.0/5
Perfect location right on the lake, local ranger was super helpful and gave tips on the best places to visit in the local area.
Has a somewhat sheltered communal area (roof no sides) for meals, and a long drop toilet. Lake is clean if you can brave a swim, or a quick dip. Easy access to Rotorua and surrounding area.
Reviewed 3 months ago
2.5/5
Place is very nice, right by the lake, rather calm, no nearby road to hear cars passing but it's busy most of the time and toilets are full of insects.
No water - for thst you can go to nearby Boys Beach where is drinking water, clean toilets, trash and showers. The major problem in this campsite in my opinion is some "genious" idea to put 5 extremely bumpy speed bumps on the way down/up what makes your way out of the camp in a van rather hard and unpleasant - my van had problems to go through the bump on a very steep road up the hill - doing it without hitting it hard is rather problematic, big minus for that and DOC paranoia when it comes to those things...
Reviewed 9 months ago
0.5/5
Would not recommend.
Local youth seems to gather to drink at the beach (despite chilly and windy Sunday night). Also lots of late night car movements and dirty drop toilets
Reviewed 10 months ago
3.5/5
Wonderful place for camping and swimming.
You'll need to get there early to reserve a spot on the lake. Easy access. However, the toilets are very dirty and there are rats at night. Showers and flush toilets are at Boys Beach (20-minute walk).
Reviewed 12 months ago
3.5/5
Nice place by the lake.
Especially in nice weather it would be a nice spot, but there is also a shelter. Toilets were not so clean.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
0.5/5
Very expensive for a DOC campsite with basically no facilities apart from a Long drop loo.
Interesting also that we turned up at around 5.30pm and less than 10 minutes later the "contractiol" warden turned up to collect the fee of $15 per person. What a rip off.....might ad well go to the Top 10 for a fraction more.
Interesting also that 2 more vehicles pulled in at around 10pm and nobody turned up to collect their fees. Weird.....yes it's a lovely spot by the lake but please make it fair for everybody!
Reviewed over 3 years ago
4.5/5
Lovely campsite by the lake.
Was quite busy when we visited (New Years). First come first serve (no bookings). Ranger comes around in the evening around 7pm ish to check you in and collect fees. Long drop toilets. No showers but there is cold showers 2 min drive down the road at the Boyes beach site (campervan only site). Very peaceful except for the young guy doing burnouts at 1am in his car!
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
4.5/5
Nice spot.
Could be a bit cheaper but for a site right on the lake it's just what you want, close to Rotorua but quite secluded. Quite popular in high season so definitely get in before 5pm.
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
4.5/5
Great cheap camping spot right by the lake.
Basic facilities but fantastic views made up for it! Get there early to make sure you get a spot - it fills up quickly
Reviewed about 5 years ago
3.5/5
$15 each per night.
Quite pricy considering very basic with only long drop toilets. No running water. Pretty spot overlooking lake, can swim in it. Quite busy so recommend getting there early - ish for a good spot. Vans basically parked right next to each other. Location is a bit out of Rotorua. Warden came round about 8pm to collect payment.
Reviewed about 5 years ago
4.0/5
Scenic waterfront location, quiet, only one other campervan there with us.
Long drop toilets. Chickens and sparrows to keep you company. Nice spot.
Reviewed about 5 years ago
5.0/5
Beautiful peaceful spot.
Long drop toilets but not smelly which is a bonus. No running water only waste water disposal.
Reggie the Rooster was our constant companion. Say hello if you see him
Reviewed over 5 years ago
0.5/5
I arrived to this campsite today with my boyfriend and we set our tent.We went out for an hour to buy some food and when we came back, our tent wasn't there.It isn't a safe place.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
1.5/5
Nice view but no morning or afternoon sunlight so pretty cold everything gets really wet.
Basins for washing but no running water. Loads of loud people showing up around 9pm and leaving at 6am to avoid camping fees. Pretty bad experience.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
5.0/5
This was one of our favourite sites of our whole trip.
Beautiful and peaceful Lake, small site, a hiking trail leads through the forest to the next beach site, easy swimming and relaxing without the sounds of roads. If you’re in a camper van, there are only a few spots that allow you to back directly up to the water (though we got there late both times and were able to squeeze in to front row Lake views). Otherwise you’ll be behind one row of cars. Plenty of lawn space for tents. We stayed over Christmas and despite the crowd, it still felt cozy. Pit toilets are one drawback, though they were very clean, and there was a covered cooking area. If you’re looking for a quiet and beautiful spot, you found it!
Reviewed almost 7 years ago
3.5/5
Not enough space, there are lots of ducks near the water where tent places are located.
Those ducks awake us up at 5am. No water at all, just only the lake. The lake is very beautiful and warm to swim.
They don’t accept cash, just only cards. The staff come every evening there to get payments.
Reviewed almost 7 years ago
4.5/5
Very well signposted, good surface under foot.
Beautiful scenery. Good interpretation en-route.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
3.5/5
Had planned on staying here with Free Camp Pass, but when we arrived it was car park camping only for campervans.
For this I only give it 7/10. Tents had stunning spots to camp right on the water. We went back to Boyds Beach Camp.
Reviewed over 7 years ago
5.0/5
Glowworms and Wallabies.
A community run DOC campground very close to Rotorua, but a completely different world. Was very full with locals on Waitangi Day, but very peaceful the following days. The volunteers provide you with great information about the region, the glowworm cave, the wallabies that surprised us. They are just making the hiking trail wheelchair accessible! Very clean toilets. Tent 2m from the beach. One of our top 3 campgrounds in New Zealand.
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
4.5/5
Lovely spot right on the lake, in gravel parking area.
Self registration booth, $10pp pn.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
4.5/5
A DOC campsite but managed by the local community.
Small and pretty spot. Can get overcrowded in Summer, especially weekends. Limited sites for vehicles longer than 6 metres.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2015
5.0/5
My favourite campsite on our north island holiday.
The sight of the sunrise over the volcanic mountains, with Tarawera in the background, brought me to tears.Absolutely stunning. Very quiet campsite, we were the only ones there, we had a very restful night. Swans on the lake the next morning. Volunteers came to collect the fees early in the morning and were very friendly and informative about the local area. Just around the bay a little is a house that rents for $15,000 a night - and we had exactly the same views of this beautiful lake for just $30 for our family of four. Priceless.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
5.0/5
Beautiful views of the lake, you can swim in the morning, walk nearby walkways or cook at a covered dining area.
$10 per person.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in November 2015
5.0/5
Loved this place so much we stayed two nights.
Right on beautiful Lake Okeraka with views across the lake. Ducks abound, there are swans & just to make us Aussies feel at home as there are a mob of wallabies there, unfortunately they are about to be culled because of the damage they cause to native habitats. Anyway this is a lovely place to stay as its only a short drive into Rotorua & in the area of other attractions such as the Buried Village and Blue & Green Lakes. A must visit if you're into self contained touring or camping. A word of warning though, the warden there is very strict so do the right thing, fill out your paperwork & follow the rules.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
4.5/5
Great location in the Rotorua area.
Quiet and secluded. The small cooking/eating area was nice. Great sunset.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
4.0/5
Great spot by the lake.
Very friendly warden who like to talk and share past experiences and what to do. Clean toilets. Arrived and set up early as it got a bit crowded around 6pm. Glow worms were awesome and lake is great for a swim day or night.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
4.5/5
Great spot!!!
Awesome lake for kids. But too crowded now... A couple of years ago it was much better... So many day people taking the spots from campers. But definitely a place to go if you are in Rotorua. Our favourite!!
Reviewed almost 9 years ago