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Right on the lakefront, great view and awesome swiming spot.
Self-contained and non-self-contained campervans/motorhomes permitted to stay overnight (in designated area)
Maximum stay is 2 consecutive nights per calendar month
Pay by internet banking (details at site), Penny (formerly KiwiCash) or pay to the ranger who collects eftpos payments on site each night.
Public toilets and paid showers ($2)
Cell phone charging unit ($1/hour)
Dishwashing facilities
Barbecue and picnic tables
Children’s playground
Dogs permitted on leash (except from 15 December to 1 March between the hours of 9am – 7pm). Must be under control at all times
No tents permitted
No fires or fireworks
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Rotorua Lakes CouncilCouncil 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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Directions Rotorua Office |
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Coordinates |
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. Registration and payment at the reserve kiosk is required upon arrival. $20 adults, $10 children |
Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Only in a vehicle Overnight stays are only permitted within a vehicle. Camping in a tent or out in the open is not allowed. Vehicles with purpose built sleeping facilities (eg. motorhome, campervan, caravan, house bus etc) |
Campsite Managing Organisation |
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Campsite Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this campsite? Local Council This experience is managed by a local council. |
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 Stay Duration |
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Maximum Stay DurationHow many consecutive days can you stay overnight at this establishment? 2 nights You may stay up to two nights in a row. Maximum 2 night stay each calendar month |
Maximum Sites Available |
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Maximum Sites AvailableHow many camping or parking sites are available for staying overnight in? 6 to 10 sites There are between six and ten sites available to stay overnight in. Overnight parking is only permitted in the six designated spaces marked in the carpark |
Water Supply |
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Water SupplyIs there fresh water available? No water supply There is no supply of fresh water. |
Shower |
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ShowerIs there a shower at this location? Hot shower At least one hot shower is available. Available with kiwicash payment |
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. |
Powered Sites |
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Powered SitesDoes this establishment have powered sites? No powered sites This campsite does not offer any powered sites with an electricity supply. |
Dogs |
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DogsDoes this establishment allow dogs? Dogs allowed The location allows dogs. There may be conditions that may be met eg. dogs must be on a leash. Dogs permitted 24 hours/7 days per week for most of year. During summer months of 15 December to 28 February dogs are NOT permitted during daytime hours of 9am to 7pm |
Vehicle Access |
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Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. |
WiFi Internet |
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WiFi InternetWhat type of WiFi internet access is available? No WiFi There is no WiFi access available. |
Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. |
Barbecues |
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BBQ FacilityWhat BBQ facilities are provided? No Barbecue BBQs are not available The are no BBQ facilities provided with the accommodation. |
✓ Beautiful scenery
✓ Quiet location
✓ Nice walkway
✓ Support local maintenance
✓ Warden checks payment
𐄂 Crowded in summer
𐄂 Expensive
Serene location.
Quiet not busy.
One night with a van and two people: $20 in all.
Stayed in July, only 5 campers so lots of space.
Beautiful spot.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 3 |
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8% |
9/10 | 6 |
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16% |
8/10 | 14 |
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37% |
7/10 | 7 |
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18% |
6/10 | 2 |
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5% |
5/10 | 3 |
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8% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 3 |
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8% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3.5/5
Serene location.
Pricey for the night when toilets dirty but well maintained otherwise and well set up. Great that community maintain it. Quiet for us with one other van and two car campers. Local youths stopped by w music from midnight to dawn which detracted a little from our experience.
We were set up w kiwi cash/go penny before arrival so all worked well to pay.
2a 2c 1x night motor home.
Reviewed 2 months ago
3.5/5
A beautiful, quiet place to stay with a nice walkway around the shore.
There’s an information board with a web site to enable internet banking, otherwise you can pay via a “Kiwicash” card, whatever that is! Unfortunately the hot showers are ONLY accessible with that card, which you’d have to drive back to Rotorua to get!☹️ A warden comes around to check that you have paid. A bit expensive at $20 pp but the facilities and location have to be maintained by local people so we are happy to support them.
Reviewed about 2 years ago
2.5/5
Awesome place to stay but during the days in summer it gets way to packed with people!
Had to leave and the pricing is ridiculous
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
3.5/5
-2 points for being quite expensive ($20pp) -1 point for the nkaed man at 11pm
Reviewed about 3 years ago
2.5/5
Beautiful spot.
Exceptionally over priced. Used to be cheaper but now it is the same as a holiday park, without all the amenities. Nice toilets. Lots of day visitors during peak times. Plenty of litter left by locals.
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
3.0/5
Cost per person is now $20 which is (as others have said) rather overpriced for what you get.
We paid less at a lovely camp ground in Ngongotaha (Willowhaven) with kitchen and hot water so not sure where the council is getting their pricing from. Quiet enough overnight, but extremely popular with day visitors. Not surprising as it is a lovely spot - great for swimming, water sports and a picnic :)
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
4.0/5
Stayed in July, only 5 campers so lots of space.
New amenity block with lots of clean toilets, outside showers, drinking water and outdoor sinks for washing up and plenty rubbish and recycling bins. Big playpark for kids too. Great spot would be great in summer and have a swim in the lake. Cost was $15 per adult and $7.50 per child via honesty box.
Reviewed over 4 years ago
3.5/5
Beautiful spot.
We were here for a night over Easter, so it was very busy.
Pretty expensive for having nothing except toilets and rubbish bins.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
4.0/5
toilets not the best but ok for one night.
the price is 10$ pp but we paid nothing cause we arrived after 8pm and there was no donation box and no owner. so it was a good stay for us:)
Reviewed over 5 years ago
4.5/5
We were on our way to another spot when we came across this one.
Great spot if travelling with kids.
Reviewed about 7 years ago
4.0/5
Lake Okareka was full so stayed here in early March instead.
Nice situation and good for a swim from the sandy beach. Facilities as described.
Reviewed over 7 years ago
5.0/5
Very convenient for a journey while you visit Rotorua; peaceful, clean, and well organised.
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
3.5/5
Serene location.
Pricey for the night when toilets dirty but well maintained otherwise and well set up. Great that community maintain it. Quiet for us with one other van and two car campers. Local youths stopped by w music from midnight to dawn which detracted a little from our experience.
We were set up w kiwi cash/go penny before arrival so all worked well to pay.
2a 2c 1x night motor home.
Reviewed 2 months ago
3.5/5
A beautiful, quiet place to stay with a nice walkway around the shore.
There’s an information board with a web site to enable internet banking, otherwise you can pay via a “Kiwicash” card, whatever that is! Unfortunately the hot showers are ONLY accessible with that card, which you’d have to drive back to Rotorua to get!☹️ A warden comes around to check that you have paid. A bit expensive at $20 pp but the facilities and location have to be maintained by local people so we are happy to support them.
Reviewed about 2 years ago
2.5/5
Awesome place to stay but during the days in summer it gets way to packed with people!
Had to leave and the pricing is ridiculous
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
3.5/5
-2 points for being quite expensive ($20pp) -1 point for the nkaed man at 11pm
Reviewed about 3 years ago
2.5/5
Beautiful spot.
Exceptionally over priced. Used to be cheaper but now it is the same as a holiday park, without all the amenities. Nice toilets. Lots of day visitors during peak times. Plenty of litter left by locals.
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
3.0/5
Cost per person is now $20 which is (as others have said) rather overpriced for what you get.
We paid less at a lovely camp ground in Ngongotaha (Willowhaven) with kitchen and hot water so not sure where the council is getting their pricing from. Quiet enough overnight, but extremely popular with day visitors. Not surprising as it is a lovely spot - great for swimming, water sports and a picnic :)
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
1.5/5
Pretty car park beside the lake.
Basic toilets. That’s it - for $20 per person. It seems like the council is just providing this facility to say they have one. Here on a beautiful day in late November and not another soul here.
Reviewed about 4 years ago
4.0/5
Stayed in July, only 5 campers so lots of space.
New amenity block with lots of clean toilets, outside showers, drinking water and outdoor sinks for washing up and plenty rubbish and recycling bins. Big playpark for kids too. Great spot would be great in summer and have a swim in the lake. Cost was $15 per adult and $7.50 per child via honesty box.
Reviewed over 4 years ago
1.5/5
It's only carpark at the lake beach.
Price 15$pp is too high, should be for free.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
3.5/5
Beautiful spot.
We were here for a night over Easter, so it was very busy.
Pretty expensive for having nothing except toilets and rubbish bins.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
4.0/5
toilets not the best but ok for one night.
the price is 10$ pp but we paid nothing cause we arrived after 8pm and there was no donation box and no owner. so it was a good stay for us:)
Reviewed over 5 years ago
2.5/5
Great views and location but the campsite itself is just a car park, personally think it should be free as $10 an adult to use grotty toilets and overflowing bins everywhere isn’t particularly good.
There are definitely better campsites around!
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
4.5/5
We were on our way to another spot when we came across this one.
Great spot if travelling with kids.
Reviewed about 7 years ago
4.0/5
Lake Okareka was full so stayed here in early March instead.
Nice situation and good for a swim from the sandy beach. Facilities as described.
Reviewed over 7 years ago
5.0/5
Very convenient for a journey while you visit Rotorua; peaceful, clean, and well organised.
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
3.0/5
A decent spot by the lake, very loud bugs in the trees but don't bite!
Toilets are trashed and smelly. It's now $10 pp.
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
4.5/5
$10 adult night honesty box please use it to keep these places open, it is easier for locals to close these places than keep them open.
Lakeside car park. Recycle bins (emptied about 9.30am). Toilets with water tap to connect hose pipe, it does say boil water for 3 mins, we never drink water from tank so ideal for filling and using as showers. Quiet site, level with spaces, also in the shade. 9 vans last night and still plenty of room. Bench seats by water side so great for evening meal seating. Good place for kayaking, boating, mountain biking or visit to Rotorua.
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
4.0/5
Quiet not busy.
Nice lake view. Toilets basic. Quite a good place near Rotorua.
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
4.0/5
One night with a van and two people: $20 in all.
In the morning people DOC came in to see those who had not paid. There are toilets and washbasins, not very very clean since it's a public place ... Parking is at the lake, it's pretty nice. In the grass there are picnic tables. They are now building around the lake. nice spot.
Reviewed about 8 years ago
4.0/5
Simple but great spot right at the lake.
Simple but great spot right at the lake. No shelter for rainy days.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
4.0/5
Bon compromis à 2 pas de Rotorua plutôt que de se ruiner en centre ville.
Bonne baignade dans le lac.
Sanitaire propres.
Un peu excessif pour un camping du doc.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in December 2014
4.0/5
Nice and quiet place.
Friendly lady comes to collect the fee at 7 AM. You get a postcard of the lake as a souvenir.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
4.0/5
Nice, flat park with a good swimming lake and a playground.
Popular spot in the day but all the cars clear off when it gets dark. Toilets a bit icky but not terrible.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
4.5/5
A very nice spot at Lake Okareka.
Beautiful with surrounding mountains reflecting in the Lake. Toilets were old but well working. Free electrical BBQ. Playground for young children. Friendly warden collects payments in the morning. Stayed there for 2 nights in December 2015.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
5.0/5
Great spot, no booking required and well worth the small fee you place in the honesty box.
Right on the lake perfect for swimming.
Reviewed over 9 years ago
1.5/5
Arrived late, lots of spaces all unpowered.
There was no sign about the fee to pay, a guy came round in the morning the fee is $10 now not $8. There is no shower, there are toilets but they are run down and smelly, not very inviting considering we had to pay.
Reviewed almost 10 years ago
5.0/5
Lovely campsite, just a few steps from the golden sands beach, just perfect.
It was busy when we arrived at 5pm, car park full of day visitors, but by 7pm just us and about 5 other camper vans - quiet, simple, picturesque, just what we wanted from an NZ campsite!
Reviewed almost 10 years ago
4.0/5
Simple and clean.
Right on the lake. Very quiet. Price is now $10per adult.
Reviewed almost 10 years ago