Beachfront Reserves, Cooks Beach
Beachfront Reserves, Cooks Beach
Overnight Campervan Parking
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All freedom campers must be certified self-contained.
Maximum stay of two consecutive nights, departure by 9am.
Park only between the freedom camping signs.
Location - South-east end at Purangi Reserve boat ramp overflow parking, seaward side to the west of the boat ramp.
Size - 40m starting from the north-east corner and heading south-west.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Whitianga |
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Reviews
Showing 13 reviews of 28.
Get the best out of it. Here's how…
Serena
Ranking: 8/10
Beautiful setting just by Cooks beach, toilets a 5 minute walk away and barbecue area. No water supply here and very limited parking space, only room for about 7 campervans in the designated area. We were very lucky to get a spot arriving at 5pm, as lots of others arrived just after and there was no room left. Parking is in a field with a hedge behind it so more sheltered than other campsites on the coast. Overall very nice location, make sure you get there early to reserve a spot!
Teghan
Ranking: 9/10
Nice spot near a nice beach! Away from traffic. I arrived early thinking it would be busy, but there was still plenty of room until the early evening. Short walk to the toilets. No shower. (February 2020)
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Mika
Ranking: 9/10
Large grassy area with less than 10 spaces. We arrived at around 12pm and it was already half full (early December 2019). There are toilets 5 min walk away but we’re quite smelly. The small river next to the site had wild dolphins in it and we were able to swim with them! (But a local girl said that was rare, so don’t get your hopes up)
Adam
Ranking: 7/10
Beautiful area to camp near the beach/inlet. Only a small area to fit campers in with a short walk to the toilets.
Fairly sheltered from the wind.
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Simon Foster
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful place to camp and free! Ranger was very friendly too
Kate
Ranking: 10/10
Absolutely beautiful find on the bank of the estuary/beach. Clean toilet and picnic benches to use. Long way down the road from the town but nice and quiet
The big German family
Ranking: 10/10
The place is wonderful! Quite, clean and public toilets. Beach nearby. We arrived at nighttime and did not realise that all places were gone (it’s quite a large grassy area but less then 10 places). We had a note at the car the next morning, the ranger was obviously around that night. He did not wake us up, no penalties as well (Thank you, unknown ranger!). We liked it a lot!
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Erika
Ranking: 7/10
Lots of campers already there in February. We asked someone to move to make room and they very kindly did so. Others arrived later than us and parked in a second row. Toilets a bit of a walk and no view
Monika
Ranking: 7/10
The place is pretty good. Spot itself doesn't have a beatiful view but within 5 min walking distance you can enjoy a really amazing landscape. The ranger (or however you call him) came 8am in the morning to check if any vehicles park outside the designated place for sc cars and if all are sc. There were 3 parked out of the sign area and he gave them just a warning. In a line between arrows there were 9 vehicles parked (3m distance was not maintained though). We asked the ranger if two lines can be formed and he said yes, as long as it is inbetween arrows and before the the road. So in total I guess 12 vehicles can park there, maybe 18 if you nicely squeeze. Toilet and bbq within 2min walking distance. According to what locals said the ranger visits often.
Andy Bond
Ranking: 6/10
Visited this place 2 years ago in the main holiday season and it was busy but not as cramped as tonight with 13 vans. Great location but with such a small area its too busy and not my idea of freedom camping. Last time we met two great NZ couples who we are still in contact. but tonight there are too many vans here and I'm not sure how some of the cars are self contained. Trouble is this will have a negative effect on freedom camping. Overall great location but too cramped and well used.
Problem is its near Cathedral Cove, maybe if there were a few more sites it would take pressure off this location.6/10 due to overcrowding.
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Jeanne
Ranking: 7/10
Good place to stay for free. Very quiet but also no lights. The toilets are very far off, especially if you have to find your way at night. They were clean though. There was also a play ground and cooking area with a nice view.
There were much more campers than the actual 6 available spots, so it was quite crowded.
It got very cold at night (maybe we were just unlucky) and there were lots of mosquitos.
The town was empty and all the shops were closed early, no opportunity to get food in the evening.
jofa972
Ranking: 6/10
I didn't feel like this place was amazing... You have to park in a field next to several houses, and the toilets are a bit far away if you want to go there the night. Also there was not enough place for us so we stayed outside the 2 arrows (we didn't have anywhere else to go and it was already the night), like another campervan... Nothing happened to us though
Maddie F
Ranking: 9/10
Public toilets 3 minutes walk and picnic tables too. Very quiet.
