Beachfront Reserves, Cooks Beach
Overnight Campervan Parking
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Info
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Reviews 78%
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Similar 9
North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Whitianga ▷
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.
Photos
Maps
17 reviews with the most recent first, showing page 1 of 2.
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.
Conservation Campsite Pass
Save up to 70% on campsite fees! Support conservation and experience the natural beauty of NZ. 93 Department of Conservation campsites, one convenient pass.
Katharina Pisarew
Ranking: 7/10
Stayed over one night, it’s ok, nothing spectacular. Toilets are quite a walk, if rainy (like for us) the road is dirty, so put on good shoes. Ok for 1 night.
Nicolas Cuervo
Ranking: 8/10
Beautiful and very quiet location, pass the toilets and picnic tables and follow the signs. Get there EARLY as it fills up quickly. There is space for 6-7 campervans; but make sure you park between the signs only, as there is a lot more space of grass but you are not allow to stay there (which is a shame).
Toilets are about 3 min walk. Get insect repellent as you are parking by the river and there is a lot of mosquitoes at night.
Top Ranked NZ Deals Pass
Access savings worth hundreds of $$ on Top Ranked NZ Accommodation and Activities for just $1 per day.
Leanne Taylor-Smith
Ranking: 9/10
Perfect little spot to free camp, room for 4-6 in the designated area. As the review before says- the location is around the corner, in a field, just follow signs. Toilet facilities a short walk.
Aaron Brose
Ranking: 7/10
Really beautiful location right on the bay. The parking is on a large patch of grass. A bit far off the main road but a good alternative if the cathedral cove is full.
Avoid Camping Fines!
The only camping map where each location is approved by every regional council in NZ. So if it shows on the map, you’re allowed to stay.
The Rankers Camping NZ app, is also in association with…
Joe Trigg
Ranking: 7/10
Be aware that the location of this freedom camping site has been moved since earlier reviews, it’s not right next to the toilets and river but instead follow a signs to the nearby field. Means approx a 3 minute walk to the toilets (clean), not much of a view in the new location but a handy stopover. Not very clear about how many vehicles can park here, it says between two signs with three metre gaps between vans. Would only leave room for four but there were about six when we stayed there. Useful to get to Cathedral Cove and hot water beach.
Erich Brueggermann
Ranking: 7/10
River view, quiet, very near beautiful beach. nice bike ride into village. but only one very badly stocked shop. Toilets & BBQ place a 2 min walk. We were 6 campers.... & it was tight!
Camping NZ App
Every camping site on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.
Neil Warnock
Ranking: 9/10
Really nice location by an inlet near to a good beach. Clearly signposted space for a few vans (there were about 5 on the night we stayed). Ranger came round early in the morning to check vans were self-contained and camping was in the correct place. Toilets clean but about 300m away, next to picnic tables and barbeques. No drinking water. Very peaceful place.
Danny Josa Parrott
Ranking: 10/10
This is by far the most beautiful beach and cove we ever saw. A welcome escape from the touristy, crowded nearby Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. I strongly recommend coming here - just so that you can have the chance to walk from the campsite up to the stream mouth at the far end of the beach. The village is small and mainly consists of unoccupied holiday homes so is very peaceful. There is a great Scottish owned fish and chip shops as well as a general store and a liquor store. We came in November 2016 and would have happily stayed longer! Enjoy!!
Back-to-basics camping - our gift to you
We at Rankers NZ, love to meet travellers on the road and share in some of the freedom. That's why Rankers NZ invites you to come and stay at our chill riverside overnight parking area in the Motueka Valley at the top of the South Island.
Denise Farr
Ranking: 8/10
Follow the signs at the end of Captain Cook Road, passed the boat ramp, to a tranquil parking place on grass, on the edge of the estuary. Room for 4-5 campers between the signs. There were four campers both nights when we stayed in the first week of May.
bzh974
Ranking: 9/10
Emplacement très sympa.
Vue imprenable sur la rivière.
Balançoire artisanale en contre-bas
Au calme.
Jonathan Briggs
Ranking: 10/10
Free camping, fabulous views of the river and bay. Right by the water. Very clean toilets, no showers, self contained campers only.
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.
Conservation Campsite Pass
Save up to 70% on campsite fees! Support conservation and experience the natural beauty of NZ. 93 Department of Conservation campsites, one convenient pass.
Katharina Pisarew
Ranking: 7/10
Stayed over one night, it’s ok, nothing spectacular. Toilets are quite a walk, if rainy (like for us) the road is dirty, so put on good shoes. Ok for 1 night.
Nicolas Cuervo
Ranking: 8/10
Beautiful and very quiet location, pass the toilets and picnic tables and follow the signs. Get there EARLY as it fills up quickly. There is space for 6-7 campervans; but make sure you park between the signs only, as there is a lot more space of grass but you are not allow to stay there (which is a shame).
Toilets are about 3 min walk. Get insect repellent as you are parking by the river and there is a lot of mosquitoes at night.
Top Ranked NZ Deals Pass
Access savings worth hundreds of $$ on Top Ranked NZ Accommodation and Activities for just $1 per day.
Leanne Taylor-Smith
Ranking: 9/10
Perfect little spot to free camp, room for 4-6 in the designated area. As the review before says- the location is around the corner, in a field, just follow signs. Toilet facilities a short walk.
Aaron Brose
Ranking: 7/10
Really beautiful location right on the bay. The parking is on a large patch of grass. A bit far off the main road but a good alternative if the cathedral cove is full.
Avoid Camping Fines!
The only camping map where each location is approved by every regional council in NZ. So if it shows on the map, you’re allowed to stay.
The Rankers Camping NZ app, is also in association with…
Joe Trigg
Ranking: 7/10
Be aware that the location of this freedom camping site has been moved since earlier reviews, it’s not right next to the toilets and river but instead follow a signs to the nearby field. Means approx a 3 minute walk to the toilets (clean), not much of a view in the new location but a handy stopover. Not very clear about how many vehicles can park here, it says between two signs with three metre gaps between vans. Would only leave room for four but there were about six when we stayed there. Useful to get to Cathedral Cove and hot water beach.
Erich Brueggermann
Ranking: 7/10
River view, quiet, very near beautiful beach. nice bike ride into village. but only one very badly stocked shop. Toilets & BBQ place a 2 min walk. We were 6 campers.... & it was tight!
Camping NZ App
Every camping site on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.
Neil Warnock
Ranking: 9/10
Really nice location by an inlet near to a good beach. Clearly signposted space for a few vans (there were about 5 on the night we stayed). Ranger came round early in the morning to check vans were self-contained and camping was in the correct place. Toilets clean but about 300m away, next to picnic tables and barbeques. No drinking water. Very peaceful place.
Danny Josa Parrott
Ranking: 10/10
This is by far the most beautiful beach and cove we ever saw. A welcome escape from the touristy, crowded nearby Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. I strongly recommend coming here - just so that you can have the chance to walk from the campsite up to the stream mouth at the far end of the beach. The village is small and mainly consists of unoccupied holiday homes so is very peaceful. There is a great Scottish owned fish and chip shops as well as a general store and a liquor store. We came in November 2016 and would have happily stayed longer! Enjoy!!
Back-to-basics camping - our gift to you
We at Rankers NZ, love to meet travellers on the road and share in some of the freedom. That's why Rankers NZ invites you to come and stay at our chill riverside overnight parking area in the Motueka Valley at the top of the South Island.
Denise Farr
Ranking: 8/10
Follow the signs at the end of Captain Cook Road, passed the boat ramp, to a tranquil parking place on grass, on the edge of the estuary. Room for 4-5 campers between the signs. There were four campers both nights when we stayed in the first week of May.
bzh974
Ranking: 9/10
Emplacement très sympa.
Vue imprenable sur la rivière.
Balançoire artisanale en contre-bas
Au calme.
Jonathan Briggs
Ranking: 10/10
Free camping, fabulous views of the river and bay. Right by the water. Very clean toilets, no showers, self contained campers only.
