TECT Park – Freedom Camping Site

TECT Park – Freedom Camping Site

TECT Park – Freedom Camping Site

48 Rankers Reviews

2 Face-to-Face

12 Freedom Camping

2 Tauranga

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TECT Park – Freedom Camping Site

CLOSED - 20 May 2024 for two weeks to undertake urgent maintenance.

Tect Park is made up of 1650 hectares forest land administered by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council. This huge forest area situated between Tauranga and Rotorua boasts a host of activities as well as a new KiwiCamp Camping facility in its center.
Established public facilities include tracks for walking, mountain biking, equestrian and family focused motorcycle tracks. There is a specific off-leash dog exercise area and even a couple of public electric BBQs.

There is a Adrenalin Forest high-wire adventure course sits along side other User group facilities include a variety of club shooting ranges, including Pistol, Clay Target, Deerstalkers, Paintball and Airsoft.
There are also motor-sports including a club motocross track, and model aircraft flying fields and the Lions Tree Grove with walking tracks, for future generations to enjoy.

++++ Important Information +++

- space for at least 10 motorhomes on a surfaced carpark and about 15-20 more spaces on the grassed area under the trees.
- first come, first serve (no bookings required)
- 3 night maximum stay in any 4 week consecutive period at this site.

Facilities:
- Showers $2.00 = 5min
- Washing Machine $4.00 per load
- Dish-washing Sinks $0.50
- Device charging power points $1.00 = 1 hour
- Cook tops $2.00 = 1 hour
- Fresh water filling $0.50

The new kiwicamp toilet, shower, laundry and kitchen block require a kiwicash electronic key to use. Outlets that sell them can be found here https://www.kiwicamp.nz/find-a-key/

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Western Bay of Plenty District Council

Council organisation

Location

North IslandBay of PlentyTauranga

Categories

  • Activity__freedom_campingFreedom Camping
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-37.947637264339

176.152533793449

Latitude
-37.947637264339
Longitude
176.152533793449

Nearby

Reviews

    ✓ Spacious and peaceful

    ✓ Super clean toilets

    ✓ Free to park

    ✓ Good amenities

    ✓ Efficient system

    𐄂 Gets extremely dark

    𐄂 Need Kiwi Key purchase

    • Only for self-contained!!
    • Beautiful spot in the woods.
    • Top camping spot just away from the highway.
    • Totally worth it.
    • Fantastic spot.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 22
    46%
    9/10 15
    31%
    8/10 8
    17%
    7/10 1
    2%
    6/10 1
    2%
    5/10 1
    2%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 4.5/5

    Probably the best place we stayed so far.

    There is enough space for everyone. It's nice and calm.

    Make sure to have a KiwiCash tag before arriving because you can't buy it there. The closest place to get one it Rotorua.

    Reviewed 4 days ago

  • 5.0/5

    A lovely stay for the night, if you have kiwi cash you are able to use all the facilities like hot showers hot water and power to charge your phones and do your laundry so make sure you pick this up before

    getting here! As we didn’t! Very peaceful and toilets are VERY clean! Definitely worth a stop over here for the night or more!

    Reviewed 7 days ago

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful spot in the woods.

    You can freedom park in the paved spots. Toilets were ok, shower looked clean and good but we didn't have a kiwicash key to pay so we didn't use them.

    Free wifi was a nice bonus. There is also a bottle refill station in the wooden house near the entrance of the camping. Nice short walks possible from the camp site.

    Reviewed 18 days ago

  • 5.0/5

    Amazing spot, lot of space, hidden in the woods.

    The toilets are super clean, and you have access to shower, laundry, sink for your dishes, charging station with the Kiwi Key (you have to purchase beforehand and it's 5 dollars).

    Great system and super efficient.

    Reviewed 5 months ago

  • 5.0/5

    Such a beautiful camping spot!

    Very glad we decided to stay here. It is free to park and there are plenty of spaces which means you can spread out even when many other campers are there. The amenities are good - KiwiCash works well here. It gets extremely dark so take a torch!

    Reviewed 6 months ago

  • 4.0/5

    Arrived in the dark, a little tricky to find but lovely peaceful spot in the woods.

    There are a few picnic tables and lots of spaces (only 6 others when we were there and lots of room still). Toilets are clean but unfortunately closed for repair in the morning. Highly recommend as a quiet stopover

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Fantastic spot.

    They no longer allow tents in this area so campervans can park in those spots some of which have picnic tables. We had a great spot for two nights with trees so we put our hammocks up. Good toilets and drinking water. People keep arriving late as there is so much space but otherwise really quiet and peaceful. We will be staying here again on our way back up the North Island for sure!

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Well located in a nice little forest between Rotorua and Tauranga.

    Clean flush toilets, drinking water and a BBQ Area (but didnt use them since they were dirty). Lots of space for ~20 campervans, pretty quiet. Would stay here again!

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Great spot.

    Sufficiënt capacity (~20) in a beautiful forest location. Spotless amenities

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    A really lovely place relatively close to Rotorua.

    Great toilets and has a BBQ.

    If you do not turn left in time you make it to the gravel road. You do not need to go there!

    It has a great walk which starts from the information board. It takes about 1,5 hours to walk.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Lovely overnight spot to stay between Tauranga and Rotorua.

    Bathrooms 5min walk away from the campsite which was moved from the original location. We would stay there again in a heartbeat. The other spots filled up from 18h00 onwards when we stayed over in April 2019. I would also recommend the walking tracks starting close to the bathroom locations.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago and experienced in April 2019

  • 2.5/5

    Okay for a free camping site but the main purpose is not the campers and you feel like you are staying there on grace rather than feeling welcome.

    No place or way to do dishes, really dirty toilets where the paper was out before the day was over. Not charming camping site. But free. Although 30 min drive from Rotorua so not suitable if you want to do things in town. The gas is going to cost you more than the experience gives you.

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    amazing place to be free the best free campsite we have been to in New Zealand There are not many good options for non-self-contained cars but this is one of the best, you can stay up to two nights

    Free clean bathrooms, cell phone charging station and low cost laundry facilities

    Reviewed 1 day ago

  • 4.5/5

    Probably the best place we stayed so far.

    There is enough space for everyone. It's nice and calm.

    Make sure to have a KiwiCash tag before arriving because you can't buy it there. The closest place to get one it Rotorua.

    Reviewed 4 days ago

  • 5.0/5

    A lovely stay for the night, if you have kiwi cash you are able to use all the facilities like hot showers hot water and power to charge your phones and do your laundry so make sure you pick this up before

    getting here! As we didn’t! Very peaceful and toilets are VERY clean! Definitely worth a stop over here for the night or more!

    Reviewed 7 days ago

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful spot in the woods.

    You can freedom park in the paved spots. Toilets were ok, shower looked clean and good but we didn't have a kiwicash key to pay so we didn't use them.

    Free wifi was a nice bonus. There is also a bottle refill station in the wooden house near the entrance of the camping. Nice short walks possible from the camp site.

    Reviewed 18 days ago

  • 5.0/5

    Amazing spot, lot of space, hidden in the woods.

    The toilets are super clean, and you have access to shower, laundry, sink for your dishes, charging station with the Kiwi Key (you have to purchase beforehand and it's 5 dollars).

    Great system and super efficient.

    Reviewed 5 months ago

  • 5.0/5

    Such a beautiful camping spot!

    Very glad we decided to stay here. It is free to park and there are plenty of spaces which means you can spread out even when many other campers are there. The amenities are good - KiwiCash works well here. It gets extremely dark so take a torch!

    Reviewed 6 months ago

  • 4.0/5

    Arrived in the dark, a little tricky to find but lovely peaceful spot in the woods.

    There are a few picnic tables and lots of spaces (only 6 others when we were there and lots of room still). Toilets are clean but unfortunately closed for repair in the morning. Highly recommend as a quiet stopover

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Fantastic spot.

    They no longer allow tents in this area so campervans can park in those spots some of which have picnic tables. We had a great spot for two nights with trees so we put our hammocks up. Good toilets and drinking water. People keep arriving late as there is so much space but otherwise really quiet and peaceful. We will be staying here again on our way back up the North Island for sure!

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Well located in a nice little forest between Rotorua and Tauranga.

    Clean flush toilets, drinking water and a BBQ Area (but didnt use them since they were dirty). Lots of space for ~20 campervans, pretty quiet. Would stay here again!

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Great spot.

    Sufficiënt capacity (~20) in a beautiful forest location. Spotless amenities

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Lovely overnight spot to stay between Tauranga and Rotorua.

    Bathrooms 5min walk away from the campsite which was moved from the original location. We would stay there again in a heartbeat. The other spots filled up from 18h00 onwards when we stayed over in April 2019. I would also recommend the walking tracks starting close to the bathroom locations.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago and experienced in April 2019

  • 5.0/5

    A really lovely place relatively close to Rotorua.

    Great toilets and has a BBQ.

    If you do not turn left in time you make it to the gravel road. You do not need to go there!

    It has a great walk which starts from the information board. It takes about 1,5 hours to walk.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Make sure to take the entry into amenities block the track in to the camping area is just passed this, we did the tunnel loop walk, there were glow worms in the tunnel which was a great bonus.

    Fantastic Location

    Clean Flushable toilets

    Great sheltered area with shade

    Picnic tables

    No shops close by

    Walks available close by

    Reviewed about 5 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Totally worth it.

    We were the only ones there until morning when we saw one other had arrived in the night. Great toilets and fresh water. Felt completely safe as ranger lived right next door.

    Reviewed about 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Good clean flush toilets and fresh water.

    Tranquil setting.

    Loved bush walk. Great stop over between Rotorua and Tauranga.

    Reviewed about 5 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Really beautiful and quiet area.

    Toilets are open all night and were clean. BBQ behind the building with toilets. Visiting in late February there were only 3 other vans parked overnight.

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Just as described, very peaceful place, public toilets a bit of the campingground.

    Thanks you!

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Only stayed the night, so I didn't explore the area.

    The freedom camping area is a big area in the forest. Toilets are close by.

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Nice place.

    Enjoyed a morning walk in the nice forest. Lots of birds.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    This was our first freedom camp and it was superb.

    Clean toilets and ruining water. Peace and quiet woodland setting. Lovely walks in the woods (take a torch for the tunnel on the walk it's 50 metres long and pitch dark)

    Space for a lot of SC campers. Wildlife galore.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Only for self-contained!!

    The ranger on-site told us that it used to be for self-contained/non-self-contained and tents. But they have a regular water problem, so they can't let people in that are NOT self-contained.

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

  • 2.5/5

    Okay for a free camping site but the main purpose is not the campers and you feel like you are staying there on grace rather than feeling welcome.

    No place or way to do dishes, really dirty toilets where the paper was out before the day was over. Not charming camping site. But free. Although 30 min drive from Rotorua so not suitable if you want to do things in town. The gas is going to cost you more than the experience gives you.

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Great place to stay.

    We felt cosy covered by the silence of the trees. Fresh water, clean toilets, a bench and a BBQ! Take the walk to the tunnel - it's absolutely worth it! We came back a second time. :)

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Top camping spot just away from the highway.

    Forest scenery. Clean Toilets, water, BBQ station and has roaming security during the night. Make sure you don’t go past the amenities building which will be on your left as you go in - if you do, you’ve gone too far and will need to turn back.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Real easy to find and we came in the dark so that was good, absolutely no reception at all though so getting out was a bit of a struggle, had great toilet facility's so pretty good for a free spot.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Awesome place, though well used....so if you're seeking seclusion then you are probably out of luck.

    Toilets are well kept so it was disappointing to see that some travellers hadn't taken their rubbish with them, instead opting to leave it at the toilet block for someone else to clean up.

    A little bit better signage at night was the only thing that could be improved upon, just so you know where you are supposed to park up when you arrive/stay there.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Nice quiet spot with level ground.

    Lots of space for vehicles. Toilet facilities are really good, look quite new. Flushing toilets and clean sinks. Auto lighting as well. It was difficult for us to find in the night. Once you go in to the park do not take the first left where the gate is, go straight on but take a slight left when you see the amenities block, drive past it and you will see a NO FIRE and Freedom camping signs this will mean you are on the right track go straight ahead 10-15metres and you're at the spot.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Does what it says on the tin.

    A clean, quiet spot just off the main road to stay for the night as you tour the island. Impressed with cleanliness of two toilets and sinks. Surrounded by woodland and we had an incredible view of the stars at night with the light pollution being very low. Spot on.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Nice location sooo beautiful!

    Only downside: sooo many cigarette butts everywhere. So disrespectful to nature as it contaminates the soil, also looks so horrible.

    If your going to smoke then put your ciggy butts in a plastic bag and throw it in the bin.

    The camp site is free so treat it with respect.

    Amazing location and grateful non self contained can stay there.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Well signed, but it's not easy to find the exact place when it's dark!

    Go on the left after the sign... toilets and sink were good. Enough space for many vehicles. 25 minutes from Rotorua.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago