Rosie Bay Campsite
Te Urewera
4.2 9 reviews
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Rosie Bay Campsite
Camp at the shore of Lake Waikaremoana in a secluded bay with stunning views. This is a popular campsite and a good base for lake activities.
Rosie Bay Campsite is a basic facility campsite located on the shore of Lake Waikaremoana in Te Urewera, Tairāwhiti Gisborne. It offers 6 non-powered/tent sites in a secluded bay with scenic views. The campsite serves as a base for lake activities and operates on a first-come, first-served basis, with no bookings required. Access is via a gravel, narrow, and winding section of SH38.
Notices
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Te Urewera alerts
Check Ngāi Tūhoe website for alerts before your trip. Alerts will be not typically be posted on this website.
Visitors can also phone Ngāi Tūhoe on +64 6 837 3803 or email teureweravc@ngaituhoe.iwi.nz for information.
First published on 17 October 2022. Last reviewed on 20 April 2026. -
Road closures on SH38 March to July 2026
Monday 2 March to Friday 5 June
SH38 will be closed between Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park and Tuai:
- 8 am–12 pm and 1 pm–5 pm
- Monday to Saturday (6 days each week)
The road will be open before 8 am, between 12 pm–1 pm, after 5p m, and all day Sundays.
There will be no access to Rosie Bay Campsite or the Great Walk entrance at Onepoto Bay during closure hours.
Monday 8 June to Friday 17 July 2026
Access to the Great Walk entrance at Onepoto Bay will be available for those travelling from Wairoa.
SH38 will be closed between Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park and Onepoto Road:
- 8 am–12 pm and 1 pm–5 pm
- Monday to Friday (5 days each week)
The road will be open before 8 am, between 12 pm–1 pm, after 5 pm, and all day Saturdays and Sundays.
There will be no access to Rosie Bay Campsite during closure hours.
During the closures there will be no viable detours, so plan ahead.
For further details visit Alerts and Important Information: Tuhoe
First published on 23 October 2025. Last reviewed on 5 May 2026.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Rosie Bay Campsite is categorised as a DOC Basic Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing.
DOC Basic Campsite
Basic campsites have very limited facilities so you need to be fully self-sufficient. There are basic toilets and water may be from a water tank that is untreated, stream or lake. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Access may be by road or boat.
| Feature | Value | Value |
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| Unpowered Site | Adult | $0.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Child | $0.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Infant | $0.00 per night |
Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Tūhoe Te Uru TaumatuaCommercial organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷ Lake Waikaremoana |
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Operating Season And Hours |
The campsite is generally open year-round. Road closures on SH38 between Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park and Tuai will occur overnight from 8 pm to 6 am, Sunday to Friday (open Saturday nights) on 1-17 December 2025 and 5 January-28 February 2026. Fires are permitted in designated fireplaces only when there is no fire ban. |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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Very nice and stunning view.
Zenith -
Super nice little spot!
Bri -
Gorgeous cove.
Tommy -
Beautiful spot!
Marielle
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Great location a real shame on our visit we were battered by wind and rain otherwise we would have stayed longer and gone out in our kayaks.
Long drop toilet available
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Beautiful spot!
About 5 spots available but only for smaller vehicles. There are about two spots for bigger tents. There’s a long drop a little further away. For the rest it’s all you and nature
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The road was partial gravel (a couple of kilometers) from Wairoa side.
But having gotten there it turned out to be actually under water, only an access road remained. So check this first somehow.
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Very nice and stunning view.
No flies etc, locals are so welcoming too. The only thing is toilet is a bit further away, but you can just go pee in the bus h lol.
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Super nice little spot!
it was quiet, clean, and cute. despite being next to a lake I didn't experience many midgies or mozzies. the drive to get there is over many kms of narrow gravel roads and tight turns so just be aware your car will be very dusty. will go again for sure!
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Be prepared for a lengthy drive to get here,from Rotorua it's 80km of mostly single lane gravel roads, but the reward is worth the trip, the trip it self provides some great scenery, The sign to the
camp ground can be easy to miss as it's on the inside of a tight bend and the sign for Rosie Bay is set back a bit.
There is not a tonne of room but enough for 6-8 campers, I would resist the urge to camp close to the boat ramp and pick a spot further back as it is quite exposed to the wind.
Drop Toilet
Lots of walks close by, cave walk is great and easy to do from camp ground.
No shops close by limited supply at holiday park 10km away
I would not suggest anything bigger than perhaps a 6mtr camper some of the bends are quite tight and would be a challenge but doable in a larger van.
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Lovely place with a view of the bay and of some interesting rock formations.
Handy place to stay when doing any of the hikes in the area. There is a long drop toilet a little walk up the driveway. Access to the waikaremoana is via a long gravel road from either rotorua or napier direction.
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Gorgeous cove.
Saw some black swans and other birds. Close to walks. Plenty of space. Bring tp for the toilet.
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A cute little campsite that's sits at the end of a long cove on Lake Waikaremoana.
Great views up to Panikiri Bluff. Nearby there's some fun walks up to Lou's Lookout and the Onepoto caves. Or fancy a spot of fishing? Plenty to do if you stay for a night or two.
