Marsden Bay Reserve
Overnight Campervan Parking
13 Rankers Reviews
0 Face-to-Face
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Information
Covid19 information can be found here: http://www.wdc.govt.nz/FacilitiesandRecreation/ReservesandOpenSpaces/Pages/Camping-in-public-places.aspx
ABSOLUTELY NO TENTS ALLOWED
One night maximum
You must park in the designated site that is indicated by signage
If the site is full, you must move on
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei |
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Reviews
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Diamonds in the rough
Ranking: 9/10
Great spot to park up for the night. Beautiful at night and very quiet.
Northlanders at heart
Ranking: 9/10
We have stayed here twice in the last couple of months. Beautiful Beach front level parking area with plenty of room for campers. Opposite the refinery so could be noisey for some, a set of earplugs can help any light sleepers. Lights from refinery were beautiful at night.
Older style toilet building with one toilet and changing area for each gender. Toilet is open all night.
Nice kids play area right next to parking area.
Jayde
Ranking: 7/10
Decent spot for a one night stopover. Clear signage to park between. Only one flush toilet in female changing room, pretty basic and wasn't clean but oh well. No shower facilities either. Not very much shelter from wind or the weather but playground next to carpark for kids. Nice little bay to walk along/swim and pets allowed as long as you read the signs on where they are restricted. Pick up after yourself and your pets too 👍🏽
Dave McBride
Ranking: 8/10
This Free camp is better than the boat launch carpark. Toilets a bit spartan but OK. I wish some campers would NOT leave rubbish in the washroom for others to deal with when it is clearly a "take your Rubbish " free camp. Not too noisy even tho close to Marsden point dock.
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Frank
Ranking: 6/10
Nice quiet place up to mid night. View is also nice including illumination of refinery facilities. Around 1:30am two vans arrived with music after some noises they start to talk at the bench in some South Asian language young police group? A little bit uncomfortable.
Rachelle
Ranking: 7/10
Not a bad spot. Toilet was average and 8 or so car stalls. The view was pretty as long as you weren't facing the oil refinery, but even still. There was a park with lots of green space and picnic tables. Location wasn't near much, but there was a petrol station and bakery about a 20 min walk away
Suzanne J
Ranking: 8/10
Great spot near beach, room for 6 or so vehicles, some overnight noise from the oil refinery but not disturbing. Toilets open all night. Close to Whangarei and not far off the Hwy. Would def stay again.
Lisa
Ranking: 8/10
Great spot with playground right next to it if you have kids. I'm traveling with 2 littlies and they enjoyed the playground and the beach. The toilets are basic but clean.
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Zoe
Ranking: 9/10
Perfect for a free stop over spot only thing it didn’t have was any showers but apart from that it was decent. Had a lovely view of the bay which was nice to wake up too. Easy 10 spots available.
Jess
Ranking: 9/10
Area was lovely, not much going on but the bathrooms were clean and the sea was lovely for a walk along. Was also not especially noisy in the morning.
Asia
Ranking: 10/10
Over all one of the best freedom camping spots. It seems to be far from Hwy 1 but it really isn't. Quiet, peaceful, beautiful bay that's good for swimming, good play ground and good toilets. Large flat parking lot right next to the water, play ground and toilets.
Dan
Ranking: 7/10
Good for Self Contained and Non-Self Contained campervans (no tenting). Large open parking lot right on the side of the beach. There are no signs to park between like most other spots, but if you read the sign at the entrance it shows the whole gravel lot is open. Washrooms are open all night, no lights in them so use a headlamp, also very basic/not high end!
Overall great spot, and easy to get to!
Ewan Evans
Ranking: 6/10
Free spot with a public toilet next to it. Toilet was ok, not great. View of bay was nice though you do see the oil refinery! Can’t complain too much for free.
When we were there we had two guys sitting around slightly weirdly. Turns out they were intending to camp the night but it just felt odd - they kept glancing over and driving off and coming back. Not sure what it was about, and I’m sure it was just a one off.
