Waipu Caves

Waipu Caves

Overnight Campervan Parking

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Information

Waipu Caves

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

Organisation

Whangarei District Council

Council organisation

Location

North IslandNorthlandWhangarei

Categories

  • Activity__freedom_campingFreedom Camping

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-35.9344359256815

174.347954297066

Latitude
-35.9344359256815
Longitude
174.347954297066

Nearby

Reviews

    • Icon__tickClose to Waipu Caves

    • Icon__tickPeaceful environment

    • Icon__tickRoomy camping area

    • Icon__tickFunctional toilets

    • Icon__crossDirty toilets

    • Icon__crossNo drinking water

    • Icon__crossBad access road

    • What an amazing spot!

      Icon__personEmma

    • Great experience through these caves!

      Icon__personBluescruize

    • Awesome stay here!

      Icon__personRoxkey

    • Not very big, so risk of it being full.

      Icon__personbillyjip

    • Already quite crowded in November.

      Icon__personLisa

    4 37 Reviews Analysis
  • we travelled in from main highway with our 9 mtr motorhome, mostly tarmac and last part gravel road, absolutely no problem with access, would even tow a upto medium sized caravan to the site.

    toilet block(flush) with two toilets, generally clean but in wet days it does get a little dirty from peoples wet boots etc, caves magic, you need some reasonable footwear as to access the caves you need to cross the creek, and its fairly cold water, the surface of the caves is a slippery clay rock so grippy footware a advantage. stayed the night, very quiet and peacefull and please bring a headlight or something as you need your hands to climb the rocks etc and wont be able to do this safely holding a phone, first part ok for beginners but once in a little further i would say not suitable for children

    Reviewed 5 months ago

  • Great place, perfect for free tent camping.

    I read other comments but seems like in my visit the toilets weren't as clean. The outdoor shower wasn't working either. Another thing is that the access road is in bad shape, drive with care. That's about the only things to complain about. Massive tent camping area, big enough (non self contained) vehicle parking and camping area, glow-worm cave 5 min walk, quick hike nearby, no light pollution and the stars where amazing, you can do b-lay rock climbing up the worm caves, not noisy at all (just don't park next to the toilets).

    Would come back

    Reviewed 10 months ago

  • It's a pretty bad road to the campsite, the toilet was ok, no drinkig water.

    The entrance of the cave is very close. It's worth to go there

    Reviewed over 1 year ago and experienced in April 2024

    tim's avatar

    tim

  • Barely no network in this place!

    The toilets were dirty. No drinking water and the shower was not working. It was also quite cold and wet. But there is a lot of space to park and you cannot be closer to the Waipu caves.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • Not very big, so risk of it being full.

    Small gravel road to reach it. Very dirty toilets during our visit. Big positive point: 2 minutes walk from the entrance to a very beautiful free and accessible cave filled with glow worms! In the middle of nature so very calm

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • Nice camping spot big field for tent's but with long grass flushable toilets not close to any towns and no service the glow worm caves are spectacular

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • Good spot with a beautiful grass place and cave !

    Clean and functional toilets :)

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • We stayed here for one night and 5/6 campervans were already there.

    Nice spot to enjoy Waipu Caves at night.

    Toilets on site.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • Les toilettes n'étaient pas très propres mais étaient proches Fait le job pour une nuit :)

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

  • and locals seeing their own backyard again.

    Lovely spot

    Great to see tourists back in NZ

    Road in is a typical gravel road

    Clean functional toilets and clean site

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • Awesome stay here!

    The gravel road to get there was a bit rough on our van but other then that it was a lovely stay! There was about 9 other camper vans but still plenty more space, public starting arriving around 10am the next day. Toilets were clean and outdoor shower was working. Glow worms were incredible!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2021

  • Great free spot right beside awesome caves with glow worms at night time!

    Heaps of shade provided by tree too. Plenty of space to park up and the toilets were very clean with TP, soap and lights at night time.

    Only down side is the road to Waipu Cave is unsealed and very bumpy for about 5km, someone drove in on a flat tyre while we were there!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2021

  • Great experience through these caves!

    Nice spot to camp also! A few others were also there, definitely recommend. Tidy bathrooms.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2021

  • We visited this campsite and the glow worm caves but didn't stay.

    When we arrived there were 2 or 3 people staying there in their campervans.

    It is a long gravel road to get there, which is why we opted out og staying here as we were traveling with a Caravan and didn't want to risk it without knowing the road.

    After visiting we would still not stay there in our caravan unless we were desperate.

    The parking lot is large and gravel and can accommodate a large number of guests.

    There is plenty of space to pitch tents and also toilets, which when we were there were not good. Dirty and blocked!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2021

  • Beautiful abd quiet, but 2 bathroom stalls are out of order.

    Fun to wake up and explore!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2020

  • Cleanb flush toilet, with lights.

    Went for a walk in the caves. Very cool!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2020

  • Absolute silent free campsite, directly at the Waipu Caves.

    One of the two toilets was out of order, outdoor shower was working. The photo here doesn't match the signs at the parking, but no one cares about campervans all over the parking area in this wilderness. Tents are also possible at the great grass area surrounding the graveled parking.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2020

  • Great spot next to the caves with flushing toilets.

    Lots of room!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2020

  • we travelled in from main highway with our 9 mtr motorhome, mostly tarmac and last part gravel road, absolutely no problem with access, would even tow a upto medium sized caravan to the site.

    toilet block(flush) with two toilets, generally clean but in wet days it does get a little dirty from peoples wet boots etc, caves magic, you need some reasonable footwear as to access the caves you need to cross the creek, and its fairly cold water, the surface of the caves is a slippery clay rock so grippy footware a advantage. stayed the night, very quiet and peacefull and please bring a headlight or something as you need your hands to climb the rocks etc and wont be able to do this safely holding a phone, first part ok for beginners but once in a little further i would say not suitable for children

    Reviewed 5 months ago

  • Great place, perfect for free tent camping.

    I read other comments but seems like in my visit the toilets weren't as clean. The outdoor shower wasn't working either. Another thing is that the access road is in bad shape, drive with care. That's about the only things to complain about. Massive tent camping area, big enough (non self contained) vehicle parking and camping area, glow-worm cave 5 min walk, quick hike nearby, no light pollution and the stars where amazing, you can do b-lay rock climbing up the worm caves, not noisy at all (just don't park next to the toilets).

    Would come back

    Reviewed 10 months ago

  • It's a pretty bad road to the campsite, the toilet was ok, no drinkig water.

    The entrance of the cave is very close. It's worth to go there

    Reviewed over 1 year ago and experienced in April 2024

    tim's avatar

    tim

  • Barely no network in this place!

    The toilets were dirty. No drinking water and the shower was not working. It was also quite cold and wet. But there is a lot of space to park and you cannot be closer to the Waipu caves.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • Not very big, so risk of it being full.

    Small gravel road to reach it. Very dirty toilets during our visit. Big positive point: 2 minutes walk from the entrance to a very beautiful free and accessible cave filled with glow worms! In the middle of nature so very calm

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • Nice camping spot big field for tent's but with long grass flushable toilets not close to any towns and no service the glow worm caves are spectacular

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • Good spot with a beautiful grass place and cave !

    Clean and functional toilets :)

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • We stayed here for one night and 5/6 campervans were already there.

    Nice spot to enjoy Waipu Caves at night.

    Toilets on site.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • Les toilettes n'étaient pas très propres mais étaient proches Fait le job pour une nuit :)

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

  • and locals seeing their own backyard again.

    Lovely spot

    Great to see tourists back in NZ

    Road in is a typical gravel road

    Clean functional toilets and clean site

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • Awesome stay here!

    The gravel road to get there was a bit rough on our van but other then that it was a lovely stay! There was about 9 other camper vans but still plenty more space, public starting arriving around 10am the next day. Toilets were clean and outdoor shower was working. Glow worms were incredible!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2021

  • Great free spot right beside awesome caves with glow worms at night time!

    Heaps of shade provided by tree too. Plenty of space to park up and the toilets were very clean with TP, soap and lights at night time.

    Only down side is the road to Waipu Cave is unsealed and very bumpy for about 5km, someone drove in on a flat tyre while we were there!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2021

  • Great experience through these caves!

    Nice spot to camp also! A few others were also there, definitely recommend. Tidy bathrooms.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2021

  • We visited this campsite and the glow worm caves but didn't stay.

    When we arrived there were 2 or 3 people staying there in their campervans.

    It is a long gravel road to get there, which is why we opted out og staying here as we were traveling with a Caravan and didn't want to risk it without knowing the road.

    After visiting we would still not stay there in our caravan unless we were desperate.

    The parking lot is large and gravel and can accommodate a large number of guests.

    There is plenty of space to pitch tents and also toilets, which when we were there were not good. Dirty and blocked!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2021

  • Beautiful abd quiet, but 2 bathroom stalls are out of order.

    Fun to wake up and explore!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2020

  • Cleanb flush toilet, with lights.

    Went for a walk in the caves. Very cool!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2020

  • Absolute silent free campsite, directly at the Waipu Caves.

    One of the two toilets was out of order, outdoor shower was working. The photo here doesn't match the signs at the parking, but no one cares about campervans all over the parking area in this wilderness. Tents are also possible at the great grass area surrounding the graveled parking.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2020

  • Great spot next to the caves with flushing toilets.

    Lots of room!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2020

  • Beautiful campsite with plenty of space and decent toilets.

    Cave system was an amazing experience saw countless glow worms and several eels. Definitely bring swimming shorts or something similar in to the caves as it does get waist high if you choose to venture all the way to the end.

    Can't argue with free!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2020

  • Very good spot with free access to glow worm caves just next to the campsite.

    Toilets were adequate but struggled with the locks, and there is a cold outdoor shower. Quite off the beaten track with a long gravel road to get there. Caves were definitely a highlight, much easier to walk in trainers/flip flops in the river rather than on the rocks/mud. WiFi didn’t work which was a shame as no service down there for our first night camping

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2020