Waipu Caves
Waipu Caves
Overnight Campervan Parking
Maps
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Information
Covid19 information can be found here: http://www.wdc.govt.nz/FacilitiesandRecreation/ReservesandOpenSpaces/Pages/Camping-in-public-places.aspx
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
Showing 13 reviews of 21.
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Stefan Hohmann
Ranking: 8/10
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.
Adam
Ranking: 8/10
Great spot next to the caves with flushing toilets. Lots of room!
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Bran
Ranking: 10/10
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!
Serena
Ranking: 8/10
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
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HB
Ranking: 9/10
Great free spot for a night by the caves. Place filled up end of Jan but not over crowded. No cell reception. Good serviced toilets and cold outdoor shower.
Caves were mind blowing - wear shoes to get wet and a torch. You can go in quite far to the caves. they get quite narrow but really amazing rock shapes. Glow worms aren’t in too far at all.
Richard & Chris, UK
Ranking: 6/10
The dirt road to the site appears to be recently re-laid, and is like driving over corrugated iron for about five kilometers, but it'll feel longer. Grit your teeth so your fillings don't fall out, and drive very, very slowly! Once there, the glowworm caves are amazing, and well worth the breakages and the fact that any milk in your fridge will have churned into butter. The site wasn't managed, so it was full of vans and people sleeping in cars etc, well beyond the marked spot, and at least a dozen tents on the field next to it. Surprisingly quiet however, so thanks everyone for being so respectful of others. Beautiful surrounding countryside. Toilets were dirty, cold outside shower if you're desperate. No fresh water, no dump site. But it's free, so you get what you pay for.
Backpack On Fire
Ranking: 10/10
Camping is good, caves are incredible. Amazing place to see glow worms for free. As mentioned in previous comments once in the cave go left, cross the river 3 times and stop once you get to where the river goes under a section you would have to wade through. This part has the best glow worms. You can duck and wade through the river to the next cave for an added adventure but the glow worms are less in the next cave. Good toilets and cold shower. Highly recommend you add this onto you trip. We loved it so much we are doing a full YouTube video on just the caves!!!
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Milly
Ranking: 7/10
A little off the beaten track but worth it once there. Quite busy but nice little community. Cool to see the glow worm caves.
Stacey
Ranking: 10/10
Great spot! Large gravel parking area and a massive mown grass paddock for tents and games. The cave is just across the paddock (less than 1min walk) and the glow worms are 30m inside it. Good idea to wear shoes that you don’t mind getting wet in the underground stream. And a torch...so you see the holes and slippery bits. The toilets are adequate and there’s an outdoor cold water shower. Access is along a gravel road but it’s an easy drive in.
Lisa
Ranking: 9/10
Already quite crowded in November. Nice place to see glowwormd
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Calum Brash
Ranking: 6/10
Campsite is fairly off the beaten track, have to go quite a few miles on dirt tracks to get there and there is no cell reception once you get there. Toilets weren’t in good shape and only a cold shower available. However worth it if you want to see the glow worms for free (would recommend, were ace), just make sure to bring a torch and go all the way into the cave to see them best
Emma
Ranking: 9/10
What an amazing spot! Stayed 16/7/19.
Really far off the main road through the mountain, so no highway cars to be heard. You go over a bridge into the parking lot and the toilets are right there. The Waipu caves are only a 2min walk across a empty paddock and into the forest and are stunning! 10steps in and you can see the glistening glow worms. The only reason this isn’t a 10/10 is due to no kitchen fascilities and no showers (but there is a foot shower just next to the toilet) really nice location for self contained, non self contained and tents! Highly recommend this spot one of my favourite places, can’t believe it’s free! My self and my partner had no cellphone reception until we came back onto the highway.
Anthony
Ranking: 9/10
The caves are nice and the hike up to the top of the hill is very lovely. The hike is kind of hard to find, but basically just go to the left of the caves and you'll find it. There is no service out there, so make sure you know how to leave before you go to the site. Offline maps helped us.
