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Closed to campers between 18 December and 8 February inclusive each year. Open to day trippers only during that period.
One night maximum.
You must park in the designated site that is indicated by signage.
If the site is full, you must move on.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Whangarei District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Overnight Camping Site Cost |
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Overnight Camping Site CostWhat is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? Free Camping It costs nothing to stay overnight. In general this means that you should not expect any facilities. |
Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Camping and any vehicle You are permitted to stay overnight and camp (with a tent) or in any vehicle. |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Maximum Stay Duration |
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Maximum Stay DurationHow many consecutive days can you stay overnight at this establishment? 1 night You are permitted to stay only one night here in a row. |
Dump Station |
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Dump StationDump stations allow the safe disposal of sewage and greywater from self-contained vehicles. Does this site have a dump station? No dump station This location has no dump stations for the disposal of waste water from recreational vehicles. |
Booking Required |
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Booking RequiredIs it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? First Come, First Served Sites are allocated in a first come, first served basis. Get in early for the best spot. |
Powered Sites |
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Powered SitesDoes this establishment have powered sites? No powered sites This campsite does not offer any powered sites with an electricity supply. |
Dogs |
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DogsDoes this establishment allow dogs? No dogs allowed The location does not allow dogs under normal conditions. Their may be be exceptions granted under specific circumstances eg. guide dogs. |
Vehicle Access |
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Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. Vehicles over 10 metres are allowed. |
Campfire Rules |
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Campfire RulesWhat are the rules for open air fires? Fires prohibited There is a total fire ban -no fires are permitted. |
Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. |
✓ Close to the beach
✓ Clean toilets available all night
✓ Quiet and less busy
✓ Grass-based parking area
✓ Ample space for roof-tents
𐄂 Unclear camping area signage
𐄂 Some large potholes
Nice spot, very quiet.
Awesome spot; just a 30 secs walk to the beach.
Parking lot with a section for campers.
Fantastic wee spot.
Beautiful beach, great fishing....
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 5 |
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28% |
9/10 | 6 |
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33% |
8/10 | 5 |
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28% |
7/10 | 1 |
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6% |
6/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 1 |
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6% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4.0/5
A large spot big enough for 7-8 vehicles, close to the beach and with toilets available all night
Reviewed 8 months ago
2.0/5
The beach is lovely and the area is flat (with some large potholes at the exit near the tree).
The area where you are meant to camp, isn't sign posted (an unclear map by the toilets but no signs). Council lady came to give out tickets and move people on who weren't in the right area, about 6pm. Luckily we were in a right spot. The beach has lovely white sand, small waves and lovely outlook but there is not much nearby. Toilets clean. No drinking water or showers here. This isn't really suitable for caravans or large motor homes (designed really for campervans) as the camping spot is tiny, can fit about 4 to 5 vehicles with no shade.
Reviewed 10 months ago
5.0/5
Grassy area next to the beach!!
Beach is over the hill but seems to be the quieter beach of the 2 freedom camps. Toilets. No drinking water. In the designated area there is room for about 4 vehicles but there were others parked all over the area with no problem
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
Very nice spot to stay!
Gras based, two tables to sit and clean toilets. The beach is just over a little hill, so you can hear the wave.
Make sure that you stay just one night, your license plate will be registered every evening.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
5.0/5
Out of the 3 free campsites here, this one is the best for roof-tents as this site is grass base and plenty of space compared to the rest.
Also this beach parking seems to be the least busy of the 3 for day trippers
Reviewed over 2 years ago
4.5/5
Nice spot, very quiet.
Nice beach, clean toilets. Ground a bit uneven though. But otherwise great
Reviewed over 3 years ago
4.0/5
Relaxed, quiet, clean toilets, behind sanddunes, really nice beach.
Can be lighlty flooded when raining. Limited spots available, guessing 6 vehicles could fit.
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
5.0/5
Cute place.
Lovely beach on the other side of the dunes. Popular and fills up quickly. They do come around and check you are parked in the correct space. A bunch of people had to move on when security showed up because there wasn’t enough space for them to fit in so be sure to follow the signs. Good toilets. Nice and close to Matapouri.
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
4.0/5
Awesome spot; just a 30 secs walk to the beach.
Can’t see the beach from the site but can definitely hear the waves.
Clean washrooms with water and toilet paper provided.
Small free camp area, approx 10 cars can fit so definitely get here before 5pm. They do come and check and ask you to move along to a different site if you are not parked in the designated area.
Downside? giant rats are everywhere at night so keep your food away!
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
3.5/5
Parking lot with a section for campers.
Quick walk over a hill to a stunning beach. Area for parking can fit at least 6 vans, we ended up with quite a few more. Basic bathrooms across the lot.
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
4.0/5
Beautiful beach, great fishing....
public toilets and picnic tables, get to listen to the sound of the ocean while laying in bed!! Awsome
Reviewed about 5 years ago
4.0/5
A large spot big enough for 7-8 vehicles, close to the beach and with toilets available all night
Reviewed 8 months ago
2.0/5
The beach is lovely and the area is flat (with some large potholes at the exit near the tree).
The area where you are meant to camp, isn't sign posted (an unclear map by the toilets but no signs). Council lady came to give out tickets and move people on who weren't in the right area, about 6pm. Luckily we were in a right spot. The beach has lovely white sand, small waves and lovely outlook but there is not much nearby. Toilets clean. No drinking water or showers here. This isn't really suitable for caravans or large motor homes (designed really for campervans) as the camping spot is tiny, can fit about 4 to 5 vehicles with no shade.
Reviewed 10 months ago
5.0/5
Grassy area next to the beach!!
Beach is over the hill but seems to be the quieter beach of the 2 freedom camps. Toilets. No drinking water. In the designated area there is room for about 4 vehicles but there were others parked all over the area with no problem
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
Very nice spot to stay!
Gras based, two tables to sit and clean toilets. The beach is just over a little hill, so you can hear the wave.
Make sure that you stay just one night, your license plate will be registered every evening.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
5.0/5
Out of the 3 free campsites here, this one is the best for roof-tents as this site is grass base and plenty of space compared to the rest.
Also this beach parking seems to be the least busy of the 3 for day trippers
Reviewed over 2 years ago
4.5/5
Nice spot, very quiet.
Nice beach, clean toilets. Ground a bit uneven though. But otherwise great
Reviewed over 3 years ago
4.0/5
Relaxed, quiet, clean toilets, behind sanddunes, really nice beach.
Can be lighlty flooded when raining. Limited spots available, guessing 6 vehicles could fit.
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
5.0/5
Cute place.
Lovely beach on the other side of the dunes. Popular and fills up quickly. They do come around and check you are parked in the correct space. A bunch of people had to move on when security showed up because there wasn’t enough space for them to fit in so be sure to follow the signs. Good toilets. Nice and close to Matapouri.
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
4.0/5
Awesome spot; just a 30 secs walk to the beach.
Can’t see the beach from the site but can definitely hear the waves.
Clean washrooms with water and toilet paper provided.
Small free camp area, approx 10 cars can fit so definitely get here before 5pm. They do come and check and ask you to move along to a different site if you are not parked in the designated area.
Downside? giant rats are everywhere at night so keep your food away!
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
3.5/5
Parking lot with a section for campers.
Quick walk over a hill to a stunning beach. Area for parking can fit at least 6 vans, we ended up with quite a few more. Basic bathrooms across the lot.
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
4.0/5
Beautiful beach, great fishing....
public toilets and picnic tables, get to listen to the sound of the ocean while laying in bed!! Awsome
Reviewed about 5 years ago
4.0/5
Beautiful beach, room for quite a lot of campers (easily 10).
However there was a storm the night we stayed and so the toilets being a 2 minute walk away wasn't ideal haha
Reviewed about 5 years ago
4.5/5
Lovely place by the sea, not very close to the road.
Clean toilets with paper.
Reviewed about 5 years ago
4.5/5
A passé une nuit parfaite , camping calme et toilettes avec lumière propre 👍
Reviewed about 5 years ago
5.0/5
Very nice freecamp right next to a nice beach and access to a public toilet !
We were alone there
Reviewed over 5 years ago
4.5/5
Fantastic wee spot.
Pity about all the people who couldn’t follow the instructions and camp in the allowed area, which does only fit in about 8-10 small vans. Good to see they were moved along though and those who tried to sneak in after dark were fined $200 the next morning. Follow the rules people and don’t ruin the ‘freedom camping’ experience for others as this spot is beautiful. Please respect and keep it this way for others to enjoy.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
4.5/5
lot of space.
officially for about 10 cars or tents but as we were there more than 30 cars and 20 tents in the whole area.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
4.5/5
Lovely spot by the beach (just over a small hill, can't be seen from the camping spot).
It's for 1 night only and got clean toilets (sand on the floor but that's expected), picnic tables, great views. Free for all types of camping (tents, not SC and SC).
Fills up quickly and not a lot of space, it's not "straight parking" either which makes it a bit awkward with the spacing. Camping grounds were filled up around 18.30, so get here in time.
Reviewed almost 7 years ago