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Backpack On Fire
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Tauranga ▷
TECT Park
Fantastic spot.
They no longer allow tents in this area so campervans can park in those spots some of which have picnic tables. We had a great spot for two nights with trees so we put our hammocks up. Good toilets and drinking water. People keep arriving late as there is so much space but otherwise really quiet and peaceful. We will be staying here again on our way back up the North Island for sure!
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
Kowharewa Bay
Very popular.
Fills up early. They do come around and check you are in the allocated location. A bunch of people had to be moved for parking in the wrong spot. Good toilets, beautiful view. Great close place to Tutukaka. Highly recommend for a night.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
Waipu Caves Farm Park
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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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Hokianga ▷
Wairere Boulders
You must go here!
This place is incredible. Not only can you come for the day but they have paid camping as well, which we highly recommend. Great toilets, filtered water, a cute cafe on site and a range of farm animals. The walk up to magic rock is well worth it. Also be sure to find the swimming hole and cool off after your hike. The owners are extremely friendly. Incredible family run business that you must check out.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Whatipu Lodge Campground
Tons of space, so you can arrive a bit later.
Beautiful black sand beach to walk to as well as the sea caves to explore. Be sure to stay long enough to check them both out. The black sand is much darker than in Piha. Composting toilets and cold showers with curtains for privacy. Worth the little extra money to stay here instead of in a car park.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kaitaia ▷
Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua Lighthouse Walk
Lots of cultural history here.
Take the time to read the posted signs to learn about the area which includes no food or drinks allowed for cultural reasons. Very busy place with lots of tour buses coming by. Worth the walk to the light house to see where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean collide.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Dargaville ▷
Tokatoka Scenic Reserve Track
Lovely views.
Steep short hike. Well worth it. We went when it was dry which was great. Wouldn’t want to do it when wet. Also not great if you aren’t good with heights or agile as it has very steep sections at the end for the summit. Small parking area for regular sized vehicles only (normal car park spot size). Definitely recommend taking the time to stop here.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kerikeri ▷
Rainbow Falls Walk
Lovely waterfalls.
We were there in summer so it was great for swimming below the falls. We also did the walk down the path to the fairy pools to swim there too. Well worth the visit.
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Tauranga ▷
Rotary Park
Filled up be 4pm on a long weekend.
We were lucky as we arrived by 1pm. Very busy during the day as it is so shallow so lots of families, but quiets right down at night as the gate gets locked at 9pm. Great for a free spot close to the city. Very nice and new flush toilets, drinking water and cold shower station. Lots of picnic tables around. They even have bins for recycling different things (glass, paper, plastic).
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Five Mile Bay Recreation Reserve
Tons of space!
Probably the largest freedom camping space we have seen yet. It does get busy with the best spots filling up early, but you can arrive anytime and find a spot to park there must have been 50+ campervans and buses there. A lot of the larger trailers and vans at this location because of the space. As mentioned there is only one drip toilet so expect a short line and night and in the morning. Very windy but it was a nice change from the heat. Close to town and great sunsets over the lake.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Hokianga ▷
Tane Mahuta Walk
Amazing to see the largest kauri tree.
Short walk from the road. Be sure to clean your shoes properly at the station on the way in and out of the walk to help stop the spread of kauri die back disease. Toilets across the toad as well as awesome fresh fruit ice cream. Worth the stop along the way.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Orewa ▷
Laurie Southwick Parade, Gulf Harbour
Lovely place with 20ish spots to park and it did fill up.
Small beach when the tide is out to swim and a nice river to walk along. Windy because it is right on the ocean so if cooking outside of your van like we do then it might take longer than normal to make a meal. Good clean toilets. A dump station available. No drinking water. Great plss as we close to Auckland.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
Woolleys Bay, Western Carpark
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.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
Reyburn House Lane Carpark, Whangarei
One of the best places in town to stay.
There are 8 designated spots at the corners of the car park. Nice and close to walk into town. No parking in the one corner when the market is on (Friday night till Saturday early afternoon). 24hr toilets are a bit of a walk away so he sure to use the closer ones before they close (between 8-830). Nearby there is a cool glass blowing studio to check out and a free outdoor gym to use.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
AH Reed Memorial Park, Whareora Road Carpark
3 spaces for overnight that are on slightly uneven ground which is why we are givi Nd it a 9 out of 10 instead of 10.
Flush toilets, water fountain, garbage can, and great walk to the falls and tree canopy so be sure to plan enough time to go for a walk while you stay here!
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Omokoroa ▷
Pahoia Domain
Quiet place with 6 spots and there were only 3 of us on a Friday night of a long weekend.
Popular fishing spot. Beach at low tide. Level parking spots, clean 24/7 flush toilets. A power outlet outside of the toilets that was shown to us be we didn’t need to try it out. Had a water fountain but we also didn’t use it as it hasn’t been cleaned in a while and the basin was clogged and dirty. Good spot for a night.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
Whangarei Falls Scenic Reserve
We only came to see the falls not stay overnight.
Falls were lovely to see. Worth stopping by as right off the road.
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Thames ▷
Danby Field
Great spot in town with 24/7 flush toilets and filtered water tap.
Use the one closest to the skate park as the water is better. Lots of spots but still fills up. Some larger campers take up two spots to put their awnings out so not all the spot can be used sadly and the council staff don’t stop them which is why we can’t give it a 10. Isite, grocery, library, downtown strip, spark wifi booth all within walking distance.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kerikeri ▷
Bay of Islands Farmers Market
Small reasonably priced farmers market.
Enough to get a few things for a meal but not a ton of vendors when we went in the summer. Some had signs up saying why they weren’t there so we assume it is usually a bit bigger.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
Tarewa isite
Nice park and cafe with slow wifi.
Not a great sleep as the neighbours across the street have a dog that barks all night. Also on a busy road and allocated spots are on a slope. Use the isite to get info but try and get a spot to sleep at another one of the sites in town.