Profile
McLean
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kaitaia ▷
Rarawa Beach Campsite
Great spot with a lot of space to spread out!
Lovely beach to walk on as well!
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
Woolleys Bay, Western Carpark
Snug, grassy area, with limited flat spots, a short walk from the beach and just off the main road.
It’s pretty basic but a beautiful place to watch the waves crash into the rocks!
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
Kowharewa Bay
Really quiet and spacious, grassy field right off the beach.
Lots of space to spread out! Toilets and cold showers and a really nice beach walk.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kaitaia ▷
Tapotupotu Campsite
Quiet and remote grassy area with a beautiful view of the beach and ocean!
Maybe 10 minutes from Cape Reinga, where it really feels like you’re at the edge of the earth! Not crowded and there are lots of good spots but did fill in by the evening.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kaitaia ▷
Mangonui Lions Park
Convenient road-side carpark with great access to town of Mangōnui, an easy waterfront walk from the campground.
Sign says it is limited to just 4 overnight camper-vans. There were probably close to 10 vehicles parked there the night we were there and no issues as far as I know.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Orewa ▷
Sullivans Bay Camping Ground
Pleasant, grassy, family-friendly field near the beach.
Toilets, water, and rubbish/recycling containers for a small nightly fee.
*make sure you first have access to the gate code in email confirmation before going down the hill and losing cell service.
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Turangi ▷
Hinemaiaia Reserve Carparks
One of our favorite campsites so far!
We had it all to ourselves, which was so nice! Very private and tucked away in the woods, feels very hidden (only saw two other vehicles the whole time on our way out the next day). We took the 3rd road and parked right on the river! No cell service, no toilet facilities, so clearly not for everyone, but for us, and anyone in search of some solitude, it was perfect!
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Mt Taranaki ▷
North Egmont Carparks
Great access to hiking trails and the visitor center with water and flushing toilets.
Only negative, not a ton of flat spaces so ended up having to park on a somewhat slanted spot.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Piha Domain Motor Camp
Really nice campground, a few minute walk from the beach, with great amenities—hot showers, indoor kitchen area, sports fields.
Very family friendly and everyone was super respectful and quiet at night, and you have plenty of space in the wide-open grassy field. Beautiful sunsets in the evenings and great place to watch the surfers! You do have to pay Holiday Park prices but that comes with the amenities…
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Coromandel Town ▷
Woollams Avenue
Great location with convenient access to a fun downtown and restrooms nearby.
While it’s just a carpark with only a few spots and you’re packed in pretty tight, it was perfect for what we were looking for for a night!
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Whitianga ▷
Omara Boat Ramp Reserve
Quiet park with views of the water and restrooms.
Probably 6 or 7 vehicles parked there with room for 1-2 more. Sign did say it was limited to just 4 vans parked from 5 pm-9 am but didn’t seem to be enforced.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Rotorua Tasman Holiday Parks
Really nice amenities—laundry, hot showers, wifi, hot pools & swimming pool, kitchen, lounge etc—if you’re around enough to take advantage of them.
If you don’t need all of those things or are accustomed to freedom campsites, it’s probably a bit overpriced and not worth it. Just depends on your personal needs and comforts Location is nice!
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Hipapatua / Reid's Farm Recreation Reserve Free Campsite
Convenient location to Taupo and day use area looked like a great river chill spot on a sunny day.
Otherwise, just a crowded, dirt carpark with limited flat spots. Fine for a night but not one of my favorite campgrounds.
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Tairua ▷
Paku Drive, Tairua
Felt like we lucked out just to snag a spot (there’s only 3 of them), as all of the other nearby freedom camping spots were filled up (rolled in around 6 pm).
Right on the water with picnic tables and beautiful sunrise view. Very quiet little park. You do have to be packed in pretty tight with other vehicles but otherwise, a nice little spot.
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Tauranga ▷
Memorial Park
It’s fine.
Kind of an active park by day and night so pretty jarringly different from camping in the remote nature, but such is the trade off of a city location. Limited freedom camping spots but doesn’t seem to be enforced, as quite a few people seem to be living out of their vans in the large carpark. Does have public restrooms that potentially close at 9 pm according to the sign.
No actual “sketchy” behavior while we were there and was pretty quiet at night but be prepared to be surrounded by the sounds of an active city park after dark.
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Patea ▷
Wai-inu Beach Domain
Nice, big grassy area with some flat spots, beautiful sunset views and easy beach access!
Only a few other vehicles there so plenty of space to spread out and restrooms nearby. Didn’t see a place to pay though…
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Picton / Marlborough Sounds ▷
Whatamango Bay Campsite
Really nice campground with plenty of spaces on the water, nice picnic tables and restrooms, just 15-20 minutes from Picton!
Perfect spot if you have an early ferry ride!
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Cascade Creek Campsite
Large campsite with a lot of spots that fills up but didn’t feel crowded.
Great access to Milford and nearby hikes, clean toilets and cooking shelters, and some nice spots along the creek to park or camp.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Motueka ▷
W F Moss Scenic Reserve Picnic Area
A bit “rough and tumble” with some folks who are definitely posted up there longterm, but a nice enough clearing with a little stream and great access to Abel Tasman.
Fills up on weekends in the summer so try to get there before 7 pm.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Moke Lake Campsite
Wide-open field along the lake with a ton of spaces and great place near Queenstown!
Busy with a lot of cars, but didn’t feel crowded because of all of the space! Nice restrooms as well. Pay the $15/person fee as you enter or you’ll be awoken by a ranger in the morning!
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Papatowai ▷
Papatowai Campsite
Wide-open grassy campground, family friendly, easy access to the beach, nice facilities, a little store, and good vibes!
Wonderful, safe, friendly spot!
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Arthur's Pass ▷
Klondyke Corner Campsite
Positives: Wide-open space with a lot of spots and great access to hikes close to Arthur’s Pass.
Negatives: Sandflies, not especially scenic.
Overall: Solid home base for exploring the park, basic amenities with cook shelter and 2 toilets.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Invercargill ▷
Moray Terrace
Pleasant and basic flat area right on the water.
A fair amount of spots but fills up. Clean restrooms and nice beach to walk on.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Owhiro Bay Overnight Campervan Parking
Quiet and scenic with easy access to the city via bus.
It feels pretty removed from Wellington, in a charming, little seaside suburb, for being so close and accessible. Quite a few parking spots and has restrooms attached.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Evans Bay Marina Carpark
Accessible location to the city, easy to walk or take the bus, restrooms, water and dump station attached.
Otherwise, it’s just a crowded carpark on the harbor.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Ocean View Reserve Carpark, Dunedin
Carpark with limited overnight camper-van spots but unmatched beach access!
A great place to spend a sunny beach day! Also, shower and clean toilets!
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Blenheim ▷
Renwick Domain Carpark
It’s just a carpark but plenty of spaces, great location for wine tasting in Renwick, and nice restrooms open 24 hours.
As far as carpark campgrounds go, it’s about as good as it gets!
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Warrington Reserve
Nice, open grassy area, a short walk from the beach.
Plenty of space. Rolled in at nearly 10 pm, and while a little tricky to find in the dark, easily found a spot!
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ St Arnaud ▷
Buller Campground
Wonderful campground with great facilities and convenient access to the lake and nearby hiking trails!
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Paraparaumu ▷
Garden Rd Carpark
Great spot with beach access and beautiful sunset views!
Just 5 minutes from Paraparaumu in a restaurant car park with toilets! Perfect spot near town amenities and restaurant patrons quieted down by 9 pm.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Arrowtown ▷
Crown Range Summit
Quiet carpark just off the road with beautiful sunset views!
Really great stop between Wanaka and Queenstown. No restrooms but nice walking trail up the hill.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Arrowtown ▷
Kawarau Historic Bridge Carparks
Pretty much just a car park but not a bad spot for a night.
Positives: Dramatic views of the gorge and river, bridge is awesome, and watching the bungee jumpers in the morning is fun!
Negatives: As I said, it’s just a carpark and campervan spots filled up by evening and restrooms closed by 5 pm (though if you’re self contained it shouldn’t really matter).
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Raspberry Flat Carpark
One of our favorite campgrounds!
So quiet and secluded with plenty of space and beautiful views of Aspiring and the surrounding valley! The carpark is right at the trailhead of Rob Roy track (worth doing!) so it has great access to trails and nice restrooms. Road in is long (1-1.5 hours) and bumpy with deepish puddles to ford so maybe not ideal for a rental van, but we managed.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Twizel ▷
Lake Pukaki track
Basically a dirt/gravel car park on the edge of a lake, that can be pretty packed in next to each other, but on a clear, sunny day, the views of the mountains and lake are immaculate, swimming in the lake
is amazing and a great place for star gazing at night!
Basic camping amenities and pretty crowded, but wonderful views and had a great experience here! Most spots bordering the lake filled up soon after 5 pm but lots of other space.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Kidds Bush Reserve Campsite
Wide open campsite with tons of space to spread out and RIGHT on the lake for unmatched access!
Parking spots both in a covered forested area as well as on the beach. Only negatives: pretty crowded and only porta potties for restrooms (which were closed), but at least they were nice and plenty of them!
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Mount Cook ▷
White Horse Hill Campground
Basic car park with quite a bit of space, conveniently located at Hooker Valley trailhead and near the park village.
Surrounded by incredible views of the peaks (on a clear day) and some great mossy, wooded areas to explore nearby. Great amenities—clean restrooms, shelter with picnic tables to cook and eat in and showers close to the visitor center.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Twizel ▷
Lake Poaka Campsite
Quiet and secluded with lots of space!
Not the incredible views of some other spots but loved being able to spread out!