Camping

If you're into camping New Zealand is a great place for it. You may have tried camping in Australia (where it's OK but would be a lot better if the sites weren't aimed so much at the caravanners) or in Europe (where it's very good, but increasingly expensive and crowded). Well in New Zealand it's simply better. For the tent camper the Kiwi campsites are the best in the world — which doesn't mean caravanners aren't catered for but if God had intended us to carry our house around with us we'd all be reincarnated as turtles. If you are driving, biking or hiking around with a tent and sleeping bag everything will be fine — there are a lot of sites, particularly in touristy places, and they are very well equipped. Many of them have kitchens and dining facilities for example — all you've got to provide is the utensils and the food; the cooker, hot plates, and often tea makers and toasters are all there. This has a secondary benefit that they're great places to meet people —you talk with other people while you're fixing your food, you carry on when you share a table to eat it. There are also laundry facilities and often.

If you intend to camp round New Zealand but haven't got any equipment consider buying it there. Good high quality tents and sleeping bags are amongst the best buys to be found in Kiwiland, though prices have leapt up in recent years.

The Department of Lands and Survey runs a number of camping sites in reserves and national, maritime and farm parks.

Camping Sites

North Auckland
Rarawa Coastal Reserve, Great Exhibition Bay.
Matai Bay, Karikari Peninsula. Trounson Kauri Park, Donnelly's Crossing.

Te Paki Coastal Park

Spirits Bay, near Cape Reinga Tapotupotu Bay, near Cape Reinga.


Bay of Islands Maritime and Historic Park

Whangaruru-North Head
Urupukapuka Island — all bays except Indico, Otehai and Paradise.
Motukawanui Hut.
Lane Cove Hut.
Cape Brett Hut.

Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park

Home Bay, Motutuapu Island. Motuoro Island.

South Auckland-Coromandel Peninsula Farm Parks

Waikawau Bay. Stony Bay. Fletcher Bay. Port Jackson. Fantail Bay.

Gisborne

Waioeka Gorge Scenic Reserve.
Anaura Bay, between Tolaga and Tokomaru Bays.

Urewera National Park

Home Bay, Waikaremoana.

Aniwaniwa

Mokau.
Hopuruahine.

Wellington

Tongariro National Park, Whakapapa Motor Camp.
Mahuia.
Mangawhero.

Marlborough

Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve, Rai Valley.
Whites Bay Recreation Reserve, near Blenheim.

Malrborough Sounds Maritime Park

Queen Charlotte Sound.
Pelorus Sound.
Tennyson Inlet.
Kenepuru Sound.
Outer Sounds.
Kaikoura Coast Waipapa Bay. Puketa.
Goose Bay.

Nelson

Lyell Historic Reserve, on Murchison-Ingangahua Rd.

Nelson Lakes National Park

Kerr Bay and West Bay, Lake Rotoiti.
Lake Rotoroa.
Abel Tasman National Park Totaranui.

Canterbury

Peel Forest Park, Geraldine.
Waihi Gorge Reserve, near Geraldine. Orari Gorge Reserve, near Geraldine. Raules Gully Reserve, near Peel Forest. Lake Grassmere Reserve, near Spring-field. Mount Nimrod Reserve, near Timaru.


Westland

Lake Kaniere, Geologist Creek and sections of lakeshore beween Hans Bay and Tuhua Creek.
Lake Mahinapua, Shanghai Bay. Lake Ianthe (sites at either end). Lake Wahapo.
Clearwater Stream, near Fox Glacier township.
Karangarua Bridge (start of Copland Track).
Mahitahi Scenic Reserve.
Lake Moeraki.
Jamies Beach, Lake Paringa. Punakaiki.

Otago

Papatowai, SE Otago.
Lake Middleton, adjacent to Lake Ohau.

Waitaki Lakes

Haldon Arm, Falstone Creek, Sailors Cutting on Lake Benmore.
Waitangi, Lake Aviemore.
Parsons Rock, near Otematata. Fishermans Bend, Lake Waitaki.

Check with the appropriate regional offices of the Lands and Survey Department for details on what you need to take with you, facilities and whether you should book in advance. There are also some free campsites, particularly in the North Island, that although often difficult to get to are worth the walk if you're geared for camping.

 

 

 

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