Adventures,  Australasia,  New Zealand,  Round the World Trip

New Zealand campervan road trip: where we camped on the North Island

December 28, 2022

The key question in New Zealand is where to pitch up each night. We last campervanned in New Zealand six years ago and we feel that in the intervening period it has got tougher to find spots to freedom camp (i.e. park up for free, rather than paying to be on a serviced site). As a result we did pay for a couple of sites along the way, one private site and a couple of DOC sites.

As our journey is fluid we weren’t able to book the campervan until pretty late. The first half of December brings you into the peak period in New Zealand and available campers were scarce. We started to get a little concerned that we would be homeless, but we got the last available from Travellers Autobahn out of their Auckland base.

Kiwi Kai cafe in Okaihau- recommended
Celebratory ice cream after the 5k Whangarai parkrun
Home stretch on the Parkrun
#vanlife
Tea at Matapouri

This is where we stayed:

LocationLat/LongNotes
Matakana Wharf-36.352831, 174.719162Small car park down by the wharf with room for two or three vans. Not specifically designated for freedom camping, but not prohibited either. Fairly quiet down there, with a decent toilet close by and very handy access to the shops and coffee of the town.
Matapouri beach-35.734892, 174.333079It is a very scenic drive to get here along the Tutukaka route. Three designated spots in the car park fronting directly on to an absolutely picture perfect beach. There is a public barbecue here which is great, and there are toilets but not in great shape. Small store nearby is well stocked except it has almost no fresh stuff. There are a couple of takeaways here too.
Tokerau Beach / Doubtless Bay-34.947823, 173.386168To get to this rarest of beasts – a free DOC freedom camping site – drive to Rotopokaka (Coca-Cola) lake and carry on through the gates along the track through the dunes. Paradise awaits as you place your van amongst the dunes.
Taputaputu Beach-34.438124, 172.717209The northernmost campsite for visiting the northernmost point at Cape Reinga. This is a paid DOC site which had cold showers and although a very beautiful spot was the most mosquito plagued place we’ve ever been.
Ngapae Holiday Park, Waipapakauri-35.037457, 173.172252The public areas with showers and kitchen have recently been renovated at this very friendly site just a couple of minutes walk to 90 mile beach. A short drive to town for proper food shopping (Pak n Save) and surf lessons
Two Ponga Park, Okaihau-35.321068, 173.770802Room for three or four vehicles here at this officially sanctioned place in the park car park. Handy for the village high street and the very friendly Kiwi Kai for coffee and food from 0700hrs until late
Whangerai-35.734892, 174.333079It might sound unpromising to be camping in the car park by the revered lifting road bridge. But you’d be wrong. It was a surprisingly quiet night despite being a Friday. The new circular walking / running tracks around the harbour passes right by here, so you have an easy and pleasant walk into town. The toilets are good and there’s a coffee van. The Whangerai Park Run also starts here every Saturday morning which we were welcomed into warmly.
Snell’s Beach, Sunburst Avenue-36.413485, 174.728933Internet searches yield several potential freedom camping spots along Snell’s Beach. But this one on Sunburst Avenue had clearly designated spots in a nice flat car park with a shower, good toilet and a small play park – so we stayed here. There is also a boat ramp.
Log Race Road, Piha-36.970027, 174.467913Dramatic views (when not shrouded in cloud) of Piha and surrounds. This is a paid DOC site (and a little steep at $16 per van) that only really offers a moquito-ridden drop toilet and easy access to the hillside circular walk (which is really great). Served both as a handy spot for Piha, and also a decent staging post before an early morning drive into Auckland to return the van.

One quarter of the adventuring family

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2 Comments

  • Susan Cumming
    January 4, 2023 at 2:50 pm

    Happy 2023 to you all. Loving your blogs – you are obviously having an amazing time. Life in Chobham continues quietly and without drama! Wish I could send you something even a quarter as exciting as your messages! Looking forward to the next instalment.

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