Leaky tents, nasty bathrooms, and getting eaten alive by mozzies are just a few camping woes every camper has experienced at least once in their lifetime. 

But experiences like these are enough to make anyone think twice about pitching a tent or dusting off the camper for a break from the daily grind. 

So we went looking for North Island campgrounds that actually deliver what Kiwis want: relaxed vibes and the sort of views anyone would happily wake up to. Here are the ones we found!

1. Hīmatangi Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park

Address: 30 Koputara Road, Himatangi Beach

Contact Details: +6463299575

Operating Hours: 

Website

Hīmatangi Beach TOP 10 caters to families and groups wanting an easy, hassle-free stay. We were struck by how clean and tidy everything was—showers, loos, and the kitchen were all immaculate. 

One solo camper told us these were the best communal facilities she’d seen. The kitchen had filtered water and plenty of space, which is a relief when almost every camper is trying to make breakfast. 

Almost everything is within reach from the dump station to the sand dunes. Families with kids love the fun trampoline and the game room, while couples appreciate being able to walk to the beach in just a couple of minutes. 

We like that there’s even a dairy within 2 minutes of the site to grab a delicious morning cup of coffee. 

The one thing a few campers warned us about, though, is the one-vehicle-per-site policy. Campers who plan to bring extra cars will need to arrange parking. 

Everything was super clean

“This holiday Parks is among the best ones, if not the best one, I’ve ever visited. We only stayed for one night in a budget room, but it was a really pleasant experience. Everything was super clean and the little details just added to the Charme. You had the chance to watch Netflix/Disney. They had the cutest cat called Millie on the campground. And the beach is also super close. I would totally recommend this holiday park to anyone traveling this area.”

– Swantje Voß, Google Reviews 

Great little place

“Great little place about 7km off the main highway. Nice and quiet

Stayed for 1 night on my way down to get the ferry. Met with Judy who was super lovely and friendly, she showed me around and I had the choice where to park up. $30 for a powered site.

Bathroom and kitchen were very clean and the whole place had a lovely vibe, even though not many people around at the time. And FREE unlimited WIFI (other campgrounds pls take note!) 🙌

The Cossie Club is 200m away for food and drinks if you need and a local dairy store too. Highly recommended.

Trip type”

– Rich Coleman, Google Reviews 

2. Camp Waipu Cove

Address: 869 Cove Road

Contact Details: +6494320410

Operating Hours: 

• Check In – 2 PM 
• Check Out – 10 AM 

Website

Camp Waipu Cove is just a 90-minute drive from Auckland, which makes it a go-to spot for anyone who wants to swap city noise for the sound of waves. A camper told us they always enjoy having a front-row seat to their secluded beach.

We like that they’re a not-for-profit campsite. Every dollar goes straight back into keeping the park and the local reserve in top shape. We can see where the money goes just by looking around—the grounds are spotless. 

Most of their sites fit up to eight, so it’s easy to bring the whole crew. A family we met who camped just steps from the sand on their premium powered site raved about the hot showers that always ran and never had a wait. 

Their sites come with tons of amenities too. We like how the free WiFi actually works, and the tennis courts are great for a midday game. 

Parents told us the baby change rooms and accessible bathrooms made things a lot easier, especially with little ones in tow.

The only real hiccup is the rule about needing an electrical warrant for motorhomes on powered sites. 

Everything around the site was well cared for

“Absolutely loved our stay at Camp Waipu! The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. The bathrooms were the cleanest I’ve ever seen at a campground — spotless and beautifully maintained. Everything around the site was well cared for, and the reception team gave us great tips on local attractions and the best places to eat. The views were stunning, and the murals on the walls made it feel like we were staying in an art gallery. Everything about this place was just amazing — highly recommend!”

– Jackie Phyffer, Google Reviews 

The parking space was pretty big

Nice place to stay a night.

I stayed there in my NSC car for $24/p,including hot shower and use facilities.

I stayed in mid Sep,it was nice quiet and comfortable.The parking space was pretty big.

Hot shower runs 5 mins and you need to wait for 2 min to press again.It wasn’t cold while waiting,the shower room is quite warm.Also they play music in the toilet/shower room! There’s an access you can walk to the beach and then go to coastal walkway.

The facilities are very nice and clean.”

– Ivu Wu, Google Reviews 

3. Hukatere Lodge – Camping Ground

Address: 809 Hukatere Road, Houhora 0460

Contact Details: +6494098705

Website

Hukatere Lodge sits right on the Te Araroa Trail, so it’s a magnet for hikers looking for a place to crash after a long day. One hiker raved about the views and said it was the perfect spot to recharge before hitting the track again. 

There are spots for camper vans, cars, and tents, as well as a communal kitchen. A camper told us that every morning, they have free tea and coffee in their kitchen.

There’s even fresh water from their on-site bore that tastes especially good after a dusty day on the trail.

Amenities-wise, we like that you can charge your phone off their solar panels—no hunting for an open plug. 

The Wi-Fi is a bit of a gamble, though. One local grumbled about having to reset his phone every afternoon just to get a signal. 

Still, the activities here make up for it. Pony club kids trot around the horse paddocks for horse trekking. One camper even told us the hosts go out of their way to help with Cape Reinga pickups and drop-offs. 

Flat camping spots and a nice communal

“Really nice place. After a few days of beach walking it felt like an actual resort. Hot & clean showers, enough toilets, flat camping spots and a nice communal fully equipped kitchen. Gaby is a super nice host, very friendly and accommodation. Highly recommend!

– Rose Pleijsier, Google Reviews

Peaceful place

“I slept in my tent. The place is great, the kitchen has everything what you need, hot shower, a very nice owner. Peaceful place, no lights so you can see a lot of stars. 😉 if you like horses you must come here and the ninenty miles beach is just at the end of the campground. Highly recommended.”

– Andrea Ivor, Google Reviews 

4. Waikawau Bay Camp Grounds. D.O.C

Address: 96 Waikawau Beach Road, Waikawau 3584

Contact Details: +6478679080

Website

Waikawau Bay is the place to go for water sports lovers. Campers can pick their poison: kayaking, swimming, surfing, and more. 

We personally loved being able to kayak on the bay during mid-summer and enjoy the breathtaking bay views. 

For those who aren’t big on taking a plunge in the little bay, the beach is a quick walk from the site, and the sand is white and clean. One woman told us she finds tons of shells on her morning walks. 

The campsite has both powered and non-powered spots, and there’s enough room that campers aren’t pitching their tent right on top of their neighbor. 

The bathrooms are usually clean, though don’t expect a hot shower—most of them run cold. 

What we did appreciate, though, was the tiny on-site shop. It’s stocked with the basics like some groceries and even fishing bait. One camper mentioned this store saved their trip when they ran out of snacks halfway through their camping week.

Well maintained site, clean toilet

“Well maintained site, clean toilet, gets smelly the next morning though. We parked up close to the gate to the beach and it was quite smelly around there so dont do what we did. Theres a little stream going by and we suspected it might be the toilet stream.”

– Le Vu, Google Reviews 

Fantastic, clean and well ventilated 

“This is a true gem, we spent a delightful 5 days in the camp, on a powered site as it is very cost effective if you have a DOC pass. The new toilet blocks are fantastic, clean and well ventilated with wash benches outside and cold showers. The camp is enormous, handy to drive to Stony Bay for hikes, and a 1km walk to the gorgeous Little Bay. The main Waikawau beach is 2km long and a gently sloped. Great swimming beach. We drove in from Colville side and went out Kennedy Bay road towing a 3500t 20.6ft van. Steep in sections on Kennedy Bay road but manageable. Can get very busy in summer according to DOC chap we spoke to.”

– S Ranstead, Google Reviews 

5. Puriri Bay (Whangaruru North Head) Campsite

Address: 1009 Whangaruru North Road, Whangaruru 0184

Contact Details: +6494336160

Operating Hours: 

• Check In – 2 PM
• Check Out – 11 AM

Website

Puriri Bay is peaceful, right on the water, and run by people who genuinely care. The bay is private, with just a handful of campers roaming around and the odd boat drifting by.  

We also appreciate the meticulous upkeep. Campers told us that every morning, the toilets and showers are spotless, and that there is even an accessible bathroom on site. 

Others enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and the abundance of nature. A family told us their kids shared that they enjoyed spotting kiwis at night and watching shooting stars overhead. 

Their on-site staff is also awesome for tending to campers’ needs. A camper told us she had forgotten spare blankets, and the camp manager didn’t hesitate to lend some of their own. 

The slight downside to staying here, though, is that there’s no space to park cars on their tent-only sites. One guy told us he had to carry all his things from the parking lot down the road to his camping site, which was a bit annoying and inconvenient. 

Lovely time staying at Puriri Bay

“We had a lovely time staying at Puriri Bay. The facilities are basic but well maintained and clean. Very peaceful, no through traffic on the road so there’s virtually no one coming and going. Nice safe beach, the sites along the front are great for families with kids as you can keep an eye on them from your campsite. Lots of toilet/ shower blocks, and taps scattered throughout the site. No shops even remotely close nearby so make sure you bring everything you need, you can get ice at Bland Bay about 5 mins away.

We did the walk from Admirals Bay up the hill to the trig station at the top, was worthwhile. Boat launching 4×4 only. Cellphone worked well except southern end of beach but that was fine.

No vehicles at all are allowed on tent only sites so you have to park adjacent and carry your things to the site.

No rubbish or recycling facilities anymore so make sure you take everything home with you.

Will be back!

– Jacob Chubb, Google Reviews 

The campgrounds are tidy

“10/10 with the new host’s management Graham & Yvonne! The DOC camp hosts do an amazing job, always around working hard to keep everything in top shape. The facilities are really well maintained, the campgrounds are tidy, and the toilets are super clean and even smell nice! In fact the most cleanliness long-drop I experienced from many different DOC i been to. You can really see the efforts they put in every day, doing upgrades, cleaning, and maintenance. A big thank you to the hosts for keeping the place so welcoming and comfortable! We had such a great experience this time, so grateful to hear you two will be here hosting for 3 more years!(Previous camp hosts were horrible, she ruined everything. scroll back and read early 2023-24 reviews)”

– Jeff Ck1, Google Reviews