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Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
KiwiCampCommercial organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Tongariro / National Park Village |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Overnight Camping Site Cost |
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Overnight Camping Site CostWhat is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? Free Camping It costs nothing to stay overnight. In general this means that you should not expect any facilities. Parking Spaces are fee |
Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Only in a vehicle Overnight stays are only permitted within a vehicle. Camping in a tent or out in the open is not allowed. |
Campsite Managing Organisation |
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Campsite Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this campsite? Owner Operated Campsite This campground is independently operated by the owner. |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Paid access/participation The experience costs money to access or take part in. |
Maximum Sites Available |
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Maximum Sites AvailableHow many camping or parking sites are available for staying overnight in? More than 20 sites There are more than twenty camping/parking sites available to stay overnight in. |
Water Supply |
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Water SupplyIs there fresh water available? Water supply available A supply of fresh water is available. |
Shower |
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ShowerIs there a shower at this location? Shower At least one shower is available (it's unknown if it's hot or cold). $2 for 5 mins |
Dump Station |
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Dump StationDump stations allow the safe disposal of sewage and greywater from self-contained vehicles. Does this site have a dump station? Dump station available There is a dump station available at this location for the safe emptying and disposal of waste water from recreational vehicles. |
Booking Required |
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Booking RequiredIs it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? First Come, First Served Sites are allocated in a first come, first served basis. Get in early for the best spot. |
Powered Sites |
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Powered SitesDoes this establishment have powered sites? Powered sites available This campsite offers powered sites to hook into an electricity supply. Campervan power $10 for 18 hours |
Large Vehicle Access |
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Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. |
Dogs |
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DogsDoes this establishment allow dogs? Dogs allowed The location allows dogs. There may be conditions that may be met eg. dogs must be on a leash. Pets allowed if kept under control |
Vehicle Access |
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Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. |
WiFi Internet |
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WiFi InternetWhat type of WiFi internet access is available? Free Limited Public WiFi There is WiFi internet access available and it is free for anyone to use. It is likely limited in speed and may have data caps. |
Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. |
Barbecues |
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BBQ FacilityWhat BBQ facilities are provided? Shared Barbecue Shared BBQs are available The are BBQ facilities provided with the accommodation and they are shared with other guests. Paid BBQ |
✓ Great mountain views
✓ Convenient for Tongariro Crossing
✓ Clean facilities
✓ Ample parking space
✓ Hot showers
𐄂 KiwiCash system inconvenient
𐄂 Limited toilet facilities
Great free option near Tongariro!
Bit impersonal but cool concept.
Best low cost campsite so far.
Big parking lot.
Gorgeous view of the mountains.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 8 |
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35% |
9/10 | 3 |
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13% |
8/10 | 8 |
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35% |
7/10 | 2 |
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9% |
6/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 1 |
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4% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 1 |
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4% |
5.0/5
Un grand parking pour pouvoir faire le tongariro alpine crossing.
Les navettes viennent vous chercher directement devant. Service kiwicash présent (douche,machine…) il faut juste le badge pour pouvoir les utiliser.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
Customer
4.0/5
Big car park with all the facilities but you need a kiwicard.
You can by one at the gas station and you need to top it up (website).
Reviewed about 1 month ago
Customer
4.0/5
Bit impersonal but cool concept.
Would be good if it accepted contactless - the kiwi cash thing seems a bit of a faff, we didn't end up using it. Bright lights on all night - bring an eye mask. Also freight trains. Great views of Ruapehu.
Reviewed 9 months ago
Customer
4.0/5
A car park for free and every facilty you might need for a few dollars.
But to use them you need a kiwi card, not that practical. Good toilets, perfect for one night before the Tongariro Crossing.
Reviewed 10 months ago
Customer
3.5/5
The prices changed, please update info.
Hot shower is clean and nice. Toilets were not so clean, but every morning they were cleaned. I think there is just too many people use it during the day as public toilet.
I wanted a powered site. I don't mind paying for that at all. Prices changed: 10 tokens for 24 hours. I don't like the fact that you have to pay 10 KiwiCash tokens for a "secured site" to get power. So power actually costs 20 NZD.
No kiwicamp wifi, there is district counsel wifi tho
Reviewed 3 months ago
Customer
4.0/5
Beautiful views and very convenient in the National Park but it took me a while to get used to being in a park and ride.
Only two toilets for all those spaces - we were lucky it wasn't busier. All very functional
Reviewed 10 months ago
Customer
4.5/5
If you just want to freecamp you don't have to pass the barrier.
Go further and turn left as you see the Park&ride sign.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Customer
4.0/5
Huge parking lot that is free unless you want to pay for a powered site.
The facilities are good, but are undersized for the number of people that stay here - it's a busy site. It wasn't noisy though and the proximity to the tongerero crossing and hikes make it an convinent place to stay in the area.
Reviewed 12 months ago
Customer
4.0/5
The free parking lot is huge and easy, with access to toilets and a water spigot.
If you want tonuse any of the other amenities, you need a Kiwi Card fob and app. We arrived late so there was no way to use the shower since we didn't have a fob.
Shuttle to Tongariro Crossing can be booked at the hostel down the street for $55 return -- they pick up right at the lot.
Reviewed 12 months ago
Customer
1.5/5
Big car park so level ground.
Nothing special, convenient for the route we took. Does have some good views. However massive drawback is it’s by a freight train line… 3am thought we were under attack as air raid siren went off. As we not near any natural disasters area had no idea what was going on. A lot of panicked people outside their vehicle's, until we realised a train was rolling in. Don’t remember seeing any signs for this or reviews so hopefully a rare occurrence.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
Customer
4.0/5
Amazing for doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Right at the pick up for the shuttle, bathrooms, sinks, showers (I think). Just go to the right - don’t go to the left where you have to pay with a kiwi camp card.
Reviewed 3 days ago
Customer
5.0/5
Un grand parking pour pouvoir faire le tongariro alpine crossing.
Les navettes viennent vous chercher directement devant. Service kiwicash présent (douche,machine…) il faut juste le badge pour pouvoir les utiliser.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
Customer
4.0/5
Big car park with all the facilities but you need a kiwicard.
You can by one at the gas station and you need to top it up (website).
Reviewed about 1 month ago
Customer
3.5/5
The prices changed, please update info.
Hot shower is clean and nice. Toilets were not so clean, but every morning they were cleaned. I think there is just too many people use it during the day as public toilet.
I wanted a powered site. I don't mind paying for that at all. Prices changed: 10 tokens for 24 hours. I don't like the fact that you have to pay 10 KiwiCash tokens for a "secured site" to get power. So power actually costs 20 NZD.
No kiwicamp wifi, there is district counsel wifi tho
Reviewed 3 months ago
Customer
4.0/5
Bit impersonal but cool concept.
Would be good if it accepted contactless - the kiwi cash thing seems a bit of a faff, we didn't end up using it. Bright lights on all night - bring an eye mask. Also freight trains. Great views of Ruapehu.
Reviewed 9 months ago
Customer
4.0/5
A car park for free and every facilty you might need for a few dollars.
But to use them you need a kiwi card, not that practical. Good toilets, perfect for one night before the Tongariro Crossing.
Reviewed 10 months ago
Customer
4.0/5
Beautiful views and very convenient in the National Park but it took me a while to get used to being in a park and ride.
Only two toilets for all those spaces - we were lucky it wasn't busier. All very functional
Reviewed 10 months ago
Customer
4.0/5
The free parking lot is huge and easy, with access to toilets and a water spigot.
If you want tonuse any of the other amenities, you need a Kiwi Card fob and app. We arrived late so there was no way to use the shower since we didn't have a fob.
Shuttle to Tongariro Crossing can be booked at the hostel down the street for $55 return -- they pick up right at the lot.
Reviewed 12 months ago
Customer
4.0/5
Huge parking lot that is free unless you want to pay for a powered site.
The facilities are good, but are undersized for the number of people that stay here - it's a busy site. It wasn't noisy though and the proximity to the tongerero crossing and hikes make it an convinent place to stay in the area.
Reviewed 12 months ago
Customer
4.5/5
If you just want to freecamp you don't have to pass the barrier.
Go further and turn left as you see the Park&ride sign.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Customer
4.5/5
A great spot to stay with all the amenities you might need while traveling.
Parking lot is huge (you can go to the right side unsecure parking lot for free, or pay to be in the smaller secure parking lot with power through the gate). Bathrooms were clean, shower pressure was great, washer/dryer were easy to use, and there were multiple cooking stations and community sinks. Dump station and potable water fill up are right at the entrance. If you plan to do the Tongariro alpine crossing, most of the shuttle companies pick up right in that parking lot which is very convenient. Not secluded, but there’s a great view of the surrounding mountains, and we saw a rainbow every day we were there!
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Customer
5.0/5
Unexpectedly had to stay here for another full 2 days because our van broke down after the first night in the lot, amenities were always clean and maintained regularly, hot showers available, washing machine
worked great and free drinkable water. Just make sure you have a KiwiCash tag, which you can buy in shops in the village as well if you don’t already have it (list of places stated at the entrance or online)!
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Customer
3.5/5
Très grand freecamp Toilettes proches et propres Passage régulier de trains qui font énormément de bruit Lampadaires qui éclairent tout le parking toute la nuit et qui ne permettent pas un sommeil
très réparateur
Bonne localisation
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Customer
5.0/5
Even though it’s just a big parking lot it’s got everything you need including a beautiful view of the mountains!
Super convenient in the winter if you’re meeting a hiking company in National Park. If you want a powered site and bathroom/shower facilities you do have to pay but it’s super cheap. You must make a kiwi cash account and load your account with some money, then pick up a kiwi cash tag from a convenience store. To use the facilities you just have to tap your loaded tag. The showers were hot and the water pressure was insane! And a bonus there’s free wifi :)
Reviewed over 1 year ago
Customer
4.0/5
One of my faves, even though it was a giant car park.
Because 1) it was the pickup for multiple Tongariru shuttles (check your Jucy experiences discount btw, a shuttle may be one of them) and 2) it was attended by who I assume were other Tongariru trekkers which was heartwarming and made me feel safe. For me, safety > view. Did not use any paid amenities.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
Customer