Kōhaihai Campsite

Kōhaihai Campsite

Kahurangi National Park

39 Rankers Reviews

18 Face-to-Face

8 Karamea

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Kōhaihai Campsite

Enjoy the beautiful nīkau forest at this campsite on the Kōhaihai River mouth. There are short, day or overnight walks from here, as well as kayaking and swimming opportunities in the river.

This place is amazing! The large campsite is situated at the start of the Heaphy Track at the Kohaihai River mouth. It is a sheltered site surrounded by native west coast bush - heaps of nikau palms.

The campsite has BBQ and picnic areas and allows dogs as long as they are kept under control at all times (they are not allowed on the Heaphy Track).

Other than a multi-day mission along the Heaphy, there are loads of other shorter walks to do in the area as well as white water kayaking, wind surfing and safe swimming in the river or at Scotts Beach.

You can only stay here for maximum 2 nights in a row.

DOC Campsite Pricing

Kōhaihai Campsite is categorised as a DOC Standard Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing. Prices vary for some campsites and may include seasonal pricing. Visit the DOC website for exact pricing.

DOC Standard Campsite

Standard campsites have a more limited range of facilities and services than Serviced campsites. These campsites have toilets, a water supply that could be treated or untreated tap water, or from a stream or lake, and vehicle or boat access. Bring your own soap for washing hands. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Wood BBQs and fireplaces, cold showers, picnic tables, a cooking shelter and rubbish bins may be provided; this will vary from site to site.

Feature Value Value
Unpowered Site Adult $10.00 to $15.00 per night
Unpowered Site Child $5.00 to $7.50 per night
Unpowered Site Infant $0.00 per night

Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

DOC West Coast

Central government organisation

Location

South IslandWest CoastKaramea

Categories

  • Activity__basic_facility_campingBasic Camping

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-41.10928281

172.1029685

Latitude
-41.10928281
Longitude
172.1029685

Websites

Reviews

    ✓ Beautiful scenery

    ✓ Nice and clean toilets

    ✓ Great day walks

    ✓ Wood fire BBQ available

    ✓ Great for Heaphy Track

    𐄂 Presence of sandflies

    𐄂 Cheeky wekas around

    • Great location.
    • You are all alone, nobody is around you.
    • We went way out of our way to stay here.
    • Beautiful campsite!
    • This was a fantastic spot.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 18
    46%
    9/10 5
    13%
    8/10 7
    18%
    7/10 4
    10%
    6/10 4
    10%
    5/10 1
    3%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 5.0/5

    Beautiful camp spot.

    Cooked my dinner on the wood fire BBQ. A few sandflies around.

    Reviewed 7 months ago

  • 3.5/5

    Beautiful place to stay, toilets were nice & clean.

    Great day walks in stunning nature. No sink to clean dishes unless you use sink by the toilets so go prepared. Best way to protect from sandflies don't expose skin.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Brilliant spot for walking into the heaphy and other shorter walks.

    Beware the sandflies and the wekas they are both a menance

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

    AMR's avatar

    AMR

  • 4.0/5

    Top DoC camp in spectacular surrounds … sandflies and wekas think so too.

    😎

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Sandflies weren't terrible in late spring - they were much worse further south.

    Beautiful camping spot, pretty good toilets, and plenty of cheeky weka about! Awesome walk to Scott's Beach

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    This was a fantastic spot.

    Beautiful, quiet, clean toilets. A lot of sand flies. Beautiful beach, too rough to swim. We walked for a day on the Heaphy track which was well worthwhile.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • 2.5/5

    The sandflies drove us crazy even though we had drowned ourselves with bug spray, packed up after only one night.

    Campgrounds were fullish with lovely background settings.

    Reviewed almost 4 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Nice spot to do the hike tracks, bathrooms ok.

    Near 2 kmts of gravel road to get there, cash only in the trust box, 8pp, Jan 2021.

    Windy open spots, means less sandflies, spots between the bush=Sandflies attack.

    Sorry, but Sandflies level:9. One night there is ok, REPELLENT is a Must.

    Reviewed almost 4 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Nice campground, bathrooms were ok at best but the sand fly’s drove up away after 10 minutes.

    We ended up driving back into Karamea and stayed the night there.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    This is by far the best campsite I have ever been too.

    Stunning location, amazing flora and fauna. Beach cannot be swam at, however the lagoon is a great swim; deep enough at high tide for diving too! There are a lot of weka, so drive cautiously and keep your food and rubbish in secure locations! Toilets are clean and tidy. No potable water, but a spring can be tapped at low tide at drinkers caution. Lots to do, lovely nature walks and Scott’s beach is only 30m away. Will come back again, this campsite is a literal paradise!

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    What a truly great spot.

    Well done DOC. It is a long drive but worth it

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

    Kel's avatar

    Kel

  • 4.5/5

    Great location.

    So peaceful and chilled. Basic facilities but low costs. Lots of sand flys so remember repellent!

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

    Gee's avatar

    Gee

  • 5.0/5

    Beautiful camp spot.

    Cooked my dinner on the wood fire BBQ. A few sandflies around.

    Reviewed 7 months ago

  • 3.5/5

    Beautiful place to stay, toilets were nice & clean.

    Great day walks in stunning nature. No sink to clean dishes unless you use sink by the toilets so go prepared. Best way to protect from sandflies don't expose skin.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Brilliant spot for walking into the heaphy and other shorter walks.

    Beware the sandflies and the wekas they are both a menance

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

    AMR's avatar

    AMR

  • 5.0/5

    Sandflies weren't terrible in late spring - they were much worse further south.

    Beautiful camping spot, pretty good toilets, and plenty of cheeky weka about! Awesome walk to Scott's Beach

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Top DoC camp in spectacular surrounds … sandflies and wekas think so too.

    😎

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    This was a fantastic spot.

    Beautiful, quiet, clean toilets. A lot of sand flies. Beautiful beach, too rough to swim. We walked for a day on the Heaphy track which was well worthwhile.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • 2.5/5

    The sandflies drove us crazy even though we had drowned ourselves with bug spray, packed up after only one night.

    Campgrounds were fullish with lovely background settings.

    Reviewed almost 4 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Nice spot to do the hike tracks, bathrooms ok.

    Near 2 kmts of gravel road to get there, cash only in the trust box, 8pp, Jan 2021.

    Windy open spots, means less sandflies, spots between the bush=Sandflies attack.

    Sorry, but Sandflies level:9. One night there is ok, REPELLENT is a Must.

    Reviewed almost 4 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Nice campground, bathrooms were ok at best but the sand fly’s drove up away after 10 minutes.

    We ended up driving back into Karamea and stayed the night there.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    This is by far the best campsite I have ever been too.

    Stunning location, amazing flora and fauna. Beach cannot be swam at, however the lagoon is a great swim; deep enough at high tide for diving too! There are a lot of weka, so drive cautiously and keep your food and rubbish in secure locations! Toilets are clean and tidy. No potable water, but a spring can be tapped at low tide at drinkers caution. Lots to do, lovely nature walks and Scott’s beach is only 30m away. Will come back again, this campsite is a literal paradise!

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    What a truly great spot.

    Well done DOC. It is a long drive but worth it

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

    Kel's avatar

    Kel

  • 4.5/5

    Great location.

    So peaceful and chilled. Basic facilities but low costs. Lots of sand flys so remember repellent!

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

    Gee's avatar

    Gee

  • 3.0/5

    Nice setting.

    Not many tent sites...better sites for camper vans. Sand flies were the worst we experienced... the walks were beautiful !

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    BEAUTIFUL end of the road camping right by the beach at the western end of the Heaphy Track.

    Flush toilets and running water, no showers. Weka are everywhere. Sandflies galore so cover up, maybe even bug net and gloves.

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    You are all alone, nobody is around you.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 4.0/5

    We went way out of our way to stay here.

    Unfortunately the best spots were closed as they were clearing the trees. Beautiful spot, but hard to enjoy because of the sandflies, even though we were well prepared for them. There are two very mountainous hills to travel to get here. Views were amazing on the drive.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Fantastic location by river mouth and beach.

    Great sunset and track to camp site good. Clean loos and lots of BBQ spots. SANDFLIES GALORE!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Beautiful campsite!

    We were able to drive our van onto the beach and had an amazing stay!!

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Excellent site, stunning location, beachfront or riverside, riverside swimming, clean facilities, loads of sandflies.

    Cellphone coverage! 2 nights maximum.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 5.0/5

    Spots by the beach or by the inlet .Beautiful location that we werent able to fully utilise due to bad weather and waking to a flat battery.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago

    NEW ZEALAND
    kim's avatar

    kim

  • 3.0/5

    The perfect point to start different tracks along the beach and the Heaphy Track.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

  • 4.0/5

    Wonderful area with lovely beach, lake and mature surroundings.

    But crowded with sandflies....

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

  • 3.0/5

    Nicely located, limited infrastructure.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2013

  • 4.0/5

    Beautiful location, nikau forests, driftwood fires on the beach in the evening, great sunsets (have to mention sandflies - but just deal with them).

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

  • 5.0/5

    sooooo beautiful!

    the sunset and the gorgeous day walk were amazing. nice clean flush toilets. it was a long drive though, those mountains before karamea, whew!

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in April 2014

  • 5.0/5

    Beautiful place where you can find spots with privacy.

    Normal price $6.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Just great, good facilities, great sites for tent/ campervan, great short and long walks around, also good to try a one day trip on Heaphy track.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    One of the best campsites we visited - beautiful views, clean toilets and secluded sites separated by bush.

    Right at the entrance to the Heaphy Track - a must do when in NZ!

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    Really nice place but lots of sandflies.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

  • 4.0/5

    Very beautiful location.

    Lovely beach and river mouth with great walks very close by. Sheltered sites.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago