Hipapatua / Reid's Farm Recreation Reserve Free Campsite
Taupo
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Hipapatua / Reid's Farm Recreation Reserve Free Campsite
Free Campsite on the Waikato River just out of Taupo.
Free camping is permitted on this recreation reserve. All campers, including those in certified self-contained vehicles, can stay for a maximum of three nights and/or four days in any 14 night period before they need to move on.
Area A - Summer (larger)
Area A is open from Labour Weekend until end of April and has camping areas available. Area A is usually closed for camping in winter for annual maintenance. Lower toilets (near river) Open. Upper toilets (by road) Closed. There is a day area that is only open between 7am-7pm.
Area B - Winter (smaller)
Area B is open from end of April until Labour Weekend. Lower toilets (near river) Open. Upper toilets (by road) Open.
This campsite is close to town, and can be a popular party venue, especially on New Year's Eve. It's used a lot by travellers and sometimes by school groups. It can be a bit boggy after lots of rain. Quite a few sandflys as it is right on the river.
There is a permanent fire ban on this campsite (NO FIRES), and a complete liquor ban between noon on 27 December and 7am on 4 January.
This is a very popular spot for people learning how to white water kayak, and is the end point for guided kayak tours on the Waikato River.
Facilities are basic - the only water supply is the Waikato River, so we suggest that all drinking water is boiled first. There are no showers or cooking facilities.
Campers must take all their rubbish with them as a 'pack it in, pack it out' arrangement is in place to help protect the land and river. Campers should take their rubbish to the nearest refuse location - find out more about refuse locations and prices at www.taupo.govt.nz/rubbish.
Toilets have disability access.
Details
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Organisation |
Taupo District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo |
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Operating Season And Hours |
The main lower camping area at Hipapatua Recreational Reserve (Reid’s Farm) closes for annual maintenance work between May and September every year. Signage at the reserve will direct campers to the smaller, upper camping area, which remains open during these months. Day use of the lower reserve, as well as river access, will not be affected by these works. |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Basic Camping
Google Maps
Nearby
Reviews
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Great views of the river -
Close to Taupo
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Free camping
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Ample space for campers
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Very busy and crowded -
Poor toilet facilities
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Uneven ground
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Directly on a nice river.
Laura -
Basic facilties but quite clean.
Ruben Kunze -
Some of the ground is quite muddy.
Kate -
FREE!
balthes -
Really nice, free, a lot of young travellers.
Nimh Oudhof
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No Camping next to the river and I actually didnt notice that the toilets are that close to the Campground and used the other ones there which were okay.
All in all a good opertunity next to Taupo ☺️
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It is a popular place to park even in June.
There is plenty of space and was quiet. Some porta-loos available in the top car park. In the morning, the toilets by the bottom car park were open. View of the river was amazing.
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Reason for 8/10 Lots of spot's for all types, ground not level in 50% of park, portable toilet only but was quiet given how busy it was
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Very busy camping..
we shared the place with about 50 other campers. Not very pretty one, but it’s for free so not going to complain
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Convenient location to Taupo and day use area looked like a great river chill spot on a sunny day.
Otherwise, just a crowded, dirt carpark with limited flat spots. Fine for a night but not one of my favorite campgrounds.
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loved this camp spot, get there early to get a nice parking spot as it get quiet busy.
no showers, toilets are portable toilets. the river near by is amazing. definitely recommend checking it out just for the river
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Great spot not too far from Taupō centre.
Lovely spot to go for a quick swim just a small wander from the sites. Extremely busy zone but there is a lot of space to squeeze in
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Better be travelling in winter.
Otherwise it's perpetually overfull, cars stacked in all directions with barely walking space between, many having to park at awkward angles on steep slopes. A labyrinthine mass of cars. Road is dirt, featuring both deep potholes and sandy traps that threaten even medium sized campers. This is also your best freedom camping option in taupo, irrespective whether you are fully self contained or not, hence why there is a steady stream of people trying to shoehorn in somewhere all night, and half that number leaving again in disgust. There is one portaloo. Somewhere.
Honestly, if you're considering visiting taupo, i'd do it for a few hours and then continue on to rotorua, where the camping options are better. Nothing on offer to see or do in taupo is worth putting yourself and your camper at the mercy of this campsite during the holiday period.
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Busy busy busy, good for being so close to Taupo and toilets weren’t terrible but it’s a really hectic spot and not the prettiest.
Great for a quick stop and pretty impressive that it’s free
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It’s free and easy access to Huka Falls so I can’t complain too much, but this isn’t an amazing spot to spend the night.
The port-a-potties are ok but it was noisy and with a rowdy crowd, and very busy without much room. If you can, wake up early and move to the day use area when it opens for the better bathrooms and washing up area to start the day.
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Very basic, just portable toilets available.
Pretty busy during the weekend, need to arrive early to get a good spot. Close to town and free so it’s good for overnight free camping.
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It's an excellent spot with ample space and portable toilets.
Trees on the side offer protection from rain and wind. A short walk down to the river reveals additional dump stations and even a designated area for dishwashing.
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The first night we arrived late and we didn’t get a flat spot.
The second night, we got a good spot.
This a good place to stay close to the town and to sleep.
There is a portable toilet (I didn’t go)
And there is a lot of campers who are going there so I recommend even during winter to arrive before sunset.
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Parked in the small car park allowing for overnight camping, lots next to river were closed off.
Quiet. Not very level. Toilet in small building was totally blocked up. Portaloo was alright. Was nice that it was close to town.
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The perfect spot to stay the night!!
Loads of space for vehicles and tents, just some muddy patches from all the rain! There are about 4 portaloos around the area but they were overflowing with faeces so I definitely recommend walking (2mins) down to the river area and using the toilets there! Such a beautiful location!!
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No Camping next to the river and I actually didnt notice that the toilets are that close to the Campground and used the other ones there which were okay.
All in all a good opertunity next to Taupo ☺️
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It is a popular place to park even in June.
There is plenty of space and was quiet. Some porta-loos available in the top car park. In the morning, the toilets by the bottom car park were open. View of the river was amazing.
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Reason for 8/10 Lots of spot's for all types, ground not level in 50% of park, portable toilet only but was quiet given how busy it was
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Very busy camping..
we shared the place with about 50 other campers. Not very pretty one, but it’s for free so not going to complain
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Convenient location to Taupo and day use area looked like a great river chill spot on a sunny day.
Otherwise, just a crowded, dirt carpark with limited flat spots. Fine for a night but not one of my favorite campgrounds.
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loved this camp spot, get there early to get a nice parking spot as it get quiet busy.
no showers, toilets are portable toilets. the river near by is amazing. definitely recommend checking it out just for the river
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Great spot not too far from Taupō centre.
Lovely spot to go for a quick swim just a small wander from the sites. Extremely busy zone but there is a lot of space to squeeze in
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Better be travelling in winter.
Otherwise it's perpetually overfull, cars stacked in all directions with barely walking space between, many having to park at awkward angles on steep slopes. A labyrinthine mass of cars. Road is dirt, featuring both deep potholes and sandy traps that threaten even medium sized campers. This is also your best freedom camping option in taupo, irrespective whether you are fully self contained or not, hence why there is a steady stream of people trying to shoehorn in somewhere all night, and half that number leaving again in disgust. There is one portaloo. Somewhere.
Honestly, if you're considering visiting taupo, i'd do it for a few hours and then continue on to rotorua, where the camping options are better. Nothing on offer to see or do in taupo is worth putting yourself and your camper at the mercy of this campsite during the holiday period.
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Busy busy busy, good for being so close to Taupo and toilets weren’t terrible but it’s a really hectic spot and not the prettiest.
Great for a quick stop and pretty impressive that it’s free
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It’s free and easy access to Huka Falls so I can’t complain too much, but this isn’t an amazing spot to spend the night.
The port-a-potties are ok but it was noisy and with a rowdy crowd, and very busy without much room. If you can, wake up early and move to the day use area when it opens for the better bathrooms and washing up area to start the day.
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Here during winter (is first gate before the proper Hipapatua reserve) it was absolutely freezing, had ice form inside the van.
Bring a hotwater bottle. The toilet was a portaloo, and it seemed to be cleaned daily.
Get here fast because the camp area is small and it fills up fast.
Beautiful view of river if you park near the edge.
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ADRESS IS WRONG!
it’s down the street a bit. So many people drive the wrong way. Other than that busy campsite with nasty toilets but easy access to the town. So still happy :)
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The photos look nothing like the spot but there was a lower area near the river that may have been the photos in the reviews.
But….couldn't figure out how to get there.
Kinda weird. Also the spot is a bit further than the address below.
The ground wasn’t level which was annoying. Kinda hard to find a spot. Port-a-poty w no TP. The view was nice tho.
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Just awful.
Rubbish everywhere, looked like it was going to be party central, people with huge bruiser dogs. We left in a BIG hurry. Ugh.
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Very basic, just portable toilets available.
Pretty busy during the weekend, need to arrive early to get a good spot. Close to town and free so it’s good for overnight free camping.
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It's an excellent spot with ample space and portable toilets.
Trees on the side offer protection from rain and wind. A short walk down to the river reveals additional dump stations and even a designated area for dishwashing.
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They changed the location slightly.
You have to drive the main road 100m further up, don’t enter the reserve.
There is a fancy portaloo with toiletpaper, soap and a waterpump to wash hands.
Ground is pretty uneven and it gets very full even now in spring.
Down at the river is the possibility to wash dishes in a big sink, but only accessible during the day.