(Spirits Bay Campsite)
Kapowairua Campsite
Te Paki Recreation Reserve, Cape Reinga
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Kapowairua Campsite
Camp with lush forests and sandy beaches in close range. Kapowairua is a place to relax, enjoy and explore the great outdoors.
This is the perfect place to go fishing and swimming! The Kapowairua Camping Ground is situated close to the beach and the lagoon.
Notices
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Eastern Te Paki track closures
All walking tracks east of State Highway 1 and Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua in the Te Paki Recreation Reserve are closed due to storm damage. The tracks to the west including the Lighthouse track are open.
Pandora campsite is closed. Tapotupotu, Kapowiarua (Spirits Bay) and Twilight campsites are open.
This is a long term alert.
First published on 28 March 2023. Last reviewed on 15 November 2024.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Kapowairua (Spirits Bay) 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 |
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| 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 |
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Organisation |
DOC NorthlandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kaitaia |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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4.5/5
Great spot with lovely swimming or surfing beach.
Nice clean toilets & cold showers
This camp is not free with a DOC pass. We were charged $16 each per night.
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4.5/5
Best beach we found on our trip - simply stunning!
Looks like the facilities have been upgraded - lots of room. Peaceful.
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4.5/5
The camping is ok, have no electricity, cold water on the showers, some toilets and shins to refill the self contained.
The amazing thing is the landscape, stunning beach and mountain around. Nobody was on the office, you just have to pay online.
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5.0/5
Amazing campsite next to a breahttaking beach.
Clean toilettes and 4 cold showers. Lots of space on grass for you car. Getting there by gravel road needs nearly 30 min, but can be passed by any vehicle. Phone internet signal available (one nz).
All in All very awesome.
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5.0/5
Magnificient space for campervan, hide deep in nature after 10+km into gravel road.
Lovely hills, infinite beach
Plenty of space to find a spot with decent privacy.
Nice drop toilet (not smelly),cold shower (did not use)
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4.5/5
Nice and wild.
Drop toilets. Beautiful beach. Lots of mosquitoes at dusk and dawn this time of year. Long gravel riad but in secent shape.
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5.0/5
Spirits Bay itself was a beautiful, most peaceful & magical place a short stroll away.
Winter review:
Arrived early July along a 13KM gravel road in and had the entire place to ourselves
What a beautiful spot
Sprawling grass site with picturesque rolling hills as a backdrop dotted by horses now & again through our stay
Modern & clean amenities (drop toilet & showers)
Blanket of stars at night
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4.0/5
Interesting place to say the least.
Given its history in Maori legend we found it a bit eery. Had a strange experience on our second night with a local who had been fishing after dark approached us saying he had a flat tire and if we had seen anyone near his car. Given it was only us and one other campervan it was a bit unsettling. He then proceeded to sit there for almost an hour flashing his light in all directions before slowly driving off. Probably wouldn't stay again
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4.5/5
Great spot to camp.
Lovely whanau at the front gate.
Pull up pay,and park up where ever you want.
Clean toilets and showers.
The beach is amazing. Great sunsets.
Will definately be back.
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5.0/5
Loved this spot, came for one night and decided to stay for two.
Went for a bit of a hike. Cold showers but they were great considering how hot it was. Dirt road in but well worth it!
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4.0/5
Stunning location.
15 km gravel Road in.
Not direct beach front but a short walk in to a huge stretch of sandy White Beach. Access from here to outstanding headland walks, views even across to Cape Reinga.
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4.5/5
Great spot with lovely swimming or surfing beach.
Nice clean toilets & cold showers
This camp is not free with a DOC pass. We were charged $16 each per night.
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4.5/5
Best beach we found on our trip - simply stunning!
Looks like the facilities have been upgraded - lots of room. Peaceful.
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4.5/5
The camping is ok, have no electricity, cold water on the showers, some toilets and shins to refill the self contained.
The amazing thing is the landscape, stunning beach and mountain around. Nobody was on the office, you just have to pay online.
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5.0/5
Amazing campsite next to a breahttaking beach.
Clean toilettes and 4 cold showers. Lots of space on grass for you car. Getting there by gravel road needs nearly 30 min, but can be passed by any vehicle. Phone internet signal available (one nz).
All in All very awesome.
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5.0/5
Magnificient space for campervan, hide deep in nature after 10+km into gravel road.
Lovely hills, infinite beach
Plenty of space to find a spot with decent privacy.
Nice drop toilet (not smelly),cold shower (did not use)
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4.5/5
Nice and wild.
Drop toilets. Beautiful beach. Lots of mosquitoes at dusk and dawn this time of year. Long gravel riad but in secent shape.
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5.0/5
Spirits Bay itself was a beautiful, most peaceful & magical place a short stroll away.
Winter review:
Arrived early July along a 13KM gravel road in and had the entire place to ourselves
What a beautiful spot
Sprawling grass site with picturesque rolling hills as a backdrop dotted by horses now & again through our stay
Modern & clean amenities (drop toilet & showers)
Blanket of stars at night
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4.0/5
Interesting place to say the least.
Given its history in Maori legend we found it a bit eery. Had a strange experience on our second night with a local who had been fishing after dark approached us saying he had a flat tire and if we had seen anyone near his car. Given it was only us and one other campervan it was a bit unsettling. He then proceeded to sit there for almost an hour flashing his light in all directions before slowly driving off. Probably wouldn't stay again
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4.5/5
Great spot to camp.
Lovely whanau at the front gate.
Pull up pay,and park up where ever you want.
Clean toilets and showers.
The beach is amazing. Great sunsets.
Will definately be back.
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5.0/5
Loved this spot, came for one night and decided to stay for two.
Went for a bit of a hike. Cold showers but they were great considering how hot it was. Dirt road in but well worth it!
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4.0/5
Stunning location.
15 km gravel Road in.
Not direct beach front but a short walk in to a huge stretch of sandy White Beach. Access from here to outstanding headland walks, views even across to Cape Reinga.
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4.0/5
Awesome spacious campsite even on Christmas Eve.
Beautiful scenery of mountains, ocean and horses. Facilities were basic but at a good standard....cold showers and drop toilets.
Downside was the midgies (sandflies) but still totally worth it.
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4.0/5
Beautiful place.
Short way to the beach and a river. 13$ per adult, 6.50$ per child. Toilets were ok. Showers and taps were dirty. But the location makes it all up!
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4.5/5
Beautiful campsite!
The rock near the hill looks like a head or something.. Very nice!
One thing.. Watch out for the hundreds of mosquitos!
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5.0/5
Fabulous spot.
Plenty of space, very tidy.
Cold running water. Clean toilets.
Amazing beach.
Perfect place for relaxing time.
$13 per person.
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5.0/5
A really great place as always, the scenery was as unique as it was a full blown photo.
The hosts, Kitty and her daughters were really marvelous. The cold showers were one sure way of waking you up to a crisp and beautiful day. Highly recommend Kapowairua to other campers. I remember my dad took us there as he is locally from TeHapua. Thank you to DOC and the hosts for a lovely easter weekend retreat.
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5.0/5
Very nice and beautiful beach, closed to the campingsite (3 minutes walk).
Be careful of some sandflies at the campsite, not on the beach. Toilets and showers are clean. Apart from the sandflies, the place is highly recommended: view of wild horses, around it all is green, fine sandy beach, few surfers and fishermen (end of March). Note: If you see jellyfish on the beach with blue threads, do not go into the water! We inquired, they are 'poisonous' they are burning. But is rarely the case, depending on how the flow from Australia.
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4.5/5
Well worth the gravel drive.
Beautiful setting and very few people.Bags of room for everyone to find a peaceful spot.
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5.0/5
Really loved this site.
A bit of a drive on gravel but once reached the site, it was great. The toilets are absolutely ok for DOC, there is water (which needs to be boiled for consumption) and cold showers which we didn’t try.
The scenery is stunning and after dark, the stars were beautiful to watch given there were no electric lights around.
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3.5/5
Pretty good for price as only $7.50 per person but no hot shower only cold.
Good for if your up by the cape and need a night stop over.
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3.0/5
Beautiful location, beach is private and gorgeous.
Road is a little bit of a pain and camp site could have more trees. Bathroom facilities were clean and heaps of choice on where to pitch your tent.
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5.0/5
Clean toilets.
Clean showers. Campground is immaculate. Perfect beach and river alongside which is really calm and perfect place to relax. (You have to check out this water. It’s crystal clear and absolutely stunning.) Plenty of spaces and ranger was very friendly.
CASH ONLY.
Super close to Cape Reinga. Short hike but we decided to drive as a lot of the hike is uphill and it was a really hot day.
Would highly recommend.
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4.0/5
Really lovely location only spoilt by heavy rain overnight.
Wonderful empty beach wildlife everywhere and lots and lots of space. Only real downer is the rough drive down to it.
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5.0/5
Super nice spot!
For $10 per person you get access to freshwater, a few very clean long drop toilets, cold showers and a beach right next to your door. Very quiet and calm, but 20 minutes dirt road from the main road. Even with a bigger van no problem.
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4.5/5
We stayed two nights.
Wonderful place, peaceful, close to the beach, amazing view, horses next to the campground. Compost toilets and cold showers, basic but everything is clean. One picnic table. Place is known for mosquitos and sand flies but we haven't 'seen' any (winter).
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5.0/5
Fabulous site.
Quiet, probably due to the very long drive down a gravel road, but for the more adventurous driving an 8m van to a stunning spot at the end. Clean toilets and refreshing cold showers, and access to an unspoilt beach for as far as I could see. Very friendly ranger and other campers.
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5.0/5
The best site I stayed at for my whole trip, a fantastic location.
Long drop toilets very well maintained. I had an AWD vehicle but be aware it is a 30 - 40 minute drive along unsealed track from that main road. Definitely worth it
