173 Rankers Reviews
Number of tent sites - 45. Tapotupotu campsite is a wilderness camping area accessible by road with minimal facilities.
Adult |
$15/night |
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Child |
$7.50/night |
Infant |
FREE |
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what a campsite
zoomCamp near a lagoon suitable for swimming and kayaking. Visit Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua only 5 minutes drive away or 3 hours via the walking track.
This place is amazing and so worth the visit. This is the northern most campsite in New Zealand. Relax on the stunning sandy beaches, swim, snorkel, surf or walk the Cape Reinga Coastal Walkway.
During the peak summer periods there is a manager on site, in the off season you just check your self in.
Be aware that this is a basic campsite and there are no shops on site, so be organised. The roads are unsealed from Waitiki Landing with some steep sections. Please take your rubbish with you.
Mosquitoes prolific – take insect repellent and get ready for the cold showers! Enjoy - you will.
Sections of Te Paki Coastal Track are closed due to storm damage. The closed sections of track are:
The open section of the Te Paki Coastal Track starts at Cape Reinga and ends at Te Paki Stream.
Pandora campsite is closed. Tapotupotu, Kapowairua (Spirits Bay) and Twilight campsites are open.
This is a long term alert.
First published on 28 March 2023. Last reviewed on 5 March 2025.Tapotupotu 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.
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.
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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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
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Websites |
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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? ![]() Medium Cost Camping Standard facilities of powered sites and hot showers can be expected. Price is per person per night, based on a powered site for two people. |
Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? ![]() Camping and any vehicle You are permitted to stay overnight and camp (with a tent) or in any vehicle. |
Campsite Managing Organisation |
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Campsite Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this campsite? ![]() DOC Managed This campsite is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation. ![]() |
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). Cold |
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. |
Dogs |
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DogsDoes this establishment allow dogs? ![]() No dogs allowed The location does not allow dogs under normal conditions. Their may be be exceptions granted under specific circumstances eg. guide dogs. |
DOC Campsite Category |
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DOC Campsite CategoryWhat category does this Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite fall into? DOC Standard Campsite Department of Conservation Standard Campsites have a more limited range of facilities and services. Toilets (usually composting or pit variety) water supply (tap, stream, or lake) and vehicle or boat access. Wood barbeques and fireplaces, showers (cold), picnic tables, a cooking shelter and rubbish bins may be provided. Standard Campsites generally can not be booked. |
Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. |
✓ Beautiful scenery
✓ Close to Cape Reinga
✓ Calm and quiet
✓ Great for stargazing
✓ Nice beaches
𐄂 Dirty or basic toilets
𐄂 Cold showers only
An unpowered site for two people costs $16.
Stayed for just one night.
A quiet and beautiful place.
It's a very beautiful site on a great location.
Lovely campsite right by the beach.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 63 |
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36% |
9/10 | 53 |
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31% |
8/10 | 35 |
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20% |
7/10 | 10 |
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6% |
6/10 | 5 |
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3% |
5/10 | 3 |
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2% |
4/10 | 2 |
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1% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 1 |
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1% |
1/10 | 1 |
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1% |
5.0/5
Quiet and remote grassy area with a beautiful view of the beach and ocean!
Maybe 10 minutes from Cape Reinga, where it really feels like you’re at the edge of the earth! Not crowded and there are lots of good spots but did fill in by the evening.
Reviewed 13 days ago
4.0/5
We stayed off peak but was still really busy.
Pays to get there early. Great views and lovely beach. Toilet was clean and only had a cold shower. Value for money. Would stay again
Reviewed 17 days ago
3.0/5
No more a DOC campsite, 16nzd per person for a night Facilities are not very clean
Reviewed 2 months ago
5.0/5
Amazing place with a river and a beach.
We paid 32 NZD for two people in a van. There are showers and drop toilets. Perfect place to stay near the cape Reinga.
Reviewed 2 months ago
4.0/5
Paid $16 to camp overnight.
Long drop loos but running water and cold outdoor showers. Lots of spaces to park but was also not great weather forecast so might have been why it wasn’t full.
Reviewed 3 months ago
4.0/5
The road was long from the main street, pretty dangerous.
Beautiful view on moon and sunrise, nice beach with huge waves, two toilets, one shower - pretty far from the camp ground non drinkable water.
Beautiful nature place. Opened 24/7
Reviewed 3 months ago
3.5/5
Toller Strand mit schönen Wellen und Ebbe und Flut.
Campen mit Blick aufs Meer und Schlafen mit Meeresrauschen. Unsere Nachbarcamper waren alle sehr ruhig. Platz war nicht überfüllt. Punkt Abzug gibt es für die Toiletten, diese sind dreckig, stinken teilweise, sind Plumpsklos ohne Spülung. 4 Duschen mit Kaltwasser outdoor ohne Türen, zum Aufhängen gibt es ein paar in Holz geschlagene Nägel. Guter Ort für den Digital Detox, da absolut kein Empfang :). Mit Mücken oder Bienen/ Wespen hatten wir keine Probleme. Wir haben vorher online gebucht.
Reviewed 3 months ago
3.5/5
Shitty road to get there, going down like 15 minutes, big waves, cold shower for free, no kitchen or smth, pretty clean, not drinkable water, acces 24/7, 16$ per person.
Calm and quiet
Reviewed 3 months ago
2.5/5
Amazing setting, with great trail to Cape Reigna.
Toilets pretty disgusting and full of mosquitos
Reviewed 4 months ago
4.0/5
Good stay after Cape Reinga.
Nice ground, cool beach. Clean facilities. Access quiet rough but double.
Reviewed 4 months ago
4.5/5
We stayed one night in a tent.
We had a small car.
Road to campground is gravel and steep with washboard ruts. Car was able to pass easily. Basic camground, drop toilets, cold water showers, non potable water, no other services. We camped under a tree in the grass. The beach was 30m away. The night sky here is spectacular! Water is cold but the bay is swimmable. One of our favorite campgrounds so far.
Reviewed 5 months ago
4.5/5
Very nice beach side camping area.
Safe. Area set aside for campervans is not particularly flat and even, but all vehicles seemed to cope OK. Large area for tents. Good toilets and water on tap. Attractive and safe sandy beach. Located just a few kms from Cape Reinga.
Reviewed 6 months ago
4.5/5
Beautiful spot especially in the sun.
Lovely to hear the waves and great for a swim. Drop toilets and cold showers available. The water supply didn’t seem to work when we were there. Had to drive down a bit of a steep road to get there but managebale. Lots of people arriving late on in the evening. Good vibes all round.
Reviewed 7 months ago
4.5/5
Beautiful bay great stop for the night, easy to access in our 6m motor home.
Perfect for the kids. Very low/no cellphone service
Reviewed 7 months ago
5.0/5
Warning: currently closed due to the fires - according to DOC website last updated on 31.03.2023
Reviewed about 2 years ago
4.0/5
Nice location by the beach or river.
Not huge so can feel busy.
Reviewed over 2 years ago
3.0/5
We arrived at this site early in our 6.7m motorhome to secure a good spot.
It's a rugged, beautiful coastline and having views and hearing the ocean is great. Unfortunately later in the morning a large motorhome with 2 kids pulled up and parked about 2 metres next to us when they had all the space in the world and didn't have to be that close. Later in the day there were about a dozen motorhomes staying so busy. We didn't experience any wasps and drop toilets were fine. It did absolutely bucket down rain most of the time we were there and the winds were Gail force but that's mother nature. Remote place to get to and probably worth it, just don't expect it to be uncrowded and this wasn't peak season yet
Reviewed over 2 years ago
5.0/5
Quiet and remote grassy area with a beautiful view of the beach and ocean!
Maybe 10 minutes from Cape Reinga, where it really feels like you’re at the edge of the earth! Not crowded and there are lots of good spots but did fill in by the evening.
Reviewed 13 days ago
4.0/5
We stayed off peak but was still really busy.
Pays to get there early. Great views and lovely beach. Toilet was clean and only had a cold shower. Value for money. Would stay again
Reviewed 17 days ago
5.0/5
Amazing place with a river and a beach.
We paid 32 NZD for two people in a van. There are showers and drop toilets. Perfect place to stay near the cape Reinga.
Reviewed 2 months ago
3.0/5
No more a DOC campsite, 16nzd per person for a night Facilities are not very clean
Reviewed 2 months ago
4.0/5
Paid $16 to camp overnight.
Long drop loos but running water and cold outdoor showers. Lots of spaces to park but was also not great weather forecast so might have been why it wasn’t full.
Reviewed 3 months ago
4.0/5
The road was long from the main street, pretty dangerous.
Beautiful view on moon and sunrise, nice beach with huge waves, two toilets, one shower - pretty far from the camp ground non drinkable water.
Beautiful nature place. Opened 24/7
Reviewed 3 months ago
3.5/5
Toller Strand mit schönen Wellen und Ebbe und Flut.
Campen mit Blick aufs Meer und Schlafen mit Meeresrauschen. Unsere Nachbarcamper waren alle sehr ruhig. Platz war nicht überfüllt. Punkt Abzug gibt es für die Toiletten, diese sind dreckig, stinken teilweise, sind Plumpsklos ohne Spülung. 4 Duschen mit Kaltwasser outdoor ohne Türen, zum Aufhängen gibt es ein paar in Holz geschlagene Nägel. Guter Ort für den Digital Detox, da absolut kein Empfang :). Mit Mücken oder Bienen/ Wespen hatten wir keine Probleme. Wir haben vorher online gebucht.
Reviewed 3 months ago
3.5/5
Shitty road to get there, going down like 15 minutes, big waves, cold shower for free, no kitchen or smth, pretty clean, not drinkable water, acces 24/7, 16$ per person.
Calm and quiet
Reviewed 3 months ago
2.5/5
Amazing setting, with great trail to Cape Reigna.
Toilets pretty disgusting and full of mosquitos
Reviewed 4 months ago
4.0/5
Good stay after Cape Reinga.
Nice ground, cool beach. Clean facilities. Access quiet rough but double.
Reviewed 4 months ago
4.5/5
We stayed one night in a tent.
We had a small car.
Road to campground is gravel and steep with washboard ruts. Car was able to pass easily. Basic camground, drop toilets, cold water showers, non potable water, no other services. We camped under a tree in the grass. The beach was 30m away. The night sky here is spectacular! Water is cold but the bay is swimmable. One of our favorite campgrounds so far.
Reviewed 5 months ago
4.5/5
Very nice beach side camping area.
Safe. Area set aside for campervans is not particularly flat and even, but all vehicles seemed to cope OK. Large area for tents. Good toilets and water on tap. Attractive and safe sandy beach. Located just a few kms from Cape Reinga.
Reviewed 6 months ago
4.5/5
Beautiful spot especially in the sun.
Lovely to hear the waves and great for a swim. Drop toilets and cold showers available. The water supply didn’t seem to work when we were there. Had to drive down a bit of a steep road to get there but managebale. Lots of people arriving late on in the evening. Good vibes all round.
Reviewed 7 months ago
4.5/5
Beautiful bay great stop for the night, easy to access in our 6m motor home.
Perfect for the kids. Very low/no cellphone service
Reviewed 7 months ago
5.0/5
Warning: currently closed due to the fires - according to DOC website last updated on 31.03.2023
Reviewed about 2 years ago
4.0/5
Nice location by the beach or river.
Not huge so can feel busy.
Reviewed over 2 years ago
3.0/5
We arrived at this site early in our 6.7m motorhome to secure a good spot.
It's a rugged, beautiful coastline and having views and hearing the ocean is great. Unfortunately later in the morning a large motorhome with 2 kids pulled up and parked about 2 metres next to us when they had all the space in the world and didn't have to be that close. Later in the day there were about a dozen motorhomes staying so busy. We didn't experience any wasps and drop toilets were fine. It did absolutely bucket down rain most of the time we were there and the winds were Gail force but that's mother nature. Remote place to get to and probably worth it, just don't expect it to be uncrowded and this wasn't peak season yet
Reviewed over 2 years ago
4.0/5
Got to the campsite easily in the rain with a 2-berth 6m campervan.
The actual camp-site is beautiful. The parking area for vans was grassed and lovely but only had a few level spots so get in quick. Didn't use the facilities so unsure of condition. Had phone reception but dropped out every now and then. Was absolutely pissing down with rain so didn't get to check out the beach or river. Great spot overall :)
Reviewed over 2 years ago
4.5/5
Magical spot!
Came in August and only a few other campers here. Quiet, tranquil and stunningly beautiful. Very reasonable at only $16 night. Very little internet service to book online but managed to get some, standing by book-in station. Toilets are ugly long drops and a bit scary, but clean and did the job (haha). Saying that, I'd tolerate them again to have the pleasure staying in one of NZ's most amazing regions.
Reviewed over 2 years ago