Clements Clearing Campsite

Clements Clearing Campsite

Kaimanawa Forest Park

9 Rankers Reviews

3 Face-to-Face

9 Turangi

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Clements Clearing Camping Ground

Information

Clements Clearing Campsite

A basic but large campsite in the Tūrangi/Taupō area. Good place to base yourself to explore the area.

Clements Clearing is a large basic camping ground right at the base of the Kaimanawa Ranges and a great base to go on a hunting or tramping mission.

Basic campsites have very limited facilities so you need to be fully self-sufficient. There are basic toilets and water may be from a water tank that is untreated, stream or lake. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe.

25 non-powered/tent sites. Bookings not required - first come, first served.

Fires permitted in designated fire places and only if there is no fire ban check rules and firebans with relevant DOC office.

Dogs with a DOC permit only. Contact the relevant DOC office for a permit.

No horses.

How to get there:
27 km east of Taupō, turn right off SH 5 into Taharua Rd

Follow for 9.5 km, then turn right into Clements Mill Rd.

Gravel road.

DOC Campsite Pricing

Clements Clearing Campsite is categorised as a DOC Basic Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing.

DOC Basic Campsite

Basic campsites have very limited facilities so you need to be fully self-sufficient. There are basic toilets and water may be from a water tank that is untreated, stream or lake. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Access may be by road or boat.

Feature Value Value
Unpowered Site Adult $0.00 per night
Unpowered Site Child $0.00 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 Central North Island

Central government organisation

Location

North IslandTaupo RegionTurangi

Categories

  • Activity__basic_facility_campingBasic Camping
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-38.9478282440888

176.184697151184

Latitude
-38.9478282440888
Longitude
176.184697151184

Websites

Reviews

    • It's a beautiful place within a great forest.
    • This place is SUPER rustic but amazing.
    • Long drive on rocky single track road.
    • Perfect for self contained vehicles.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 1
    11%
    9/10 2
    22%
    8/10 2
    22%
    7/10 1
    11%
    6/10 0
    0%
    5/10 1
    11%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 2
    22%
  • 5.0/5

    Great place for our first night away in a camper trailer with two adults, two toddlers, a tween and dog.

    Absolutely hosed down all night but was still comfortable in our little set up. Our site was actually pretty clean. Long drops available throughout as well as purpose built fire pits. Firewood is scarce so take your own. I’m sure it’ll be a great place in summer.

    Reviewed 24 days ago

  • 4.5/5

    Perfect for self contained vehicles.

    Quite remote, we too had our doubts that it existed but follow the road until you see it in your right. Took about half an hour from the turn off. There was no one there when we visited in July. Could hear the Kiwi’s at night which was awesome.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Well, the location on this app (as at 4th Jan 2022) is not correct.

    [EDIT 15-01-22 Location now correct!]

    You need to continue about 10km from the Sika Lodge down Clements road before you find the clearing.

    Glad we found it but took us a fair bit of driving.

    Once you're there, there's plenty space, but no water and a long drop toilet (has to be expected)

    You'll be well off grid as you won't get any phone signal until you're back out on SH5.

    Otherwise pleasant, would go again just for that 'get away from it all' experience.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    This place is SUPER rustic but amazing.

    A friend and I did a camping road trip around North Island and this place sticks out in my mind as one of the highlights. The toilet was wasp infested but we made do. There is no water but little fireplaces and it is VERY quiet and other campers are extremely nice. I WANT to go back again. My friend and I had some wine and cheese and relaxed in nature on our chairs and had a good experience. We brought everything we could have wanted with us. The road is riddled with pot holes and there’s no good signage but you know you’ve found it when you stumble upon it.

    Reviewed about 5 years ago and experienced in February 2019

  • 4.0/5

    It's a beautiful place within a great forest.

    If you want be isolated from the rest of civilisation it's the perfect place.

    - there is no signposted from DOC

    - one huge area and a lot of small isolated areas

    - aproximate 15km from start of clements road gravel part or 30min

    - we can't find water supply

    - 1 toilet

    - a lot of fire pits

    - could see 3 picnic bench

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

  • 0.5/5

    Really long and windy one track gravel road before you get to this camp - looked quite scary - old caravans etc think it is for hunters - would not recommend this site.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    To get there you have to drive further on the gravel road than you think but then you get there.

    Large campsite, two toilets (clean) nice spot,

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in November 2012

  • 5.0/5

    Great place for our first night away in a camper trailer with two adults, two toddlers, a tween and dog.

    Absolutely hosed down all night but was still comfortable in our little set up. Our site was actually pretty clean. Long drops available throughout as well as purpose built fire pits. Firewood is scarce so take your own. I’m sure it’ll be a great place in summer.

    Reviewed 24 days ago

  • 4.5/5

    Perfect for self contained vehicles.

    Quite remote, we too had our doubts that it existed but follow the road until you see it in your right. Took about half an hour from the turn off. There was no one there when we visited in July. Could hear the Kiwi’s at night which was awesome.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Well, the location on this app (as at 4th Jan 2022) is not correct.

    [EDIT 15-01-22 Location now correct!]

    You need to continue about 10km from the Sika Lodge down Clements road before you find the clearing.

    Glad we found it but took us a fair bit of driving.

    Once you're there, there's plenty space, but no water and a long drop toilet (has to be expected)

    You'll be well off grid as you won't get any phone signal until you're back out on SH5.

    Otherwise pleasant, would go again just for that 'get away from it all' experience.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    This place is SUPER rustic but amazing.

    A friend and I did a camping road trip around North Island and this place sticks out in my mind as one of the highlights. The toilet was wasp infested but we made do. There is no water but little fireplaces and it is VERY quiet and other campers are extremely nice. I WANT to go back again. My friend and I had some wine and cheese and relaxed in nature on our chairs and had a good experience. We brought everything we could have wanted with us. The road is riddled with pot holes and there’s no good signage but you know you’ve found it when you stumble upon it.

    Reviewed about 5 years ago and experienced in February 2019

  • 4.0/5

    It's a beautiful place within a great forest.

    If you want be isolated from the rest of civilisation it's the perfect place.

    - there is no signposted from DOC

    - one huge area and a lot of small isolated areas

    - aproximate 15km from start of clements road gravel part or 30min

    - we can't find water supply

    - 1 toilet

    - a lot of fire pits

    - could see 3 picnic bench

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

  • 0.5/5

    Really long and windy one track gravel road before you get to this camp - looked quite scary - old caravans etc think it is for hunters - would not recommend this site.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 0.5/5

    Long drive on rocky single track road.

    Extra dark, covered by trees. Not a great atmosphere, unpleasant toilet.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

  • 2.5/5

    Long, windy gravel road to it, not really scenic, no water to be had.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    To get there you have to drive further on the gravel road than you think but then you get there.

    Large campsite, two toilets (clean) nice spot,

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in November 2012