Mangawhero Campsite

Mangawhero Campsite

Tongariro National Park

32 Rankers Reviews

8 Face-to-Face

11 Ohakune

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Mangawhero Camping Ground - Ohakune

Information

Mangawhero Campsite

Camp in the forest on the flanks of Mount Ruapehu; a good base for exploring Tongariro National Park.

The Mangawhero Camping Ground is just 2km up the Mountain Road from Ohakune. A primo place to explore the area, go biking along the Ohakune Coach Road, tramp around Mt Ruapehu, chill in Ohakune, or if you are well prepared its a pretty cheap place to stay during the winter......

DOC Campsite Pricing

Mangawhero 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 Central North Island

Central government organisation

Location

North IslandRuapehuOhakune

Categories

  • Activity__basic_facility_campingBasic Camping

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-39.3997134

175.4156086

Latitude
-39.3997134
Longitude
175.4156086

Websites

Reviews

    ✓ Peaceful and quiet

    ✓ Well-spaced parking

    ✓ Scenic views

    ✓ Good location near town

    ✓ Nice birdlife

    𐄂 Lack of privacy

    𐄂 Long drop toilets smell

    • Beautiful view of mountain.
    • Great, clean campsite in a beautiful setting.
    • Many people.
    • Basic facilities but fine considering the price.
    • Quiet, decent sized and flat pitches.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 6
    19%
    9/10 7
    22%
    8/10 10
    31%
    7/10 4
    13%
    6/10 4
    13%
    5/10 1
    3%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 3.0/5

    Really basic doc site, longdrop and a few shady spots, not much privacy.

    Close to town and peaceful but not much else going to offer.

    Reviewed 10 months ago

  • 4.5/5

    Cute little cul-de-sac for campervans and a separate area for tents.

    No privacy but plenty of space for everyone and a picnic table in the middle. Toilets are okay - clean enough but, like all other drop toilets, very smelly.

    Location is great! Only about half an hour from National Park but there's also great views and some nice walks if you keep heading up Ohakune Mountain Road. Ohakune itself is also just a few mins down the road and it's a lovely little town.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 4.0/5

    We recently spent two nights here.

    Not a huge campsite but each site is individual which is nice. Little to no signal we found. Toilet provided. Must book ahead, but we didn’t see anyone coming around to check. DOC Campsite Pass is valid here. Find us on Facebook if you’re touring @saltyskin

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 5.0/5

    Beautiful view of mountain.

    Long drop toilet, stank but that's typical of those toilets. Lots of Tui's flying around. Lovely listening to the birds in morning.

    Good coffee at Kombi coffee in town 👌

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    A great place to stay and explore the local walks.

    I spent two nights here with hardly anyone else around. The toilets were clean and had toilet paper. Would happily stay here again.

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Quiet, decent sized and flat pitches.

    Good road up to the campsite. You pay $13 pp in an envelope and in the box - someone came to check in the morning but hardly anyone there so very peaceful and pleasant.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    This is a DOC camp site (there is a bit more room if you keep driving round the road).

    It's well looked after and the gravel sites are level. The toilet is a long drop but it's substantially housed. There are walking tracks by the river. It's quiet and you can see the mountain. The cost is $13per adult (it has increased).

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Perfect campsite to stay before go to Tongariro alpine crossing.

    We were alone and just inside the nature. We liked it so much!

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Really nice camp spot, facilities are basic, just a clean long drop, water and a few benches.

    But beware (particularly cyclists like myself) this isn't the exact location, it is about 1.5k further away from town, so nipping to town is a bit more of a chore.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Wonderful small DOC spot, enjoyed it!

    Good view, quiet. Drop toilet okay. Drinking water. Honesty box. Lots of tracks and beautiful ride up the mountain.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 2.5/5

    Beautiful scenery and quiet.

    We decided on the holiday park because for a little extra you got way more than just a yucky toilet. $13 per person to camp here felt pretty outrageous for what you received.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    Really basic doc site, longdrop and a few shady spots, not much privacy.

    Close to town and peaceful but not much else going to offer.

    Reviewed 10 months ago

  • 4.5/5

    Great spot with obvious parking bays well spaced apart.

    Nice and quiet. I had a phone signal. Will stay again.

    Reviewed 10 months ago

  • 4.5/5

    Cute little cul-de-sac for campervans and a separate area for tents.

    No privacy but plenty of space for everyone and a picnic table in the middle. Toilets are okay - clean enough but, like all other drop toilets, very smelly.

    Location is great! Only about half an hour from National Park but there's also great views and some nice walks if you keep heading up Ohakune Mountain Road. Ohakune itself is also just a few mins down the road and it's a lovely little town.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 4.0/5

    We recently spent two nights here.

    Not a huge campsite but each site is individual which is nice. Little to no signal we found. Toilet provided. Must book ahead, but we didn’t see anyone coming around to check. DOC Campsite Pass is valid here. Find us on Facebook if you’re touring @saltyskin

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 5.0/5

    Beautiful view of mountain.

    Long drop toilet, stank but that's typical of those toilets. Lots of Tui's flying around. Lovely listening to the birds in morning.

    Good coffee at Kombi coffee in town 👌

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Quiet, decent sized and flat pitches.

    Good road up to the campsite. You pay $13 pp in an envelope and in the box - someone came to check in the morning but hardly anyone there so very peaceful and pleasant.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    This is a DOC camp site (there is a bit more room if you keep driving round the road).

    It's well looked after and the gravel sites are level. The toilet is a long drop but it's substantially housed. There are walking tracks by the river. It's quiet and you can see the mountain. The cost is $13per adult (it has increased).

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Perfect campsite to stay before go to Tongariro alpine crossing.

    We were alone and just inside the nature. We liked it so much!

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Really nice camp spot, facilities are basic, just a clean long drop, water and a few benches.

    But beware (particularly cyclists like myself) this isn't the exact location, it is about 1.5k further away from town, so nipping to town is a bit more of a chore.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Wonderful small DOC spot, enjoyed it!

    Good view, quiet. Drop toilet okay. Drinking water. Honesty box. Lots of tracks and beautiful ride up the mountain.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 2.5/5

    Beautiful scenery and quiet.

    We decided on the holiday park because for a little extra you got way more than just a yucky toilet. $13 per person to camp here felt pretty outrageous for what you received.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    Great spot just out of town, good view of the mountain.

    As the photos show, the first site is just a little cul-de-sac with taps, a sink and a long-drop. The 2nd site just up the road seemed intended for tent campers. Great bush trail nearby. The toilet, however, was super grim -- poo piled up almost to the top, overwhelming ammonia stench, and flies everywhere. But hey, it's well located and only $6pp.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Nice DOC camping ground with beautiful views of the mountains with honesty box.

    Easy to find and to park the campervan. The one hour round walk which starts at the entrance of the road to the camping grounds shows you the names of all trees.

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Basic facilities but fine considering the price.

    When we arrived around 6 pm we found the first camp site was full but there was a second site a bit further on which was pleasant and well maintained. Access to a river with some nice water holes.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in January 2015

  • 5.0/5

    We ended up here late in the night, so didn't get to enjoy it too much in the daylight hours.

    But a very peaceful location and not nearly as cold as I thought.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    A great little campsite, nice view of the mountain, had 3 nights there in June, nice clear nights good frost.

    Water supply is the same as Ohakune township so ok to drink. One long drop toilet that was clean. Easy to get a 22 foot caravan in there. Will be back.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    pretty spot, easy to get to, longdrop toilet was clean.

    so many stars! frosty in the early morning.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Nice spot, on the road to Ruapehu.

    Just 6$ for toilets, tap water and a very clean place. Not big, just suitable for a maximum of 15 cars/tents so be early!

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in December 2013

  • 4.5/5

    Great, clean campsite in a beautiful setting.

    We were there in mid-December and had plenty of space to set up our tent. The campsite has a single toilet and a cold water sink; everything was clean and seemed well maintained. We enjoyed listening to the sound of the river while we slept and went for a great run on the nearby trails the following day followed by a quick river dunk. Excellent spot! $6 pp/night

    Reviewed almost 11 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Usual DOC tariff, basic camping ground as described, have seen better and worse during our travels.

    We spent the night quietly and left early.

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Good spot, $6 per night.

    Good toilet and water.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Nice view of mountain in the distance, water tap (drinkable).

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    Arrived there quite late, so did not see much of it, was pretty crowded tho.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013

  • 4.0/5

    Many people.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013

  • 5.0/5

    Delightfully situated with views of mountains.

    A credit to DOC. 6 NZD per person (no power).

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Secluded campsite, with sneaky glimpses of Mount Ruapehu.

    The usual basic DOC facilities; single long drop loo, and a cold wash hand basin. Hard standing for campervans and a small orchard area for tents. A few picnic benches located on a central grassy area. Handily placed for the national park and good value at $6. Stand pipe for refilling campervan tanks

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Small secluded site with self regulating (only $4pp), had flattened gravel areas next to grass space (about 8 spaces).

    picnic table, recycling and Mt Ruapehu views.

    Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in February 2011

  • 3.0/5

    Only one toilet!!

    Reviewed over 12 years ago