Mangahuia Campsite
Mount / Mt Ruapehu
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Mangahuia Campsite
A peaceful campsite beside a stream on the edge of the Tongariro National Park.
Easily accessed from State Highway 47 and very close to National Park Village. This campsite provides less facilities than nearby Whakapapa motorcamp but with far less cost.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Mangahuia 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 Central North IslandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Tongariro / National Park Village |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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3.0/5
Stayed here for two nights during spring time.
Decent facilities but toilets were a bit gross, no surprise there though! Fairly quiet, campervans have a separate area to tent sites, cooking shelter near tent area. Good location to the mountain and level spots :) - follow on IG/YT Milly0nthem0ve for all things travel!
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4.0/5
Great spot with privacy and shelter from the winds.
No phone signal and annoying flies but otherwise perfectly pleasant
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3.0/5
It's a pretty quiet spot to spend a night.
There's a couple toilets in the campervan area (which were cleaner than the ones on the Tongariro trail) (there's a separate area for tents. People were pitched pretty close together).
You can either park in a more private spot with tall bushes either side or in this circular area with 5-6 car spots.
Not that scenic because of the tall bushes and trees all around.
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4.0/5
Great spot at the bottom of the mountain.
Toilets available in ok condition. Water was frozen (expected and below subzero)
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4.0/5
Got there late and left early so I don't have a lot to say, but overall seemed like a nice site in a really great location.
Most spots are surrounded by trees/bushes so while there's not a huge amount of space, there's a lot of privacy here compared to other places I've been. Toilet wasn't dirty but smelled rancid, although that seems to be standard for these non-flush huts that DOC use.
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5.0/5
We recently had three fantastic, peaceful nights here.
DOC campsite pass is valid here. Perfectly located to get to various awesome walks/hikes and really nice and quiet (when sillies don’t rock up past 22:00 and smash into a rock!) It’s a tight campsite, we’re in a 7metre Sprinter and just about managed to get around. Toilets provided. Little to no phone signal. DOC came round every so often to check people had paid. Make sure you take your rubbish with you people! Find us on YouTube if you’re touring @saltyskin
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4.5/5
Note: Book on DOC website before arrival - it is not possible to book/pay onsite (NZD $15).
Cosy Campsite in beatiful surroundings near a small creek with a Nice little pool/pond to bathe in. Trail into the bushes start at the camp and it’s close to Wakapapa Village where other trails start and close to TawHai Falls. Toilets are long-Hole-toilets but pretty nice and “clean” with toilet paper. There is water there, but it has to be boiled first if you want to drink it. Gas Station/Supermarket is 5 mins away. I spend two nights here, travelling alone and it felt nice and safe, I really recommend it and would come again.
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4.5/5
Set into a private space bordered by bushes, this is a lovely site for a campervan with a view of Mt Ruapehu visible from some spots on a clear day.
Winter review:
We arrived on a Friday in mid July on a cold night and there was only one other van there, despite a huge throng of people in Whakapapa village the next day after snow fell.
Basic drop toilets.
Other reviewers complain about the price.. but for us, the privacy, the views of the tip of Mt Ruapehu and being a short drive away from Whakapapa village and walks and in Tongariro NP itself in the presence of 3 magnificent volcanoes .. it really was a small price to pay.
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4.0/5
We had the Doc camping pass so price wasn't an issue, but agree with other reviews that maybe $10 rather than $15 would be a more fair price.
It's a nice site but not many amenities, just a long drop. We stayed in winter so it was very very cold but other than that a grand place to stay for exploring the walks in National Park
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4.5/5
We have a Doc camping pass so cost didn’t come into the review.
Very clean long drop toilets, lovely campervan spots in sun or in the shade. Convenient for local walks but best of all a lovely swimming hole!
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3.5/5
Nice place to stay near the mountain, prices have gone up to $15 for van sites, has classic long drop toilets would stay again
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3.5/5
Great location close to the trails, so good for late or early hiking days.
Camper van sites have a reasonable selection of shaded or sunny. Toilets only okay. Little stream for swimming.
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3.0/5
Stayed here for two nights during spring time.
Decent facilities but toilets were a bit gross, no surprise there though! Fairly quiet, campervans have a separate area to tent sites, cooking shelter near tent area. Good location to the mountain and level spots :) - follow on IG/YT Milly0nthem0ve for all things travel!
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4.0/5
Great spot with privacy and shelter from the winds.
No phone signal and annoying flies but otherwise perfectly pleasant
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3.0/5
It's a pretty quiet spot to spend a night.
There's a couple toilets in the campervan area (which were cleaner than the ones on the Tongariro trail) (there's a separate area for tents. People were pitched pretty close together).
You can either park in a more private spot with tall bushes either side or in this circular area with 5-6 car spots.
Not that scenic because of the tall bushes and trees all around.
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4.0/5
Great spot at the bottom of the mountain.
Toilets available in ok condition. Water was frozen (expected and below subzero)
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4.0/5
Got there late and left early so I don't have a lot to say, but overall seemed like a nice site in a really great location.
Most spots are surrounded by trees/bushes so while there's not a huge amount of space, there's a lot of privacy here compared to other places I've been. Toilet wasn't dirty but smelled rancid, although that seems to be standard for these non-flush huts that DOC use.
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5.0/5
We recently had three fantastic, peaceful nights here.
DOC campsite pass is valid here. Perfectly located to get to various awesome walks/hikes and really nice and quiet (when sillies don’t rock up past 22:00 and smash into a rock!) It’s a tight campsite, we’re in a 7metre Sprinter and just about managed to get around. Toilets provided. Little to no phone signal. DOC came round every so often to check people had paid. Make sure you take your rubbish with you people! Find us on YouTube if you’re touring @saltyskin
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4.5/5
Note: Book on DOC website before arrival - it is not possible to book/pay onsite (NZD $15).
Cosy Campsite in beatiful surroundings near a small creek with a Nice little pool/pond to bathe in. Trail into the bushes start at the camp and it’s close to Wakapapa Village where other trails start and close to TawHai Falls. Toilets are long-Hole-toilets but pretty nice and “clean” with toilet paper. There is water there, but it has to be boiled first if you want to drink it. Gas Station/Supermarket is 5 mins away. I spend two nights here, travelling alone and it felt nice and safe, I really recommend it and would come again.
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4.5/5
Set into a private space bordered by bushes, this is a lovely site for a campervan with a view of Mt Ruapehu visible from some spots on a clear day.
Winter review:
We arrived on a Friday in mid July on a cold night and there was only one other van there, despite a huge throng of people in Whakapapa village the next day after snow fell.
Basic drop toilets.
Other reviewers complain about the price.. but for us, the privacy, the views of the tip of Mt Ruapehu and being a short drive away from Whakapapa village and walks and in Tongariro NP itself in the presence of 3 magnificent volcanoes .. it really was a small price to pay.
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4.0/5
We had the Doc camping pass so price wasn't an issue, but agree with other reviews that maybe $10 rather than $15 would be a more fair price.
It's a nice site but not many amenities, just a long drop. We stayed in winter so it was very very cold but other than that a grand place to stay for exploring the walks in National Park
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4.5/5
We have a Doc camping pass so cost didn’t come into the review.
Very clean long drop toilets, lovely campervan spots in sun or in the shade. Convenient for local walks but best of all a lovely swimming hole!
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0.5/5
Feeling of being ripped off paying 15$/pp at this place.
I stayed in other DOC camps that were amazing and free or cheaper. This was the most expansive DOC camp we stayed and the least amazing of them all. The other camp sites nearby had no vacancy so we were left with only that option. Fair price would be 6$ per person max. Would not stay again and make sure we book somewhere else in advance.
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2.5/5
Honnestly 15$/pp for some smelly long drop and no drinking water it's way to expensive ..
We already had so much better place to stay with clean flush toilets , sink , drinking water .. for free. Yes the campground is close to the Tongariro crossing but it's still to expensive for what you get in here
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3.5/5
Nice place to stay near the mountain, prices have gone up to $15 for van sites, has classic long drop toilets would stay again
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3.5/5
Great location close to the trails, so good for late or early hiking days.
Camper van sites have a reasonable selection of shaded or sunny. Toilets only okay. Little stream for swimming.
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5.0/5
This is a very good place to stay with a motorhome.
Good hiking trails, a nice river to swim in and decent standard on the toilets. Close to the National Park.
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4.0/5
Very good DOC Campsite to stay before going early next day on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and joining the shuttle on National Park Village very close.
Toilets were clean and taps for water, very quote.
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4.5/5
Great little spot not too far off the main road.
Lots of manuka and flax bushes which created barriers between the car spots. The car camping area definitely looked more private then the tent camping area. We heard and saw lots of birds including a few fantails at our site. Had a little outdoor kitchen set up down by the tent area. There was a nice little trail along the creek with one small beach. $13pp and 10 min to Whakapapa village.
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3.0/5
Great location as close to the walks and nice set up but facilities are not that great and too expensive for what you get.
There are much better DOC sites that are better value for money.
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2.0/5
Very conveniently located near the start of Tongariro Alpine Crossing, and very calm.
However, price was too expensive (13 dollars per person and not 6 dollars as indicated in other reviews) for the level of service: only one toilet for the whole camping (with no light), and no drinkable water.
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4.5/5
What a beautiful place.
Quiet, nice places and enough toilets. And a swimming hole!
Nearby several walking tracks!
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4.5/5
Nice spot with clean toilets, close to Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
We arrived quite early and no camper around. Quiet and not crowded this time of the year.
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3.0/5
It's a nice spot with clean toilets.
But no other facilities (i.e. shower, dump station or drinking water). Nevertheless they charge $13 pp. That's way too much!
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4.0/5
Very convenient spot for the Tongariro Crossing, and the cheapest one in the area.
$6 per person per night in an honesty box. The place for vans filled up quick, we got there around 5pm and there was only a handful of spots left. Non flush toilets, but clean, bring a lamp at night.
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4.0/5
Nice bush camp with plenty of spaces for camper vans.
Close to SH 47. On beautiful creek with some camping spots as well. Drop toilets & no showers. Close to ski fields if you're into winter sports.
Another DoC campsite worth the visit.
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4.0/5
Good place to sleep if you are doing the Tongariro crossing; toilet and a little place to cook.
Met nice people there. Not so many places (5-6) to stay, we had the last one.
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3.5/5
DOC campsite.
Not many places maybe less than 20. Shade too many in some places you don't have any sun. DOC ranger comes around 5pm and then around 7am. Drinking water, tap but no flush in the toilet.
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5.0/5
Campground well situated to the highway but still a quiet location.
Enough sheltered places available, but it still got kind of busy in the evening. Two modern, clean drop toilets and a sink with fresh water available for the camper van site. This place does also have a huge place for tents including a cooking shelter.
Stunning location including the spectacular view of the mountains!
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