Boulders Campsite
Urutawa Conservation Area
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Boulders Campsite
Next to the Te Waiti Stream, surrounded by nikau palms and tawa forest, this picturesque campsite is popular for swimming and picnicking.
Boulders Camping Ground is beautiful, surrounded by nikau palms and tawa trees. A great place for a picnic and to go swimming in the Waiti Stream.
Notices
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Boulders Campsite access road damaged
The campsite is open but is only accessible by 4x4 drive vehicles. The access road has sustained a lot of storm damage.
First published on 22 September 2023. Last reviewed on 4 September 2024.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Boulders 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 |
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| 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 |
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Organisation |
DOC East CoastCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷ Opotiki |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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5.0/5
Excellent camping location.
River was great to cool down in after a hot day.
Toilet was as you’d expect at a free camp site but otherwise all gd.
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4.0/5
Gnarly tight road for around 2.5km’s and steep drive into the camp but saw a lot of 2 wheel drive cars there.
Popular swimming hole and a lot of people the day we were there but by the evening everyone had gone and only 3 campers were left. Beautiful crystal waters to swim in a really nice setting
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4.0/5
Great campsite!
Went two years in a row, hard to get down without a 4WD but have seen some other cars manage it.
Usually a quiet campsite which is lovely, not a lot of space so feels crowded quickly when more than 2-3 groups turn up.
Beautiful river to swim in, great short walks near by and a reasonable condition long drop. Highly recommend if you get the chance.
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3.5/5
Amazing campsite!
We stayed there over new years, and loved it! Its a little out of the way and hard to find, however it's a hidden gem! The road prevents camper vans and some lower or less able vehicles getting there (You have to ford 3-4 streams, depending on rainfall). We managed to get our cars there, so most normal vehicles can make it. Getting into the campsite was difficult, as the road is very steep, and half way down is broken, requiring skill on the drivers behalf. Most cars crossing this section break it further, and needs some maintenance. The longdrop smells, but you learn to hold your breath. Could be upgraded soon, due to being almost full. Great location, awesome swimming holes, Glow worms, Weka, every native bug etc. We heard Kiwis, although didn't find any. Cute baby eels throughout the river, although locals tend to hunt them. Popular as an overnight stay camp, and the locals used it during the weekend. Fulls up fast, if you want a spot, make sure you're there before 2pm!
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4.0/5
Really nice spot, great dip in the river.
Careful non 4x4 owners, very steep and stream crossings.
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4.0/5
It is a really nice place and was also not hard to find in my opinion.
Was just a little scary because we arrived late and we were then the only ones there. There track was muddy and slippery by the rain - for large vehicles it is definitely not recommended.
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5.0/5
Awesome location, next to the river bank in the middle of nowhere!
No phone reception, no traffic, nothing but just nature! Would recommend when travelling from Tauranga to Opito to East Cape. Just make sure you arrive before dark as the road is a bit tricky.
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4.0/5
We stayed here for 2 nights.
+ Awesome/delightful location, right next to bubbling river,
+ Fantastic environment for a camp ground,
+ Long drop toilet not smelly,
+ Free,
+ Some glow worm sightings on way to toilet.
+ Some ready made fire pits/BBQ.
- The road up there is very tricky, we had to cross 3 fords (all reasonable) but not great.
I can imagine in summer time this site is fantastic with the river to dip in when hot.
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4.0/5
isolated, shelter river bank ledge.
awesome swimminghole and able to walk up the river.
GLOW WORMS on the bank to the long drops, just turn off your torch, didn't notice them till the last night of our stay.
the road out was quite narrow and winding.
