Amazing spot but watch out for the gate - it’s closed at 7pm!!

We went back out for fish and chips and arrived back at 7.10 to find the gates locked (our tent about 40 mins walk to the campground). Luckily the ranger was just coming out and he let us back in. Lots of space (arrived in mid September) and there was only one other campervan. Went for a swim in the sea but it hailed throughout, not pleasant but an experience nonetheless. Amazing place for bird watching. Saw a Morepork, baby Spur Winged Plovers, Eastern Rosellas, plenty of Kingfishers and Tuis. You get woken up to the most beautiful symphony of bird songs. Toilets, cold showers, and sink area available. Had no issue booking and getting the code for the gate.

Reviewed 3 months ago

Fantastic SCC site, in spite of Auckland Council's attempts to make booking so difficult!

The SCC site and the campground are about 200 mtrs apart, so make sure you book the bit you want. Online booking is impossible if you're not an NZ resident (mandatory NZ phone number and vehicle reg, one of which you don't have, and the other you won't know until you pick up your rental). We booked the site via one of the Service Centres, which took about 40 minutes as the genuinely helpful staff struggled with their own system. Anyway, once you get there, it's pretty much perfect, easy access to the beach, great walks through the park, fab views of the gulf and distant Auckland. Note that the SCC site doesn't have a water supply - as the mostly unhelpful ranger pointed out, that's what 'self-contained' means.

Reviewed almost 5 years ago

I booked online, it took me 5 minutes, you get an email confirmation with instructions (McDonalds WiFi).

You go through a locked gate with key code to get to this site. There is plenty of room, you pick your own spot, lots of shaded areas. Some fab walks with gorgeous views, loved it so much ended up staying 3 nights. Toilets and cold water in the ladies, and an outdoor sink for washing dishes.

Reviewed about 5 years ago

Gorgeous place, with coast, birds and beautiful landscape.

Quiet, no power and the toilets are clean.

Little confusing the booking, they don't receive payment by phone anymore, only online and the reception it's not the best, so be patient.

The instructions are in the information site, by the phone.

$30 one night, two adults.

Reviewed over 5 years ago

We stayed there one night with our NON self contained campervan.

$30 for 2 adults including car. Very quiet beautiful place with scenic park to walk and hike. Toilets, cold outside shower and sink for washing dishes. Booking over the Auckland City Council Hotline - take your time (15-30 minutes) and payment over secure payment line.

Reviewed about 8 years ago

A stunning place to camp - close to Auckland.

Great walks on beach and hills. You wouldn't know it was there - the drive through the suburbs is very deceiving, but well worth the time taken. We parked in the self contained area - but used the public toilets which were clean.

Reviewed over 8 years ago

Amazing spot but watch out for the gate - it’s closed at 7pm!!

We went back out for fish and chips and arrived back at 7.10 to find the gates locked (our tent about 40 mins walk to the campground). Luckily the ranger was just coming out and he let us back in. Lots of space (arrived in mid September) and there was only one other campervan. Went for a swim in the sea but it hailed throughout, not pleasant but an experience nonetheless. Amazing place for bird watching. Saw a Morepork, baby Spur Winged Plovers, Eastern Rosellas, plenty of Kingfishers and Tuis. You get woken up to the most beautiful symphony of bird songs. Toilets, cold showers, and sink area available. Had no issue booking and getting the code for the gate.

Reviewed 3 months ago

Beautiful setting.

Need to book through Auckland council website. Very confusing as only the campground comes up and not the self contained area. You are given different codes for each of the gates.We ended up camping outside of the self contained area. Apparently kiwis roam through the campground at night, you don’t see them at the self contained area. Toilets basic but clean at self contained area. Could use facilities at main campsite.

Reviewed almost 5 years ago and experienced in December 2019

I booked online, it took me 5 minutes, you get an email confirmation with instructions (McDonalds WiFi).

You go through a locked gate with key code to get to this site. There is plenty of room, you pick your own spot, lots of shaded areas. Some fab walks with gorgeous views, loved it so much ended up staying 3 nights. Toilets and cold water in the ladies, and an outdoor sink for washing dishes.

Reviewed about 5 years ago

Gorgeous place, with coast, birds and beautiful landscape.

Quiet, no power and the toilets are clean.

Little confusing the booking, they don't receive payment by phone anymore, only online and the reception it's not the best, so be patient.

The instructions are in the information site, by the phone.

$30 one night, two adults.

Reviewed over 5 years ago

Great Park to camp even though there is no power or hot water.

Peace and quiet and no lights at knight. Wonderful.

Reviewed over 6 years ago

Beautiful site - 9/10 for the camp.

Run by Auckland City Council - not DOC. The photos are of the Self Contained site which is about 400 metres from the main camp - middle of winter can be boggy so may need to stick to the hardstand. Loses big marks because the booking process is about the worst we have experienced. You telephone, wait in a queue (an automated message apologises as they are having an unusual number of calls - a permanent problem apparently). You get through - can take 10 minutes or more. Make your booking, then get put to a secure payment site for your credit card payment. Then having completed that, you are referred back to the main booking system to get your combination lock code - but you start at the end of the queue again. Took us about 20 minutes once, and 30 minutes the second time all up - make sure your phone is charged before you start.

Reviewed over 8 years ago

A stunning place to camp - close to Auckland.

Great walks on beach and hills. You wouldn't know it was there - the drive through the suburbs is very deceiving, but well worth the time taken. We parked in the self contained area - but used the public toilets which were clean.

Reviewed over 8 years ago

Would get a 10 if the toilets were better.

This sort of camping you have to be very organised once you start going for a 2 night stay. I've noticed some people coming very well set up. Which I would like to do. Cold showers and remember to take a plug for the sink. Would love to stay here in a camper van.

Lots of torches for walks at night. Nights, hmmmmmm that can be rather noisy as kids go wild, so for younger families it can be a nightmare getting them to sleep. High beam torches in your tents, lines being tripped over as kids run around. So be careful where you pitch. Tide goes out very, very far indeed here so no low tide swimming. Some parts of the beach front can drop off quickly into the water as sand banks move around, so watch the young ones.

Reviewed almost 9 years ago

Beautifull park.

Offers serveral walks. You see a lot of sheep but also different birds. Nice bays, that were used by a lot of kite surfers.

We stayed in the self contained area with only two other campers that night.

You have to pay via credit card by phone even if the rangers are present.

Reviewed about 9 years ago

We're two adults with an SCC and paid $12, good price considering!

Campground is clean, very nice and very neat. If you walk 200m you're at the beach with a very beautiful view. Toilets are clean. BBQ available. No showers. One special thing about this campground: it has a gate with a numeric lock, and you won't get the code - and thus won't enter - until your creditcard payment is taken care of. It took us 30 min. and multiple phone calls.

Reviewed almost 10 years ago

North of Auckland.

Only cold showers and no facilties - but the view, the hills and the ocean make up for it!

Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012