Puketi Recreation Area Campsite

Puketi Recreation Area Campsite

Puketi and Omahuta Forests

21 Rankers Reviews

6 Face-to-Face

15 Kerikeri

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Puketi Campsite - Puketi Forest

Information

Puketi Recreation Area Campsite

Camp at the eastern edge of the forest, close to kauri trees. Look out for kiwi and short-tailed bats. This is an ideal base for day or overnight tramps.

A real nature extravaganza! Camp at the edge of the Puketi Forest and have the chance to look out for kiwi and short-tailed bats, this is a great place to base yourself for day or overnight tramps. You can also mountain bike along the Pirau and Mokau Ridge Roads.

There are several places that you can access the recreational area from. The recommended entry point is from SH10 approximately 600 m north of the Waipapa Township.

Turn left along Pungaere Road past the sign directing you to the Puketi Forest Park. Follow Pungaere Road for approximately 15 kms. Take care as part of the road is gravelled.

At a T-intersection, turn left, follow the road for about 2 km. The entrance of the recreational area will be on your right.

If using alternative routes, refer to local maps as there is no DOC signage at other possible entry points to the Puketi Forest.

The campground is located in the vicinity of the Puketi Forest Hut and Puketi cabins. This campground is accessible to vehicles and you can park next to your campsite.

DOC Campsite Pricing

Puketī Recreation Area 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 Northland

Central government organisation

Location

North IslandNorthlandKerikeri

Categories

  • Activity__basic_facility_campingBasic Camping

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-35.2082658726831

173.801312893338

Latitude
-35.2082658726831
Longitude
173.801312893338

Websites

Reviews

    ✓ Beautiful bush setting

    ✓ Quiet and peaceful

    ✓ Privacy between sites

    ✓ Kauri tree walk

    ✓ Great for nature lovers

    𐄂 Dirty toilets

    𐄂 Cold showers

    • Nice area.
    • Nice place.
    • Great Campsite.
    • The campsite is easy to find.
    • Forest campground at beginning of trail.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 4
    19%
    9/10 4
    19%
    8/10 8
    38%
    7/10 1
    5%
    6/10 2
    10%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 1
    5%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 1
    5%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 4.0/5

    A reasonable campsite, but you may need to choose wisely where park or pitch a tent if your night is to be very wet.

    Toilets were OK, and there is water. Extremely good kauri forest trails immediately adjacent. Well worth visiting the kauri trees.

    Reviewed 17 days ago

  • 1.0/5

    Forest campground at beginning of trail.

    Long drop toilets and shower were disgusting (dirt and very strong ammonia smell). There were more people than spots available, even though we reserved our spot online. Not DOC-worthy.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 5.0/5

    Camping for adults and nature lovers.

    Quiet, facilities are clean. Showers were cold but it was summer so not a big issue. Each area is sort of segregated by trees so you have that little bit of extra privacy. There’s different sites to choose from so first in first served is mainly to get a good spot as well. My partner and I loved it and it was his first time camping ever.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    What a gem!

    Beautiful spot surrounded by the bush. No road noise, just the sound of trees and birds. There are long drop toilets which aren’t too bad and a cold shower. Nice little kauri tree walk as well.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago and experienced in January 2022

  • 3.0/5

    Nice location.

    The little forest walk was nice. Went back at night to find some kiwis. Didn't spot any but heard a few. Toilets were nasty though. Hold your breath!

    Reviewed about 3 years ago

    Dan's avatar

    Dan

  • 4.0/5

    Great Campsite.

    $8per adult, cold shower available, water supply (must be boiled), long drop. Areas within the trees sectioned off. Walking trails to the forest right next door.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Good spot in amongst the forest with plenty of bush walks.

    About 2 min drive from the kauri forest walk. Space for at least 20 sites. Shower..very cold shower. Clean drop toilets, dishes washing facility, bush hut for hikers. MIDGIES (sand flies). Went for a night walk to look for kiwis! Heard them calling very close, but couldn’t see them. Found a kauri snail though!

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Nice place.

    The toilets are ok, but they are compostable toilets, thats why it was kind of a windy experience. The kauri forest next too the camping is accessible for free and very pretty. The Shower is cold. The price was very good 8 $ each person for one night.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

    DT's avatar

    DT

  • 5.0/5

    Very nice.

    Stayed in Doc cabin. Campsite looked awesome. Would recommend.

    Reviewed over 4 years ago and experienced in February 2018

  • 4.0/5

    Nice area.

    Very peaceful. Quite annoying that it is such a good deal for $8 but there is no way to make change if you have $10, $20 notes etc. HAVE CASH ON YOU.

    Clean toilets. Nice shower. Good place to wash your dishes. Well maintained camping ground.

    No one came to check our ticket or anything - would have preferred to have just waited until someone came around to deposit the money as when you put it in the envelope to be put into the Dropbox, the envelope doesn’t go all the way in.

    Not a very good system in that sense.

    Otherwise nice place to stay for a couple nights.

    Avoid the rooster that wanders at all cost.....

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Good basic camping with clean vault toilets and a friendly ranger.

    Difficult if arriving at night to find a parking spot. We didn't do the walk and there is a lot of development happening in the region.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    The campsite is easy to find.

    The cold shower and the toilets were clean. There is enough space for approximately 20 vehicles. 45minutes to reach the Bay of Islands.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    A reasonable campsite, but you may need to choose wisely where park or pitch a tent if your night is to be very wet.

    Toilets were OK, and there is water. Extremely good kauri forest trails immediately adjacent. Well worth visiting the kauri trees.

    Reviewed 17 days ago

  • 1.0/5

    Forest campground at beginning of trail.

    Long drop toilets and shower were disgusting (dirt and very strong ammonia smell). There were more people than spots available, even though we reserved our spot online. Not DOC-worthy.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 5.0/5

    Camping for adults and nature lovers.

    Quiet, facilities are clean. Showers were cold but it was summer so not a big issue. Each area is sort of segregated by trees so you have that little bit of extra privacy. There’s different sites to choose from so first in first served is mainly to get a good spot as well. My partner and I loved it and it was his first time camping ever.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    What a gem!

    Beautiful spot surrounded by the bush. No road noise, just the sound of trees and birds. There are long drop toilets which aren’t too bad and a cold shower. Nice little kauri tree walk as well.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago and experienced in January 2022

  • 3.0/5

    Nice location.

    The little forest walk was nice. Went back at night to find some kiwis. Didn't spot any but heard a few. Toilets were nasty though. Hold your breath!

    Reviewed about 3 years ago

    Dan's avatar

    Dan

  • 4.0/5

    Great Campsite.

    $8per adult, cold shower available, water supply (must be boiled), long drop. Areas within the trees sectioned off. Walking trails to the forest right next door.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Very nice.

    Stayed in Doc cabin. Campsite looked awesome. Would recommend.

    Reviewed over 4 years ago and experienced in February 2018

  • 3.5/5

    Good spot in amongst the forest with plenty of bush walks.

    About 2 min drive from the kauri forest walk. Space for at least 20 sites. Shower..very cold shower. Clean drop toilets, dishes washing facility, bush hut for hikers. MIDGIES (sand flies). Went for a night walk to look for kiwis! Heard them calling very close, but couldn’t see them. Found a kauri snail though!

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Nice place.

    The toilets are ok, but they are compostable toilets, thats why it was kind of a windy experience. The kauri forest next too the camping is accessible for free and very pretty. The Shower is cold. The price was very good 8 $ each person for one night.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

    DT's avatar

    DT

  • 4.0/5

    Nice area.

    Very peaceful. Quite annoying that it is such a good deal for $8 but there is no way to make change if you have $10, $20 notes etc. HAVE CASH ON YOU.

    Clean toilets. Nice shower. Good place to wash your dishes. Well maintained camping ground.

    No one came to check our ticket or anything - would have preferred to have just waited until someone came around to deposit the money as when you put it in the envelope to be put into the Dropbox, the envelope doesn’t go all the way in.

    Not a very good system in that sense.

    Otherwise nice place to stay for a couple nights.

    Avoid the rooster that wanders at all cost.....

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Good basic camping with clean vault toilets and a friendly ranger.

    Difficult if arriving at night to find a parking spot. We didn't do the walk and there is a lot of development happening in the region.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    The campsite is easy to find.

    The cold shower and the toilets were clean. There is enough space for approximately 20 vehicles. 45minutes to reach the Bay of Islands.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    A drive that requires commitment, best you come from SH10 and turn at Pungaere Road.

    A gravel road is unavoidable but worth the drive out. New amenities with two pit toilets and cold shower. $6 to stay overnight. Access to forest walks right next to campsite.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Great walks, good time if you want to be lost in the middle of the nature.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Nice campsite next to a river and also many tracks to the hills.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

  • 4.0/5

    Very nice place in the forest, even provided firewood.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

  • 4.0/5

    Great DOC campsite, in the beautiful puketi forest.

    Nice tracks to see Kauri trees. Good facilities (cold showers and basic toilets)

    Very good spots to park your campervan or yout tent. Not so far from Pahia

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

  • 4.0/5

    Nice spot along the river-very basic toilet.

    Nice walk along the river through the forest.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in December 2013

  • 3.0/5

    We stayed here for 1 night.

    + Right in the forest so lovely and quiet,

    + There is some fantastic views not the drive form the south,

    + We're pretty sure we saw some kiwis whilst we were here,

    - Toilets a bit smelly,

    - Very difficult to find,

    - When we were there, there seemed to be an abandoned car with doors and windows open stuck half in a bush.

    Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

  • 2.0/5

    Nearly impossible to find?

    The explanations on the website were not clear, the location on google maps completely wrong and no signs for directions. Quite a long way from KeriKeri, on a gravel road. $7 instead of $6.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013

  • 4.5/5

    $7 in the forest, a nice basecamp.

    No one around. Fire is possible.

    Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in March 2012