Puriri Bay (Whangaruru North Head) Campsite
Whangaruru North Head Scenic Reserve
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Puriri Bay (Whangaruru North Head) Campsite
Overlooking the mouth of Whangaruru Harbour, this campsite has sheltered waters for swimming and boating activities, and a series of interconnected walks.
Overlooking the mouth of Whangaruru Harbour, this campsite has sheltered waters for swimming and boating activities, and a series of interconnected walks.
Notices
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Picnic Bay to Puriri Bay track closed
The public access walking track from Picnic Bay to Puriri Bay is closed due to slip damage.
Visitors wanting to access Puriri Bay from the carpark at Picnic Bay can do so by walking down to the camp along the road.
This is a long term alert.
First published on 15 November 2022. Last reviewed on 19 February 2025.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Puriri Bay (Whangaruru North Head) 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 |
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Organisation |
DOC NorthlandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Russell |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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5.0/5
Puriri Bay is a seriously good campsite.
Lots of space, lots of good toilet facilities, cold showers, a safe swimming bay, and great sunsets. A beautiful location. Very welcoming camp managers who maintain the camp to a high standard.
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3.5/5
Stayed here for 3 nights.
Decent and clean facilities, long drop toilets. Come prepared as there’s not much near in terms of supplies. We came during winter/spring so had to stay on the car park essentially but we didn’t mind as it was flat and quiet! Went for a nice swim as well. Follow @milly0nthem0ve on IG/YT for all things travel!
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4.5/5
What an amazing camp site- this is our second time staying here.
Everything is clean and well maintained, beachfront sites are simply the best!
LH![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(152,205,61)" /><path d="m 150 533 Q 109 191 -233 150 Q 109 109 150 -233 Q 191 109 533 150 Q 191 191 150 533 z" fill="rgb(60,14,182)" /><path d="m 150 343 Q 269 31 -43 150 Q 269 269 150 -43 Q 31 269 343 150 Q 31 31 150 343 z" fill="rgb(195,241,73)" /><path d="m 150 184 Q 133 167 116 150 Q 133 133 150 116 Q 167 133 184 150 Q 167 167 150 184 z" fill="rgb(103,50,194)" /></svg>)
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3.5/5
Great camping near the beach.
Clean toilets and (cold) showers, but strong ammoniac smell when your next to the toilets.
The staff is quite strict on rules so you don't feel very welcomed. Check-out at 11 am, but why when there hundreds spots available and nothing to clean or tidy after us...
M![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(57,98,91)" /><path d="m 150 550 Q 134 166 -250 150 Q 134 134 150 -250 Q 166 134 550 150 Q 166 166 150 550 z" fill="rgb(212,10,3)" /><path d="m 150 384 Q 102 198 -84 150 Q 102 102 150 -84 Q 198 102 384 150 Q 198 198 150 384 z" fill="rgb(43,245,252)" /><path d="m 150 341 Q 100 200 -41 150 Q 100 100 150 -41 Q 200 100 341 150 Q 200 200 150 341 z" fill="rgb(198,157,164)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
This was such a beautiful spot.
Spent the day swimming and walking around the area. Very peaceful. Toilets (long drop) and cold showers available which were very clean. Sites are marked with heaps of room. Already planning when we can go back there.
K![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(228,224,131)" /><path d="m 150 681 Q 97 203 -381 150 Q 97 97 150 -381 Q 203 97 681 150 Q 203 203 150 681 z" fill="rgb(12,205,174)" /><path d="m 150 412 Q 60 240 -112 150 Q 60 60 150 -112 Q 240 60 412 150 Q 240 240 150 412 z" fill="rgb(243,50,81)" /><path d="m 150 175 Q 169 131 125 150 Q 169 169 150 125 Q 131 169 175 150 Q 131 131 150 175 z" fill="rgb(27,31,124)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
One of our favourite DOC camps.
Family-friendly beach, safe swimming. Very helpful staff keep the grounds & facilities in excellent order. Book exchange in office. Most sites level & grassed. Cold showers only (take your own solar shower). Potable water but no filling tanks by hose. Check in time at all DOC camps is after 2pm, vacate by 11am. No rubbish bins from Feb 2023.
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5.0/5
Beautiful campground on a small beach in a quiet bay.
Squeecky clean toilets and (cold) showers. Very helpful and friendly ranger, told us how to spot kiwi's in the area. Couple of nice trails nearby. Very remote though, so bring enough supplies.
w![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(104,225,244)" /><path d="m 150 644 Q 181 119 -344 150 Q 181 181 150 -344 Q 119 181 644 150 Q 119 119 150 644 z" fill="rgb(38,251,117)" /><path d="m 150 530 Q 281 19 -230 150 Q 281 281 150 -230 Q 19 281 530 150 Q 19 19 150 530 z" fill="rgb(217,4,138)" /><path d="m 150 333 Q 68 232 -33 150 Q 68 68 150 -33 Q 232 68 333 150 Q 232 232 150 333 z" fill="rgb(151,30,11)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Most beautiful spot!
Easy accessible (no gravel road), super clean facilities (long drop toilets and showers). Super welcoming lady, who gave us a better spot with sea view, directly at the beach. Even saw dolphins in the bay in the morning. Incredible experience.
K![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(178,42,34)" /><path d="m 150 570 Q 172 128 -270 150 Q 172 172 150 -270 Q 128 172 570 150 Q 128 128 150 570 z" fill="rgb(125,34,213)" /><path d="m 150 464 Q 161 139 -164 150 Q 161 161 150 -164 Q 139 161 464 150 Q 139 139 150 464 z" fill="rgb(130,221,42)" /><path d="m 150 100 Q 124 176 200 150 Q 124 124 150 200 Q 176 124 100 150 Q 176 176 150 100 z" fill="rgb(77,213,221)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Beautiful spot near the end of the peninsula, we stayed here in perfect weather on the grass sites at the back which were really quiet end of Jan mid week.
Awesome beach, nice short walks nearby, really friendly and helpfu staff. Good longdrop toilets and cold showers. Drinking water.
No where particularly close to buy food.
H![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(35,148,64)" /><path d="m 150 727 Q 56 244 -427 150 Q 56 56 150 -427 Q 244 56 727 150 Q 244 244 150 727 z" fill="rgb(93,104,130)" /><path d="m 150 303 Q 238 62 -3 150 Q 238 238 150 -3 Q 62 238 303 150 Q 62 62 150 303 z" fill="rgb(162,151,125)" /><path d="m 150 329 Q 195 105 -29 150 Q 195 195 150 -29 Q 105 195 329 150 Q 105 105 150 329 z" fill="rgb(220,107,191)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Was $13pp in a honesty box in May.
Beautiful location - very peaceful + nice nearby walks.
S![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(236,107,85)" /><path d="m 150 674 Q 163 137 -374 150 Q 163 163 150 -374 Q 137 163 674 150 Q 137 137 150 674 z" fill="rgb(195,92,211)" /><path d="m 150 488 Q 45 255 -188 150 Q 45 45 150 -188 Q 255 45 488 150 Q 255 255 150 488 z" fill="rgb(60,163,44)" /><path d="m 150 324 Q 280 20 -24 150 Q 280 280 150 -24 Q 20 280 324 150 Q 20 20 150 324 z" fill="rgb(19,148,170)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Idyllic location and very peaceful.
Great for swimming and a good 2hr walk to do from the site. Mainly very friendly locals
PS![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(220,167,173)" /><path d="m 150 638 Q 285 15 -338 150 Q 285 285 150 -338 Q 15 285 638 150 Q 15 15 150 638 z" fill="rgb(3,165,175)" /><path d="m 150 531 Q 180 120 -231 150 Q 180 180 150 -231 Q 120 180 531 150 Q 120 120 150 531 z" fill="rgb(252,90,80)" /><path d="m 150 252 Q 57 243 48 150 Q 57 57 150 48 Q 243 57 252 150 Q 243 243 150 252 z" fill="rgb(35,88,82)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Incredible little campsite, one of my all time favorites.
Beautiful sheltered bay. Camp hosts were incredibly knowledgable about the local area and very helpful. Amenities were super clean at all times. We loved the composting and the ingenious waste reducing ice blocks (5x for $1). We can't wait to go back.
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2.5/5
A very beautiful spot on the beach.
Unfortunately we had paid our money at the self registration station ($10pp pn) before we realised that all the grassy camping areas were closed as it was too wet (fair enough) and we had to camp in the carpark next to the rubbish bins. A sign at the self registration station advising this would have been nice!
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4.5/5
Beautiful camp right on a harbour beach.
Isolated and peaceful but can get very wet after heavy rain. We had it to ourselves in mid April.
A![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(222,37,46)" /><path d="m 150 639 Q 214 86 -339 150 Q 214 214 150 -339 Q 86 214 639 150 Q 86 86 150 639 z" fill="rgb(206,55,28)" /><path d="m 150 407 Q 121 179 -107 150 Q 121 121 150 -107 Q 179 121 407 150 Q 179 179 150 407 z" fill="rgb(49,200,227)" /><path d="m 150 173 Q 297 3 127 150 Q 297 297 150 127 Q 3 297 173 150 Q 3 3 150 173 z" fill="rgb(33,218,209)" /></svg>)
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(163,225,220)" /><path d="m 150 702 Q 192 108 -402 150 Q 192 192 150 -402 Q 108 192 702 150 Q 108 108 150 702 z" fill="rgb(198,18,99)" /><path d="m 150 417 Q 91 209 -117 150 Q 91 91 150 -117 Q 209 91 417 150 Q 209 209 150 417 z" fill="rgb(57,237,156)" /><path d="m 150 336 Q 292 8 -36 150 Q 292 292 150 -36 Q 8 292 336 150 Q 8 8 150 336 z" fill="rgb(92,30,35)" /></svg>)
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(90,137,233)" /><path d="m 150 641 Q 121 179 -341 150 Q 121 121 150 -341 Q 179 121 641 150 Q 179 179 150 641 z" fill="rgb(255,204,211)" /><path d="m 150 436 Q 251 49 -136 150 Q 251 251 150 -136 Q 49 251 436 150 Q 49 49 150 436 z" fill="rgb(0,51,44)" /><path d="m 150 325 Q 81 219 -25 150 Q 81 81 150 -25 Q 219 81 325 150 Q 219 219 150 325 z" fill="rgb(165,118,22)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(156,91,187)" /><path d="m 150 691 Q 287 13 -391 150 Q 287 287 150 -391 Q 13 287 691 150 Q 13 13 150 691 z" fill="rgb(174,182,249)" /><path d="m 150 517 Q 211 89 -217 150 Q 211 211 150 -217 Q 89 211 517 150 Q 89 89 150 517 z" fill="rgb(81,73,6)" /><path d="m 150 288 Q 151 149 12 150 Q 151 151 150 12 Q 149 151 288 150 Q 149 149 150 288 z" fill="rgb(99,164,68)" /></svg>)
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(189,175,242)" /><path d="m 150 636 Q 126 174 -336 150 Q 126 126 150 -336 Q 174 126 636 150 Q 174 174 150 636 z" fill="rgb(183,56,220)" /><path d="m 150 361 Q 269 31 -61 150 Q 269 269 150 -61 Q 31 269 361 150 Q 31 31 150 361 z" fill="rgb(72,199,35)" /><path d="m 150 206 Q 239 61 94 150 Q 239 239 150 94 Q 61 239 206 150 Q 61 61 150 206 z" fill="rgb(66,80,13)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(7,50,117)" /><path d="m 150 502 Q 176 124 -202 150 Q 176 176 150 -202 Q 124 176 502 150 Q 124 124 150 502 z" fill="rgb(106,184,39)" /><path d="m 150 345 Q 146 154 -45 150 Q 146 146 150 -45 Q 154 146 345 150 Q 154 154 150 345 z" fill="rgb(149,71,216)" /><path d="m 150 133 Q 170 130 167 150 Q 170 170 150 167 Q 130 170 133 150 Q 130 130 150 133 z" fill="rgb(248,205,138)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(78,168,54)" /><path d="m 150 730 Q 123 177 -430 150 Q 123 123 150 -430 Q 177 123 730 150 Q 177 177 150 730 z" fill="rgb(77,146,235)" /><path d="m 150 360 Q 99 201 -60 150 Q 99 99 150 -60 Q 201 99 360 150 Q 201 201 150 360 z" fill="rgb(178,109,20)" /><path d="m 150 235 Q 95 205 65 150 Q 95 95 150 65 Q 205 95 235 150 Q 205 205 150 235 z" fill="rgb(177,87,201)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(1,56,251)" /><path d="m 150 544 Q 59 241 -244 150 Q 59 59 150 -244 Q 241 59 544 150 Q 241 241 150 544 z" fill="rgb(76,85,59)" /><path d="m 150 368 Q 243 57 -68 150 Q 243 243 150 -68 Q 57 243 368 150 Q 57 57 150 368 z" fill="rgb(179,170,196)" /><path d="m 150 267 Q 149 151 33 150 Q 149 149 150 33 Q 151 149 267 150 Q 151 151 150 267 z" fill="rgb(254,199,4)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Puriri Bay is a seriously good campsite.
Lots of space, lots of good toilet facilities, cold showers, a safe swimming bay, and great sunsets. A beautiful location. Very welcoming camp managers who maintain the camp to a high standard.
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3.5/5
Stayed here for 3 nights.
Decent and clean facilities, long drop toilets. Come prepared as there’s not much near in terms of supplies. We came during winter/spring so had to stay on the car park essentially but we didn’t mind as it was flat and quiet! Went for a nice swim as well. Follow @milly0nthem0ve on IG/YT for all things travel!
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4.5/5
What an amazing camp site- this is our second time staying here.
Everything is clean and well maintained, beachfront sites are simply the best!
LH -
3.5/5
Great camping near the beach.
Clean toilets and (cold) showers, but strong ammoniac smell when your next to the toilets.
The staff is quite strict on rules so you don't feel very welcomed. Check-out at 11 am, but why when there hundreds spots available and nothing to clean or tidy after us...
M -
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5.0/5
This was such a beautiful spot.
Spent the day swimming and walking around the area. Very peaceful. Toilets (long drop) and cold showers available which were very clean. Sites are marked with heaps of room. Already planning when we can go back there.
K -
5.0/5
Beautiful campground on a small beach in a quiet bay.
Squeecky clean toilets and (cold) showers. Very helpful and friendly ranger, told us how to spot kiwi's in the area. Couple of nice trails nearby. Very remote though, so bring enough supplies.
w -
4.5/5
One of our favourite DOC camps.
Family-friendly beach, safe swimming. Very helpful staff keep the grounds & facilities in excellent order. Book exchange in office. Most sites level & grassed. Cold showers only (take your own solar shower). Potable water but no filling tanks by hose. Check in time at all DOC camps is after 2pm, vacate by 11am. No rubbish bins from Feb 2023.
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5.0/5
Most beautiful spot!
Easy accessible (no gravel road), super clean facilities (long drop toilets and showers). Super welcoming lady, who gave us a better spot with sea view, directly at the beach. Even saw dolphins in the bay in the morning. Incredible experience.
K -
5.0/5
Beautiful spot near the end of the peninsula, we stayed here in perfect weather on the grass sites at the back which were really quiet end of Jan mid week.
Awesome beach, nice short walks nearby, really friendly and helpfu staff. Good longdrop toilets and cold showers. Drinking water.
No where particularly close to buy food.
H -
5.0/5
Was $13pp in a honesty box in May.
Beautiful location - very peaceful + nice nearby walks.
S -
5.0/5
Idyllic location and very peaceful.
Great for swimming and a good 2hr walk to do from the site. Mainly very friendly locals
PS -
5.0/5
Incredible little campsite, one of my all time favorites.
Beautiful sheltered bay. Camp hosts were incredibly knowledgable about the local area and very helpful. Amenities were super clean at all times. We loved the composting and the ingenious waste reducing ice blocks (5x for $1). We can't wait to go back.
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2.5/5
A very beautiful spot on the beach.
Unfortunately we had paid our money at the self registration station ($10pp pn) before we realised that all the grassy camping areas were closed as it was too wet (fair enough) and we had to camp in the carpark next to the rubbish bins. A sign at the self registration station advising this would have been nice!
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4.5/5
Beautiful camp right on a harbour beach.
Isolated and peaceful but can get very wet after heavy rain. We had it to ourselves in mid April.
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5.0/5
Lovely site.
We arrived pretty late but were welcomed with a friendly smile. A lovely spot at the beach. We arrived here late March so it was not crowded at all. Lovely hiking tracks around.
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