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No Frills Freedom Camping. FREE camper (RV) van park over
Power Fee |
$5/night |
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No Frills Freedom Camping
FREE camper (RV) van park ($5.00 fee for power) FREE backpacker tenting
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Oparau Roadhouse and Bills BackpackersCommercial organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Kawhia |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Overnight Camping Site Cost |
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Overnight Camping Site CostWhat is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? Low Cost Camping You can expect very basic facilities only and often a beautiful location. A nominal fee is charged. For powered sites |
Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Camping and any vehicle You are permitted to stay overnight and camp (with a tent) or in any vehicle. |
Booking Required |
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Booking RequiredIs it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? Booking is Required Staying overnight requires booking a site in advance. |
Powered Sites |
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Powered SitesDoes this establishment have powered sites? Powered sites available This campsite offers powered sites to hook into an electricity supply. $5 for campervans |
Park Motels |
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Park MotelsDoes this holiday park have park motels? Park motels available This location offers park motels for rental accommodation. A four bedroom house! |
Non-powered Sites |
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Non-powered SitesDoes this holiday park offer non-powered sites? Non-powered sites available This site offers non-powered camp sites. Free camping and campervan parking |
Dogs |
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DogsDoes this establishment allow dogs? No dogs allowed The location does not allow dogs under normal conditions. Their may be be exceptions granted under specific circumstances eg. guide dogs. |
✓ Friendly staff
✓ Clean toilets
✓ Free for campervans
✓ Beautiful views
✓ Hot food available
𐄂 Some car noise
𐄂 No AU payWave
This is the free campsite.
Free campsite, clean toilet.
Really friendly Personal at the petrol Station.
Nice spot close to the road.
Midwinter campervanning (late June 2020).
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 25 |
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64% |
9/10 | 6 |
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15% |
8/10 | 5 |
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13% |
7/10 | 2 |
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5% |
6/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 1 |
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3% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4.0/5
Nice spot close to the road.
Lot of space and very clean toilets. Friendly staff and you can even buy food. Would recommand if you want to take a nice gravel road to Raglan.
Reviewed 9 months ago
Customer
4.0/5
Free for campervan.
Clean Toilet. Dump station. Tables. Views. Shop. Fuel station. Safe. No noise.
Reviewed 11 months ago
Customer
5.0/5
As all the other reviews say, this is an awesome stop-over.
Registered inside the shop to freedom camp at the roadhouse. Serve hot food until 5.30/6, shop open until 7, incredibly friendly staff and loos open all night. Highly recommend staying here.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Customer
5.0/5
Great little free spot with beautiful views and super kind and generous staff.
No AU payWave or AU credit card facility so have some cash.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
Customer
5.0/5
Great spot, next to the road but was considerably quiet for our stay in the middle of jan.
Toilets our clean, staff are very friendly and you get a great view! Highly recommend and was free for non- powered or $5 for powers.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Feels very safe well kept for a free site.
Lovely staff in the shop
Staying for 3 days fly-fishing in the area
So cool they let people stay for free but will make a donation anyway
Cheers Dave
Reviewed about 2 years ago
Customer
4.5/5
Great location, we were on our own the night we stayed, felt safe as we were made very welcome by the shop owners, hot food available to 6pm, great selection of groceries in store also.
Flush toilet facilities and great breakfast menu available the next morning with a very friendly greeting in shop.
Reviewed about 2 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Plenty of grass (with gravel areas for the bogging averse), elevated with a view across some of the classic NZ rolling green farmlands this, we couldn’t believe the unpowered space was free.
Winter review:
A welcoming space outside of Kawhia, we arrived here at dusk mid July after visiting the Te Puia/ Kawhia hot water beach
The owner was so friendly and the toilets (around the back) was clean.
Great to have shop next door to buy basics as well as get hot food & coffee. Petrol also!
It’s by the SH31 so some car noise is normal.. but there wasn’t much traffic in the heart of winter so it was a most peaceful place to stop
Reviewed over 2 years ago
Customer
4.0/5
Midwinter campervanning (late June 2020).
We were the only ones at this flat grassy spot next to the Roadhouse. Paid $5 for the one power hookup. Toilet basic but clean; dump station; no potable water but friendly staff pointed us in the direction where locals get their spring water. Good spot to stock up on basic foods if you’re spending time in this rural area.
Reviewed about 4 years ago and experienced in June 2020
Customer
2.0/5
Nice outlook, cafe stops cooking at 630 and not much else around for food.
We had an unhealthy meal of pies and fried chicken (not free or discounted despite being the last remaining from the day- we wouldn't normally expect otherwise except quite a few people have mentioned free food.) They have quite a lot of grocery items and petrol. Good free spot tho not much around apart from the hot water beach.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
Customer
4.0/5
Nice spot close to the road.
Lot of space and very clean toilets. Friendly staff and you can even buy food. Would recommand if you want to take a nice gravel road to Raglan.
Reviewed 9 months ago
Customer
4.0/5
Free for campervan.
Clean Toilet. Dump station. Tables. Views. Shop. Fuel station. Safe. No noise.
Reviewed 11 months ago
Customer
5.0/5
As all the other reviews say, this is an awesome stop-over.
Registered inside the shop to freedom camp at the roadhouse. Serve hot food until 5.30/6, shop open until 7, incredibly friendly staff and loos open all night. Highly recommend staying here.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Customer
5.0/5
Great little free spot with beautiful views and super kind and generous staff.
No AU payWave or AU credit card facility so have some cash.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
Customer
5.0/5
Great spot, next to the road but was considerably quiet for our stay in the middle of jan.
Toilets our clean, staff are very friendly and you get a great view! Highly recommend and was free for non- powered or $5 for powers.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Feels very safe well kept for a free site.
Lovely staff in the shop
Staying for 3 days fly-fishing in the area
So cool they let people stay for free but will make a donation anyway
Cheers Dave
Reviewed about 2 years ago
Customer
4.5/5
Great location, we were on our own the night we stayed, felt safe as we were made very welcome by the shop owners, hot food available to 6pm, great selection of groceries in store also.
Flush toilet facilities and great breakfast menu available the next morning with a very friendly greeting in shop.
Reviewed about 2 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Plenty of grass (with gravel areas for the bogging averse), elevated with a view across some of the classic NZ rolling green farmlands this, we couldn’t believe the unpowered space was free.
Winter review:
A welcoming space outside of Kawhia, we arrived here at dusk mid July after visiting the Te Puia/ Kawhia hot water beach
The owner was so friendly and the toilets (around the back) was clean.
Great to have shop next door to buy basics as well as get hot food & coffee. Petrol also!
It’s by the SH31 so some car noise is normal.. but there wasn’t much traffic in the heart of winter so it was a most peaceful place to stop
Reviewed over 2 years ago
Customer
4.0/5
Midwinter campervanning (late June 2020).
We were the only ones at this flat grassy spot next to the Roadhouse. Paid $5 for the one power hookup. Toilet basic but clean; dump station; no potable water but friendly staff pointed us in the direction where locals get their spring water. Good spot to stock up on basic foods if you’re spending time in this rural area.
Reviewed about 4 years ago and experienced in June 2020
Customer
5.0/5
Awesome free camping spot with lovely views and nice grassy area with table's Its free so how can you not love it , great spot to stay after the hot beach
Reviewed over 4 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Fantastic little place.
They have 1 powered site that is $5, otherwise non powered is free. Dine in/takeaway dinner, fuel, toilets, shop - no complaints here. The people are lovely! Very helpful.
Reviewed over 4 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Not a lot to add - this is an excellent and free site.
Amazing shop for such an isolated place. Good breakfast in the morning.
Very helpful and friendly owners and staff.
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
Customer
4.5/5
0nly a 9 because they're basically out of water and that's not their fault.
Great spot, and FREE! Friendly, helpful owners. Little road noise from time to time but otherwise super. Great views. Get in early (before 5) to get the best spots.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Free campsite, clean toilet.
Place is pretty nice but owners.. The most friendly and helpful people in the world! Also, you can be suprised because is possible to buy everything in their shop! 10/10. Thank You Bill.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
Customer
4.5/5
Free camping, super friendly owner who let me stay in a caravan for the night (I was cycling).
Pleasant surrounds, with a big shop with hot meals and lots of food! There were also some cute cats wandering around the property. The lawns at this place were amazing! No showers but toilet facilities are available.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
This is the free campsite.
Owner is very friendly. Very friendly personal in the store too.
There is with wi-fi and toilets. No shower though.
Cafe has power sockets, so you can charge your devices. Great place!
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
Customer
4.5/5
Really friendly Personal at the petrol Station.
Camping for free. And a free dump Station also free WiFi.
Only grey water.
The Public toilets are clean
Reviewed about 6 years ago
Customer
3.5/5
Great spot for free.
Owners have a little general store/petrol station and parking is on the side lawn. Dump station available & toilets. We had a good interaction with owners but some others near us did not (unsure of situation). Be sure to check in upon arrival!!
Reviewed over 6 years ago
Customer
4.5/5
We were cautious about this accommodation after having been burned by the Turangi freedom campsite the night before, but at 5pm we pulled into the Oparau Roadhouse and found quite a few campers already
there on the grassy area next to the Roadhouse. The toilets, shop and food available were welcome after a long day and the site is lovely and grassy and landscaped with lots of space to park. If you get a spot closer to the road you get some lovely views down the valley and the road wasn't too noisy. Can definitely recommend!
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Lovely campsite, with big petrol garage which you can get everything you need.
The owners are great and couldn't be more helpful or friendly. Perfect location for exploring Waitomo and Kawhia! Would definitely recommend staying here.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
Customer
2.0/5
Nice outlook, cafe stops cooking at 630 and not much else around for food.
We had an unhealthy meal of pies and fried chicken (not free or discounted despite being the last remaining from the day- we wouldn't normally expect otherwise except quite a few people have mentioned free food.) They have quite a lot of grocery items and petrol. Good free spot tho not much around apart from the hot water beach.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Lovely owners.
Flushing toilets. Petrol station, shop and cafe on site. Free wifi and electricity! Best of all - free to camp!
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
One of the best freedom campsites in New Zealand!
We stayed there one night on the way to Raglan - free wifi, free camping , cute little spot with tables and chairs, cafe next door - what more could you want? I ran in just as they were closing to ask if maybe they could fill up our hot water bottles - the owners did this for us and gave us some free chicken - such lovely people, the world needs more people like them - stay here if possible so nice.
Reviewed over 9 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Very nice place at Bill and Brenda's roadhouse.
Stay there for free (not for tents) and in the evening they give you chicken and chips that has not been sold. Bill and Brenda are really nice.
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in March 2014
Customer
3.5/5
Great set up, and nice people.
Bummer was there were pies at 3:30 but none to be had at 6:30 ! ! Who wants to have dinner that early ! Summertime and closed for food business at afternoon tea time.
Reviewed almost 10 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Wow what an amazing place!
Free place to camp ($5 for power). The owners are so friendly and helpful. We came in the shop to chat with them and they let us use their washing machine, shower and kitchen. Bill gave us pies and chicken. The pies are absolutely amazing, you have to try them!! They made us feel at home.
Reviewed about 10 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
For a free campsite, this has got to be the best in NZ!
Really friendly and helpful owners, stayed 2 nights for free, they have a shop, bar, cafe, petrol station all on site, and flushing toilets :) and it's free for campervans, or only 5 dollars with power. Ooh and lovely pies!
Reviewed about 10 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Very great place, no view but Bill and Brenda are very great people.
We could use washing machine, showers and kitchen for free and Bill gave us very good pies and burgers!
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
Customer
5.0/5
It is a general store (gas station), who offer free camping - delicious pies!
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014
Customer
5.0/5
Free camping, great welcome with Brenda's pies!
Really nice people!
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014
Customer