Rays Rest Camping Reserve
Kaiaua
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Rays Rest Camping Reserve
Rays Rest Reserve in Miranda is located beachside, next to the Taramaire Wildlife Refuge Reserve. The Hauraki District Council allows free-camping for self contained motorhomes and campervans, for up to two nights.
There's no toilet, so you'll need a vehicle with a self-containment certificate.
It's a very spacious area and allocation is on a first come, first served basis.
The wetland environment is a stopover for thousands of migratory birds - drive in, park up, sit back and enjoy the surrounds.
Freedom camping is prohibited on the southern end and northern part of Rays Rest Reserve, including the beach. The reserve is off East Coast Road, approximately 4 km south of the Kaiaua township and adjacent to the Firth of Thames.
Standard free-camping rules apply: take your rubbish with you, dispose of greywater only in designated dumpstations, and please obey all signage around this environmental gem. Love it!
Details
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Organisation |
Hauraki District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Miranda |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
Perfect freedom camping spot that’s not too far from big centres and there is so much space for everyone!
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(231,153,196)" /><path d="m 150 692 Q 238 62 -392 150 Q 238 238 150 -392 Q 62 238 692 150 Q 62 62 150 692 z" fill="rgb(33,108,184)" /><path d="m 150 526 Q 72 228 -226 150 Q 72 72 150 -226 Q 228 72 526 150 Q 228 228 150 526 z" fill="rgb(222,147,71)" /><path d="m 150 196 Q 231 69 104 150 Q 231 231 150 104 Q 69 231 196 150 Q 69 69 150 196 z" fill="rgb(24,102,59)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Stayed here during our last night visiting New Zealand and we loved it!
Plenty of space on a Saturday night. Beautiful view of the bay and mountains.
Quiet and enjoyable sounds of nature with one nearby road that seldom had cars passing.
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(22,157,180)" /><path d="m 150 651 Q 210 90 -351 150 Q 210 210 150 -351 Q 90 210 651 150 Q 90 90 150 651 z" fill="rgb(50,80,251)" /><path d="m 150 363 Q 267 33 -63 150 Q 267 267 150 -63 Q 33 267 363 150 Q 33 33 150 363 z" fill="rgb(205,175,4)" /><path d="m 150 133 Q 129 171 167 150 Q 129 129 150 167 Q 171 129 133 150 Q 171 171 150 133 z" fill="rgb(233,98,75)" /></svg>)
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3.5/5
The wind kept me up all night, noisy and shaking my van.
It’s free though so…
Woke up to see spoonbills and other shorebirds wading out at the beach, that was very cool.
Plenty of room here even after dark on a weekend.
e![](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(55,0,118)" /><path d="m 150 544 Q 136 164 -244 150 Q 136 136 150 -244 Q 164 136 544 150 Q 164 164 150 544 z" fill="rgb(53,231,165)" /><path d="m 150 305 Q 131 169 -5 150 Q 131 131 150 -5 Q 169 131 305 150 Q 169 169 150 305 z" fill="rgb(202,24,90)" /><path d="m 150 274 Q 237 63 26 150 Q 237 237 150 26 Q 63 237 274 150 Q 63 63 150 274 z" fill="rgb(200,255,137)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
What a lovely spot.
Stayed here on our last night, only just over an hours drive to Mangere to drop the motor home off. No facilities but beautiful sunset and sunrise.
sp![](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(160,83,35)" /><path d="m 150 685 Q 156 144 -385 150 Q 156 156 150 -385 Q 144 156 685 150 Q 144 144 150 685 z" fill="rgb(58,197,115)" /><path d="m 150 389 Q 236 64 -89 150 Q 236 236 150 -89 Q 64 236 389 150 Q 64 64 150 389 z" fill="rgb(197,58,140)" /><path d="m 150 317 Q 165 135 -17 150 Q 165 165 150 -17 Q 135 165 317 150 Q 135 135 150 317 z" fill="rgb(95,172,220)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Our first ever night stop in a campervan and it was perfect.
Great view to wake up to in the morning.
HE![](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(76,19,173)" /><path d="m 150 547 Q 123 177 -247 150 Q 123 123 150 -247 Q 177 123 547 150 Q 177 177 150 547 z" fill="rgb(194,248,11)" /><path d="m 150 546 Q 245 55 -246 150 Q 245 245 150 -246 Q 55 245 546 150 Q 55 55 150 546 z" fill="rgb(61,7,244)" /><path d="m 150 268 Q 86 214 32 150 Q 86 86 150 32 Q 214 86 268 150 Q 214 214 150 268 z" fill="rgb(179,236,82)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Views amazing, we watched the sunrise.
Lots of space but busy. No amenities close by.
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5.0/5
Large place without any facilities.
Many Campers there, seems save. Directly at the waterfront. Beautiful place to watch the sunrise an the birds out of your bed. We can recommend this place :)!
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5.0/5
Lovely spot.
Plenty of space. Seems very safe. Locals are friendly folk. Parking at waters edge
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(18,206,192)" /><path d="m 150 689 Q 228 72 -389 150 Q 228 228 150 -389 Q 72 228 689 150 Q 72 72 150 689 z" fill="rgb(90,20,73)" /><path d="m 150 426 Q 171 129 -126 150 Q 171 171 150 -126 Q 129 171 426 150 Q 129 129 150 426 z" fill="rgb(165,235,182)" /><path d="m 150 323 Q 174 126 -23 150 Q 174 174 150 -23 Q 126 174 323 150 Q 126 126 150 323 z" fill="rgb(237,49,63)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
What a lovely spot in great nature.
Plenty of space along the water and a lot of friendly people around makes it a safe spot. No facilities whatsoever and some nasty cars horning while passing by during the night. Lovely for a stopover, though.
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4.5/5
Nice view, right beside the beach on one side, and hilly grasslands/farms on the other, no toilet, and pretty close to the road.
T![](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(34,189,99)" /><path d="m 150 721 Q 296 4 -421 150 Q 296 296 150 -421 Q 4 296 721 150 Q 4 4 150 721 z" fill="rgb(71,186,240)" /><path d="m 150 363 Q 79 221 -63 150 Q 79 79 150 -63 Q 221 79 363 150 Q 221 221 150 363 z" fill="rgb(184,69,15)" /><path d="m 150 198 Q 280 20 102 150 Q 280 280 150 102 Q 20 280 198 150 Q 20 20 150 198 z" fill="rgb(221,66,156)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Fabulous!
Quiet, restful spot overlooking water and birdlife. Spent two nights here and will come again.
KB![](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(210,90,29)" /><path d="m 150 716 Q 60 240 -416 150 Q 60 60 150 -416 Q 240 60 716 150 Q 240 240 150 716 z" fill="rgb(206,10,79)" /><path d="m 150 353 Q 185 115 -53 150 Q 185 185 150 -53 Q 115 185 353 150 Q 115 115 150 353 z" fill="rgb(49,245,176)" /><path d="m 150 125 Q 173 127 175 150 Q 173 173 150 175 Q 127 173 125 150 Q 127 127 150 125 z" fill="rgb(45,165,226)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Been wanting to come here for about a year.
It didn’t disappoint. Lucky enough to stay on a flat, calm day with no wind. It was glorious. Lots of room. Just perfect.
L![](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(163,22,244)" /><path d="m 150 511 Q 140 160 -211 150 Q 140 140 150 -211 Q 160 140 511 150 Q 160 160 150 511 z" fill="rgb(61,247,212)" /><path d="m 150 501 Q 222 78 -201 150 Q 222 222 150 -201 Q 78 222 501 150 Q 78 78 150 501 z" fill="rgb(194,8,43)" /><path d="m 150 138 Q 147 153 162 150 Q 147 147 150 162 Q 153 147 138 150 Q 153 153 150 138 z" fill="rgb(92,233,11)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
It is a nice place to overnight in a journey between Coromandel and Auckland.
It is plenty of space and the view is so nice with the sound of waves during the night
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4.0/5
Amazing place.
Was hard to find in the dark but spanned the entire right side, so we went in half way after it appeared on the map. Lovely to wake to a beautiful scenery.Need to be fully self contained.
B![](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(122,243,62)" /><path d="m 150 705 Q 125 175 -405 150 Q 125 125 150 -405 Q 175 125 705 150 Q 175 175 150 705 z" fill="rgb(61,33,200)" /><path d="m 150 541 Q 65 235 -241 150 Q 65 65 150 -241 Q 235 65 541 150 Q 235 235 150 541 z" fill="rgb(194,222,55)" /><path d="m 150 336 Q 92 208 -36 150 Q 92 92 150 -36 Q 208 92 336 150 Q 208 208 150 336 z" fill="rgb(133,12,193)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
We drove in from Auckland, and getting in from the main highway in the dark was quite sketchy - lots of sharp curves.
Would be easier to navigate in the day light.
There were 20-30 units when we arrived, so had to drive down a bit to grab a spot at the end, but it meant no one behind us. Views were GORGEOUS in the morning!
No amenities, no rubbish from what we could see. Great for a one night stop before moving on!
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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(12,168,33)" /><path d="m 150 625 Q 152 148 -325 150 Q 152 152 150 -325 Q 148 152 625 150 Q 148 148 150 625 z" fill="rgb(145,177,156)" /><path d="m 150 479 Q 269 31 -179 150 Q 269 269 150 -179 Q 31 269 479 150 Q 31 31 150 479 z" fill="rgb(110,78,99)" /><path d="m 150 198 Q 143 157 102 150 Q 143 143 150 102 Q 157 143 198 150 Q 157 157 150 198 z" fill="rgb(243,87,222)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Perfect freedom camping spot that’s not too far from big centres and there is so much space for everyone!
A -
5.0/5
Stayed here during our last night visiting New Zealand and we loved it!
Plenty of space on a Saturday night. Beautiful view of the bay and mountains.
Quiet and enjoyable sounds of nature with one nearby road that seldom had cars passing.
K -
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3.5/5
The wind kept me up all night, noisy and shaking my van.
It’s free though so…
Woke up to see spoonbills and other shorebirds wading out at the beach, that was very cool.
Plenty of room here even after dark on a weekend.
e -
5.0/5
What a lovely spot.
Stayed here on our last night, only just over an hours drive to Mangere to drop the motor home off. No facilities but beautiful sunset and sunrise.
sp -
5.0/5
Our first ever night stop in a campervan and it was perfect.
Great view to wake up to in the morning.
HE -
4.5/5
Views amazing, we watched the sunrise.
Lots of space but busy. No amenities close by.
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5.0/5
Large place without any facilities.
Many Campers there, seems save. Directly at the waterfront. Beautiful place to watch the sunrise an the birds out of your bed. We can recommend this place :)!
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5.0/5
Lovely spot.
Plenty of space. Seems very safe. Locals are friendly folk. Parking at waters edge
M -
4.0/5
What a lovely spot in great nature.
Plenty of space along the water and a lot of friendly people around makes it a safe spot. No facilities whatsoever and some nasty cars horning while passing by during the night. Lovely for a stopover, though.
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4.5/5
Nice view, right beside the beach on one side, and hilly grasslands/farms on the other, no toilet, and pretty close to the road.
T -
5.0/5
Fabulous!
Quiet, restful spot overlooking water and birdlife. Spent two nights here and will come again.
KB -
5.0/5
Been wanting to come here for about a year.
It didn’t disappoint. Lucky enough to stay on a flat, calm day with no wind. It was glorious. Lots of room. Just perfect.
L -
5.0/5
It is a nice place to overnight in a journey between Coromandel and Auckland.
It is plenty of space and the view is so nice with the sound of waves during the night
-
4.0/5
Amazing place.
Was hard to find in the dark but spanned the entire right side, so we went in half way after it appeared on the map. Lovely to wake to a beautiful scenery.Need to be fully self contained.
B -
4.0/5
We drove in from Auckland, and getting in from the main highway in the dark was quite sketchy - lots of sharp curves.
Would be easier to navigate in the day light.
There were 20-30 units when we arrived, so had to drive down a bit to grab a spot at the end, but it meant no one behind us. Views were GORGEOUS in the morning!
No amenities, no rubbish from what we could see. Great for a one night stop before moving on!
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4.5/5
Our first dry camp and it was lovely.
Shells on the beach and wading birds everywhere. Watch out for the waters edge at low tide as it is very boggy.
T![](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(139,196,172)" /><path d="m 150 688 Q 190 110 -388 150 Q 190 190 150 -388 Q 110 190 688 150 Q 110 110 150 688 z" fill="rgb(227,118,198)" /><path d="m 150 463 Q 296 4 -163 150 Q 296 296 150 -163 Q 4 296 463 150 Q 4 4 150 463 z" fill="rgb(28,137,57)" /><path d="m 150 304 Q 250 50 -4 150 Q 250 250 150 -4 Q 50 250 304 150 Q 50 50 150 304 z" fill="rgb(116,59,83)" /></svg>)
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3.5/5
Great spot to stop in o/night if travelling late.
no gates. arrived at 10pm with kids - still spots available (maybe 20 or more RV's already there but still places facing beautiful view). woke to lovely sunrise & bitd life. No facilities but didn't need as moved on after breaky.
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