Paku Drive, Tairua
Overnight Freedom Parking
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Paku Drive, Tairua
Freedom Camping at Tairua, Paku Drive opposite the surf club.
Site to be vacated by 9am.
All freedom campers must be certified self-contained.
Maximum stay of two consecutive nights, departure by 9am.
Park only between the freedom camping signs.
Location: South end of the formed car park.
Size: 20m starting at the south end of the formed car park heading north.
Details
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Organisation |
Thames-Coromandel District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Tairua |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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4.5/5
Felt like we lucked out just to snag a spot (there’s only 3 of them), as all of the other nearby freedom camping spots were filled up (rolled in around 6 pm).
Right on the water with picnic tables and beautiful sunrise view. Very quiet little park. You do have to be packed in pretty tight with other vehicles but otherwise, a nice little spot.
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(218,44,244)" /><path d="m 150 720 Q 189 111 -420 150 Q 189 189 150 -420 Q 111 189 720 150 Q 111 111 150 720 z" fill="rgb(4,130,139)" /><path d="m 150 555 Q 112 188 -255 150 Q 112 112 150 -255 Q 188 112 555 150 Q 188 188 150 555 z" fill="rgb(251,125,116)" /><path d="m 150 355 Q 275 25 -55 150 Q 275 275 150 -55 Q 25 275 355 150 Q 25 25 150 355 z" fill="rgb(37,211,11)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Fantastic spot but you have to arrive early and need to vacate the marked freedom camping area until 9am.
Good thing you can just re-park 5 m to the left and can have your late breakfast there.
F![](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(16,246,118)" /><path d="m 150 662 Q 78 222 -362 150 Q 78 78 150 -362 Q 222 78 662 150 Q 222 222 150 662 z" fill="rgb(251,8,211)" /><path d="m 150 330 Q 264 36 -30 150 Q 264 264 150 -30 Q 36 264 330 150 Q 36 36 150 330 z" fill="rgb(4,247,44)" /><path d="m 150 288 Q 109 191 12 150 Q 109 109 150 12 Q 191 109 288 150 Q 191 191 150 288 z" fill="rgb(239,9,137)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Great spot for over night.Nice views and very quiet at night .You can go and see the needle rock formation 👍 and a bar just down the road.Tolets are good.
Pk![](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(114,238,38)" /><path d="m 150 546 Q 184 116 -246 150 Q 184 184 150 -246 Q 116 184 546 150 Q 116 116 150 546 z" fill="rgb(140,181,191)" /><path d="m 150 430 Q 244 56 -130 150 Q 244 244 150 -130 Q 56 244 430 150 Q 56 56 150 430 z" fill="rgb(115,74,64)" /><path d="m 150 130 Q 55 245 170 150 Q 55 55 150 170 Q 245 55 130 150 Q 245 245 150 130 z" fill="rgb(141,17,217)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Great spot overlooking the water with another beach just yards away.
Toilets basic but fine. It's worth climbing the mound for fantastic views.
TS![](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(146,48,109)" /><path d="m 150 727 Q 237 63 -427 150 Q 237 237 150 -427 Q 63 237 727 150 Q 63 63 150 727 z" fill="rgb(182,150,145)" /><path d="m 150 353 Q 134 166 -53 150 Q 134 134 150 -53 Q 166 134 353 150 Q 166 166 150 353 z" fill="rgb(73,105,110)" /><path d="m 150 137 Q 159 141 163 150 Q 159 159 150 163 Q 141 159 137 150 Q 141 141 150 137 z" fill="rgb(109,207,146)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Lovely quiet site for small number of campers.
Clean toilets, access to beach and walking trail.
SD![](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(150,0,163)" /><path d="m 150 555 Q 172 128 -255 150 Q 172 172 150 -255 Q 128 172 555 150 Q 128 128 150 555 z" fill="rgb(53,18,179)" /><path d="m 150 465 Q 235 65 -165 150 Q 235 235 150 -165 Q 65 235 465 150 Q 65 65 150 465 z" fill="rgb(202,237,76)" /><path d="m 150 264 Q 208 92 36 150 Q 208 208 150 36 Q 92 208 264 150 Q 92 92 150 264 z" fill="rgb(105,255,92)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Great little stop overnight with a lovely view over the estuary.
Toilets nearby and were clean. Felt safe
J![](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(151,69,231)" /><path d="m 150 709 Q 134 166 -409 150 Q 134 134 150 -409 Q 166 134 709 150 Q 166 166 150 709 z" fill="rgb(199,148,230)" /><path d="m 150 302 Q 100 200 -2 150 Q 100 100 150 -2 Q 200 100 302 150 Q 200 200 150 302 z" fill="rgb(56,107,25)" /><path d="m 150 337 Q 141 159 -37 150 Q 141 141 150 -37 Q 159 141 337 150 Q 159 159 150 337 z" fill="rgb(104,186,24)" /></svg>)
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0.5/5
Would be a great place to stay for night but there were a bunch of teenagers hanging around (on a wednesday night) who pooped in the women’s sink, we’re peaking into campers during the night.
We left in the middle of the night when realizing what they were doing. Felt very unsafe
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(45,68,39)" /><path d="m 150 597 Q 221 79 -297 150 Q 221 221 150 -297 Q 79 221 597 150 Q 79 79 150 597 z" fill="rgb(73,33,232)" /><path d="m 150 447 Q 146 154 -147 150 Q 146 146 150 -147 Q 154 146 447 150 Q 154 154 150 447 z" fill="rgb(182,222,23)" /><path d="m 150 131 Q 151 149 169 150 Q 151 151 150 169 Q 149 151 131 150 Q 149 149 150 131 z" fill="rgb(210,187,216)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
I liked this spot a lot, interesting landscape.
Easy access to the Mt Paku hike for sunset and a lovely ocean beach is a short drive away. I had a great morning swim there.
Small lot, I got the 2nd to last spot at 16:45 on the eve of Anzac Day.
Toilets very clean 🙌
Wardens checked our certs, watch out.
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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3.5/5
Clean toilets and site.
Nice view of the bay and good access to the Mt Paku hike! There is a bit of road noise and as it’s a parking lot you’ll be right next to other campers.
There is a wifi connection here for Freedom Campers, but I couldn’t use it because it requires a password >:(
es![](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(227,106,84)" /><path d="m 150 594 Q 217 83 -294 150 Q 217 217 150 -294 Q 83 217 594 150 Q 83 83 150 594 z" fill="rgb(99,193,184)" /><path d="m 150 409 Q 182 118 -109 150 Q 182 182 150 -109 Q 118 182 409 150 Q 118 118 150 409 z" fill="rgb(156,62,71)" /><path d="m 150 126 Q 254 46 174 150 Q 254 254 150 174 Q 46 254 126 150 Q 46 46 150 126 z" fill="rgb(28,149,171)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Few spots by residential road near ocean, with a view of bay.
Clean bathrooms right there. We dad really bad rainstorm the night there so there was little traffic.
VM![](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(211,217,118)" /><path d="m 150 534 Q 213 87 -234 150 Q 213 213 150 -234 Q 87 213 534 150 Q 87 87 150 534 z" fill="rgb(31,13,227)" /><path d="m 150 554 Q 180 120 -254 150 Q 180 180 150 -254 Q 120 180 554 150 Q 120 120 150 554 z" fill="rgb(224,242,28)" /><path d="m 150 263 Q 255 45 37 150 Q 255 255 150 37 Q 45 255 263 150 Q 45 45 150 263 z" fill="rgb(44,38,137)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
I loved the public toilets and the great view the spot offered.
Although your spot will be next to a street and a walkway it‘s very peaceful and quiet at night.
The best part about it that when we were visiting, it also had WIFI.
AF![](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(79,78,245)" /><path d="m 150 689 Q 68 232 -389 150 Q 68 68 150 -389 Q 232 68 689 150 Q 232 232 150 689 z" fill="rgb(201,63,43)" /><path d="m 150 496 Q 196 104 -196 150 Q 196 196 150 -196 Q 104 196 496 150 Q 104 104 150 496 z" fill="rgb(54,192,212)" /><path d="m 150 320 Q 300 0 -20 150 Q 300 300 150 -20 Q 0 300 320 150 Q 0 0 150 320 z" fill="rgb(176,177,10)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Amazing view from the front beach, and ocean behind the carpark.
Bench in front of the carpark to take a breathtaking breakfast.
Toilet 24h.
Only 5 places now and in the opposite of what it said in the previous review the places are really narrow. If you have 2 motorhomes, only a small van can fit in between and you'll need to squeeze yourself every time you go out of your vehicle.
LJ![](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(135,18,167)" /><path d="m 150 683 Q 252 48 -383 150 Q 252 252 150 -383 Q 48 252 683 150 Q 48 48 150 683 z" fill="rgb(144,48,162)" /><path d="m 150 486 Q 132 168 -186 150 Q 132 132 150 -186 Q 168 132 486 150 Q 168 168 150 486 z" fill="rgb(111,207,93)" /><path d="m 150 293 Q 178 122 7 150 Q 178 178 150 7 Q 122 178 293 150 Q 122 122 150 293 z" fill="rgb(120,237,88)" /></svg>)
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3.5/5
Cute little resting point with a nice view.
Toilets are old but fairly well maintained and clean.
It is a small roadside car park with only 6-7 spots available.
Very safe neighbourhood feel to it
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(204,183,21)" /><path d="m 150 677 Q 197 103 -377 150 Q 197 197 150 -377 Q 103 197 677 150 Q 103 103 150 677 z" fill="rgb(85,71,21)" /><path d="m 150 361 Q 93 207 -61 150 Q 93 93 150 -61 Q 207 93 361 150 Q 207 207 150 361 z" fill="rgb(170,184,234)" /><path d="m 150 284 Q 178 122 16 150 Q 178 178 150 16 Q 122 178 284 150 Q 122 122 150 284 z" fill="rgb(51,72,234)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
(Feb 2022) 7/8 spots available.
Clean toilets right next to the spaces. Views of an estuary and less than 2 mins walk to beach behind. Picnic tables close by. Felt safe throughout the night. Only a couple of us, it was a Wednesday night.
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(228,251,38)" /><path d="m 150 712 Q 193 107 -412 150 Q 193 193 150 -412 Q 107 193 712 150 Q 107 107 150 712 z" fill="rgb(219,43,171)" /><path d="m 150 537 Q 149 151 -237 150 Q 149 149 150 -237 Q 151 149 537 150 Q 151 151 150 537 z" fill="rgb(36,212,84)" /><path d="m 150 305 Q 291 9 -5 150 Q 291 291 150 -5 Q 9 291 305 150 Q 9 9 150 305 z" fill="rgb(27,4,217)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Very pretty beach view, has wooden tables/chairs and clean toilets.
We stayed here for one night during Christmas holiday period, arrived at 6pm and got the last designated spot. There’s only about 5-6 freedom spots, so get in early (must park between blue sign posts).
BR![](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(130,89,38)" /><path d="m 150 581 Q 120 180 -281 150 Q 120 120 150 -281 Q 180 120 581 150 Q 180 180 150 581 z" fill="rgb(81,195,176)" /><path d="m 150 349 Q 297 3 -49 150 Q 297 297 150 -49 Q 3 297 349 150 Q 3 3 150 349 z" fill="rgb(174,60,79)" /><path d="m 150 217 Q 115 185 83 150 Q 115 115 150 83 Q 185 115 217 150 Q 185 185 150 217 z" fill="rgb(125,166,217)" /></svg>)
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3.0/5
Good place to overnight right close to Tairua's beach.
There are few places for self-contained vehicles, but it is bad indicated. We arrived around 18.00 and we did not see any forbidden signal; in the morning, ranger came and advise that we stayed at wrong place which is allowed for cars. Anyway, he was so kind and we did not take any fine.
![](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(15,17,85)" /><path d="m 150 559 Q 93 207 -259 150 Q 93 93 150 -259 Q 207 93 559 150 Q 207 207 150 559 z" fill="rgb(139,177,202)" /><path d="m 150 505 Q 151 149 -205 150 Q 151 151 150 -205 Q 149 151 505 150 Q 149 149 150 505 z" fill="rgb(116,78,53)" /><path d="m 150 345 Q 178 122 -45 150 Q 178 178 150 -45 Q 122 178 345 150 Q 122 122 150 345 z" fill="rgb(240,238,170)" /></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(200,169,162)" /><path d="m 150 536 Q 241 59 -236 150 Q 241 241 150 -236 Q 59 241 536 150 Q 59 59 150 536 z" fill="rgb(8,191,82)" /><path d="m 150 439 Q 98 202 -139 150 Q 98 98 150 -139 Q 202 98 439 150 Q 202 202 150 439 z" fill="rgb(247,64,173)" /><path d="m 150 233 Q 185 115 67 150 Q 185 185 150 67 Q 115 185 233 150 Q 115 115 150 233 z" fill="rgb(55,86,93)" /></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(6,92,10)" /><path d="m 150 599 Q 177 123 -299 150 Q 177 177 150 -299 Q 123 177 599 150 Q 123 123 150 599 z" fill="rgb(23,86,251)" /><path d="m 150 345 Q 162 138 -45 150 Q 162 162 150 -45 Q 138 162 345 150 Q 138 138 150 345 z" fill="rgb(232,169,4)" /><path d="m 150 344 Q 132 168 -44 150 Q 132 132 150 -44 Q 168 132 344 150 Q 168 168 150 344 z" fill="rgb(249,163,245)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Felt like we lucked out just to snag a spot (there’s only 3 of them), as all of the other nearby freedom camping spots were filled up (rolled in around 6 pm).
Right on the water with picnic tables and beautiful sunrise view. Very quiet little park. You do have to be packed in pretty tight with other vehicles but otherwise, a nice little spot.
M -
4.5/5
Fantastic spot but you have to arrive early and need to vacate the marked freedom camping area until 9am.
Good thing you can just re-park 5 m to the left and can have your late breakfast there.
F -
5.0/5
Great spot for over night.Nice views and very quiet at night .You can go and see the needle rock formation 👍 and a bar just down the road.Tolets are good.
Pk -
4.5/5
Great spot overlooking the water with another beach just yards away.
Toilets basic but fine. It's worth climbing the mound for fantastic views.
TS -
4.0/5
Lovely quiet site for small number of campers.
Clean toilets, access to beach and walking trail.
SD -
4.5/5
Great little stop overnight with a lovely view over the estuary.
Toilets nearby and were clean. Felt safe
J -
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0.5/5
Would be a great place to stay for night but there were a bunch of teenagers hanging around (on a wednesday night) who pooped in the women’s sink, we’re peaking into campers during the night.
We left in the middle of the night when realizing what they were doing. Felt very unsafe
S -
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4.5/5
I liked this spot a lot, interesting landscape.
Easy access to the Mt Paku hike for sunset and a lovely ocean beach is a short drive away. I had a great morning swim there.
Small lot, I got the 2nd to last spot at 16:45 on the eve of Anzac Day.
Toilets very clean 🙌
Wardens checked our certs, watch out.
e -
3.5/5
Clean toilets and site.
Nice view of the bay and good access to the Mt Paku hike! There is a bit of road noise and as it’s a parking lot you’ll be right next to other campers.
There is a wifi connection here for Freedom Campers, but I couldn’t use it because it requires a password >:(
es -
4.5/5
Few spots by residential road near ocean, with a view of bay.
Clean bathrooms right there. We dad really bad rainstorm the night there so there was little traffic.
VM -
4.0/5
I loved the public toilets and the great view the spot offered.
Although your spot will be next to a street and a walkway it‘s very peaceful and quiet at night.
The best part about it that when we were visiting, it also had WIFI.
AF -
4.5/5
Amazing view from the front beach, and ocean behind the carpark.
Bench in front of the carpark to take a breathtaking breakfast.
Toilet 24h.
Only 5 places now and in the opposite of what it said in the previous review the places are really narrow. If you have 2 motorhomes, only a small van can fit in between and you'll need to squeeze yourself every time you go out of your vehicle.
LJ -
3.5/5
Cute little resting point with a nice view.
Toilets are old but fairly well maintained and clean.
It is a small roadside car park with only 6-7 spots available.
Very safe neighbourhood feel to it
B -
4.5/5
(Feb 2022) 7/8 spots available.
Clean toilets right next to the spaces. Views of an estuary and less than 2 mins walk to beach behind. Picnic tables close by. Felt safe throughout the night. Only a couple of us, it was a Wednesday night.
H -
5.0/5
Very pretty beach view, has wooden tables/chairs and clean toilets.
We stayed here for one night during Christmas holiday period, arrived at 6pm and got the last designated spot. There’s only about 5-6 freedom spots, so get in early (must park between blue sign posts).
BR -
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5.0/5
It has a very spacious place for big Campervans and picnic tables around it.
The toilet is next to eat so very convenient. The view of the harbour is another plus to wake up to and very safe area as well.
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