Huka/Aratiatia Rapids Scenic Reserve
Overnight Campervan Parking
69 Rankers Reviews
Maps
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Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC Central North IslandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Google Maps
Nearby
Reviews
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Great location by the river -
Spacious parking for campers
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Beautiful views of rapids
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Nearby walking trails
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Toilets need cleaning -
Basic facilities only
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Loud traffic from the nearby road
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Nice location, stayed two nights in the end.
Paige Hayward -
Very beautiful spor.
Mathieu -
Good place to stay, quiet area.
Pickles -
Peaceful campsite, plenty of space.
Henry -
Nice location to park up, plenty of room
Carl Bright
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Excellent location with lots of space for all sizes of campervan.
Make sure to go and see the Aratiatia Rapids at one of the three times a day (four in summer) when the sluice gate is opened, it's really cool to see. There's some info next to the car park about the sluice gates and the filming of the Hobbit scene with the dwarves in barrels for Tolkien fans. Car park has a toilet and is relatively quiet despite the road next to it. Nice views across the river too.
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It's just a car park.
Plenty of spaces. Toilets absolutely disgusting! There were about thirty flies inside the bowl, which flew away (or remained on the inner edges of the toilet) when we open the lid. On the worst one I've seen in nz 🤢
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Très bel endroit pour rester avec le campervan, près du barrage et des sentiers.
Attention à bien choisir l'emplacement, le nôtre était légèrement en pente.
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It’s just a parking lot with a drop toilet, but it was a beautiful place to camp nonetheless.
There is a nice grassy area with a picnic table by the water. Great trail to see the rapids when the dam opens at 10am. Even when the dam is not open, the views are beautiful.
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This place is only recommended if you Plan to see the opening of the water dam (which is cool).
It's basic and toilet was ok. In the morning an official looking dude was loudly using his cellphone, it was definitely too early to disturb others with loud talking. And the street is very near and you hear big trucks at night.
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Stunning location right on the river, steps away from the rapids view point.
About 20 parking spots, one picnic table, and one drop toilet. Direct access to the huka falls track, spa park track, and a couple more. You can hear car traffic from the main road, but the birdsongs are arguably louder. 2 night max, must be out by 9:30am each day. This is the car park for the huka falls river cruise. Stumbled across this freedom camping location while coming to see the rapids and will certainly be back!!
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Good spot for a one night quick stop.
The long drop toilets where smelly but clean. The rapids do give a nice morning walk before heading out. There were a couple other campevans but not much.
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A splendid camp near the lake, around 20-25 places.
Beautiful and calm. A 2h trail to Huka falls starts there. Only one drop toilet without water but clean.
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Nice basic spot to spend the night.
Beware it will not be accessible the weekend of the 14th/15th December 2024 due the to Rotorua Ironman.
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Very beautiful spor.
I loved it. You need to leave before 9h30. Beautiful lake. One of my favorite so far
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Nice spot.
Pit/drop toilet with paper was clean. 8 other campers overnight. We watched 10am Dam release which was great.
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Very basic campsite (but free, so what can you expect), just a parking lot.
1 public toilet with no lights, no flush, no toilet paper.
Rules around leaving camping before 9.30am a bit unclear, especially because you want to see the rapids release at 10am.
View on the lake is nice, lots of different birds to spot. Be aware of the vehicle exit, the lane at the end of the parking lot next to the trail signs: there are very deep and large holes in the road. Can cause damage to your vehicle.
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One single long drop toilet which was fairly clean and didn’t stink!
A few level spots but not loads. We arrived at around 4pm and there were a few campers, when we woke up that had multipled - this is during spring so get there early in summer. Great location from the main town but have to leave at 9:30am, could possible stay till 10 to watch the rapid release! Perfect for a night :) - Follow us IG/YT Milly0nthem0ve
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A guy told us a possum jumped onto him when he was walking to the toilet.
Basic parking lot near a nice lake
Lots of spots
Not all spots level tho
Believe it or not.
Fog was quite thick. Went on a walk. Couldn’t see much. But when the fog let up saw a beautiful bird. Basic. Free (
;)
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Really great location with more spaces than expected.
We arrived about 5pm and there were only a few others parked up there. The long drop is clean and whilst the door can bang shut like other reviews say, you just need to close it slowly. Take your own paper! We didn’t have any noise issues during the night. As it was the off season in the middle of winter we took our chances and stayed past the 9.30am cutoff so we could cross the road and watch the Aratiatia rapids release at 10am. Would highly recommend! Lovely bird life to enjoy and a picnic table to take breakfast before departing.
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Lovely view of the lake, drop toilet isn’t very pleasant so avoid if possible.
Plenty of space in the car park. Must leave by 9:30am
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A great spot overlooking the dam.
A sealed parking. Mostly flat. Clean and tidy.very clean long drop with a noisy closing door!! Much better than Reid’s farm which sadly is dirty and with undesirable clientelle.
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Excellent location with lots of space for all sizes of campervan.
Make sure to go and see the Aratiatia Rapids at one of the three times a day (four in summer) when the sluice gate is opened, it's really cool to see. There's some info next to the car park about the sluice gates and the filming of the Hobbit scene with the dwarves in barrels for Tolkien fans. Car park has a toilet and is relatively quiet despite the road next to it. Nice views across the river too.
-
It's just a car park.
Plenty of spaces. Toilets absolutely disgusting! There were about thirty flies inside the bowl, which flew away (or remained on the inner edges of the toilet) when we open the lid. On the worst one I've seen in nz 🤢
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Très bel endroit pour rester avec le campervan, près du barrage et des sentiers.
Attention à bien choisir l'emplacement, le nôtre était légèrement en pente.
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It’s just a parking lot with a drop toilet, but it was a beautiful place to camp nonetheless.
There is a nice grassy area with a picnic table by the water. Great trail to see the rapids when the dam opens at 10am. Even when the dam is not open, the views are beautiful.
-
This place is only recommended if you Plan to see the opening of the water dam (which is cool).
It's basic and toilet was ok. In the morning an official looking dude was loudly using his cellphone, it was definitely too early to disturb others with loud talking. And the street is very near and you hear big trucks at night.
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Stunning location right on the river, steps away from the rapids view point.
About 20 parking spots, one picnic table, and one drop toilet. Direct access to the huka falls track, spa park track, and a couple more. You can hear car traffic from the main road, but the birdsongs are arguably louder. 2 night max, must be out by 9:30am each day. This is the car park for the huka falls river cruise. Stumbled across this freedom camping location while coming to see the rapids and will certainly be back!!
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Good spot for a one night quick stop.
The long drop toilets where smelly but clean. The rapids do give a nice morning walk before heading out. There were a couple other campevans but not much.
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A splendid camp near the lake, around 20-25 places.
Beautiful and calm. A 2h trail to Huka falls starts there. Only one drop toilet without water but clean.
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Nice basic spot to spend the night.
Beware it will not be accessible the weekend of the 14th/15th December 2024 due the to Rotorua Ironman.
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Very beautiful spor.
I loved it. You need to leave before 9h30. Beautiful lake. One of my favorite so far
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Nice spot.
Pit/drop toilet with paper was clean. 8 other campers overnight. We watched 10am Dam release which was great.
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Very basic campsite (but free, so what can you expect), just a parking lot.
1 public toilet with no lights, no flush, no toilet paper.
Rules around leaving camping before 9.30am a bit unclear, especially because you want to see the rapids release at 10am.
View on the lake is nice, lots of different birds to spot. Be aware of the vehicle exit, the lane at the end of the parking lot next to the trail signs: there are very deep and large holes in the road. Can cause damage to your vehicle.
-
One single long drop toilet which was fairly clean and didn’t stink!
A few level spots but not loads. We arrived at around 4pm and there were a few campers, when we woke up that had multipled - this is during spring so get there early in summer. Great location from the main town but have to leave at 9:30am, could possible stay till 10 to watch the rapid release! Perfect for a night :) - Follow us IG/YT Milly0nthem0ve
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A guy told us a possum jumped onto him when he was walking to the toilet.
Basic parking lot near a nice lake
Lots of spots
Not all spots level tho
Believe it or not.
Fog was quite thick. Went on a walk. Couldn’t see much. But when the fog let up saw a beautiful bird. Basic. Free (
;)
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Really great location with more spaces than expected.
We arrived about 5pm and there were only a few others parked up there. The long drop is clean and whilst the door can bang shut like other reviews say, you just need to close it slowly. Take your own paper! We didn’t have any noise issues during the night. As it was the off season in the middle of winter we took our chances and stayed past the 9.30am cutoff so we could cross the road and watch the Aratiatia rapids release at 10am. Would highly recommend! Lovely bird life to enjoy and a picnic table to take breakfast before departing.
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Lovely view of the lake, drop toilet isn’t very pleasant so avoid if possible.
Plenty of space in the car park. Must leave by 9:30am
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A great spot overlooking the dam.
A sealed parking. Mostly flat. Clean and tidy.very clean long drop with a noisy closing door!! Much better than Reid’s farm which sadly is dirty and with undesirable clientelle.
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Great DOC campsite, drop toilet and nice setting by the lake and dam.
Was a quiet night sleep with a handful of other campers, half full when we stayed in march. Super close to Taupo.
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Great place by the dam with toilets and tables to eat.
If you can get there by 16:00 you can see the last rapids of the day. Quiet and plenty of place.