Owhiro Bay Overnight Campervan Parking
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Owhiro Bay Overnight Campervan Parking
Beachfront Freedom Camping away from the city
Wellington City welcomes certified self-contained vehicles only. Not suitable for vehicles over 6m.
16 - designated Freedom Camping parks (4-night max. stay per calendar month)
Park only in a designated freedom camping park (refer to maps on-site & app photo)
If parks are FULL, please leave and stay in an on-street park.
Must display a current certified self-contained warrant card
If your vehicle is not certified self-contained you need to stay in a campground.
FREE on-street parking in the Central City 2000 hrs – 0800 hrs Monday – Sunday (good option if
arriving late).
On-street parks with toilets nearby:
Shorland Park
Scorching Bay
Lyall Bay
Worser Bay
Cog Park – Evans Bay
Hataitai Beach
DON’t stay in an area where freedom camping is not permitted. Camping is not permitted in any WCC Reserves, Coastal Areas, Parks/Play Areas or Sports field carparks.
Breaching the Public Places Bylaw 2022 maybe subject to a $400 infringement
13.1 - A person must not camp in an area which freedom camping is prohibited
3.4 - Camping is prohibited on all land managed under the Reserves Act 1977 and Wellington Townbelt Act 2016 Freedom camping in a tent on public land is prohibited.
Park Ranger’s monitor sites and recreational carparks daily including public holidays. If you breach the Freedom Camping Bylaw you could receive a $400 fine.
Still unsure call 04 499 4444 anytime to clarify
Details
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Organisation |
Wellington City CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
Amazing little spot.
Views were amazing. Quiet night sleep with toilets in a reasonable condition. 4x4 access route and walking track at the end of the carpark. Locals also park there to use the beach and walking track, so sometimes you have to wait around for a self contained spot to be vacated. Don't park outside the designated area as the ranger does show up and people were fined. Can be a bit windy, but the views make up for it.
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5.0/5
Sehr schöner Platz direkt am Meer nicht weit von wellington.
Wir haben hier übernachtet als wir nachts mit der fähre ankamen.
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5.0/5
Beautiful campsite right next to the ocean, going to sleep listening to the waves.
Great sunrise if you’re lucky! Toilets are flushing and I think open all the time. Ok signal. I was lucky to arrive after my late ferry crossing on a Tuesday and get a space! Just make sure you park in the allowed spots.
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5.0/5
Freecamp génial avec toilettes propres et proches des emplacements Vue sur la mer et proche de la réserve des red rock Prévoyez d'y arriver tôt car il est rapidement complet
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4.0/5
Lovely views, great freedom camp, if you can get in.
Very popular with day users, as it’s a public carpark, with half of it with freedom camping allowed for self-contained vehicles. We’ve been here a couple of times and it always fills up, so may need to wait around to get a spot. Very beautiful scenery, and lovely and quiet at night. Phone signal is intermittent. If you’re in a caravan, don’t be silly and put your step out, or tanks over other parks, it’s very tight and popular, and that’s not really fair is it. Some apps do say no caravans, not sure if that’s true or not, but would make sense. Thanks Wellington!!
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4.5/5
The view is unreal.
We sat and star gazed a while. Felt very safe. In the morning we walked the 2miles past the Red Rocks and watched the seals! Excellent site would definitely stay again.
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5.0/5
For freedom camping, this place is brilliant!
Gorgeous scenery, nice and clean toilets, and not too far from downtown (very convenient if you're catching an early or late ferry!). It gets very busy though - during my late April stay there were already a few vans when I got there at 4ish and it was full by 5ish. There's also no privacy at all, but since this is essentially just a carpark I expected that.
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4.5/5
I enjoyed my first ever experience of freedom camping here last weekend...
and it was excellent! Parked up, looking straight out of to the sea. Fabulous views.
I felt safe and secure. The toilets and freshwater were good. The spaces are pretty tight and there were a lot of 'day trippers' using them as regular parking spaces during the day which is a pain when trying to bag a spot but overall I had a great experience and will be back!
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4.0/5
Would recommend getting there before 3/4pm - we arrived after 3.30pm and struggled!
It’s just a parking lot so vans are parked very close together but all we needed before getting the ferry to the South Island.
A couple of toilets and drinking water supply.
The sunset was unreal so top points for that!
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4.0/5
Toilets open 24 hours, however there are only 2 toilets so can be queues.
There are power points in the visitors centre which you can use to charge devices, and free drinking water available. It's right on the coast so can be windy and cold but beautiful scenery.
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4.5/5
Très bel endroit face à l'océan.
Nous n'avons pas pu en profiter à cause du cyclone Gabrielle, beaucoup de vent et de pluie...Nous avons été bercés toute la nuit. 2 toilettes avec eau chaude.
A quelques kilomètres avant dans le petit port vous avez le Shorland park avec tables de pique nique et plancha pour cuisiner.
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5.0/5
Amazing little spot.
Views were amazing. Quiet night sleep with toilets in a reasonable condition. 4x4 access route and walking track at the end of the carpark. Locals also park there to use the beach and walking track, so sometimes you have to wait around for a self contained spot to be vacated. Don't park outside the designated area as the ranger does show up and people were fined. Can be a bit windy, but the views make up for it.
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5.0/5
Sehr schöner Platz direkt am Meer nicht weit von wellington.
Wir haben hier übernachtet als wir nachts mit der fähre ankamen.
-
5.0/5
Beautiful campsite right next to the ocean, going to sleep listening to the waves.
Great sunrise if you’re lucky! Toilets are flushing and I think open all the time. Ok signal. I was lucky to arrive after my late ferry crossing on a Tuesday and get a space! Just make sure you park in the allowed spots.
-
5.0/5
Freecamp génial avec toilettes propres et proches des emplacements Vue sur la mer et proche de la réserve des red rock Prévoyez d'y arriver tôt car il est rapidement complet
-
4.0/5
Lovely views, great freedom camp, if you can get in.
Very popular with day users, as it’s a public carpark, with half of it with freedom camping allowed for self-contained vehicles. We’ve been here a couple of times and it always fills up, so may need to wait around to get a spot. Very beautiful scenery, and lovely and quiet at night. Phone signal is intermittent. If you’re in a caravan, don’t be silly and put your step out, or tanks over other parks, it’s very tight and popular, and that’s not really fair is it. Some apps do say no caravans, not sure if that’s true or not, but would make sense. Thanks Wellington!!
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4.5/5
The view is unreal.
We sat and star gazed a while. Felt very safe. In the morning we walked the 2miles past the Red Rocks and watched the seals! Excellent site would definitely stay again.
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5.0/5
For freedom camping, this place is brilliant!
Gorgeous scenery, nice and clean toilets, and not too far from downtown (very convenient if you're catching an early or late ferry!). It gets very busy though - during my late April stay there were already a few vans when I got there at 4ish and it was full by 5ish. There's also no privacy at all, but since this is essentially just a carpark I expected that.
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4.0/5
Would recommend getting there before 3/4pm - we arrived after 3.30pm and struggled!
It’s just a parking lot so vans are parked very close together but all we needed before getting the ferry to the South Island.
A couple of toilets and drinking water supply.
The sunset was unreal so top points for that!
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4.5/5
I enjoyed my first ever experience of freedom camping here last weekend...
and it was excellent! Parked up, looking straight out of to the sea. Fabulous views.
I felt safe and secure. The toilets and freshwater were good. The spaces are pretty tight and there were a lot of 'day trippers' using them as regular parking spaces during the day which is a pain when trying to bag a spot but overall I had a great experience and will be back!
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4.0/5
Toilets open 24 hours, however there are only 2 toilets so can be queues.
There are power points in the visitors centre which you can use to charge devices, and free drinking water available. It's right on the coast so can be windy and cold but beautiful scenery.
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4.5/5
Très bel endroit face à l'océan.
Nous n'avons pas pu en profiter à cause du cyclone Gabrielle, beaucoup de vent et de pluie...Nous avons été bercés toute la nuit. 2 toilettes avec eau chaude.
A quelques kilomètres avant dans le petit port vous avez le Shorland park avec tables de pique nique et plancha pour cuisiner.
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3.5/5
A beautiful place to stay the night.
It is really populair so if you would like to stay here: be early. There were toilets near by.
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5.0/5
Had a great time but was super packed.
Would recommend arriving well before 4pm to get a spot late January. Both nights that we were there ~4 campers stayed in the no camping spot in addition to the 16 in designated area.
Lucky there was no wind so it was lovely.
Two toilets open 24/7 and a drinking water supply. Also had bins.
The sunsets were awesome and the walk along the cpast was great two.
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4.5/5
Amazing location, beautiful view from your camper van and very quite.
A seal even came to say hi! Best free camping experience in the north island!
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4.0/5
From late Nov onwards you have to get there mid afternoon to get a spot.
We arrived at 7pm on 6th Dec and told should have arrived by 3/4pm latest.
On the plus side it's really beautiful spot so sad not to camp there
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3.5/5
This is a very beautiful spot.
The only reason why I give it a 7, is because it is extremely windy!!! Therefor I had to go to bed early, because I didn't want to stay outside. Cooking was also very difficult, because of the wind. Therefor, I was forced to eat a sandwich. When you wake up, there is a very nice view, and the toilets are very clean as well.
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5.0/5
Great spot with a beautiful view and perfect to start a walk and spot sealions.
Very exposed so super windy. Toilets available and very clean but no place for dishes (opposite to earlier reviews).
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4.5/5
True to Welly this wee place is windy as heck, but that’s part of its charm.
Freedom camping is only at the very far end, loos are a two min walk (or a minute’s sprint in the chillier september temperatures) and are clean with loo roll. Parking can be a bit tight, as many cars take up the spaces also but seemed to clear up as the afternoon wore on. Would recommend getting here by 1700-1800 to secure a place.
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4.5/5
Lovely camping right next to the marine reserve.
It's just a car park but the view over the beach and the sunset were awesome and you can go for a walk along the beach. It was pretty windy but...it's Wellington. The toilets were clean. Close enough to drive into Wellington but far enough out that you're not in the city. I'd never really been to the beaches by Wellington but the ones around there were actually really nice. It was completely full though by late evening (which was just during the week, no school hols and covid year so we thought it would be quieter). We also tried the Evans Marina camping spot the next night but definitely preferred this one.
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4.5/5
Great spot.
Lovely cold water for a dunk, some walks and spots to venture into the rock pools. Toilets good and a washing area for your dishes. Be prepared for wind.
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3.5/5
This is a really beautiful spot but it was outrageously windy when we were there - it's a good idea to check the forecast before you go!
Parking right by the water and clean toilets are pretty close. There were a couple of spaces free when we were there last night.
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4.0/5
Camped here as it wasn't too far from the bluebridge ferry.
Toilets were a bit smelly. Lots of non certified campers present at night. Some one turned up in the middle of the night with very loud & repetitive music for quite a long time.
Fantastic location!
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5.0/5
Amazing place.
Great view. Not so windy when I was there. Good beach shore walk. Ample space for SC Vans
Overnight- self contained only
Clean toilets - x2
Celphone signal - 4G
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5.0/5
Great free spot for the night before ferry, only 17mins to Blueridge terminal.
Was wet and wild while we were there but the kids loved exploring the beach and valley walks. Nice clean toilets.
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5.0/5
A wonderful quiet spot just outside Wellington about a ten minute drive.
The toilets were very clean even had warm water, there is a lady with a good coffee cart. We stayed for the four nights, car park gets very busy at the weekends, you can do some lovel walks around the bays, did not walk along the beach to the seal colony, they say it about one hour’s walk. Would definitely come back. The parking is right on the sea front. Thanks 😊
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4.0/5
Lovely spot and views.
Self contained only.
There are 2 flush toilets that get cleaned, rubbish bins, running water tap.
It can get very windy.
Popular spot, fills up pretty early. It's a carpark so you will be close to vans either side
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5.0/5
Beautiful spot just outside Wellington.
Not lots of spaces, but some free up when cars leave. Lovely view of the sea and an easy drive to the ferry.
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3.0/5
Very, VERY windy spot.
right on the edge of NZ.
what makes it windy as, hence hard to cook outside or even sit outside.
toilets right next to the parking, and clean enough.
About 15 spots for regular vans or vehicles.
NOT suitable for motorhomes etc..
very nice views and walks!
but again, alot of wind! so be prepared if you're going for a walk.
come on time, spots were full every day, and we stayed here 3 days.
with a bit of luck, you can spot a pinguin or seal.
rough coastline, very rocky.
but amazingly beautiful!
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5.0/5
Nice Free campsite 5-10 Min.
outside Wellington. Lots of Space for CV but quiet popular. Clean flush Toilettes. Incredible view over the ocean and cliffs with a walkway along the Coast. Perfekt Spot for one Night when travelling with the ferry to the South Island the next Day. Drive to ferry takes about 20 Minutes.
