Hukuwai Reserve, Hukuwai Beach

Hukuwai Reserve, Hukuwai Beach

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Hukuwai Reserve, Hukuwai Beach

Spectacular Hukuwai Beach is 3km east of Opotiki, off SH35. The designated camping area is small, tucked between regenerating coastal bush and the ocean. Located directly on the Dunes Trail, which is part of the Motu Trails.

Bring your bikes and pedal along the trail for coffee in Opotiki, or walk or fish on the beach.

Space for up to 6 camper vans.

No drinking water.

Maximum stay is 3 consecutive nights.

Dogs must be under control at all times.

Ask at the Opotiki i-SITE for other camping options if you are not fully self-contained.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Opotiki District Council

Council organisation

Location

North IslandTairāwhiti GisborneOpotiki

Categories

  • Activity__freedom_campingFreedom Camping
  • Activity__reserves_picnic_parksPublic Parks
  • Activity__beachesBeaches
  • Free

Operating Season And Hours

Open 24/7, all year

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-37.990396725733

177.312326335907

Latitude
-37.990396725733
Longitude
177.312326335907

Nearby

Reviews

    ✓ Beautiful beach spot

    ✓ Close to Opotiki

    ✓ Great for cycling

    ✓ Local hangout without hassle

    ✓ Opportunity for Motu Dunes Ride

    𐄂 Noise from nearby road

    𐄂 Distance to toilets

    • Gorgeous spot.
    • Free camping with toilets.
    • Camp by the beach.
    • Nice camp site with views of ocean.
    • Beautiful spot right on the beach.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 2
    15%
    9/10 2
    15%
    8/10 6
    46%
    7/10 0
    0%
    6/10 1
    8%
    5/10 1
    8%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 1
    8%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 4.0/5

    Get here early!

    Beautiful spot! Toilets are a bit of a walk but we didn't mind. Bit of a local hangout but they seemed to park in a different area - we didn't get hassled.

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • 2.5/5

    Beautiful spot however spoilt by noise from motor vehicles on nearby road, which kept me awake.

    Just as well, since that's why I heard a car silently park up next to us. I looked out of the window, just as a dark figure was approaching our unlocked van. I banged loudly on the door and shouted Go away! The guy just asked if we had any smokes, it was 4.30am lol... They left after a long 10 minutes,walking around looking for things to steal. We encountered local rifraf on the beach earlier too, telling us to give them alcohol.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 1.5/5

    Hi guys place is beautiful don't get me wrong but I just wanted to ask if someonbody could put sensor lights or lights that come on in the toilets as it's difficult to see at night PLEASE

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Fantastic spot to enjoy the beach and also do the Motu Dunes Ride.

    Only 3km ride into Opotiki. Great spot.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    We stayed one night, beautiful sunset, lucky to be able to ride into town along the trail which was great fun (about 3ks) and our friends picked us up in town great place to get your bikes out

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Gorgeous spot.

    Very long beach ideally for walk. SH noise not too bad. See white island on a clear day and we had an amazing sunset AND sunrise. That's winter camping for you. Definitely popular also with locals

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Great spot..

    worth staying .. good location..

    Says 5 spots for camping.. we came early by night fall was packed out..

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Beautiful spot right on the beach.

    The sunset was amazing.

    Toilets are available, but not very clean

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Camp by the beach.

    Only 3 self-contained vans were there early feb (area could fit 8-10 vans). Friendly ranger came in to check.

    Day use area with toilets is 2 min walk away. However the toilets were sooo dirty and people had left their rubbish everywhere. There is no rubbish bin so you’ll have to take it with you.

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Great place to stop for the night.

    Right on the beach for a beautiful sunset and easy to get back on the road. Line of trees helps to keep out the sound of traffic.

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

    Loz's avatar

    Loz

  • 3.0/5

    Nice camp site with views of ocean.

    Some road noise with trucks all night. Just 2 campers in late September. Experience spoilt by the moron who drove thru and around the campsite at 3am blasting his horn for 3 minutes. Then repeated 15 minutes the performance later.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Free camping with toilets.

    Wonderful beach view.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Get here early!

    Beautiful spot! Toilets are a bit of a walk but we didn't mind. Bit of a local hangout but they seemed to park in a different area - we didn't get hassled.

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • 2.5/5

    Beautiful spot however spoilt by noise from motor vehicles on nearby road, which kept me awake.

    Just as well, since that's why I heard a car silently park up next to us. I looked out of the window, just as a dark figure was approaching our unlocked van. I banged loudly on the door and shouted Go away! The guy just asked if we had any smokes, it was 4.30am lol... They left after a long 10 minutes,walking around looking for things to steal. We encountered local rifraf on the beach earlier too, telling us to give them alcohol.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 1.5/5

    Hi guys place is beautiful don't get me wrong but I just wanted to ask if someonbody could put sensor lights or lights that come on in the toilets as it's difficult to see at night PLEASE

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Fantastic spot to enjoy the beach and also do the Motu Dunes Ride.

    Only 3km ride into Opotiki. Great spot.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    We stayed one night, beautiful sunset, lucky to be able to ride into town along the trail which was great fun (about 3ks) and our friends picked us up in town great place to get your bikes out

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Gorgeous spot.

    Very long beach ideally for walk. SH noise not too bad. See white island on a clear day and we had an amazing sunset AND sunrise. That's winter camping for you. Definitely popular also with locals

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Great spot..

    worth staying .. good location..

    Says 5 spots for camping.. we came early by night fall was packed out..

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Beautiful spot right on the beach.

    The sunset was amazing.

    Toilets are available, but not very clean

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Camp by the beach.

    Only 3 self-contained vans were there early feb (area could fit 8-10 vans). Friendly ranger came in to check.

    Day use area with toilets is 2 min walk away. However the toilets were sooo dirty and people had left their rubbish everywhere. There is no rubbish bin so you’ll have to take it with you.

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Great place to stop for the night.

    Right on the beach for a beautiful sunset and easy to get back on the road. Line of trees helps to keep out the sound of traffic.

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

    Loz's avatar

    Loz

  • 3.0/5

    Nice camp site with views of ocean.

    Some road noise with trucks all night. Just 2 campers in late September. Experience spoilt by the moron who drove thru and around the campsite at 3am blasting his horn for 3 minutes. Then repeated 15 minutes the performance later.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Free camping with toilets.

    Wonderful beach view.

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Opotiki's best Freedom Camping spot in my opinion.

    Situated right by the beach and somewhat private, as it's tucked behind some some roadside trees. (A little bonus is a resident Weka family that lives in the trees :) There's is still some reasonable road noise though as SH35 is very close. But I awoke to a beautiful sunrise looking north towards the wilds of the East Cape.

    Reviewed about 8 years ago