Twilight Campsite

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Kaitaia, Northland

Camping near Kaitaia

Information

Camp overlooking Twilight beach. Only accessible on foot and with minimal facilities, this is the spot for a true wilderness experience.

Twilight Campsite is only accessible by foot and is a perfect place for fishing, walking and relaxing.

The campsite forms part of the Te Paki Coastal Track.

Twilight Campsite is also part of Te Araroa Trail and is the first campsite walkers come to if starting at Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua.

The tracks to this campsite are best suited to people with good fitness. Although this is a coastal track, the track is not flat. The track is well formed or follows sections of beach with several long climbs up to ridges which go up and down over the undulations in the landscape.

Getting There:
From Kaitaia head north on SH1.
Follow signposts for Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua if accessing from the north OR
Alternatively, you can access the campsite from Scott's Point to the south via Te Paki Stream.

Notices

Eastern Te Paki track closures
Sections of Te Paki Coastal Track are closed due to storm damage. The closed sections of track are:
- Kapowairua (Spirits Bay) to Pandora
- Pandora to Tapotupotu Bay
- Tapotupotu to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Waiura
The open section of the Te Paki Coastal Track starts at Cape Reinga and ends at Te Paki Stream.

Pandora campsite is closed. Tapotupotu, Kapowairua (Spirits Bay) and Twilight campsites are open.

This is a long term alert.
First published on 28 March 2023. Last reviewed on 5 March 2025.
Feral dogs near Twilight Campsite
Feral dogs were sighted near the Te Paki Coastal Track around Twilight Beach and Scott’s Point including 90 Mile Beach in November 2024. We advise that you:
- do not walk the area alone
- do not approach any dogs
- do not leave food or scraps that may attract scavenging by dogs
Report any sightings to Far North District Council dog control 0800 920 029 if safe to do so. GPS coordinates and photos are helpful.
First published on 21 November 2024. Last reviewed on 2 April 2025.

DOC Campsite Pricing

Twilight Campsite is categorised as a DOC Backcountry Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing. Prices vary for each campsite but is usually very cheap. Visit the website for exact pricing.

Feature	Value	Value
Unpowered Site	Adult	Varies per night
Unpowered Site	Child	Varies per night
Unpowered Site	Infant	Varies per night

Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.

Details

Feature

Value

Info

Organisation

DOC Northland

Central government organisation

Location

North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kaitaia

Categories

Basic Camping
Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-34.46177629

172.69840584

Latitude
-34.46177629
Longitude
172.69840584

Websites

Visit Website

Reviews

A beautiful place.
Location is nice, and you can have a swim.
Clean tidy good toilets and very beautiful.

Rating	Count
10/10	1	17%
9/10	1	17%
8/10	2	33%
7/10	0	0%
6/10	1	17%
5/10	1	17%
4/10	0	0%
3/10	0	0%
2/10	0	0%
1/10	0	0%

2.5/5

Trop de moustique nous avons laissé la porte 10min ouverte on en a tué une cinquantaine dans notre van

Reviewed over 2 years ago

A

Anais
3.0/5

Location is nice, and you can have a swim.
What's not so great are the aggressive food stealing possums. Make sure you don't leave any food outside, and even put your pack in the tent.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2020

Bd

Berend de Boer
4.0/5

It’s a 3hr walk to the campsite from the carpark off the side of the road to the left, if you go straight it should be about 4-4.5hrs.
Check out topographical maps before you go! You can still walk along the beach when it’s high tide, but it’s a little bit harder to walk on the sand.

The sign says 2h to twilight beach, but its another 45m to walk to the campsite, a bit longer if you take breaks. The te paki coastal track itself is stunning both ways, you go through various terrains from dunes to swaps and bushlands, the beaches are super quiet and wild, not quite a swim-friendly beach but stunning nonetheless.

The campsite is basic with a couple long drops, a tap with unpotable rainwater, and a wee shelter for cooking

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2019

K

Kinanti
4.0/5

Clean tidy good toilets and very beautiful.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2018

h

hughie
4.5/5

After a walk through sand dune country and a very different landscape than is usual for NZ, there's the long Twilight Beach and the remote Twilight Beach campsite.
It feels like the middle of no-where, but only a few hours from SH1. Magic.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in May 2016

CC

Cymen Crick
5.0/5

A beautiful place.
Toilets and water facility. Really quiet place because it is in the middle of nowhere!

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2016

PB

Patrick Baritz

Feature	Value	Info
Overnight Camping Site Cost	Free Camping Overnight Camping Site Cost What is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? Free Camping It costs nothing to stay overnight. In general this means that you should not expect any facilities.	Overnight Camping Site Cost What is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? Free Camping It costs nothing to stay overnight. In general this means that you should not expect any facilities.
Overnight Stay Rules	Camping only Overnight Stay Rules What are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Camping only You are permitted to camp only in a tent. Staying in vehicles is not possible.	Overnight Stay Rules What are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Camping only You are permitted to camp only in a tent. Staying in vehicles is not possible.
Campsite Managing Organisation	DOC Managed Campsite Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this campsite? DOC Managed This campsite is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.	Campsite Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this campsite? DOC Managed This campsite is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.
Payment Requirement	Free access/participation Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.	Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.
Maximum Sites Available	More than 20 sites Maximum Sites Available How many camping or parking sites are available for staying overnight in? More than 20 sites There are more than twenty camping/parking sites available to stay overnight in.	Maximum Sites Available How many camping or parking sites are available for staying overnight in? More than 20 sites There are more than twenty camping/parking sites available to stay overnight in.
Water Supply	Water supply available Water Supply Is there fresh water available? Water supply available A supply of fresh water is available.	Water Supply Is there fresh water available? Water supply available A supply of fresh water is available.
Dump Station	No dump station Dump Station Dump stations allow the safe disposal of sewage and greywater from self-contained vehicles. Does this site have a dump station? No dump station This location has no dump stations for the disposal of waste water from recreational vehicles.	Dump Station Dump stations allow the safe disposal of sewage and greywater from self-contained vehicles. Does this site have a dump station? No dump station This location has no dump stations for the disposal of waste water from recreational vehicles.
Booking Required	First Come, First Served Booking Required Is it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? First Come, First Served Sites are allocated in a first come, first served basis. Get in early for the best spot. Self-registration all year round	Booking Required Is it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? First Come, First Served Sites are allocated in a first come, first served basis. Get in early for the best spot. Self-registration all year round
Powered Sites	No powered sites Powered Sites Does this establishment have powered sites? No powered sites This campsite does not offer any powered sites with an electricity supply.	Powered Sites Does this establishment have powered sites? No powered sites This campsite does not offer any powered sites with an electricity supply.
Large Vehicle Access	No large vehicles Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? No large vehicles The site is not accessible for large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.	Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? No large vehicles The site is not accessible for large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.
Dogs	No dogs allowed Dogs Does this establishment allow dogs? No dogs allowed The location does not allow dogs under normal conditions. Their may be be exceptions granted under specific circumstances eg. guide dogs. Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only.	Dogs Does this establishment allow dogs? No dogs allowed The location does not allow dogs under normal conditions. Their may be be exceptions granted under specific circumstances eg. guide dogs. Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only.
Vehicle Access	No vehicle access Vehicle Access Can vehicles drive in? No vehicle access This location is not accessible in a vehicle.	Vehicle Access Can vehicles drive in? No vehicle access This location is not accessible in a vehicle.
DOC Campsite Category	DOC Backcountry Campsite DOC Campsite Category What category does this Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite fall into? DOC Backcountry Campsite Department of Conservation Backcountry Campsites have toilets and a water supply which may be from a stream. They may have picnic tables, cooking shelters or fire places. Backcountry Campsites generally can not be booked.	DOC Campsite Category What category does this Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite fall into? DOC Backcountry Campsite Department of Conservation Backcountry Campsites have toilets and a water supply which may be from a stream. They may have picnic tables, cooking shelters or fire places. Backcountry Campsites generally can not be booked.
WiFi Internet	No WiFi WiFi Internet What type of WiFi internet access is available? No WiFi There is no WiFi access available.	WiFi Internet What type of WiFi internet access is available? No WiFi There is no WiFi access available.
Campfire Rules	Fires prohibited Campfire Rules What are the rules for open air fires? Fires prohibited There is a total fire ban -no fires are permitted.	Campfire Rules What are the rules for open air fires? Fires prohibited There is a total fire ban -no fires are permitted.