Lake Ōkaro Reserve
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Lake Ōkaro Reserve
This reserve can be accessed from Waimangu Road. This lake is an important wildlife habitat for water birds such as the grey teal, paradise shelduck and dabchick. The lake is popular for trout fishing and water-skiing. Water quality is not as good as other lakes in the area due to run-off from surrounding farms. It is however quite safe for recreational activities.
Details
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Organisation |
Rotorua Lakes CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Waiotapu |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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4.5/5
Beautiful spot by lake, not much road noise.
$8pp pay online. toilets fine but buggy, no trash, no water. Not many level spots (maybe 3?) and absolutely massive potholes that you can’t see until you’ve driven uphill- don’t show up in the dark.
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2.5/5
Pretty spot, always nice next to water.
Toilet was completely boarded up though? So basically just a spot with bins at that point. & kinda far from the city (10 miles) but close to Rainbow Mountain & Waiotapu. You get 3G at least. Was quiet for me personally but who’s to say in summer. Would’ve been even nicer on a none cloudy day to look over the lake but can’t control the weather haha
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4.5/5
Remote, close to Waimangu Volcanic Valley, clean, flushing toilets, bbq for free, bins, lake, heaps of spots, 8dollars pp, no sandflies (January) only bugs which do not bite.
No water supply as described on sign. Online booking or kiwicash only. Cheers!
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3.5/5
Perfect for a free site.
Costs NZD 8 though. Nevertheless pretty busy come dusk.
Swallow nesting in toilets; bonus. Do stroll around lake: saw owl and hedgehog.
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2.0/5
Very nice spot next to the lake.
There are only a few parking spots on the park itself, but quite a lot of space on the grassy hill above where people can stay as well.
That being said, for charging 8$/adult, the state of the bathrooms is absolutely shameful. Bird shit everywhere, birds nesting inside and attacking you. We’ve visited multiple freedom camp spots that were in a better state than this, without having to pay for “maintenance”. Shame.
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3.5/5
Pretty fantastic spot on the lake.
Can get pretty packed. Glow worms round the corner via kayak. Toilets perfectly acceptable
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1.5/5
Honnestly that's a shame ..
16$ for 2 for some portaloos toilets, not even longdrop ! The trashbins is full, a lot of rubbish next to it, small place , mosquitoes, sandflies, I don't even know for what I paid ? We already had much much better place for free.
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4.0/5
Porter loos are spotless BBQ works Water can’t be swim in due to Algee at the moment Nice other campers Not too busy - stayed late jan Overall a nice camp
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4.0/5
Nice place!
Many spots to
Park and very quiet, Public toilets (without light) and 2 rubbish bins.
$8/night person but honesty box was destroyed when we were there :/
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4.5/5
Good location.
BBQ for cooking. Nice lake for swimming. Flushing, clean toilets with tp. Only downside is toilets have no lights.
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4.0/5
Nice and quiet carpark/campground for vehicles and tents, $8 per adult.
There are toilets on site.
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4.0/5
Really basic campsite but that's all you need when camping right by the lake.
Beautiful spot to just chill no noise.
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4.5/5
Beautiful spot by lake, not much road noise.
$8pp pay online. toilets fine but buggy, no trash, no water. Not many level spots (maybe 3?) and absolutely massive potholes that you can’t see until you’ve driven uphill- don’t show up in the dark.
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2.5/5
Pretty spot, always nice next to water.
Toilet was completely boarded up though? So basically just a spot with bins at that point. & kinda far from the city (10 miles) but close to Rainbow Mountain & Waiotapu. You get 3G at least. Was quiet for me personally but who’s to say in summer. Would’ve been even nicer on a none cloudy day to look over the lake but can’t control the weather haha
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3.5/5
Perfect for a free site.
Costs NZD 8 though. Nevertheless pretty busy come dusk.
Swallow nesting in toilets; bonus. Do stroll around lake: saw owl and hedgehog.
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4.5/5
Remote, close to Waimangu Volcanic Valley, clean, flushing toilets, bbq for free, bins, lake, heaps of spots, 8dollars pp, no sandflies (January) only bugs which do not bite.
No water supply as described on sign. Online booking or kiwicash only. Cheers!
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2.0/5
Very nice spot next to the lake.
There are only a few parking spots on the park itself, but quite a lot of space on the grassy hill above where people can stay as well.
That being said, for charging 8$/adult, the state of the bathrooms is absolutely shameful. Bird shit everywhere, birds nesting inside and attacking you. We’ve visited multiple freedom camp spots that were in a better state than this, without having to pay for “maintenance”. Shame.
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3.5/5
Pretty fantastic spot on the lake.
Can get pretty packed. Glow worms round the corner via kayak. Toilets perfectly acceptable
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1.5/5
Honnestly that's a shame ..
16$ for 2 for some portaloos toilets, not even longdrop ! The trashbins is full, a lot of rubbish next to it, small place , mosquitoes, sandflies, I don't even know for what I paid ? We already had much much better place for free.
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4.0/5
Porter loos are spotless BBQ works Water can’t be swim in due to Algee at the moment Nice other campers Not too busy - stayed late jan Overall a nice camp
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2.0/5
Toilets were replaced by porterloos - clean and tidy, with lots of spare paper.
BBQ wasn't working, but the prep area was decent and clean.
Parking was decent enough, not totally level but sufficient. Good walk around the lake.
Honesty box broken, so I guess it's free?
Pretty area though.
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0.5/5
No usable toilet.
There is a permanent advisory to avoid recreational water contact due to blue-green algae blooms in the lake Okaro. 16 $ for 2 berth Motorhome.
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3.0/5
Campsite with just a few places for campervans.
Toilets were broken, so temporary toilets were placed, which were not clean. Grass area next to it, but was not level to park a campervan. Was crowded too when we were there in november. Upside was that we did not have to pay that night, possibly because of the broken toilets.
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4.0/5
Nice place!
Many spots to
Park and very quiet, Public toilets (without light) and 2 rubbish bins.
$8/night person but honesty box was destroyed when we were there :/
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2.5/5
Real nice spot that the locals have gone to quite some effort to restore.
Council manage camping but toilets don’t have lights. $8.00 per person in an honesty box is on the high side given that but the thing that bugs me most is all the juicy type rentals that pour in on dusk and none of the tight arses pay. Welcome to our country but pay where its required!!
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4.5/5
Good location.
BBQ for cooking. Nice lake for swimming. Flushing, clean toilets with tp. Only downside is toilets have no lights.
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2.0/5
Lock on the toilet door was broken when we visited and there was no water so the toilet didn't flush.
Needs better maintenance.
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4.0/5
Nice and quiet carpark/campground for vehicles and tents, $8 per adult.
There are toilets on site.
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4.0/5
Really basic campsite but that's all you need when camping right by the lake.
Beautiful spot to just chill no noise.
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5.0/5
Great spot, next to the lake.
Flush, clean toilets and public bbq available. Tents are welcome in designated areas. $8 per person per night. Payment in envelopes to honesty box.
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5.0/5
Great place with flushing toilets.
You can park really close to the lake and enjoy both sunsets and sunrises. 8 NZD per person.
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4.5/5
Nice little place between the street (just a side road) and the lake.
Flushing toilets, changing room for swimming, BBQ station... 8 NZD per adult. Nice little walk around the lake (1.2 km).
