Ruakaka Beach Reserve
Overnight Campervan Parking
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Ruakaka Beach Reserve
Self Contained Campsite
One night maximum
Vehicles must be self contained
You must park in the designated site that is indicated by signage
6 parks available, if the site is full, you must move on
No tents allowed.
Details
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Organisation |
Whangarei District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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4.5/5
About 5/6 free camping spots within a larger car park with toilets at the far end.
Toilets were clean and there is a tap for drinking water. There was loud music playing at night but it keeps its high rating because the amazing beach views in the morning!
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5.0/5
Amazing spot!
Totally recommend this site. Toilets, showers and such a beautiful beach just in front. Awesome
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5.0/5
Toilets.
Showers. Water and amazing beach. 10/10 got very busy very quick get there early
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4.0/5
nice spot in front of the beach.
you can hear the soundwaves. cold shower and drinking water. no bins/no dump station
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5.0/5
Absolutely one of my favorite spots so far.
Just by a beautiful and long beach. There is a cold shower, many toilets and a water fountain. I was there as a female solo and it felt really safe (no cars coming and going). Just be there early if you want to find a spot
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4.5/5
Great spot next time the beach.
Cold showers
Clean toilets
Supermarket at 10 minutes by walk
Only 6 parks available but it seems that if you come quite late (after DOC control) you can stay anyway.
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4.5/5
Amazing spot.
Right next to the beach and very quiet. The toilets are clean are opened all night. There are showers as well.
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4.5/5
Ruakaka beach campsite is an amazing spot.
The beach there is just wonderful 😍
That being said, it's very popular and there is only a limited spot for vans. There were huge campervans that were taking most of the space and many other small vans had to find another spot, especially because the area was controlled by two officers that night.
There are two showers, plenty toilets and a mirror which make this spot awesome. Truly recommend but maybe not during holiday time to avoid the crowd.
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4.0/5
Nice place to stay, limited spaces and campers very close together to allow for more people to stay there.
Beach is lovely and great for surfing, a 2 minute walk from the camping space. 2 x unisex toilets located next to the surf club 100m away.
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4.5/5
Stopped here for one night.
Plenty of space. We were one of about 10 campers parked up for the night. Toilets were handy and clean. Right beside the beach. Great for a stopover
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0.5/5
Be careful!
On saturday Night, 5.11., Gay fawks night, Young people threw Stones at our campervan. First on the windshield and then on the glass window of the housedoor. This window then shattered completely. Incomprehensible!
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0.5/5
Tiny, not level, not suitable for large campervans.
After 5 minutes of arriving, a council staff member told us basically to move on as our vehicle was too long. The locals and the council don’t seem to want freedom campers. We were told we should be grateful and were lucky that we were allowed there at all. Would not recommend. We support local businesses, buy food/ coffees, have repairs done etc. We are quiet, tidy, love New Zealand and love freedom camping. Pity we feel unwelcome by certain councils and locals. Towns like Thames are wonderful, they support freedom campers, what an amazing town!
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4.5/5
About 5/6 free camping spots within a larger car park with toilets at the far end.
Toilets were clean and there is a tap for drinking water. There was loud music playing at night but it keeps its high rating because the amazing beach views in the morning!
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5.0/5
Amazing spot!
Totally recommend this site. Toilets, showers and such a beautiful beach just in front. Awesome
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5.0/5
Toilets.
Showers. Water and amazing beach. 10/10 got very busy very quick get there early
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4.0/5
nice spot in front of the beach.
you can hear the soundwaves. cold shower and drinking water. no bins/no dump station
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5.0/5
Absolutely one of my favorite spots so far.
Just by a beautiful and long beach. There is a cold shower, many toilets and a water fountain. I was there as a female solo and it felt really safe (no cars coming and going). Just be there early if you want to find a spot
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4.5/5
Great spot next time the beach.
Cold showers
Clean toilets
Supermarket at 10 minutes by walk
Only 6 parks available but it seems that if you come quite late (after DOC control) you can stay anyway.
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4.5/5
Amazing spot.
Right next to the beach and very quiet. The toilets are clean are opened all night. There are showers as well.
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4.5/5
Ruakaka beach campsite is an amazing spot.
The beach there is just wonderful 😍
That being said, it's very popular and there is only a limited spot for vans. There were huge campervans that were taking most of the space and many other small vans had to find another spot, especially because the area was controlled by two officers that night.
There are two showers, plenty toilets and a mirror which make this spot awesome. Truly recommend but maybe not during holiday time to avoid the crowd.
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4.0/5
Nice place to stay, limited spaces and campers very close together to allow for more people to stay there.
Beach is lovely and great for surfing, a 2 minute walk from the camping space. 2 x unisex toilets located next to the surf club 100m away.
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4.5/5
Stopped here for one night.
Plenty of space. We were one of about 10 campers parked up for the night. Toilets were handy and clean. Right beside the beach. Great for a stopover
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0.5/5
Be careful!
On saturday Night, 5.11., Gay fawks night, Young people threw Stones at our campervan. First on the windshield and then on the glass window of the housedoor. This window then shattered completely. Incomprehensible!
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4.0/5
Couldn't get a spot here due to another camper parked over 3 spaces.
Well done you......
Looks like a nice spot but will never know
Had to use the one by the campground
Will give it an 8 as other place was close by
But -10 for the inconsiderate person
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4.5/5
Arrived after dark to one other campervan.
Woke up and there were 4 of us total. Tight fit meant not much space between & ground was a bit uneven. Can’t see the ocean due to dunes but super close to walkway. Toilets were on the other side of the car park. No rubbish bins. Would stay here again as beach is gorgeous and we didn’t have any issues.
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0.5/5
Tiny, not level, not suitable for large campervans.
After 5 minutes of arriving, a council staff member told us basically to move on as our vehicle was too long. The locals and the council don’t seem to want freedom campers. We were told we should be grateful and were lucky that we were allowed there at all. Would not recommend. We support local businesses, buy food/ coffees, have repairs done etc. We are quiet, tidy, love New Zealand and love freedom camping. Pity we feel unwelcome by certain councils and locals. Towns like Thames are wonderful, they support freedom campers, what an amazing town!
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3.5/5
Lovely place right beside the beach but had a bad experience youths throwing stones and fireworks at tbe vans after midnight.
All vans had to move off around 1am. No sunrise for us
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3.0/5
The spots at Ruakaka beach had been filled up (only really room for the 4 motor homes but might fit a couple more smaller vans) however the town had also designated an area of the River Side Reserve (on
the way to the beach) as a SCC overnight spot as well. No toilets or facilities there but the beach is easy walking distance and the reserve is in a great location to just wake up and drive to the beach in the morning. Very safe. Not very private.
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4.5/5
Great spot for parking.
Short walk to the beach. You can hear the ocean all night. Recommended max vehicle length 6.5m. Spot for 3 vehicles to stay the night.
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4.5/5
Felt extremely safe here.
Overnight parking is on the opposite side to the toilets. Clean toilets. Lovely little cafe at the reserve entrance where we got coffee and hot chocolate the next morning. Friendly staff and residents. Beautiful place to wake up to the next morning. 4other campers there at the same time as us, one of these was a motor home, didn’t get moved on but this could be because it’s winter? Would definitely stay again.
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5.0/5
Super clean toilets.
Amazing beach where we watched sun come up. View of mar point refinery. Woken to yummy smells from cafe over road. One other van also using
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4.0/5
A great spot nestled behind the sand dunes right beside a gloriously long beach.
Pohutukawa trees provide shade on one side. Beautiful sunrise views Stars overnight with the smelter flames firing up on the northern vista. Cars driving closely past on the gravel road throughout the day but mostly slowly and mindful Public toilet clean and available 24/7.
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4.0/5
Great little spot handy to an awesome sandy beach with a toilet and cafe nearby.
But we were moved on because the signage said vehicles must be less than 4 metres long ? I know no such thing . The Guy from the council was letting vans stay, just not motor homes. Was told the Council is soon to ban all freedom camping.
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2.0/5
Great site but we got moved on because the Max vehicle length allowed is 4metres.
Not many campervans fit in that category! Have to say the council guy was very helpful and told us we could park at the domain down the road by the river.
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3.5/5
Very busy.
Get there before dinner to get a spot and squeeze into one of the five spots available in a parking lot. A beautiful wild beach is on the other side a small sand dunes. Lovley cafe that closes at 3pm. Be careful of grumpy hotel owner/manager next door who feels he has the authority over the freedom campers.
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5.0/5
6 Stellplätze, genau markiert wo man stehen darf.
Tolle windgeschützte Location hinter den Dünen. Platz ist in der Nacht beleuchtet und Toiletten sind vorhanden mit Waschbecken.
Strand ist in traumhafter Bucht gelegen!
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4.0/5
Nice little car park behind the sand dunes with space for about 6 vans.
Clean toilets which were open all night but no showers or water tap. Really quiet & lovely beach to walk along.
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4.5/5
Self contained campervans only!
Great spot with spectacular beach!! No really leave spots to park, but nicely sheltered from the wind. Space for 6, the signs are on both sides of the parking lot opposite the washrooms. Residents in the area are pretty strict about the camping rules (don’t park even partially outside the signs!) but a great spot to walk the beach!
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4.5/5
This was the first freedom camping we did.
And it was a great experience.
There is only little space and the site is a little uneven. But at least this was for free.
The public toilets is also a plus.
Local people were nice and helpfull. We also got some information on freedom camping etc. for this region.
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5.0/5
Nice little & quiet spot right behind the dunes of an very beautiful beach.
Clean toilets with hand wash (might take your own toilet paper). One night max, space for about 6 vans of parked properly. Highly recommend to take a walk at the beach in the early morning. Beautiful and sooo quiet. Enjoy.
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4.0/5
Nice quiet spot nestled behind the sand dunes.
Nice beach. Clean toilets. Only space for 5 vehicles and no large vehicles. No drinking water.
