Shel
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Huka/Aratiatia Rapids Scenic Reserve
3.0/5
The good: reservoir is pretty, especially at sunrise; amazing stargazing; close-ish to Taupō; free The not so good: is just a car park on the side of the highway with no noise barrier from the road
(wasn’t too bad at night, but I didn’t stay during the day so can’t comment on that); one long drop toilet (no tp, sanitizer or light) with the loudest metal door that slams shut unless you actively prevent it; most of the sites have a slant to them, some worse than others, which is hard to gauge when parking at night; garbage has to be packed out
Overall, not bad but nothing to write home about either
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Te Puke ▷
Dotterel Point Overnight Campervan Parking
4.0/5
Good spot for a night or two in a car park right between the ocean and estuary.
People arrive 7am onwards to surf and fish — great for breakfast entertainment, but not so great if you like a sleep in and privacy in the morning.
No toilet and shower facilities right now as the spot is under development. Gotta go a ways down the road for toilets now. Would have been a 10/10 if there were facilities right at the site.