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Mladen Savov
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Whitianga ▷
Coroglen Reserve
3.5/5
Coromandel area is a bit hostile towards freedom campers.
We had a hard time there. All camps had very few overnight places, and every single place was already taken. We ended up in Coroglen just because it was already dark and late. We couldn't go on further, and just stayed in the car next to the full parking. We left at 4 or 5 AM before the ranger checks. Otherwise the place is alright, but probably you need to be there very early to get a spot. There is a drop toilet and nothing else
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Tuakau ▷
Te Kauwhata Domain
5.0/5
Great place to stay and have a good rest.
Plenty of space, clean toilets, a sink for washing dishes. New World is very close. We had an awesome time
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kaitaia ▷
Tapotupotu Campsite
5.0/5
Amazing place with a river and a beach.
We paid 32 NZD for two people in a van. There are showers and drop toilets. Perfect place to stay near the cape Reinga.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Muriwai Beach Campground
4.5/5
We paid 50 nzd for two people in a van.
We parked on the grass, it was very windy, there are toilets and showers, we visited the birds colony. Less than 2h drive to the airport
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Opua ▷
Hundertwasser Carpark, Kawakawa
5.0/5
Fantastic spot, there are a lot of overnight parking places, but they fill up.
Several vans stayed outside the designated area, but had no issues. There are flush toilets and showers, the shops are nearby. It was so good that we came back again two days later
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Te Puke ▷
Motunau Park
5.0/5
Great parking place with clean toilets and a cold shower.
The beach is right there, and we were the only van in the parking. A nice coffee is available on the other side of the street.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Holdens Bay Holiday Park
4.5/5
We paid 50 NZD for two people in a sleepervan.
The place is alright, hot showers and toilets available. There were two internal hot tubs, not very clean, and an external cold pool. The kitchen was basic so we used our own
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Huka/Aratiatia Rapids Scenic Reserve
5.0/5
A splendid camp near the lake, around 20-25 places.
Beautiful and calm. A 2h trail to Huka falls starts there. Only one drop toilet without water but clean.
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ New Plymouth ▷
Lake Rotomanu, New Plymouth
5.0/5
Fantastic place next to the lake.
Maybe 25-30 parking slots, but more vans can park on the grass, too. Flush toilets available. Nice walks around.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
Marsden Bay Reserve
4.5/5
There are 7 or 8 overnight van places and we had the chance to take the last one.
The place has flush toilets and a few tables with benches. It was a bit trippy: there were guys arguing on the street, and also youngsters came at night to drive their cars on the sea bottom (it was low tide). We had no problems with them
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South Island ▷ Central Otago ▷ Cromwell ▷
Lowburn Harbour
4.5/5
A big gravel parking next to the lake.
Good spot for swimming. Flush toilets with water. Rangers came and noted the licence plates
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch ▷
North Beach Car Park
4.5/5
Nice overnight parking spot right next to the beach.
There are two flush toilets and a cold shower. It's near the road so there is some noise from the traffic. Please note that it's not allowed to stay there on Friday and Saturday night
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Lake Tekapo ▷
Edwards Stream
4.0/5
A good free place to stay close to Lake Tekapo.
It represents a gravel parking next to the main road with a lot of space for campers and vans. There is one drop toilet and no water.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Kingston ▷
Kingston Lake Camp
5.0/5
Very beautiful place, the lake is magnificent.
The campsite is large and there are many trees and birds. Toilets available
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch ▷
Timber Yard Point Lakeside Domain Camping Area
5.0/5
A huge grass camsite next to the lake with many trees and a lot of space.
There are flush toilets, a sink and a cold shower. Mosquitos and flies come in the evening
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Motueka ▷
Port Motueka Beach Reserve
5.0/5
One of the most wanted camps, with only ~20 places.
There are many reasons: great location, saltwater pool, cold shower, flush toilets, grass area to put your table and chairs. It was full, but a ranger came at 6 PM and chased out a couple of NSC vans, so we had the chance to come in with our green sticker.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
Motupipi Carpark
4.0/5
An overnight carpark between the backs of several buildings.
A line of only 10 designated places which got full quickly, so a lot of vans came and parked on the second line. The toilet is a 2 min walk across the central street. We got up and left at 7 AM, but most of the vans stayed there.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Evans Bay Marina Carpark
4.5/5
This parking is constantly full and there are always several more vans circulating and looking for a place.
We arrived at 22h and initially parked on the street. Since there was no reliable info about the street parking rules, we were keeping an eye on the parking and had a chance around 1AM when 2 vans left for the ferry. There are flush toilets. It's possible to reach the center by foot or by bus.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Nelson ▷
Wai-iti Domain
4.5/5
A very large grass area surrounded by trees.
Nice place to stop with maybe a hundred places for vans and campers. No water, just two smelly drop toilets.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Oamaru ▷
Harbour Tourist Park Oamaru
5.0/5
The most important thing about this campsite is the opportunity to see the blue pinguins at night.
We paid 50 NZD for 2 people on a non-powered campervan spot. There are hot showers, kitchen, and wi-fi. The pinguins went out of the sea in front of the camp, next to the fishing boats. Later, they even came inside. There is also a nice park near the river, and it's easy to reach the town center by foot
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Mt Taranaki ▷
North Egmont Carparks
4.5/5
Convenient free parking next to the visitor centre with flush toilets.
Weather was not good, it was cold and windy. A good starting point for many trails
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South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura ▷
Jimmy Armers Beach, Kaikoura
4.5/5
We ended up here because all other free camps in town were full by 6PM.
We took the last of the 6 spots. Nice sea view, but windy and 45 min walk to the center. There is a flush water toilet and a cold shower. We had to leave by 7AM, what a pity, but we came back later for the fresh fish kiosk.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Twizel ▷
Lake Poaka Campsite
4.0/5
The campsite is accesible through a 3km gravel road.
The place is really big and can probably accomodate hundred campervans. There are two drop toilets and no water. Pay attention to the holes and stones
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Cron street ▷
Rainforest Retreat
4.5/5
We paid 70 NZD for 2 people on a powered site (there were no unpowered ones).
The place is nice, it has hot showers, kitchen, lounge area, outside hot tub, and sauna. It also has laundry, but it stops working when the internet is lost.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Haast ▷
Paringa
4.5/5
A nice free spot to stop with no alternative in this region.
There is not a lot of space, so be careful how you park, because other campers deserve a place too. There are flush toilets close to the cafe. There are also many sandflies, so don't leave the doors open for too long
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Lumsden ▷
Lumsden Information Centre
5.0/5
Amazing place in the center of the town.
Good flush toilets, an outside sink for washing dishes, a library with free wifi, a supermarket, a tasty coffee, and a chinese takeaway - everything is right next to you. The swimming pool with hot showers is a 10 min walk. Milford sound is a 3h drive
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Greymouth ▷
Cobden Beachfront, Greymouth
5.0/5
An excellent spot next to the beach.
It has flush toilets and a cold shower. Nice view of the sunset and good walks. Highly recommended.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Red Bridge Reserve
4.0/5
A big gravel parking with a lot of space.
Drop toilets with no water are close by. It seems that the place got full in the late evening so there were vans parking on the other side of the road. There was some traffic during the night