My girlfriend and I love this place, have stayed in summer, winter and plan to head back again.

+ Fantastically cheap, $5 power hookup and obviously free to not,

+ Toilets couch toilets and cleaned daily,

+ Right on the lake which is perfect for a swim in summer,

+ Right next to the bus stop cafe which has some awesome food and is reasonably priced,

+ Awesome views of the surrounding woods and lake

We love this place, it's a little out of traditional tourist stops but if you like quiet and calm head here for a stay.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

We've stayed here a few occasions for a few nights.

+ Free,

+ On lake front so fantastic views,

+ Spacious 'No-parking' spaces in between camper-van spaces,

+ Right in/near town centre,

+ Public toilets down the road by marina (closed overnight) so no need to pay for super loos.

- There is some noise from bars and road through town.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

We initially went here primarily for IAC Internet use to upload pictures but so glad we did.

We stayed 1 night $18pp power.

+ Fantastically friendly couple who own and run the park. Really friendly welcome from Gary when we arrived and the from Karen and 'shy' Nelly the dog the next morning,

+ Toilets very clean and tidy,

+ Whole camp is very clean, tidy and really well looked after,

+ Free BBQ in little covered area,

+ Good wifi coverage throughout,

+ Lovely animals around the grounds,

+ Got to feed toe sheep, alpacas and George the goat,

+ Gary gave us 2 still warm eggs to take away,

+ The Barn......oh my goodness, lovely big kitchen area with loads and loads of utensils to borrow, slow cookers and stove cookers to use. Nice big comfy leather sofas dotted about this huge space with games, magazines and books all free to read and use. Then to top it off a 52' tv on the wall with sky to watch.

+ Kids playground just outside the barn area.

So stupidly worth it to stay in this place was a true delight.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

We stayed here for 1 night, had planned for a second but after earthquakes the road was shut due to slip fears.

+ Free,

+ Toilet clean and not too smelly,

+ Right over road from beach,

+ Just a little drive to Ohau point and waterfall to see seal pups.

- Quite noisy, next to road and railway track. A couple of trains went past in night and they were not quiet about it.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

We stayed here before our ferry early next morning to South Island.

+ Very convenient location,

+ Very friendly and helpful staff,

+ Very clean facilities. (Toilet and shower)

- Hugely expensive $50 per site,

- Very loud as right next to road and dock. We had a ferry bubbling away in dock until after midnight then another one start at 6am.

+/- realistically is a powered car park in middle of city with showers.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

We ended up staying here for 4 nights over 2 stops.

+ Free,

+ Lots of space and different areas to park,

+ Toilet had toilet roll and soap,

+ Right on beach so you can feel the awesome massive waves coming in,

+ Fantastic moon and sun rises here,

+ Awesome views of big surf and snowy mountain in half a turn are ridiculous,

+ Awesome to wake up to big surf and a seal in the morning.

- The long drop toilet is more short drop due to popularity of spot.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

Awesome!!

Very cool to see the seals lazing around on the beach, rocks and grass area and too also see seal pups bounding about.

You get fantastic views from the lighthouse so the horrible steep steps are worth it when you get up there :)

Reviewed about 11 years ago

We've stayed here on 2 occasions both for 1 night.

+ Free,

+ Lovely area with direct access to beach,

+ Surprisingly sheltered from the wind,

+ Nice cycle route around estuary.

- Can only stay for 1 night at a time,

- On a Saturday night there was 1 occasion of a car wheel spinning out of car park.

+/- There is a toilet but it is locked over night.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

We stayed here for 1 night on a power site.

$17pp.

+ Big open space to park,

+ Clean but dated facilities,

+ Friendly staff member,

+ Great location, views from the beach were awesome.

- Quite boggy field at the time,

- No soap in any off the toilets,

- Lock in men's cubicle toilet broken.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in June 2013

We ventured to this place after rejecting Wairoa River reserve just around the corner.

We stayed for 2 nights.

+ Toilets open to public but are locked overnight,

+ Quieter than expected,

+ Big open area to park in,

- Quite regular trains making a racket as well as the ship yard

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in June 2013

We meant to stay at this place but decided against it for a couple of reasons.

+ The toilet is a flush toilet and all you can hope for from a public toilet.

- It's right next to the state highway so very loud traffic noise,

- Low bridge under road so a lot of campervan a wont be able to get to the 'pretty' parking,

- After we pulled up and were deciding whether or not to stay a man pulled up in his ute and started staring at us. We decided to ignore him but he then drive around us and parked and wandered right around our van peering at us before going to the toilet. When he was walking back to his van he again decided the best route was to circumnavigate our van whilst looking at us and inside the van. We decided we didn't like it so moved on.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in June 2013

We've popped in here a couple of times after finding it.

DOC site with warden on grounds all times. $6pp.

+ Friendly wardens,

+ Awesome location (right on the beach front)

+ Good clean flush toilets,

+ Hot showers!!

+ Loads of room to spread out,

+ Close to shops.

Awesome spot, if in Whakatane area check it out!!

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in June 2013

We stayed here for 2 nights.

+ Awesome/delightful location, right next to bubbling river,

+ Fantastic environment for a camp ground,

+ Long drop toilet not smelly,

+ Free,

+ Some glow worm sightings on way to toilet.

+ Some ready made fire pits/BBQ.

- The road up there is very tricky, we had to cross 3 fords (all reasonable) but not great.

I can imagine in summer time this site is fantastic with the river to dip in when hot.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in June 2013

We stayed here for 1 night whilst we did the lake walk (short one) $18pp power.

+ Reasonably priced,

+ Fantastic view and location (Right on the lake)

+ Very close to plenty of waterfalls and walks,

+ Very clean and tidy facilities,

+ Lovely are,

+ Petrol available.

Lovely campground, we were there in autumn so weather wasnt great but was still great there.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in June 2013

Lovely little campsite where we stayed for 2 nights.

+ Free,

+ Fantastic views and location,

+ Long drop toilets clean and not smelly.

- The toilet is a bit of a trek back up the road away from some camping spots.

Not a negative but the 2 nights we were there it was very windy in the inlet. Almost rocked to sleep in the van.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in May 2013

We made the long journey down to this campsite (Although I got us a little lost by not reading the map properly) and stayed for 1 night.

+ Free,

+ Fantastic views and location,

+ Long drop toilets not smelly,

- Toilets flooded in the rain,

- Track to the beach too muddy and perilously slippery to traverse.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013

We popped in here for a couple of nights and really enjoyed it.

+ Free,

+ Clean flush toilets,

+ Quiet,

+ Right next to the beach,

+ Near nice calm lagoon which is safe to swim in,

+ Nice spacious grass area which is good for a kick about.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013

We stayed here for 1 night, could have easily been more.

+ The sites are right on the beach which almost seems like a private beach,

+ Ridiculously fantastic views,

+ Very friendly welcome and staff,

+ Loads of room to choose from,

+ Shower very roomy, cold water but in summer was lovely,

- Showers had quite a few wasps buzzing around in them,

- Toilets long drop but the drop isn't very long anymore,

- No toilet roll in any of the cubicles, male or female.

Loved it though was a nice $20 per site and is a great place to stay before exploring up to the Cape or after.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

We have stayed here a couple of different times for a couple of nights each.

+ LOADS of space to park up,

+ Free....is surprising when considering the location,

+ Right on the river, fantastic for a dip in summer to cool down,

- toilets are horrendous, very smelly and not in any way recommended to use, head into Taupo if you need the toilet

- Locals seem to like to go and hang on mass, quite often cars of youngsters drinking and playing loud music hanging around. Is plenty of space to avoid though.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

We stayed here for 1 night on the drive down.

+ Free....what's not to like about that price,

+ Toilets open all night and are flush toilets,

+ Fantastic views over the water to the Coromandels,

+ 30 sec walk to fantastic fish and chips,

+ Very large area,

+ Feels safe and comfortable.

Nice place to stop if driving through.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

We stayed here for 1 night and it was not planned but we missed the last ferry across for the evening so need somewhere....glad we did.

+ Very friendly welcome and nice staff,

+ Good rates to pay,

+ Amazing forest surrounds,

+ Fantastic facilities (Shower&Toilets)

+ Really good onsite wifi and cheap too,

- Seems more like a tent and backpackers place as there was only 1 powered site (We didn't mind that as we were the only powered van there that night) so maybe call and check of wanting to stay here.

We had power and it cost us $20 for the night, that gave us use of the toilets and showers but not the kitchen area. That would have cost a little more.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

We stayed here a number of times over our year stay in New Zealand and have love it every time.

+ Free!!

+ Right on Lake Taupo,

+ Awesome views of the mountains and surrounds in both summer and snow capped in winter,

+ Is very quiet except that its under the sky jumps drop zone so you can here lots of whoops and shouts :)

+ Cleanest long drop toilets we've seen. Virtually no smell.

- Only minor negative is its a little drive out of Taupo but that is also a little bit good as doesn't get too busy.

Absolute diamond spot.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

We stayed here for 2 nights.

+ Free,

+ Clean flush toilets,

+ Spacious,

+ Right on the beach front,

+ Awesome views,

+ Shops, bar, takeaway just a 1 min walk up road.

- No sink to wash hands in male toilets,

- Gets quite busy in summer but loads of room.

Really nice place to stay and get quite a cool sunrise here too.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

We stayed here for 1 night so we could go for a dip in the waterfall early next morning.

+ Toilets are nice and clean long drops. Their open all night.

+ Location is fantastic, 1/2 trek to a fantastic waterfall. Well worth the walk.

- Toilets were a bit smelly when the wind caught it.

$6pp for a locked overnight car park. Really nice area too.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in January 2013

We stayed here for 1 night but could easily have stayed longer.

It was $6pp.

+ Loads of parking space,

+ BBQs,

+ Facilities clean and tidy and open all night,

+ The views from this place are fantastic, well worth a walk or ride around up to the lookout point,

+ Very friendly rangers about if you need any help,

+ Running water,

+ Nice and cheap for all you getting,

+ Friendly peacocks about.

Would and might stay here again when back that way

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in January 2013

Our first stay in New Zealand.

+ Good clean facilities,

+ Friendly & helpful staff,

+Awesome location,

- Only down point for us was the wifi coverage. Poor except right next to reception.

Loved it though and will return.

It was $18pp for power and $15pp non powered when we stayed.

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in January 2013

We stayed here for a night whilst we went for some glow worm rafting.

+ Very friendly and helpful staff,

+ Very clean and tidy facilities,

+ Lovely pool and hot pool,

+ Great location for the caves,

+ Trampoline to play on :)

- Quite expensive. ($23pp power)

Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in January 2013