A really lovely spot where you can hear the waves crash as you fall asleep (if the rain isn't bouncing off your campervan roof!).

Clearly signed and marked area where you can park up, although some campers still ignored this. 200m walk to clean spacious toilets and also a kids playground. The coffee shop over the road is a must visit. Hot lamb pies, cheese scones and cakes to die for.

Reviewed over 7 years ago

Another amazing spot - cannot believe you can camp here for free.

Four levelish campervan parking spots, clearly marked and easy to find. The long drop toilets were in good condition and would have been better if previous visitors hadn't used it to dump rubbish or litter toilet paper round. Beautiful views, 40 minute walk to cathedral cove, 15 minute walk down to great brewhouse pub with food - a bit longer on the walk back up the hill!

Reviewed over 7 years ago

Great spot overlooking the lake and easy walking distance to shops and bars in town.

We were there with loads of other campers (Lions Rugby Tour) yet there was no noise and friendly locals. The superloos are closest but cost 50 cents and are only open daytime. Only an extra couple of minutes walk away are clean public toilets open 6.15am - 10pm. Great playground in park next to camping spot. Best pie in New Zealand at fast and fresh bakery (venison, bacon and mushroom). Also two brewery bars in walking distance. Fab free spot.

Reviewed over 7 years ago

The most fantastic setting but very basic facilities (smelly long drop toilet - avoid if possible).

However the sunrise is amazing. The access road is tricky at points, part gravel, part tarmaced and lots of cattle and horses in the road, so best travelling out there in the daylight. Public toilets at Te Araroa (about 13kms away). Stunning setting so worth the toilet!

Reviewed over 7 years ago

Level car park right next to the beach.

We fell asleep to the waves crashing and woke up to a brilliant sunrise. Toilets were clean and this free site was just a few hundred metres from a fish and chip shop and general store. Definitely worth a stopover.

Reviewed over 7 years ago

This is a great site.

We paid $12 for the both of us on a powered site. Although the facilities may not look like much they had great, hot, free showers and not a cold shower block when you got out the shower! Playground and free bbqs a short walk away, right near the beach. Lovely sunset. All grass pitches which could be worth bearing in mind if it has been raining.

Reviewed over 7 years ago

A small, quiet car park - easy to find, near enough opposite the pub.

1km from Pancake Rocks which is where the nearest toilets are. Great spot and great pub, scored a 7 simply because there's no facilities at all.

Reviewed over 7 years ago

Car park camping for self contained vehicles.

The bays are clearly marked out, it's in a rugby club car park. Choice of two toilet blocks, both were of a good standard. Short walk to shops, bars (recommend Cork and Keg - you can hire bikes from here to tour wineries) and takeaways. For those of you who are light sleepers, truckers use it as a turning around spot before they park up nearby, but that didn't bother us. Less than 30 minutes drive to Picton ferry.

Reviewed over 7 years ago

Fall asleep to the waves crashing.

Beautiful views and sunrise. A decent trek to basic toilet facilities, but this is a free spot to camp. Best views so far. Definitely a better option than the one down the road (but consider here if you need to empty/fill up with water etc).

Reviewed over 7 years ago

Great spot and the only place to free camp in Hanmer.

As previous reviewers have said it is tricky to find but basically up Jollies Pass Road, left into Pawsons and then you will see a tiny blue camping sign. Enough for 5 or so campers (there were only two others with us). A bit muddy, but a clean flushing toilet. Great place to aim for on the Picton to Christchurch drive.

Reviewed over 7 years ago

Scoring this park is very difficult.

It's got great views, right on the beach and has toilets/showers, kitchen and hairdryer in the toilets. The manager was friendly. Other than that there really is nothing good to say, it is small, tired and run down, the 'pitches' aren't clearly marked, mainly made up of permanent trailers/vans. Such a strange place for a lovely location. If you need to stay in Takapuna then stay here, if not then maybe see if you can find somewhere better.

Reviewed over 7 years ago

Great location and view and really the only option if you want to camp in Piha.

We paid $36 for two of us on an unpowered site but this did include 12 minutes of showers. Warm water takes a while to come through but that's what you expect at a remote place. Clean shower and toilet block. Kitchen to use if needed. Nowhere for water fill up or waste disposal, again due to location. Nice playground for kids. Good location to walk to Kitekite falls.

Reviewed over 7 years ago