Eddie Howell
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Raglan ▷
Te Kopua Whanau Camping Ground
4.5/5
In terms of value for money (other than free!) $10 a night is pretty good.
Close to town and raglans great surf spots. Basically a field with about 45 parking spots (no power) with flushing toilets, free cold and $1 hot showers (mechanism was broken when I was there so it was FREE hot showers!) Just up the road is the river mouth where you can watch the sunset and chill out. Friendly owner who is there taking payment till 5pm after which you pay by money in envelope. YOU WILL BE CHECKED so don't try be sneaky. I was happy to stay two nights and would stay again.
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Whakatane ▷
Pikowai Reserve Camping Ground
4.5/5
Clean facilities, flushing toilet and located right on the sand dunes.
Small town of Matata is down the road with a dairy, takeaway and bottle shop. Stay here if you want to relax by the seaside and not do much else. And bring bug spray, I got slammed while sun baking!!
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Cosy Cottage Thermal Holiday Park
4.5/5
Really friendly people working in the office.
I asked for my price to come down to $30 unpowered for a night as I was travelling solo which they obliged, great start!! Great facilities, FREE WiFi and HOT SHOWERS!! Dig your own thermal pool in the sand on the lake front (1min walk and private area). Hot pools were great! Nice and hot (obviously!). The free thermal park is up the road, so between the campsite and the free park you don't need to pay anymore to see the thermal highlights of Rotorua! Town centre really close as well. I highly recommend this place.
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North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷ Gisborne ▷
Makorori Carpark, Gisborne
5.0/5
Absolute bliss!!
Kicking myself for not staying more than one night! Right on the sand dunes in front of the surf. Not much swell when I was there but still got out and got some waves. Me and only one other van. Be mindful that free camping is only meant to be in the designated area (it's explained in the sign on the toilet block). Locals will rock up early (5.30am) for the surf, particularly on weekends. Didn't bother me as I was up with them surfing! Yew!