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North Island ▷ Manawatu - Wanganui ▷ Palmerston North ▷
Raumai Reserve
5.0/5
FREE site for all, easy access, space plentiful although be cautious on wet grass.
Toilets supply paper and foam but no flush.
Only people here on winter night, not far from Palmerston North, STUNNING setting beside Glen, with fire pits and stoney beach.
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Spa Park
5.0/5
Parking plenty up Spa Road.
Winter morning: nothing better
5 min gravel path to bridge, footwear required.
Pools consist of two hot teirs, one with steamy water fall, the other accesses the cool river. MAX room for twelve, anymore would be a bad experience. Hooks supplied under bridge for towels and currently a toilet/changing facility is being built with lookout. Existing toilets and playground are back at parking area.
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North Island ▷ Wairarapa ▷ Masterton ▷
Castlepoint Carpark
5.0/5
Free, with 24h toilets, minutes to single cafe/store hybrid.
Near to lighthouse walk and directly located at entrance to other bush walks. Rankers has this site listed as self-contained only but the included infographic states these restrictions apply Nov-Apr. I could be wrong. Thanks DOC
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Tihoi Bar & Eatery
5.0/5
Free, with 24h toilets.
No WIFI
Easy drive to Taupo, closest and only spot in winter for non-self contained.
Essentially a grass pitch beside tavern, included takeway and basic needs.
Make sure to support the team, or thank them for making this spot available.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Kuirau Park walkway
4.0/5
THE SMELL!
Great free alternative in Rota, the park is named after the lake which in one's opinion is fantastic. Parks off Ranolf street near a rocky mound, walk north to lake boardwalk. Best enjoyed on chilly morning when steam is high.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
Otuihau Whangarei Falls
4.0/5
Nice area, don't swim: new signage encourages you away from toxic bird effluent.
Otherwise a grand view from bridge and picnic area, makes a great screensaver.
24 hour toilet and limited self-contained camping.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Miranda ▷
Kaiaua Boat Club Reserve
4.0/5
Free, worth every cent.
Block toilets, no soap. Crowded even in winter. Right on the stoney beach, fantastic tide shift.
No complaints! Great for 1 night before the expenses of Coromandel. Cheers to the boat club
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
Bascule Carpark, Whangarei
4.0/5
24 hour flush toilet, reasonably quiet when close to road.
We scored last space at 8pm, winter. 5 min to city, thank the council and stay within the signs.
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Stratford ▷
Dawson Falls
4.0/5
Access cautiously along sealed, mostly single lane road.
Carparks, toilets. Lookout tower is especially nice, falls 10 minutes walk back down hill. iSite closes early, nice displays
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Waitomo ▷
Juno Hall Backpackers and Camping
5.0/5
Our favourite on 20 day experience.
Owner was fantastic, top amenities. Lounge with fire place, old tv and incredible DVD selection. Backpackers were awake very late, around 10 of us mid June. Taken out to feed the deer, goats and Kunikuni in the am. Great stay, be back in summer.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Hamilton ▷
Hamilton Zoo
4.0/5
Arrived at opening hour, happy animals.
Very cheap for close encounters when compared to Wellington, we touched beautiful rhinos. Giraffe were moved to far exhibit, which was too much on rainy day. Allow a few hours and pack a lunch
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Muriwai Beach Campground
4.0/5
Some would consider expensive at powered $20 but direct access to beach was great.
Brand new facility, kitchen large but only cookers and chillers, no equipment. All but 3 showers locked after dark, locals know which. Free Wifi available only near office. Camper parking over hill away from sea with additional toilets. Long term residents take up large area. DOC auto-gate at entrance closes at dusk, be aware.
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North Island ▷ Hawkes Bay ▷ Napier ▷
Foreshore Reserve Carpark
4.0/5
Limited to 8 parks.
Free, with 24hr toilet.
Get here early, fills up even in cold months. And be VERY aware, the parks are the 8 outlined parallel sites near blue loo. Four each side. Monitored daily, avoid the fines. Bins supplied for campers
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Rangitoto Summit Track
5.0/5
Auckland best stop, walk suitable for most.
Toilets at base, 50min direct walk to top, but plenty places to stop: rock outcrops, lava caves, infographics to learn how plants came to be on a volcano without soil. Summit itself looks out to Coromandel, Waiheke and the City. Explore the secrets of the crater during the World wars. We encountered the protected saddleback bird. Incredible.
For saving money in the city: Total cost ~$55
We camped at Panmure wharf reserve, a free for all vehicle site not listed with Rankers. Toilets 24/7. Booking for the 7:30 early bird Ferry, we scored at $23pp. A 6am wake up was more than enough time to organise picnic food (you'll need it) and get to downtown parking, a 1 min walk to terminal with a saturday cost of $10 for the 7.5 hours used.
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Whitianga ▷
Mill Creek Bird & Campervan Park
5.0/5
Best stop on the peninsula.
Access road mostly unsealed, okay for all. $18pp for site, showers and animal park. Complete steal. Only downside is park isn't maintained like a government zoo but can't imagine that possible with the open fowl greetings, and poo! Take gumboots, it's no joke. Highlights were feeding literal handfuls of Lorikeets, 4ft eel, cuddly bunnies, chatty birds and farm staples. Exotic pheasants go under the radar, but do visit them. No Wifi
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Patea ▷
Waverley Beach Camping Ground
5.0/5
$12 for two in camper.
Basic amenities, seperate hot showers, oven, bring cutlery. Shared large pitch with 4 cars, couple long stays this June. Turn off in Waverley towards coast on sealed road, go left at the cattle-stop to wooden building. Don't forget to pay at library first! Well worth it, cheers Wave-town. No WIFI, who needs it this close to beach and caves.
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North Island ▷ Manawatu - Wanganui ▷ Dannevirke ▷
Dannevirke Holiday Park
4.5/5
$8pp non powered is incredible value.
Although theres few attractions, it makes a nice stop over with hot showers, equipped kitchen and feeding deer park. Long term residents are friendly, but see strange hours. Flatscreen at the chilly dining room. 1Gb free fibre and coin operated laundry. Key word value
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Waitomo ▷
Mangapohue Natural Bridge Walk
4.0/5
FREE.
One of the few non-commercialised attractions in Waitomo area. 5 min boardwalk to stunning cavern, parking will be limited in warmer months. Rotten long drop, avoid. 20 min round trip to fossil rock if you can be bothered with soggy field. There also exists a free glow worm cave (Piripiri) a couple km drive west before falls.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Raglan ▷
Karioi Lodge Campervan Sites
5.0/5
Great site, $32 for couple.
Coin laundry, equiped kitchen, bathrooms and common area for backpackers. Includes free Pool table, TV.
Campervans (NOT motorhomes) have 10 powered sites, majority of which are on flat gravel roadside parks, AND separate little kitchen, bathroom. Plenty off bugs, bush none-the-less. Empty carpark at bottom away from amenities.
For those easily confused:
Go up through gate (closes after dark) to office, camper spots are further drive up the hill along with kitchenette. Exit is past parking lot. The whole "Lava lounge" is a separate building, I didn't read the map clearly.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Porirua ▷
Camp Elsdon
4.0/5
Great manager, cheap additional WiFi, 24hr free amenities.
Priced well, leading to cramped parks.
This would have been an otherwise pleasant stay. I really do commend the lovely Chris, this is a great site burdened by long term residents. Both the main kitchen and sub kitchen were home to foreigners, smoking drinking and using the stove tops as heaters. There is signage all over, but when confronted not even an apology or excuse is given. From the website the park itself hosts kids and animals, so when in NZ you represent your own country and give all (french) a bad look when you abuse ours. I'm no racist but each affordable holiday park was the same.