One of our absolute favourite things to do in Aotearoa, New Zealand, was to set up camp in a stunning location, boil the kettle and enjoy the view with a cup of tea! These Department of Conservation, DoC campgrounds really know how to deliver on the views and serenity, showing you how spectacular the outdoors are in the morning and evening light. Often people don’t see this side of Aotearoa, as they are staying in hotels or Airbnbs in towns and cities. And while the towns and cities are beautiful and still somewhat surrounded by nature, nothing beats camping out in the more rugged and peaceful areas of the country. Parking up on beaches with no one else around, tucking away in the forest and seeing the stars without light pollution is truly incredible. So get out of the cities in the North Island and spend a night or two at these peaceful campsites, connecting with nature.
Be sure to check out our Instagram to see more vanlife tips for travelling New Zealand!
Before we jump into this handy list of the best DOC campgrounds on the North Island, let us give you a money-saving hack for your trip. We have included the cost per person per night to stay at these DOC sites, and whilst the cost isn’t really that high for a campground site, it does still add up. Our best advice is to figure out how long you will be in New Zealand and get yourself a DoC Campsite Pass for that time. If you are staying at a few campsites, you’ll notice the savings very quickly. There are heaps of DoC sites on the South Island; you’ll practically be staying at them for free before you know it. We kept track of the DoC sites we stayed at in a year, and the annual pass ended up saving us a total of $838! And honestly I think it would be slightly higher than that because we did get a little lazy with recording the sites we stayed at towards the end of the year! So please look into the DoC pass; it really is worth it!
Mangahuia Campground – Tongariro National Park
Cost: $18 per adult per night
Best For: Mountain backdrops and being close to Tongariro National Park
Additional: Bookings are required. However, we often managed to book a site just before arriving. You can use the DoC pass here.
This was our favourite place to stay whenever we were near National Park and Tongariro. Whilst there is a freedom camp in National Park, this is so much better. The freedom camp is in a parking lot, always rather busy and incredibly well lit up at night. We love a dark night and wouldn’t get a lot of sleep at the freedom camp due to the street lights spaced evenly in the parking area.
In contrast, this tucked-away DoC site is only lit by the stars. Each spot is separated from its neighbours with bushes and trees, making for a super peaceful night’s sleep and your own space to enjoy the outdoors. It’s closer to the Whakapapa Village than National Park, giving you less of a drive in the morning to get to the numerous walks in the area or less of a drive to the slopes in winter! Our top tip for this one would be to utilise the Penny showers at the freedom camp in National Park but spend the night staying at the peaceful Mangahuia Campground.
Manganuku Campground – Waioweka Gorge
Cost: $10 per adult per night
Best For: Camping under the stars and roasting marshmallows on your own fire.
Additional: DoC pass can be used here. You do still need to book online prior to arrival.
This is the one and only DoC site that we ever made a fire at. Not all sites allow fires, and the ones that do will often restrict when you are able to light a fire. Those restrictions still apply here, but there were none when we stayed. Be sure to check for fire bans, etc., before you light your own!
We loved our night here; we cooked potatoes on our fire for dinner and then used it to toast marshmallows for dessert. Tucked away in the Waioweka Gorge watching the stars as the fire crackles next to you is just pure bliss. The campsite sits on the river and has a historic Howe Truss bridge at its end. We had the campground all to ourselves, which made the night under the stars extra special.
Uretiti Beach – Waipu
Cost: $18 per adult per night
Best For: Beachside camping
Additional: Coin-operated hot showers are available for $2. A DoC pass can be used here.
This is a gated DoC campground that is managed full-time by a camp host. You’ll need to book online before coming and be sure to check in at the camp office to access your site. The barrier gates get locked from 9pm to 7am, so you’ll want to arrive before 9, and you can’t leave any earlier than 7. Not that that was an issue for us, as we hate arriving at a campsite in the dark, and we won’t get up before 7 unless we have a full-day hike planned!
The campground here is lovely; we particularly liked staying in the section with all the teacups. The showers aren’t amazing, but they are cheap and definitely better than nothing; just be sure to go before dark, as they aren’t overly well lit at night. The sites themselves are mostly situated behind the sand dunes of Uretiti Beach, so you won’t have epic coastal views from your door. You will, however, have a beautiful sandy beach to walk down to from your site. Who doesn’t love a stroll along the beach before curling up in your cosy van bed with a delicious van-cooked meal?
Taputaputa – Cape Reinga
Cost: $18 per adult per night
Best For: Camping at the northernmost DOC site in Aotearoa! Right on the beach and just a 5-minute drive from Cape Reinga.
Additional: This campsite is run by DoC and the local iwi Ngāti Kuri, and thus DoC passes cannot be used at this campground. You also need to book online prior to arrival.
This is an epic campground to stay at with stunning coastal views and a beautiful clear river to your side. It’s a gorgeous spot nestled in a little valley with a calm lagoon to swim in. Being the northernmost campground in Aotearoa, it is a great place to stay whilst you are seeing the many wonders of the tippy top of the North Island.
It’s not an overly large campground, so it definitely pays to book this one in advance, especially if you are travelling in summer. Whilst you are up this way, be sure to check out Cape Reinga, 90 Mile Beach and Te Paki Sand Dunes.
Trounson Kauri Park – Kauri Coast
Cost: $20 per adult per night
Best For: Kauri forest walks and trying to spot Kiwi at night
Additional: DoC passes can be used here, just not between December 26th and February 8th. You do still need to book online prior to arrival.
This little campground is sitting on the edge of an impressive kauri forest with beautiful walking trails and the chance to see some kiwi if you have a red light torch and are brave enough to go wandering at night. The campground is also serviced with toilets, a small kitchen area and coin-operated showers.
We recommend going on the Trounson Kauri Park loop track during the day so you can take in the beauty of this forest and the clear streams that run through it. Then rug up at night and bring a red light (any other form of light will damage the sensitive eyes of nighttime creatures, especially the kiwi) to walk the same paths slowly, listening out for kiwi snuffling in the bush. Unfortunately for us, we heard some kiwi calls whilst we were here but didn’t manage to find any on our nighttime wanderings. We still loved our nighttime adventure even without getting to see a kiwi!
Please Leave No trace
As always, when out in nature, be sure to practise leave no trace. Anything that goes into the campground with you comes out as well (this includes apple cores and any type of food scraps). Be sure to keep to the designated campsites so you don’t disturb the fragile ecosystems surrounding the campground. Please leave rocks, sticks and plants as you find them. Please don’t take anything but photographs and leave with nothing extra but memories. We like to go one step further on leave no trace by making sure we pick up any rubbish we see at the campground; sometimes people slip up and forget to pick up after themselves, or things get accidentally forgotten. If you see something that doesn’t belong and are equipped to pick it up and correctly dispose of it, please do!
Keen for more inspo? Be sure to check out:
- 4 Freedom Camping Apps to Make New Zealand Travel Simple!
- Best New Zealand Freedom Camp Spots Close To Major Cities
- Our Favourite Quick, Easy and Cheap Van Life Meals
