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Where to Camp in Auckland ⛺ [2024]

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The Guide to Camping in Auckland

We don’t blame you. Camping is an affordable way to spend the night somewhere, a form of more independent travel, and a way to feel more one with nature. The Auckland region has a great selection of places to pitch your tent for the night or park up your campervan. We’ll go through them all in this guide on where to camp in Auckland.

There are four forms of campsites in the Auckland region: holiday parks, council campsites, Department of Conservation (DoC) campsites and freedom camping spots. Auckland is “tent-friendly” with around 40 low-cost campsites from the wilderness of the Hunua Ranges to beachfront campsites along its stunning coast. People travelling in a campervan that is not fully self-contained may find fewer options for low-cost camping but can still find all the essentials in holiday parks. Your options are certainly a lot more open if you are travelling in a certified self-contained vehicle in the Auckland region, just note that under the Reserves Act, you cannot freedom camp on Auckland Council reserves and regional parks even in a self-contained vehicle. If in doubt, check the freedom camping page on the Auckland Council website.

So take a look at the directory below to find your ideal places to camp in the Auckland region.

5 Best Places to Camp in Auckland

Before we list all of the holiday parks, campsites and freedom camping areas in Auckland, here are some of the best places in Auckland to sleep under the stars:

  1. Takapuna Beach Holiday Park, Takapuna – Right on the beachfront facing Rangitoto Island and 15 minutes from Auckland Central
  2. Pakiri Beach Holiday Park, Tomorata – Camping along a 14 km (9 mi) beach good for fishing and surfing
  3. Piwakawaka Eco Structure Site, Wenderholm – Glamping site next to the Puhoi River
  4. Piggott’s Campground, Hunua Ranges – Grassy campsite accessible by foot with streams, waterfalls and views
  5. Medlands Beach Campsite, Great Barrier Island – Grassy campsite set back from Medlands Beach with vehicle access and shady areas under the trees.

Where to Camp in Auckland© Social Nature Movement

Glamping with Social Nature Movement

Wherever you decide to camp in Auckland, make it the ultimate glamping experience with Social Nature Movement! Whether it’s a night under the stars in the back garden or a beautiful glamping set-up at one of the Auckland campsites listed below, the dedicated team at SNM has you covered. Choose your level of inclusions: from just the tent to the full kit and caboodle with mattresses, plush bedding, gorgeous lighting, floral arrangements, chocolate, chilly bins with cold drinks in summer and Thermos with hot drinks in winter, and the list goes on!

Plan your glamping getaway at socialnaturemovement.nz.

Where to Camp in Auckland© THL

Commercial Holiday Parks in Auckland

Holiday parks in Auckland have a range of facilities of a higher standard than what’s found in DOC or council-run campsites (see below). Unsurprisingly, this comes at a higher price: usually NZ$48-$55 per site for two people per night or around NZ$20 per person per night. They also offer a number of accommodation types, but campers can always rely on holiday parks to have powered sites to plug up their campervan and tent sites (providing there is availability).

For more on what to expect from a holiday park, check out The Accommodation Guide to Holiday Parks in New Zealand.

Matakana Coast

  • Martins Bay Holiday Park, Warkworth – Huge campsite on the sandy shores with beach glamping
  • Whangateau Holiday Park, Warkworth – Waterfront powered sites available
  • Pakiri Beach Holiday Park, Tomorata – Camping along a 14 km (9 mi) beach good for fishing and surfing
  • Sandspit Holiday Park, Warkworth – Family-friendly holiday spot with safe swimming.

Hibiscus Coast

  • Red Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park, Orewa – Tidy holiday park nestled in the residential suburbs of Red Beach
  • Orewa Beach Holiday Park, Orewa – A large holiday park with glamping just a short walk from the beach.

North Shore

Waitakere

  • Muriwai Beach Motor Camp, Muriwai – Mostly tent and campervan camping within walking distance of the beach
  • Piha Domain Motor Camp, Piha – Grassy camping area nearby Piha Beach
  • Whatipu Lodge & Campground, Whatipu – Affordable campground with vehicle access and tracks to the beach.

Auckland City Central

Manukau

  • Orere Point Top 10 Holiday Park, Manukau Heads-Activity-centric holiday park on the way to the Coromandel
  • Port Waikato Holiday Park, Te Kohanga – Isolated holiday park at the estuary of the Waikato River
  • Bruce Pulman Park, Takanini – Affordable camping exclusively for self-contained vehicles
  • Orua Bay Motor Camp, Orua Bay – Peaceful holiday park at Manukau Heads
  • Big Bay Holiday Park, Big Bay – Family-friendly getaway with a wood-fired pizza oven. Closed for winter
  • Clarks Beach Holiday Park, Clarks Beach – Attractive river flats setting next to a golf course.

Hauraki Gulf

  • Stray Possum Lodge, Great Barrier Island – Homely ambience with backpacker hostels and camping
  • Awana Mickey’s Campground, Great Barrier Island – Farm campground with flush toilets and a cooking area
  • Great Barrier Island Campground, Great Barrier Island – Park grounds with a freshwater stream and 4WD vehicles recommended.
Where to Camp in Auckland ⛺ [2023]© THL

Auckland Council Campgrounds

Auckland is blessed with approximately 40 campgrounds across the region. Most campgrounds are very basic, starting off with some sort of toilet and water supply (although you are likely to need to treat the water) while some campgrounds have extra facilities like gas barbecues and cooking shelters. Be aware that many of the campgrounds are accessed on foot and are only suitable for tents. Prices range from NZ$9.50-$21 per adult and NZ$4.50-$6.50 per child.

SCC Parking Areas or SCC Campgrounds are for certified self-contained vehicles only. Book your campsite spot at the Auckland Council website.

Kaipara Harbour

Matakana Coast

Hibiscus Coast

North Shore

Auckland City Central

  • Ambury Campground, Mangere – Basic flat campground with toilets and drinking water nearby.

Waitakere

Manukau

Hauraki Gulf

Learn more about the regional parks in the 20 Auckland Parks You Can’t Miss.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

Department of Conservation Campsites in Auckland

The Department of Conservation (DOC) maintains the campsites on the Hauraki Gulf islands. Expect toilets, water (may need treating) and possibly cold showers and picnic tables. Book your camping spot on the DOC website. Fees are approximately NZ$10-$15 per adult per night and NZ$5-$7.50 per child. See The Complete Guide to Camping in New Zealand to learn more.

Motutapu Island

Motuihe Island

Moturoa Island

Great Barrier Island

  • Akapoua Bay Campsite, Port FitzRoy – Family-friendly camping area near the sheltered waters of Port FitzRoy
  • Awana Beach Campsite – Accessible for vehicle camping by a popular surf beach
  • Harataonga Campsite – Vehicle-accessible grassy campsite next to the Harataonga Coastal Walkway
  • Medlands Beach Campsite – Grassy campsite set back from Medlands Beach with vehicle access and shady areas under the trees
  • The Green Campsite, Whangaparapara Harbour – A small scenic campsite only accessible on foot or by boat
  • Whangapoua Campsite, Whangapoua Estuary – Camp near the airport close to a popular surf break.

Learn more about saving money when staying in multiple DOC campsites in our guide, DOC Campsite Pass: How it Works & is it Worth it?

Where to Camp in Auckland ⛺ [2023]© Unsplash

Freedom Camping in Auckland

Camp for free in Auckland. Freedom camping in Auckland usually refers to a car park with no facilities where you can sleep in your campervan for free. For this reason, freedom camping is restricted to only certified self-contained vehicles.

The Auckland region has very little choice for freedom camping. However, there are a few spots to stay the night for free if you are travelling in a certified self-contained campervan:

For more information on these freedom camping spots in Auckland, check out 10 Free Camping Spots in Auckland.

More About Camping in Auckland

That’s it for our guide on where to camp in Auckland. For more camping advice, take a look at the following guides:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it between The Complete Guide to Camping in New Zealand and The Complete Travel Guide to Auckland.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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