Beach camping NZ: 13 best seaside camping sites

Want to paddle in the Bay of Plenty? Or maybe you want to wade in the waters of the West Coast? Whatever kind of coastal getaway you want, you’ll find it on this list of the best beach camping spots in New Zealand!

Each beach campsite on this list is open to cars, campervans and caravans and is run by the Department of Conservation (DOC) or regional or local council. This means that the campsites are both scenic and affordable.

We’ve organised the list by region, starting with the top of the North Island and ending with the bottom of the South Island. For each campsite, we’ve also included the address, price per night and a description of the local attractions.

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Best beach camping in New Zealand: 13 spots to set up camp

North Island

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1. Spirits Bay Kapowairua Campsite - Cape Reinga

Address: Spirits Bay Rd, Cape Reinga 0484 | Price per night: From $15

Stay at Spirits Bay Kapowairua Campsite, one of the northernmost beach camping sites in New Zealand. Camp near the golden sands, swim in the open bay and launch your boat to go fishing for snapper and kingfish.

Facilities at the campsite include cold showers, non-flush toilets and tap water. The beach camping sites are non-powered. Bookings are required through the DOC website.

2. Puriri Bay - Northland (near Bay of Islands)

Address: 1009 Whangaruru North Road, Whangaruru 0184 | Price per night: from $15 per night

Puriri Bay is one of the best beach camping sites in Northland and is less than an hour's drive from the Bay of Islands. Find a grassy campsite with waterfront views and spend your days swimming and snorkelling in the sheltered waters of Whangaruru Harbour.

Facilities include cold showers, non-flush toilets, non-treated tap water, a cooking shelter and boat launching. The beach camping sites are non-powered. Bookings are required through the DOC website.

3. Uretiti Beach Campsite - Whangarei

Address: 3149, State Highway 1, Waipu 0582 | Price per night: from $15 (powered site)

The scenic Uretiti Beach Campsite (DOC) is located about a 25-minute drive south of Whangarei. Set up your camp behind the dunes of the sandy surf beach and take on the nearby coastal track at Mangawhai Heads.

Facilities include coin-operated hot showers, non-flush toilets, a cooking shelter, tap water and recycling facilities. The beach camping sites are non-powered. Bookings are required through the DOC website.

4. Sunrise Reserve and Sunburst Reserve, Snells Beach - Auckland

Address: 10 Sunrise Boulevard, Snells Beach 0920 | Price per night: Free

There are two beach camping areas along Snells Beach, north of Auckland. Both sites are beautiful and free to stay overnight. Enjoy waterfront views, luscious lawn areas, an awesome kid’s playground and the shallow beach which is safe for swimmers of all ages.

Facilities include flush toilets, tap water, changing rooms, a cold shower, picnic tables, a public BBQ and a beachfront walking path. The beach camping sites are non-powered. Bookings are not required (first come, first served).

5. Waikawau Campsite - Coromandel Peninsula

Address: 96 Waikawau Beach Road, Waikawau 3584 | Price per night: From $15

Camp on the northern tip of the Coromandel Peninsula at Waikawau Campsite (DOC). Spend a day relaxing on the white sand beach or try your hand at fishing or kayaking. This place is perfect for families with small kids due to its shallow swimming estuaries.

Facilities include cold showers, drop-toilets and tap water. There’s also a small shop that is open over the summer period. There is a mix of both powered and non-powered beach camping sites. Bookings are required through the DOC website.

6. Matata Campsite - Bay of Plenty

Address: [Arawa St, Matata 3194](https://www.google.com/search?q=Matat%C4%81%20Campsite&oq=Matat%C4%81+Campsite&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60j69i61.187j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:1&tbm=lcl&sxsrf=ALiCzsZ81V8JZhE2nONvu8R2pVPXqxjzIA:1658321559580&rflfq=1&num=10&rldimm=1276503858163769322&lqi=ChBNYXRhdMSBIENhbXBzaXRlSMbkyfysqoCACFoaEAEYASIQbWF0YXTEgSBjYW1wc2l0ZSoCCAOSAQpjYW1wZ3JvdW5kqgEQEAEqDCIIY2FtcHNpdGUoAA&phdesc=2oQXXx_K4Cw&ved=2ahUKEwjr9OybwYf5AhVZSmwGHSvKBKQQvS56BAgHEAE&sa=X&rlst=f# rlfi=hd:;si:1276503858163769322,l,ChBNYXRhdMSBIENhbXBzaXRlSMbkyfysqoCACFoaEAEYASIQbWF0YXTEgSBjYW1wc2l0ZSoCCAOSAQpjYW1wZ3JvdW5kqgEQEAEqDCIIY2FtcHNpdGUoAA,y,2oQXXx_K4Cw;mv:[[-37.886169841246975,176.76326846539877],[-37.890869178414235,176.75233578145406],null,[-37.88851954732168,176.75780212342642],17]) | Price per night: From $10

Go beach camping at the Matata Campsite and enjoy waking up to the sights and sounds of the Bay of Plenty. Positioned on Te Awa a te Atua Beach near the Matatā wildlife refuge, this is an excellent site to take your family fishing and swimming.

Facilities include hot showers, non-flush toilets and drinking water. The beach camping sites are non-powered. Bookings are required through the DOC website.

7. Foreshore Reserve Freedom Camping - Hawkes Bay

Address: 2 State Highway, Te Awa, Napier 4110, New Zealand | Price: Free

Sitting on Napier Beach, the Foreshore Reserve freedom campground provides spectacular sunrise views over Hawke Bay. It has 8 marked parking spaces reserved for both self-contained and non-self-contained vehicles to camp overnight. The campsite operates on a first-come-first-served basis and the maximum stay is 2 consecutive nights.

Facilities include a drinking fountain, flushing toilet (open 24 hours) and rubbish bins. The sites are non-powered. Wardens check the site on a nightly basis to ensure compliance with the Napier freedom camping rules.

**8. Putangirua Pinnacles Campsite - Cape Palliser **

Address: 1341 Cape Palliser Road, Featherston 5772 | Price: $10 per night

Toward the southern tip of the North Island, the Putangirua Pinnacles Campsite offers scenic beach camping beside the Putangirua Stream. Enjoy views of Cook Strait and head across the road to the pebbly beach for an ocean dip. Otherwise, walk around the impressive Putangirua Pinnacles or visit the nearby seal colony at the historic Cape Palliser lighthouse.

Facilities include fire pits, flush toilets and stream water. The beach camping sites are non-powered. Bookings are required through the DOC website.

South Island

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9. Momorangi Bay Campground - Marlborough

Address: Queen Charlotte Drv, Picton 7220 | Price per night: $23 per night (powered site)

Stay at the highly-popular Momorangi Bay Campground and wake up next to the calm waters of the Marlborough Sounds. This beach camping area is highly popular with families thanks to its sheltered bay for swimming, the on-site glow-worm grotto and nearby Queen Charlotte Walking Track.

Facilities include hot showers, flush toilets, tap water, a cooking shelter, stoves, a shop, a jetty and boat launching. There is a mix of both powered and non-powered beach camping sites. Bookings are required through the DOC website.

10. Tōtaranui Campground - Nelson Tasman

Address: 105 Totaranui Road, Golden Bay 7183 | Price per night: from $15 per night

The Tōtaranui Campground offers beach camping on the clear waters and golden sands near Abel Tasman National Park. After a day of exploring the nearby sights like Split Apple Rock and Tonga Arches, set up camp and relax on Tōtaranui beach.

Facilities include cold showers, non-flush toilets, drinking water, a dump station, fire pits and boat launching. The beach camping sites are non-powered. Bookings are required through the DOC website.

11. Gillespies Beach Campsite - West Coast

Address: Gillespies Beach Road, Westland National Park, 7886 | Price per night: $10 per night

Enjoy beach camping on the wild west coast of the South Island at Gillespies Beach Campsite. Nearby are the towns of Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, both of which are famed for gigantic glaciers. As well as views over the Tasman Sea, you will also be able to see the Southern Alps and Aoraki Mount Cook behind you.

Facilities include non-flush toilets, untreated water and a cooking shelter. The beach camping sites are non-powered. Bookings are required through the DOC website.

12. Awaroa/Godley Head Campsite - Christchurch

Address: 2 Godley Head Road, Sumner, Christchurch 8081 | Price per night: $15

Less than a 30-minute drive out of Christchurch, the Awaroa/Godley Head Campsite offers awesome ocean views and a range of scenic coastal walks. Whilst it does not provide direct beach access, it is close to the popular Taylors Mistake Beach. You can also explore the nearby WWII coastal defence battery site.

Facilities include flush toilets and drinking water. The beach camping sites are non-powered. Bookings are required through the DOC website.

13. Purakaunui Bay - The Catlins

Address: Purakaunui Bay Rd, Otago 9586 | Price per night: $8

Perhaps the most beautiful beach camping spot in Otago, the Purakaunui Bay campsite is close to cascading falls, a surf beach and Jacks Blowhole. Explore the Catlins Coastal Area and enjoy the easy 20-minute walk to the famous Purakaunui Falls. Just watch out for resident sea lions on the beach!

Facilities include drop toilets and tap water. The beach camping sites are non-powered. Bookings are required through the DOC website.

Discover more beach camping spots

Want to discover even more of the best beachside campsites around New Zealand?

Take a look at our list of the best caravan parks on the North Island of New Zealand, which includes beach camping options around the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Piha Beach, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, New Plymouth, Gisborne and more!

Alternatively, check out our list of the best caravan parks on the South Island of New Zealand, which includes seaside campgrounds around Christchurch, Dunedin, Marlborough, the West Coast and more!

Hire a van for your beach camping trip

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