Destinations
6 best camping grounds near Masterton
)
From museum exhibitions to farmland adventures, Masterton offers a peaceful escape just two hours outside of Wellington NZ. If you’re ready to go camping with beautiful countryside, rich history and convenient amenities on your doorstep, then this charming town and its surroundings tick all the boxes. Here’s your guide to the best Masterton camping grounds. Our list includes price, location, features, nearby attractions and more so that you can plan the ultimate rural getaway.
Best campsites near Masterton: 6 spots you can’t miss
1. Mawley Holiday Park
5 Oxford Street, Lansdowne, Masterton 5810, New Zealand | From $34 per night
This Masterton camping ground is the perfect base to explore the surrounding area and everything Wairarapa has to offer. Nestled on the banks of the Waipoua River, Mawley Holiday Park is just a two minute walk from Trust House Recreation Centre, with heated pools, a hydroslide, spa and more.
There’s plenty to see and do around the area. Spend your day walking through a free flight aviary at Pukaha National Wildlife Centre, with lots of easy trails to enjoy. The kids will love Masterbowl, where they can jump on the bumper cars, arcade games, bowling or more. Mount Holdsworth is also well worth the visit, with some of the highest peaks in the Tararua Range and all sorts of short walks to explore.
Camping in Masteron is easy with all the great facilities this holiday park has to offer. Enjoy the lovely open spaces for kids to run around, along with a children’s playground and BBQ area. You can also make use of their laundry, communal kitchen, lounge areas and more.
2. Wairarapa A&P Clareville Campground
Clareville 5791, New Zealand | From $10 per adult per night
This popular Masterton camping ground often gets booked up ahead of time, so be sure to get in nice and early. Centrally located at the heart of the Wairarapa region, it's just 10km south of Masterton town centre.
A few minutes’ down the road, you can enjoy the Fensham Reserve Bush Walk, which is a hidden gem worth exploring with native forest to explore and birds to spot. In the opposite direction, you will find Carter Scenic Reserve where you can enjoy an easy stroll.
For a little history, Cobblestones Museum is great for the whole family with some great, old cars being a highlight. Venture a little further and you will find the Fell Locomotive Museum with some life-size exhibits.
If you’re on the hunt for campsites near Masterton, this is a great option. It’s a basic site that offers showers and toilets, along with laundry facilities. Pets are also allowed to join, but dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
3. Carterton Holiday Park
198 Belvedere Road, Carterton 5713, New Zealand | From $40 (2 persons) per night
Close to shops, parks, local swimmings pools and more, this camping ground is located at the entrance to Tararua Ranges, a 15-minute drive from Masterton.
Head over to Carter Scenic Reserve and take off on a family-friendly bushwalk, or brush up on a little history at Cobblestones Museum and Fell Locomotive Museum. If you turn back towards Masterton, you can spend a day enjoying the grounds at Queen Elizabeth Park with mini golf, paddle boats and more. The Pointon Collection is also worth checking out, offering up a vintage car and fashion museum.
The park offers 32 powered sites and a number of non-powered sites, with WiFi available, along with communal kitchen and dining room, toilets and coin-operated showers, BBQ sets, a dump station, and more.
Book now.
4. Kiriwhakapapa Campsite
596 Kiriwhakapapa Road, Kiriwhakapapa 5881, New Zealand | From $10 per adult, per night
Park yourself in this lovely family campsite right beside a creek at Kiriwhakapapa Campsite in Tararua Forest Park. You’ll find an old logging and exotic (redwood) forestry trail area nearby, with Masterton a scenic 20-minute drive away.
If you’re looking for something different to do, take on the Kiriwhakapapa Loop Track, which is one hour long and takes you right in the middle of the native forest. Or jump in the van and head into Masterton Town Centre where you can check out Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, take a stroll through Queen Elizabeth Park (and enjoy a hit of mini golf while you’re there), or check out the stunning views at Henley Lake.
This camping ground near Masterton offers up 15 non-powered sites with a fire pit for those all-important camp fires, a shelter for cooking up a storm, flush toilets and water from a tap.
5. Holdsworth Camping Area
Mount Holdsworth Road, Carterton 5791, New Zealand | From $10 per adult, per night
At the eastern park entrance beneath the Tararua Ranges, you’ll find this camping ground nestled in the Wairarapa region. A 25-minute trip into Masterton town centre, if you’re up for a little adventure and history, you can start off at Queen Elizabeth Park and head on to the Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art.
Back at camp, there’s plenty of grass space to run around and stretch out, and lots of activities to enjoy during the day. If you don’t want to venture far, enjoy taking off on walks, or settling back for a spot of fishing near the campsite. You can even take a dip on warm days.
This is one of the most peaceful camping grounds near Masterton NZ, with 150 non-powered campsites to choose from. All the basics are provided for with a fire pit, shetler for cooking, flush toilets and water from a tap.
6. Greytown Campground
Greytown, Wairarapa 5712, New Zealand | From $17 per night
500 metres from Greytown’s cafes and shops, this is one of the best camping grounds near Masterton New Zealand. It’s the chance to escape into nature in a native bush reserve, with plenty to do nearby.
Greytown is known for its top-notch shopping - discover beautifully restored Victorian buildings housing a number of specialty stores from boutiques to cafes and restaurants. Just a 30-minute drive from Masterton, you can venture for the day to check out the Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art, or wander through Queen Elizabeth Park and enjoy the playground, mini golf, paddle boards, duck pond and more.
This camping ground near Masterton consists of 34 powered sites and 61 non-powered sites, with two separate amenity blocks with kitchens. There’s also shared toilets and showers. The campground is adjacent to a big playground, public swimming pool and tennis courts to enjoy during your stay.
Hire a van for your Masterton camping trip
Whether you’re hoping to get back to grass roots, are ready to escape into nature, or have your eye on discovering some of New Zealand’s rich history, Masterton is the perfect stop on any camping trip.
Simply sort out campervan hire in Wellington and head straight to one of these Masterton camping grounds, or sort out campervan hire on the North Island and plan a longer road trip to unleash your sense of adventure. Whatever your price point or preferences, there’s a campervan, motorhome or caravan to hire with Camplify.
Why Camplify?
We are proud to be New Zealand’s fastest-growing private caravan, campervan and motorhome sharing community. When you hire a van through our platform, it comes with lots of advantages:
Comprehensive hire insurance
Nationwide AA roadside assistance
24/7 customer support
All members are verified
By hiring with Camplify, you are also helping local families who share their van on our platform and supporting many local companies across NZ in addition to ours. So we are very grateful to you.
Sign up if you want to join our beloved community of van life lovers and receive our most recent news and offers.