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Best Napier camping grounds: complete guide & reviews

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Best Napier camping grounds: complete guide & reviews

Camplify Team
Tent pitched at a sunny campsite near Napier, Hawke's Bay.

Want to discover some beachside camping spots for your Hawkes Bay road trip? Or perhaps you want a freedom campsite within a few minutes drive of the world’s best wineries? Then you’re going to want to stay at one of the best Napier camping grounds listed below!

Our list of Napier’s best camping spots includes both seaside and riverside sites. And the best part is, they’re all free and offer fantastic facilities!

But before you set off, make sure you’re aware of the Napier City Council and Hastings District Council freedom camping rules. Wardens check the site on a nightly basis to ensure compliance with the rules.

Best camping grounds around Napier: 7 spots you can’t miss

1. Foreshore Reserve Freedom Camping

Tom Parker Fountain overlooking Napier Beach.

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. The campsite operates on a first-come-first-served basis and the maximum stay is 2 consecutive nights.

In terms of facilities, the Foreshore Reserve campground offers a drinking fountain, flushing toilet (open 24-hours) and rubbish bins. It is 30-minutes walk from the Napier city centre.

2. Napier BMX Pump Track Car Park

Cape Kidnappers to the south of Napier is home to the world's largest gannet colony.

Address: Marine Parade, Te Awa, Napier 4110, New Zealand

Price: Free

Just up the road from the Foreshore Reserve, the Napier BMX Pump Track Car Park is one of the most stellar Napier camping grounds. Here, freedom camping is strictly reserved for self-contained vehicles and the maximum stay is 3 consecutive nights. There are plenty of spots overlooking Napier Beach, Hawke Bay and Cape Kidnappers to the south.

The facilities on offer include a dump station, water tap, flush toilets, rubbish bins, sheltered picnic tables and an outdoor cold shower. The campground is about 25 minutes walk from the Napier city centre.

3. Perfume Point Carpark

Marine Parade Viewing Platform on Napier Beach.

Address: 46 Nelson Quay, Ahuriri, Napier 4110, New Zealand

Price: Free

The Perfume Point carpark freedom campground sits on the northern end of Napier, offering fabulous views over the gentle waters of Hawke Bay. There are 4 designated camping spaces that operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. The campground is reserved for self-contained vehicles and the maximum stay is 2 consecutive nights.

The only facilities at the Perfume Point campground are flush toilets. However, it is less than a 5-minute walk to the nearby shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.

4. Westshore Beach Reserve

Napier is surrounded by historic Hawke Bay vineyards.

Address: 803 Ferguson Avenue, Westshore, Napier 4110, New Zealand

Price: Free

The Westshore Beach reserve in the north of Napier sits right on the edge of the sand and offers direct views over Hawke Bay. One of the most exclusive Napier camping grounds, it has just 4 designated sites that operate on a first-come-first-served basis. The campground is reserved for self-contained vehicles and the maximum stay is 2 consecutive nights.

The campground has flush toilets and a large open grass area for picnics by the water. It is only a 10-minute walk from local vineyards and 20-minutes to nearby bars and restaurants.

However, please note that the Westshore Beach Reserve has been temporarily closed to campers until 1 April 2023, at which time the council will review reopening the site.

5. Dartmoor Bridge Reserve

Take a camping trip in the countryside around Napier.

Address: 992 Dartmoor Rd, Puketapu, Hawkes Bay 4186

Price: Free

About 20-minutes inland from Napier, the Dartmoor Bridge Reserve sits alongside the Mangaone River in the Dartmoor Valley. It is a large grassed area surrounded by trees that offers plenty of freedom camping spots for self-contained campers. The campground operates on a first-come-first-served basis and the maximum stay is 2 consecutive nights.

There are no toilet facilities but the campground is dog friendly. It is only a few minutes drive from some of the Dartmoor Valley’s most popular wineries.

6. Puketapu Domain

Mission Estate Winery - New Zealand's oldest winery in Napier.

Address: 56 Dartmoor Road, Puketapu 4186

Price: Free

Puketapu Domain is about a 10-minute drive inland from Napier. It is a family-friendly campground that sits on the edge of the Tutaekuri River. The car park offers plenty of freedom campsites surrounded by a green and shady reserve. The campground is reserved for self-contained vehicles and the maximum stay is 2 consecutive nights.

The Puketapu Domain is packed with facilities, including a toilet block, barbecues, massive playground, picnic tables, cricket pitch, rubbish bins and cycle track. There is a fence alongside the edge of the river. It is only a 10-minute walk from the Puketapu town centre, where you can find a great pub and takeaways.

7. Evers-Swindell Ski Reserve

Views from Te Mata Peak - 30 minutes south of Napier.

Address: 213 Main Rd, Clive 4102

Price: Free

Only 15-minutes drive south of Napier (toward Hastings), the Evers-Swindell Ski Reserve offers scenic freedom camping by the Clive River. There is room for about 20 vans under the trees (overnight camping is not permitted in the sealed car park at the end of the reserve). The campground is reserved for self-contained vehicles and the maximum stay is 2 consecutive nights.

Facilities at the reserve include flush toilets, picnic tables and a great kids' playgrounds. There is also a walk and cycle path that winds its way through the surrounding water bird estuary. The village centre is only a 5-minute walk away.

Hire a van for your Napier camping trip

Now that you’ve got a list of all the best Napier camping grounds, it’s time to arrange campervan hire in Hawkes Bay and head off on an incredible road trip!

Camplify is a platform that allows holidaymakers to quickly search through privately-owned rentals and find the ideal van for their adventure. Simply enter your pickup location, adjust the optional filters and within seconds, you will find the perfect motorhome, caravan or campervan for your Napier camping trip!

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Camplify is 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:

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By hiring with Camplify, you are also helping local families who share their van on our platform and supporting many local companies across New Zealand in addition to ours. So we are very grateful to you.

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Best Napier camping grounds: complete guide & reviews