Destinations
Top wild camping spots New Zealand: 5 secluded places
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Long before it became known as the picturesque setting of The Lord of the Rings, New Zealand has attracted millions of tourists each year from every corner of the globe. New Zealand has a lot to offer, from adventure sports to birdwatching and Maori cultural experiences. But it’s undeniable that its most abundant offering is the raw and unspoiled natural beauty everywhere you look in this stunning South Pacific nation.
The best - and by far the most popular way - to see the waterfalls, beaches, caves, mountains fiords and the bush is by campervan. But after exploring all that wilderness by day, happy campers will need somewhere peaceful to rest their heads at night. These are our top camping spots for those who like to get close to the great outdoors, from beaches to mountains, they should be on every motorhome explorers list.
As a holidaymaker, Camplify helps you find an RV that is perfect for you so you can experience the joys of van life - without having to own one yourself.
Interested? Learn more about Camplify here.
Medlands Beach
Department of Conservation (DOC) campground, Great Barrier Island $13 per person, per night.
Image credit: Rebecca Cook & Jono Boyd
This spot is far off the beaten track for many campers but is unmissable for the intrepid few who make it on the four-hour ferry from Auckland to Great Barrier Island. Not only is the island home to just 1,000 full-time residents, but it is also completely off-grid with all power coming from solar panels. You won’t find WiFi or reception in many areas of the island so it’s the perfect place for those who want to unplug.
Medlands is a white sand beach which offers stunning scenery and some perfect swells for surfers. There is a campsite maintained by the Department of Conservation with clean showers and toilets and a worm farm for all your compostable waste. This is one of the few spots in New Zealand that, due to its remoteness, isn’t too crowded even at the height of summer.
Uretiti Beach
(DOC) campground, Whangarei** $13 per person, per night**
Image credit: Rebecca Cook & Jono Boyd
There’s nothing better than being by the beach, sat in your camp chair, beer in hand, cooking on a barbecue grill when the long summer days arrive in the southern hemisphere. Whilst the picturesque and popular Coromandel can get easily overcrowded between December and March, heading a little further up north to Whangarei will reward travellers with a perfect, secluded beachside pitstop at Uretiti Beach.
This DOC maintained camp costs $13 per person per night, is spacious and has multiple beach access points to the vast golden stretch of Uretiti beach. There are several toilets and showers with washing basins and water refill points as well as rubbish disposal all within the campground, which puts you right by the rolling waves of the beach. Magnificent views of the sun setting behind Whangarei Heads cliffs are worth setting up camp here for the night, which, if it’s clear, offers stunning star gazing too.
Lake Maraetai
Mangakino, Waikato District ****
The drive to this central North Island lake leads motorhome travellers through astonishing gorges carved out by the mighty Waikato River and makes a peaceful stop en route to the tourist juggernaut town of Taupo. Camping for motorhomes at Lake Maraetai is free and there are a few embankments and verges where campers can stay just a couple of feet from the water's edge.
The lake is popular as a weekend getaway with locals from the closest town of Mangakino, but is low-key and not yet hallmarked on the tourist trail. A short walk from the campsite there are toilets and a free drinking water refill station behind the Bus Stop Cafe which is, charmingly inside a repurposed double-decker bus. Hot and cold food, as well as a selection of drinks and ice creams, are available from the cafe. The perfect spot to grab some refreshments after wakeboarding, swimming or jet-skiing on the lake. The Waikato district is also famous for its mountain biking trails, many of which pass through Lake Maraetai and Mangakino, so for happy campers who love to get out on two wheels, this is the lakeside retreat you’ve been searching for.
Lake Hawea Freedom Campsite
Image credit: Rebecca Cook & Jono Boyd
Half an hour from the quintessential lakeside town of Wanaka, where New Zealand’s Mountain Film and Book Festival is held, is the small township of Lake Hawea. Compared to Wanaka and nearby Queenstown, Lake Hawea is miniature. But the lake and surrounding mountains make for a magnificent escape into nature for freedom campers. There are designated lakeside spots for freedom camping for self-contained vehicles although there are also two toilets located just by the entrance of the campsite.
This spot is a real gem for campfires and cooking outdoors. Not only are there panoramic views of the mountains reflected in the mirror-like lake to stare at while you grill, but there are also several campfires dotted around the site with plenty of dry firewood for kindling from the surrounding gum trees. Always be sure to check the local fire advice as during dry spells a total fire ban will be enforced.
Aoraki/Mt Cook
DOC Campsite $13 per person, per night
Image credit: Rebecca Cook & Jono Boyd
This is one of the South Island’s truly iconic destinations that deserves more than just a day trip.
The twin beauties of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Mt Seddon are a sight to behold from the bed of your camper van as the sun rises and lights up the snow-capped mountains. There are a number of scenic walks and tracks within 15 minutes walk of the campsite, including the stunning Hooker Valley track, which takes you to the heart of the Southern Alps, to the base of Mt Cook. Spend a day marvelling at the glacial water and granite giants of one of the South Island’s most beautiful spots. Watching the sun set behind the mighty Mt Cook is an unforgettable experience, followed by incredible clarity for stargazing above the peaks.
The DOC maintained campsite has toilets within the campground and a short drive into the nearby Mt Cook village, at the Tourist Information Centre, there are clean, hot showers to heat you up after your alpine walk for $2 per three-minute hot shower. The village also has a selection of bars, cafes and restaurants for anyone looking to treat themselves to dining out. One great place to relax over a pint and a log fire is the Chamois at Mt Cook Lodge, which has floor to ceiling windows with a stunning view of the mountains and a laid back apres ski vibe.
So what is Camplify?
We are Australia’s largest & New Zealand's newest caravan hire and RV sharing community, helping connect thousands of holidaymakers with RV owners.
What does that mean?
Essentially, we provide a unique sharing service where owners of caravans, camper trailers, motorhomes, and campervans list their RV for hire while not in use. As an owner, this enables you to earn over $10,000 each year instead of having your RV just sitting around while you’re not using it.
As a holidaymaker, Camplify helps you find an RV that is perfect for you so you can experience the joys of caravanning - without having to own one yourself.
Interested? Learn more about Camplify here.
Feature image credit: Rebecca Cook & Jono Boyd