Destinations
Best North Island holiday parks: 15 top destinations
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Home to Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Lake Taupo, the Bay of Plenty and a heap of other gorgeous destinations - New Zealand’s North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui is a beautiful place that everyone should see at least once.
But besides its natural beauty, the North Island is also home to a whole heap of outstanding holiday parks dotted all around the place. Whether you’re looking for a camping spot in a large city or a small town, you’re always bound to find a holiday park that is affordable, clean and comfortable.
To help you choose from the best of the bunch, our camping experts have compiled this list of the best holiday parks on the North Island of New Zealand. We’ve chosen our top ten holiday parks based on location, reputation, price and facilities. Plus, we’ve tried to include holiday parks near all the major tourist destinations on the North Island, from the northern tip of Cape Reinga to the southern city of Wellington.
So, what are you waiting for? If you are planning a North Island road trip, you don’t need to look any further when it comes to choosing the best holiday parks. Everything you need is right here on Camplify - including campervan hire on the North Island!
Best holiday parks on the North Island
1. Whatuwhiwhi TOP 10 Holiday Park
Address: 17 Whatuwhiwhi Road, Kaitaia 0483 Price: From $50 per night (powered site)
One of the northernmost holiday parks on the North Island, Whatuwhiwhi TOP 10 Holiday Park sits on the stunning Karikari Peninsula. It sits within 10 kilometres’ drive of five beaches including Perihepe, where visitors can partake in fishing, kayaking, snorkelling, paddleboarding or even a round of golf.
The holiday park itself has a barbecue area, kitchen, bike hire and much more. Rent water sports equipment from the park itself and explore the peninsula, or use the park’s tour desk to arrange something further afield.
As one of the closest holiday parks to Cape Reinga (1.5-hour drive), this is the perfect place to stay if you’re planning a day trip to the tip of the North Island.
Bay of Islands Holiday Park
Address: 678 Puketona Road, Paihia 0204 Price: From $38 per night (powered site for 2 people)
Located on the edge of the Waitangi River, just ten minutes from the township of Paihia, this is the highest-rated holiday park in the Bay of Islands region. Grab a secluded campsite under a shady tree and take a dip in the shallow river waters, fly through the air on the tarzan swing or sunbake by the Lilypond waterfalls.
The Bay of Islands Holiday Park is packed with facilities, including a swimming pool, playground, WiFi, BBQ, pizza oven, kayak hire, camp kitchen, laundry, recreation room, non-metered showers, waste station and a convenience store.
Plus, the friendly front desk can help you organise discounted tours around the Bay of Islands, Waitangi, Ninety Mile Beach and Cape Reinga.
3. Takapuna Beach Holiday Park
Address: 22 The Promenade, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 Price: From $55 per night (powered site)
Stay just north of Auckland in New Zealand’s spectacular North Shore region atTakapuna Beach Holiday Park. This convenient park is on the shores of Takapuna Beach with panoramic views of the Hauraki Gulf, and within walking distance of the restaurants and cafés of Takapuna town.
It’s just 15 minutes drive from Auckland or the seaside town of Devonport for ferries to the city or the Gulf Islands. Facilities include communal bathrooms with great hot water pressure, large communal kitchens and a laundry.
4. Piha Domain Motor Camp
Address: 21 Seaview Road, Piha 0772
Price: From $44 per night (powered site)
Surf and sand lovers will love Piha Domain Motor Camp on the dramatic black-sands of Piha Beach. Only an hour’s drive west of Auckland, this is one of the best holiday parks for surfers on the North Island.
Grab a beachfront campsite and make the most of the fantastic facilities, including modern bathroom blocks, a communal kitchen, kids playground, basketball court, skateboard ramp, football field, tennis court and nearby bowling green.
If that’s not enough for you, you can always borrow a boogie board from the front office free of charge or try your hand at rock climbing in the surrounding mountains.
Ohope Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park
Address: 367 Harbour Road, Ōhope 3121 Price: From $29 per night (powered site)
The award-winning Ohope Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park is consistently voted one of the best holiday parks on the North Island. Situated on the beautiful Bay of Plenty, this holiday park has beachfront access to Ohope Beach (voted New Zealand’s favourite by the AA Traveller and Green Party poll).
Guests have access to over 11 kilometres of shoreline and golden sands, most of which is safe for swimming. There are also stunning views of Whale Island (Moutohorā) and White Island (Whakaari).
Take your pick of the 36 powered sites and make the most of the park facilities, including a heated pool with hydro slides, jumping pillow, mini golf, playground (one of the best we’ve ever seen), cinema room, table tennis, sauna, hot tubs, pizza oven, games room, fish filleting area, beach volleyball, basketball court, BBQ area and tonnes more!
6. Raglan Holiday Park
Address: 61 Marine Parade, Raglan 3225 Price: From $26 per night (powered site)
Raglan Holiday Park enjoys a private location like no other on the North Island. It’s surrounded almost entirely by the waters of Raglan Harbour and can only be accessed by a lone bridge. Grab a soft and grassy campsite near the water's edge and only a 2-minute walk from the beach.
The awesome facilities include a massive kids playground, games room, sparkling clean bathrooms, laundry, huge communal kitchen, BBQ area, free Wifi and more.
It’s the perfect holiday park for families wanting to visit attractions in Hamilton (30 minutes drive), such as Hamilton Garden or Hamilton Zoo. Alternatively, take the family for a day trip to Hobbiton Village (1.5-hour drive).
7. Waitomo Top 10 Holiday Park
Address: 12 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves 3977 Price: From $27 per night (powered site)
If you’re visiting the Waikato Region, you can’t beat a stay at the Waitomo Top 10 Holiday Park. Park your caravan on a pad or a grassy spot and make use of this holiday park’s wide array of facilities, including a swimming pool, free hot tub, trampoline, communal kitchen, TV room, library, BBQ area, playground, table tennis, chess, clean bathrooms, laundry and WiFi.
The best part is, you’re only 700m from the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves, where you can take a guided tour or go black-water rafting through New Zealand’s largest and most-visited underground glowworm cave system.
8. Shelly Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
Address: 243 Colville Road, Coromandel 3584 Price: From $46 per night (powered site)
Sleep on the edge of the Coromandel Peninsula at Shelly Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, just a 5-minute drive from the township of Coromandel.
Take your pick from a range of spacious landscaped campsites, with a range of options including hardstand, grassy, shady or sunny. It’s not hard to see why this is recognised as one of the North Island’s best holiday parks, particularly when the campsites are absolute beachfront.
Some of the awesome facilities include a massive communal kitchen, spotless bathrooms, a laundry, TV room, fish filleting area, swimming pool and kids splash playground.
Plus, you’re only a 4-minute drive from the Driving Creek Railway and a scenic 1-hour drive from Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove.
9. All Seasons Holiday Park Rotorua
Address: 50/58 Lee Road, Hannahs Bay, Rotorua 3010 Price: From $27 per night (powered site)
This is one of the most unique holiday parks on the North Island and a great choice for families. The All Seasons Holiday Park Rotorua is located just outside of town (10-minutes drive) on the edge of Lake Rotorua and is dotted with 19 life-sized dinosaurs. They offer a range of powered sites with hardstands for all sizes of campervan and caravan.
But the best part is the family-friendly facilities, including an indoor/outdoor heated pool and spa complex, bathrooms with underfloor heating, BBQ and picnic area, kids playroom, trike hire, fishing competitions, fish smoker, dog wash, free dump station and much more.
Plus, you’re only ever a 30-minute drive from the awesome attractions around Rotorua, including Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland and the award-winning Tamaki Maori Village.
10. Lake Taupo Holiday Resort
Address: 41 Centennial Drive, Tauhara, Taupō 3378 Price: From $80 per night (powered site)
Another of the North Island’s best holiday parks and a cool choice for families, Lake Taupo Holiday Resort is packed with fun facilities for kids and adults alike. They offer a large range of campsites in their massive park, just a 3-minute drive from the Taupo town centre.
Some of the great family-friendly facilities include a thermal lagoon pool with a swim-up bar and cafe, three BBQ areas, free WiFi, playgrounds with jumping pillows and go-karts, communal bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, DVD hire, games room, mini-golf, beach volleyball, tennis court and more.
And the best part is, you’re only a 10-minute drive from attractions like Huka Falls, Huka Prawn Park or a cruise to the Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings.
11. Belt Road Seaside Holiday Park
Address: 2 Belt Road, Moturoa, New Plymouth 4310 Price: From $27 per night (powered site)
The Belt Road Seaside Holiday Park sits on the edge of the Tasman Sea with Mt Taranaki framed perfectly in the background. It offers some of the most scenic campsites on the North Island, with options shaded by trees, protected by hedges or on the grassy cliff top with clear views out over the sea.
Free park facilities include a communal kitchen, laundry, BBQ area, lounge and bathrooms. For an extra $20, you can even book a private hot spa with stunning sea views.
And you’re only a minute's walk from the start of the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway or a 20-minute drive from Egmont National Park.
12. Waikanae Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park
Address: 280 Grey Street, Awapuni, Gisborne 4010 Price: From $28 per night (powered site)
Situated on one of Gisborne’s best beaches and just 5-minutes walk from the city centre, Waikanae Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park is one of the most convenient holiday parks on the North Island. Offering spacious grass sites for caravans and motorhomes, you’re never far from the golden sands of Waikanae Beach.
Make use of the park's facilities, including a heated swimming pool, jumping pillow, giant chess, sand volleyball court, communal kitchen, bathroom, games and TV room, BBQ area, free unlimited WiFi, laundry and sports equipment hire.
Be the first people in the world to watch the sunrise before venturing out to some of the area's best attractions, including an array of award-winning wineries.
13. Hawkes Bay Holiday Park
Address: 3 Onehunga Road, Bay View, Napier 4104 Price: From $55 per night (powered site)
The Hawkes Bay Holiday Park is one of the most popular on the North Island for a reason. It offers over 50 campsites set amongst lush grounds and an array of facilities, including well-maintained bathroom, kitchen and laundry blocks.
But the best thing about this holiday park is its bike hire and perfect positioning, near the famous Hawkes Bay cycleway, Crab Farm Winery, Mission Estate Winery and Church Road Winery.
Plus, you’re within walking distance of surf beaches, produce stalls, tennis courts, lawn bowls, pistol shooting and a kids playground!
14. Martinborough TOP 10 Holiday Park
Address: 10 Vintners Lane, Martinborough 5711 Price: From $54 per night (powered site)
If you want to check out the Martinborough wine region in the south, tryMartinborough TOP 10 Holiday Park, just 75 minutes drive from Wellington. The park is the perfect place to stay whilst exploring award-winning wineries, olive groves and eateries.
If that’s not enough for you, you can always take a day trip to the lighthouse and fur seal colony at Cape Palliser or ride the Rimutaka Cycle Trail.
Facilities within the holiday park include bike hire, playground, BBQ area, WiFi and a communal kitchen, bathroom and laundry.
15. Wellington Top 10 Holiday Park
Address: 95 Hutt Park Road, Moera, Lower Hutt 5010 Price: From $55 per night (powered site)
Located only 15km from Wellington CBD, the Wellington Top 10 Holiday Park is close enough to the city for convenience but just far away enough to offer spacious grounds and a peaceful stay. The park offers a range of grass and hard-stand campsites with uncapped power usage.
Some of the family-friendly facilities include a bouncing cushion, playground, games room, go-karts, tv room, private spa and communal kitchens and bathroom blocks.
Plus, you’re only a moment's walk from public transport that can take you to the awesome attractions in Wellington, including Te Papa Museum, Zealandia and Wellington Cable Car.
More of the best holiday parks on the North Island If you want to discover more of the best holiday parks on the North Island, check out this list of helpful resources:
Holiday Parks New Zealand
Hire a van for your North Island camping trip
Now that you’ve got a list of all the best holiday parks on the North Island of New Zealand, it’s time to arrange your wheels (and accommodation)!
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