DOC campsites in Manawatū/Whanganui

Camping with DOC in Manawatū/Whanganui

DOC camping in Manawatū/Whanganui is largely river camping. Whanganui National Park holds 16 of the region's 20 campsites, and 11 campsites are Great Walk campsites. Only 3 campsites list campervan access, so most of this network is reached on the water, on foot or by mountain bike.

The Great Walk campsites along the river, among them Ngaporo, Tīeke Marae/Kāinga, John Coull, Mangawaiiti, Ohauora, Mangapapa, Maharanui, Poukaria and Mangapurua, are reached only by boat. The adult rate is $12 to $19 a night, and each has a cooking shelter, non-flush toilets and untreated tap water. Ohinepane Campsite, the largest with 36 sites, and Whakahoro Campsite are different: both take campervans and caravans, have boat ramps and wheelchair access, and charge $10 to $19.

Away from the river, the backcountry campsites are walking and biking stops. Atene Skyline Campsite is reached on foot; Hellawell's, Johnsons, Mosley's, Bettjemann and Mangapurua Trig list foot and mountain bike access. Mosley's and Bettjemann are the 2 free campsites in the region, and several others show no fee in the data, so confirm the charge with DOC. Facilities are mostly limited to a non-flush toilet, so carry water.

Pohangina Base Campsite in the Pohangina Valley area is the region's one standard campsite. At $12 a night for adults it has hot showers and flush toilets, the only ones in the region. Piripiri Campsite, also in the Pohangina Valley area, is listed with no details, and Simpsons Domain Campsite near Hunterville is marked closed.

Of the 20, 12 can be booked online through DOC. Dogs are allowed in some form at 2. No campsite in the region lists powered sites or treated tap water, so bring water treatment for the whole trip. There are 43 DOC huts in the region as well.