Source: Department of Conservation, data as of 11 August 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data credits
Northland at a glance
| DOC campsites | 14 |
|---|---|
| Most sites | Uretiti Beach Campsite (300) |
| Most campsites in | Urupukapuka Island Recreation Reserve 3, Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua 2, Karikari Peninsula 1 |
| Free campsites | 2 |
| Campsites with a fee | 12 |
| Adult nightly rates listed | $10 to $23 |
| Bookable online through DOC | 11 |
| Campsite categories | Standard campsite 11, Backcountry campsite 1, Basic campsite 1, Serviced campsite 1 |
| Campervan access | 10 |
| Reached only on foot or by boat | 4 |
| Flush toilets | 4 |
| Treated tap water | 1 |
| Showers (hot or cold) | 11 |
| Campfires permitted (fire season rules apply) | 1 |
| Powered sites | 8 |
| Unpowered sites | 946 |
| Landscape | Coastal 12, Forest 2 |
| DOC huts in the region | 7 |
Camping with DOC in Northland
Northland's DOC campsites are mostly coastal, and showers are the norm rather than the exception. Of the 14 campsites, 12 are coastal and 11 have showers, mostly cold. Uretiti Beach Campsite in the Waipū area is the largest, with 300 sites, hot showers and treated tap water, the only campsite in the region that lists it, at $18 a night for adults.
Rates run from $10 to $23. Most standard campsites sit at $18 or $20: Maitai Bay on the Karikari Peninsula and Rarawa Beach are $18, Otamure Bay (Whananaki) and Puriri Bay (Whangaruru North Head) are $20, and both of these last two have a boat ramp. Trounson Kauri Park Campground, the only serviced campsite, charges $20 to $23 and has powered sites, hot showers and flush toilets. At the low end, Puketī Recreation Area Campsite costs $10 and is the one campsite in the region where campfires are permitted, under fire season rules.
Urupukapuka Island Recreation Reserve has 3 campsites, Urupukapuka Bay, Cable Bay and Sunset Bay, and all are reached only by boat, at $18 to $20. In the far north, Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua has Kapowairua (Spirits Bay) and Tapotupotu, both $18 with campervan, car or foot access and cold showers.
The 2 free campsites are quite different. Raetea North Side Campsite is a basic roadside site with non-flush toilets and stream water. Twilight Campsite in Te Paki Recreation Reserve is a backcountry campsite reached only on foot, with a cooking shelter and untreated tap water.
None of Northland's campsites lists dogs as allowed, so leave them at home for DOC nights. Of the 14, 11 can be booked online through DOC and 10 take campervans. With only 7 DOC huts in the region, campsites outnumber huts here 14 to 7.
Campsites
| Name | Type | Access and facilities | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uretiti Beach CampsiteWaipū area | Standard campsite | Campervan, Car, Caravan, Hot showers, Treated tap water, Cooking shelter, Wheelchair access | Adult $18 per night |
| Otamure Bay (Whananaki) CampsiteWhananaki area | Standard campsite | Campervan, Car, Caravan, Cooking shelter, Cold showers, Boat ramp, Wheelchair access | Adult $20 per night |
| Maitai Bay CampsiteKarikari Peninsula | Standard campsite | Campervan, Car, Caravan, Flush toilets, Cold showers, Wheelchair access, Untreated tap water | Adult $18 per night |
| Puriri Bay (Whangaruru North Head) CampsiteWhangaruru North Head Scenic Reserve | Standard campsite | Campervan, Car, Caravan, Cooking shelter, Cold showers, Boat ramp, Wheelchair access | Adult $20 per night |
| Raetea North Side CampsiteRaetea Forest and Mangamuka Gorge Scenic Reserve | Basic campsite | Campervan, Car, Caravan, Non-flush toilets, Stream water | Free |
| Urupukapuka Bay CampsiteUrupukapuka Island Recreation Reserve | Standard campsite | Boat, Cold showers, Non-flush toilets, Untreated tap water | Adult $18 to $20 per night |
| Kapowairua (Spirits Bay) CampsiteCape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua | Standard campsite | Campervan, Car, On foot, Flush toilets, Cold showers, Untreated tap water | Adult $18 per night |
| Rarawa Beach CampsiteWharekāpu/Paxton Point Conservation Area | Standard campsite | Campervan, Car, Caravan, On foot, Flush toilets, Cold showers, Non-flush toilets, Untreated tap water | Adult $18 per night |
| Tapotupotu CampsiteCape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua | Standard campsite | Campervan, Car, On foot, Cold showers, Wheelchair access, Non-flush toilets, Untreated tap water | Adult $18 per night |
| Cable Bay CampsiteUrupukapuka Island Recreation Reserve | Standard campsite | Boat, Cold showers, Non-flush toilets, Untreated tap water | Adult $18 to $20 per night |
| Puketī Recreation Area CampsitePuketī and Omahuta Forests | Standard campsite | Campervan, Car, Caravan, Cold showers, Campfires, Wheelchair access, Non-flush toilets | Adult $10 per night |
| Trounson Kauri Park CampgroundTrounson Kauri Park | Serviced campsite | Campervan, Car, Caravan, Powered sites, Hot showers, Flush toilets, Cooking shelter | Adult $20 to $23 per night |
| Twilight CampsiteTe Paki Recreation Reserve | Backcountry campsite | On foot, Cooking shelter, Non-flush toilets, Untreated tap water | Free |
| Sunset Bay CampsiteUrupukapuka Island Recreation Reserve | Standard campsite | Boat, Non-flush toilets, Untreated tap water | Adult $18 to $20 per night |
Check before you go
Fees, closures and access change. The DOC page for each place, current DOC alerts and signs on site take priority over this summary.
The full map is in KiwiCamping
All 14 campsites on one map
KiwiCamping shows every DOC campsite in Northland on the map with fees, facilities and DOC alerts, and puts the ones you pick into a trip with distances and dates. Bookable holiday parks, stays and tours are free in the app. DOC campsites, huts, dump stations and the guides open with the Pass.