DOC huts in Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty has long surf beaches from Waihī Beach to Ōhope and the lakes and geothermal country around Rotorua. Holiday parks line the coast, and DOC campsites sit beside the Rotorua lakes and in the forests inland.
Huts
Bookings and fire season
Basic huts are free. Huts that cannot be booked are first come, first served and paid with a Backcountry Hut Pass or Backcountry Hut Tickets bought before the trip. Great Walk huts and other bookable huts need a booking, and without one you can be turned away.
Great Walk huts and campsites must be booked for the Great Walks season, and its dates differ by track, so check the track's DOC page before planning around a hut. Check the fire season on checkitsalright before lighting any fire.
Official sources: Department of Conservation, Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Guides for Bay of Plenty
- Coromandel to Rotorua: 5-Day Camping Loop From Auckland
- Freedom Camping in Tauranga 2026: Where You Can Stay
- Freedom Camping in Whakatāne 2026: Where You Can Stay
- Freedom Camping in Rotorua 2026: Where You Can Stay
- DOC hut rules and backcountry etiquette
- NZ Great Walks 2026/27: Huts, Campsites, Booking Dates and Fees
Nearby regions
Before you go
Take it on the road
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