Campgrounds at New Zealand's Lakes and Waterfalls: Where to Stay

Lake campsites in the South Island

Nelson Lakes has two good ones. Lake Rotoroa campsite is beside the lake edge in native bush, with an adult fee of $15 a night, and it is quiet and simple. Kerr Bay is beside Lake Rotoiti, just off State Highway 63, open all year, and bookings are required all year. It costs more, around $25 to $27 a night depending on the season, and DOC's campsite pass does not apply there from 19 October to 30 April.

On the West Coast, Lake Māhinapua campsite sits in a scenic reserve about 10 km south of Hokitika, with an adult fee of $18 a night. It is pack in, pack out, so take your rubbish with you. Lake Mapourika's Otto/MacDonalds campsite is on State Highway 6 near Franz Josef, and the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier camping guide covers it with the Gillespies Beach site.

Lake campsites in the North Island

Lake Ōkareka campsite is a lakeside DOC site only 15 minutes from Rotorua, a quieter alternative to the town parks. Fires are not allowed there at any time. It makes a good base if you want the geothermal parks by day and a calm lake by night.

Lake Waikaremoana in Te Urewera is the big one, with four huts and five campsites on the Great Walk, such as Korokoro. These must be booked in advance, and camping on the track is only allowed at the designated campsites. The Lake Waikaremoana guide has the dates and fees, and the Great Walks 2027/28 guide covers when bookings open.

Waterfalls with a campsite nearby

In the Catlins, Purakaunui Falls are a short walk from a car park with toilets and a picnic area, and the track is suitable for wheelchairs to the top viewing platform. DOC's Purakaunui Bay campsite is nearby, with bookings made online. The access road is narrow gravel and DOC says the campsite is unsuitable for campervans and heavy vehicles, so check before you go. McLean Falls, a 22 metre waterfall on the Tautuku River, is a longer walk and a different stop in the same area.

Near Waitomo, Marokopa Falls and Mangapohue Natural Bridge are free walks on the road to the coast, and the Auckland to Waitomo and Hobbiton guide has the camping options. Near Taupō, the Huka Falls are a short stroll from the Taupō holiday parks, covered in the Auckland to Taupō guide.

Practical notes

Lakes mean sandflies, especially on still evenings, so take repellent and cover up. Lake and river water can be cold and fast, so swim with care and keep an eye on children. The sandfly guide explains what works.

Many of these campsites have no power and basic toilets, so bring water and a way to carry out your rubbish. The busiest ones need booking in summer, and the sell-out campsites guide explains how DOC's bookings work. In wet weather, check river levels and the forecast before you commit to a remote lakeside site.

Planning lake and waterfall stops in KiwiCamping

Lakeside and waterfall campsites stand out on KiwiCamping's map, alongside the huts and holiday parks near them. Build a trip from the ones you like and you get the kilometres between them and the forecast at each, worth checking before a swim or a long walk to the falls. Bookings for DOC sites remain on DOC's pages.

For the drive to each lake or waterfall, follow your phone's maps app, since KiwiCamping does not give live directions.

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