DOC Campsites That Sell Out Over Summer (and What to Book Instead)

The campsites that go first

Tōtaranui is the best known. It has 269 non-powered sites behind one of the best beaches in the country, DOC says to book well in advance for 1 December to 28 February and public holiday weekends, and a minimum fee of $40 per night applies from 26 December to 8 February. Waikawau Bay on the Coromandel is DOC's largest campsite, and DOC says bookings are essential in summer and at Easter.

Other campsites follow the same pattern. Purakaunui Bay and Papatowai in the Catlins need bookings, and the DOC pass that gives discounts is excluded at Tōtaranui, Momorangi Bay, Pelorus Bridge, Peel Forest and Trounson Kauri Park from 26 December to 8 February, a good clue to where the pressure is. Kerr Bay in Nelson Lakes is excluded from 19 October to 30 April for the same reason.

When bookings open and how to improve your odds

DOC opens its campsite bookings for the season in May, with different opening days by region, and bookings run through to the end of June the following year. The best nights go in the first days, so check DOC's opening dates in April and set a reminder. Have your DOC account ready, and pay promptly, because a booking only counts once the payment is confirmed.

If you are late, you still have options. Midweek nights, the shoulder weeks either side of the school holidays and February and March are much easier than the first fortnight of January. Cancellations release beds back onto sale, and the booked-out guide explains how DOC's fees step up before a stay, which is when people cancel. Check the booking site often, especially 15 and 3 days before your date.

What to do when your campsite is full

Look at the next campsite along. The Abel Tasman has other campgrounds and holiday parks in Marahau, Kaiteriteri and Motueka, the Coromandel has other DOC and private sites, and the Catlins has holiday parks in Owaka and Papatowai. The holiday parks guide explains what to expect, and the freedom camping rules guide explains why freedom camping is rarely the answer in the busiest areas.

Campsites that cannot be booked work first come, first served, and DOC advises arriving early in the day. Do not rely on one of these at Christmas without a backup, and have a second option within an hour's drive. A site with no power and few facilities will fill more slowly than one at a beach.

Quieter DOC campsites worth knowing

Many DOC campsites are far quieter than the famous ones, and the DOC campsites guide explains the categories. Look at the scenic and standard campsites in the hubs for the region you are visiting, which list the sites with their fees and facilities. The quietest are the ones with no road access or a long gravel approach.

Be ready for simpler facilities: a long drop toilet, no power and often no running water. In return you get a site that is cheaper, quieter and often better placed than the crowded ones. The Coromandel, Nelson-Tasman and Southland hubs below list the places to start.

Planning around sold-out sites in KiwiCamping

When a favourite DOC site is full, KiwiCamping's map shows the other DOC campsites, huts and holiday parks nearby, so the fallback is a tap away. Put the alternative into your trip and you see how far it is from your next stop and what the weather is doing there. Any booking still happens on DOC's site or with the park.

It does not show live availability, so keep the DOC booking site open when you plan.

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