Trout Pools Reserve
Okere Falls
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Trout Pools Reserve
CAMPING AT END OF ROAD, NOT FIRST CARPARK
Rotorua District Council managed reserve. Vehicles with purpose built sleeping facilities (eg. motorhome, campervan, caravan, house bus etc) are permitted to park overnight in designated spaces within the existing carpark area. No cars, utes, passenger vans etc. No tents.
Details
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Organisation |
Rotorua Lakes CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Hamurana |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Basic Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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1.0/5
We left immediatly after having a look at this place.
It is a very spacious carpark (no shade) surrounded by beautiful bush. The Okere Falls and caves are worth visiting. However, the carpark is used by a rafting company to pick up boats and guests after their tour on the river, so it is extremely busy with buses, trailers and people the whole time.
Also, I don't know why people assume this is an official freedom campsite, because we saw no signs allowing camping. In fact, the only sign we saw actually forbid camping. But since people have apparantly stayed there without trouble, maybe it's ok, I don't know. Maybe it's not too bad to spend a night there after the rafting company is done and people are gone, but not if you arrive during the day and want some peace and quiet.
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4.0/5
Small and quiet car park, with public toilets at the start of nice walks ideal for a one night stop
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4.0/5
Nice location with a nice views, a lot of flat space for +- 20 campers.
Clean long drop toilet, no water supply. Nice walks to see the falls or the caves are worth it. SC certification checked in the evening.
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4.0/5
Make sure you go all the way to the end of this road it’s on, it’s not the first car pack, that’s where the confusion may come in!
Nice and quiet, nice land scape, not too big :)
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4.5/5
Great location to watch the flooding of the area behind the dam in the morning.
There‘s plenty of space on the car park, also easily accessible in the dark.
Parking area is shared with the speedboats to Huka Falls - so probably in the evenings there is more space and during daytime. Also great starting point to hike (3hrs) or bike (1,5hrs) to the Falls, too.
Toilet is kinda disgusting. Be aware that one must bring their own toilet paper…
All in all a nice place to stay for one night.
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4.5/5
Lovely isolated spot to park right next to the waterfall.
Toilets are open all night and rubbish bins supplied. Not much cellphone reception here but it was nice to take that break. Great white water rafting at Kaituna rafting also, well worth checking them out!
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4.5/5
Great place to stay.
Long drop toilet however very clean and tidy. Beautiful spot to swim and cool off. You can also watch the kyakers and Whitewater rafters go down the river. We ended up staying 2 nights here as found it much nicer than staying in Rotorua. Expecially on a hot day. Only downfall was no Vodafone reception in the area.
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4.5/5
Great quiet spot for staying overnight free of charge close to Rotorua.
Make sure you head past the first car park to the top / second car park which is where camping is allowed. The only downside is that there’s only a long-drop toilet there with no water (hand sanitiser provided). The toilet at the bottom car park is much nicer. Also the phone signal is hit and miss. The walk along the river is lovely and you’ll often spot groups of rafters heading down the waterfalls here.
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5.0/5
We stayed here on 2 different nights, well sign posted easy to find, plenty of space & peaceful
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3.5/5
We went there to do the jump off the cliff.
Nice jump but fast current makes it a bit difficult the first time.
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3.0/5
Busy location with kayakers as well as motor-campers.
Some smell from the heavily used drop loo, but well maintained.
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1.0/5
We left immediatly after having a look at this place.
It is a very spacious carpark (no shade) surrounded by beautiful bush. The Okere Falls and caves are worth visiting. However, the carpark is used by a rafting company to pick up boats and guests after their tour on the river, so it is extremely busy with buses, trailers and people the whole time.
Also, I don't know why people assume this is an official freedom campsite, because we saw no signs allowing camping. In fact, the only sign we saw actually forbid camping. But since people have apparantly stayed there without trouble, maybe it's ok, I don't know. Maybe it's not too bad to spend a night there after the rafting company is done and people are gone, but not if you arrive during the day and want some peace and quiet.
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4.0/5
Small and quiet car park, with public toilets at the start of nice walks ideal for a one night stop
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4.0/5
Nice location with a nice views, a lot of flat space for +- 20 campers.
Clean long drop toilet, no water supply. Nice walks to see the falls or the caves are worth it. SC certification checked in the evening.
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4.0/5
Make sure you go all the way to the end of this road it’s on, it’s not the first car pack, that’s where the confusion may come in!
Nice and quiet, nice land scape, not too big :)
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4.5/5
Great location to watch the flooding of the area behind the dam in the morning.
There‘s plenty of space on the car park, also easily accessible in the dark.
Parking area is shared with the speedboats to Huka Falls - so probably in the evenings there is more space and during daytime. Also great starting point to hike (3hrs) or bike (1,5hrs) to the Falls, too.
Toilet is kinda disgusting. Be aware that one must bring their own toilet paper…
All in all a nice place to stay for one night.
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4.5/5
Lovely isolated spot to park right next to the waterfall.
Toilets are open all night and rubbish bins supplied. Not much cellphone reception here but it was nice to take that break. Great white water rafting at Kaituna rafting also, well worth checking them out!
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4.5/5
Great place to stay.
Long drop toilet however very clean and tidy. Beautiful spot to swim and cool off. You can also watch the kyakers and Whitewater rafters go down the river. We ended up staying 2 nights here as found it much nicer than staying in Rotorua. Expecially on a hot day. Only downfall was no Vodafone reception in the area.
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4.5/5
Great quiet spot for staying overnight free of charge close to Rotorua.
Make sure you head past the first car park to the top / second car park which is where camping is allowed. The only downside is that there’s only a long-drop toilet there with no water (hand sanitiser provided). The toilet at the bottom car park is much nicer. Also the phone signal is hit and miss. The walk along the river is lovely and you’ll often spot groups of rafters heading down the waterfalls here.
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5.0/5
We stayed here on 2 different nights, well sign posted easy to find, plenty of space & peaceful
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3.5/5
We went there to do the jump off the cliff.
Nice jump but fast current makes it a bit difficult the first time.
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3.5/5
Hey, it's free and close to city centre, beautiful walks here and basically on the trout pools.
But smelly gross toilet and lots of noise from kayakers as this is their base. still, it was free and convenient. Quite a few people here when we stayed too.
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4.5/5
Excellent spot for paddlers.
The trash and toilets are the only drawback, otherwise worth the trip from Rotorua.
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3.0/5
Busy location with kayakers as well as motor-campers.
Some smell from the heavily used drop loo, but well maintained.
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2.0/5
It's just a small parking lot with concrete and a rather smelly drop loo.
In the early evening whole bunches of kayakers came out and would be picked up here. Same really early in the morning and they made A LOT of noise. Didn't stay longer than one night as we didn't feel really safe with all the people trafficking... Though it's a free place around Taupo but there are better options.
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3.5/5
Great place to stay with a lot of local kayakers.
It is a large parking lot with a bathroom. There were great walking trails from the lot.
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4.0/5
Free camping for self contained vehicles in the carpark only 15mins from Rotorua.
Toilet ok. Nice walks and views of the trout pools and falls. Sadly there is a lot of rubbish lying around.
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3.5/5
20 km from town, a car park with a rather smelly long drop toilet.
But a convenient and free site to stay at in Rotorua!
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2.5/5
Small car park close to the river.
There is a very smelly toilet, possums eating rubbish and no place to sit and eat your dinner. In early morning around 6am there already were people with kayaks.
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3.0/5
There are no signs and no honesty box so it must be now free (and so it should be).
There is s new long drop toilet that looks good from the outside but unless you can hold your breath for as long as it takes to do your business it's not very pleasant especially for the ladies. Other than that it's a beautiful reserve. I used to come swimming here when I was a kid. Beware it is a fast flowing river with strong currents and rapids. Trout are there in numbers too, my son hooked 2 on the one night we stayed but wasn't able too land them. Enjoy & respect the environment please.
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2.5/5
No sign of an honesty box whatsoever so I think it is for free?
No facilities at all. Portable toilet got pushed on its side. The new toilet facility was closed when we were there. There are possums eating garbage, many rafting companies stop at this very point. Interesting walk routes start here! Good to stay one night or even two. Around 15 campervans can park here. No area for tents as everything is asphalted.
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3.5/5
Just for cars and campervans, no tents as there is no grass, it's just a parking with dirty portaloo facilities but you don't have to pay for it anymore, it's free!
And even if it's a bit dirty, small and noisy in the morning (because it's situated at the end of the rafting trip, so lots of people), it certainly is one of the only locations around Rotorua where you can stay for free ;)
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3.0/5
A small parking lot at the end of the road to Okere Falls.
Only a porta-potty for facilities (which clearly hadn't been cleaned in a while). Gets busy in the morning with kayakers heading out on the river.
Right on the edge of Trout Pools and with locals around swimming and fishing. Very beautiful area with waterfalls close by. A short drive (about 20 minutes) from Rotorua.
Expensive at $8 per person for just a parking lot.
