Hinemaiaia Reserve Carparks
Overnight Campervan Parking
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Hinemaiaia Reserve Carparks
This place is not suitable for large vehicles. Medium to small, self contained vehicles only.
There are multiple sites up the gravel road that are sign posted, the third being where there is the most space and direct access to the stream.
The end of the road has a large, grassy area for larger vehicles.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC Central North IslandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Turangi |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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2.0/5
No clear signs if you may camp there.
In middle of forest, no cell phone reception. Did not feel safe. We turned around.
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3.0/5
We haven’t seen one sign post.
We even met a van that left before us, probably because they didn’t know where to park. We aren’t sure we weren’t in the right place but there isn’t any network there so no way to check. Quiet place though, completely on our own. No toilets.
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3.5/5
A little hard to find.
When coming from Taupo, take a left immediately after the bridge. Keep driving on the gravel road for another 5-10 min and bays will open up on the left. We found space in the second one. No facilities but fine for one night. Relatively quiet with some noise from the highway.
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4.0/5
We stopped at the second spot, the gravel road is a little bit tough, no phone coverage and we can ear the road.
But this place is really beautiful and calm, the river is just 2min walking to have a bath. I loved this place.
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4.5/5
A little tricky to get to with a long 2km dirt track with lots of potholes - so be careful in a large campervan.
If you encounter another vehicle coming the other way you could be resversing a while. However, well worth the drive up as it’s very quiet and lots of spots tucked away in the trees. We found an amazing spot taking the second road on the left and following it round… you’ll end up right next to the stream and have the whole place to yourselves. No toilets or fee, so self contained only.
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4.5/5
Fantastic!
You can definitely find a nice, quiet spot along the river - heaps of spots to choose from! No toilets so must be self contained. Loved it here - so peaceful.
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5.0/5
a little difficult to find, arriving from Taupo it is immediately after the bridge, on the left.
but what a wonderful place... by the river, quiet.
No toilets, no water (except the river !) but peace and nature
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4.0/5
Keep going on narrow gravel road.
Spots will pop up on the left. Saw no one for 24 hrs! After that you'll be ready to move on
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5.0/5
Amazing spot.
On the LEFT if you are heading out of Taupō just after the bridge. Lots of private park spots right next to the river with hidden walking tracks. Best place we have stayed so far!
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5.0/5
Lovely, peaceful spot.
The road in isn’t as narrow as some people mentioned and has plenty of passing spaces. Great walk alongside the river too
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4.0/5
Beautiful secluded spots by a stream.
Little swimming hole. Med to large vehicles take care of overhanging branches. Fishermen and walkers stroll by but otherwise you’re alone. Only downside is constant road noise.
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4.0/5
Lots of little tucked away spots in the bush next to a river.
Lots of forest but if you look hard you can find small clearings here and there. Very quiet and secluded! No facilities, and dirt roads to the sites. Not good for large vehicles.
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2.0/5
No clear signs if you may camp there.
In middle of forest, no cell phone reception. Did not feel safe. We turned around.
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3.0/5
We haven’t seen one sign post.
We even met a van that left before us, probably because they didn’t know where to park. We aren’t sure we weren’t in the right place but there isn’t any network there so no way to check. Quiet place though, completely on our own. No toilets.
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3.5/5
A little hard to find.
When coming from Taupo, take a left immediately after the bridge. Keep driving on the gravel road for another 5-10 min and bays will open up on the left. We found space in the second one. No facilities but fine for one night. Relatively quiet with some noise from the highway.
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4.0/5
We stopped at the second spot, the gravel road is a little bit tough, no phone coverage and we can ear the road.
But this place is really beautiful and calm, the river is just 2min walking to have a bath. I loved this place.
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4.5/5
A little tricky to get to with a long 2km dirt track with lots of potholes - so be careful in a large campervan.
If you encounter another vehicle coming the other way you could be resversing a while. However, well worth the drive up as it’s very quiet and lots of spots tucked away in the trees. We found an amazing spot taking the second road on the left and following it round… you’ll end up right next to the stream and have the whole place to yourselves. No toilets or fee, so self contained only.
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4.5/5
Fantastic!
You can definitely find a nice, quiet spot along the river - heaps of spots to choose from! No toilets so must be self contained. Loved it here - so peaceful.
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5.0/5
a little difficult to find, arriving from Taupo it is immediately after the bridge, on the left.
but what a wonderful place... by the river, quiet.
No toilets, no water (except the river !) but peace and nature
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4.0/5
Keep going on narrow gravel road.
Spots will pop up on the left. Saw no one for 24 hrs! After that you'll be ready to move on
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3.0/5
Lovely spot alongside the river.
Wouldn't stay longer than one night but it was a good stop off during a long trip. No amenities but to be expected. Would stop again if doing a long trip but there are nicer and more social spots a bit further north of here.
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2.5/5
Important to note that the car parks on the Hinemaiaia River are not designed for campervans.
They are car parks for fisherman but DOC allow
Self-Contained vehicles. THERE ARE NO TOILETS and unfortunately previous campers have crapped on the paths and left used lavatory paper in full sight. Walkers from the local settlement might give you a hard time because they diligently pick up their dog shit so wonder why campers think they can leave theirs. Probably better sites elsewhere.
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2.0/5
This is very hard to find, the entrance did not match the map, it is more south, there is a sign but go slow and don’t blink!
It was our first night of freedom camping and it was a bit creepy, no one around, little inlets into the bush past the cemetery. No ph service.All rather vague about where to go. We ended up at the first area by the stream. A peaceful night but probably would look elsewhere next time.
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1.0/5
Terribly signposted, private cemetery as soon as you drive in..
immediately put us off.. the. There was like 3km of one lane gravel road.. potentially more, we got about that far and tried to turn around, Impossibly tight so we had to unhitch out caravan and swing it round. The gravel
Was so loose and in such a slant the caravan handbrake was failing and we almost lost it down a bank. No facilities,
No vibe. Wouldn’t even bother.
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0.5/5
Thankfully Rankers had a map marked so you could find the place but you are met with what seems a 2-3k gravel road.
If you have a caravan stay far from this place. Get to the end and there is a sign saying no swimming despite the other reviews. Plus the fear of anyone coming the other way you have zero room to pull up anywhere! Once we got to the end and saw dead grass we turned around and paid for a camp down the road. That was 30 minutes of avoidable stress.
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5.0/5
Amazing spot.
On the LEFT if you are heading out of Taupō just after the bridge. Lots of private park spots right next to the river with hidden walking tracks. Best place we have stayed so far!
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5.0/5
Lovely, peaceful spot.
The road in isn’t as narrow as some people mentioned and has plenty of passing spaces. Great walk alongside the river too
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4.0/5
Beautiful secluded spots by a stream.
Little swimming hole. Med to large vehicles take care of overhanging branches. Fishermen and walkers stroll by but otherwise you’re alone. Only downside is constant road noise.
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4.0/5
Lots of little tucked away spots in the bush next to a river.
Lots of forest but if you look hard you can find small clearings here and there. Very quiet and secluded! No facilities, and dirt roads to the sites. Not good for large vehicles.
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5.0/5
Some people parked right off the paved road at the beginning of the gravel road and weren’t bothered, but I don’t think that’s in the true spirit of freedom camping and definitely doesn’t look great on
van campers as a whole. I went in about 500 meters and took the first campsite on the left. This pulloff was T shaped and fit about four vans. Other reviews talked about going further for a nice river view and more space but my little spot was enough for an enjoyable evening and some French neighbors cooking delicious smelling supper. 10/10 would camp there again
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5.0/5
Heading out of Taupo the location on map is a bit wrong, it’s the other side of the bridge.
It’s also 4/5 diffrent little sites and the roads probably 1k long. This so far has been my favorite camp site. We stayed in the very first one as it was right next to the stream and parked so we could see the stream from our van. Didn’t see a single other person was lovely. So many stars at night because of the lack of light around. Great camping spot
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4.5/5
Hard to spot .
Heading towards Taupo after Harrow just before bridge. Very narrow road, don’t want to meet anyone coming other way. 3rd campsite was the best. We’re right down near the water and a walk along the river. Lovely
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4.5/5
Difficult to find as no sign.
It's a gravel track on right heading away from Taupo just before Hatepe . Very quiet, good over night
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4.0/5
Good and quiet spot.
Didn't meet a single living soul. Nice stream for fishing, a few mozzies. No toilet.
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4.5/5
An amazing hike for people who like (almost) untouched nature.
Make sure you have good boots.
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2.5/5
A pretty tight gravel road to access - at the very end is a massive open space by a hydropower structure.
Cute little stream with fishing access tracks along the edge, not marked trails.
Nicely situated between Taupo and Turangi
