65 Rankers Reviews
Welcome to New Zealand's most comprehensive database of freely available camping information. This is the only travel map of its kind in NZ.
Feature | Value | Info |
---|---|---|
Organisation |
DOC Central North IslandCentral government organisation |
|
Location |
North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo |
|
Categories |
|
|
Directions To Coordinates |
||
Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
---|---|---|
Overnight Camping Site Cost |
|
Overnight Camping Site CostWhat is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? ![]() Free Camping It costs nothing to stay overnight. In general this means that you should not expect any facilities. |
Overnight Stay Rules |
|
Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? ![]() Self-contained motorhomes only Overnight stays are only permitted if your vehicle is certified as being 'self-contained'. The vehicle must display the "Responsible Camper" sticker. |
Campsite Managing Organisation |
|
Campsite Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this campsite? ![]() DOC Managed This campsite is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation. ![]() |
Maximum Stay Duration |
|
Maximum Stay DurationHow many consecutive days can you stay overnight at this establishment? 4 nights You are permitted to stay at this campsite for up to four nights in a row. Four nights maximum in a single calendar month. |
Dump Station |
|
Dump StationDump stations allow the safe disposal of sewage and greywater from self-contained vehicles. Does this site have a dump station? No dump station This location has no dump stations for the disposal of waste water from recreational vehicles. |
Booking Required |
|
Booking RequiredIs it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? First Come, First Served Sites are allocated in a first come, first served basis. Get in early for the best spot. |
Powered Sites |
|
Powered SitesDoes this establishment have powered sites? No powered sites This campsite does not offer any powered sites with an electricity supply. |
Large Vehicle Access |
|
Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. |
Dogs |
|
DogsDoes this establishment allow dogs? ![]() Dogs allowed The location allows dogs. There may be conditions that may be met eg. dogs must be on a leash. |
Vehicle Access |
|
Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. |
DOC Campsite Category |
|
DOC Campsite CategoryWhat category does this Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite fall into? DOC Restricted Freedom Camping Site Department of Conservation Restricted Freedom Camping Sites are for Self Contained Vehicles only with restrictions over length of stay. Some of these locations may have a toilet, but this can't be expected. |
WiFi Internet |
|
WiFi InternetWhat type of WiFi internet access is available? No WiFi There is no WiFi access available. |
Campfire Rules |
|
Campfire RulesWhat are the rules for open air fires? Fires prohibited There is a total fire ban -no fires are permitted. |
✓ Beautiful and scenic views
✓ Quiet and peaceful atmosphere
✓ Close to Taupo and Huka Falls
✓ Ample parking space
✓ Great for viewing dam releases
𐄂 Basic drop toilet facilities
𐄂 Toilet paper often missing
Great place to stay.
Nice free spot by the water.
A great spot overlooking the dam.
Good location.
Great place to stay for the night!
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
---|---|---|---|
10/10 | 16 |
|
25% |
9/10 | 15 |
|
23% |
8/10 | 19 |
|
29% |
7/10 | 13 |
|
20% |
6/10 | 1 |
|
2% |
5/10 | 1 |
|
2% |
4/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
3/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
2/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
1/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
5.0/5
Stunning location right on the river, steps away from the rapids view point.
About 20 parking spots, one picnic table, and one drop toilet. Direct access to the huka falls track, spa park track, and a couple more. You can hear car traffic from the main road, but the birdsongs are arguably louder. 2 night max, must be out by 9:30am each day. This is the car park for the huka falls river cruise. Stumbled across this freedom camping location while coming to see the rapids and will certainly be back!!
Reviewed 7 days ago
4.0/5
Good spot for a one night quick stop.
The long drop toilets where smelly but clean. The rapids do give a nice morning walk before heading out. There were a couple other campevans but not much.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
5.0/5
A splendid camp near the lake, around 20-25 places.
Beautiful and calm. A 2h trail to Huka falls starts there. Only one drop toilet without water but clean.
Reviewed 2 months ago
4.5/5
Nice basic spot to spend the night.
Beware it will not be accessible the weekend of the 14th/15th December 2024 due the to Rotorua Ironman.
Reviewed 4 months ago
5.0/5
Very beautiful spor.
I loved it. You need to leave before 9h30. Beautiful lake. One of my favorite so far
Reviewed 6 months ago
5.0/5
Nice spot.
Pit/drop toilet with paper was clean. 8 other campers overnight. We watched 10am Dam release which was great.
Reviewed 7 months ago
3.5/5
Very basic campsite (but free, so what can you expect), just a parking lot.
1 public toilet with no lights, no flush, no toilet paper.
Rules around leaving camping before 9.30am a bit unclear, especially because you want to see the rapids release at 10am.
View on the lake is nice, lots of different birds to spot. Be aware of the vehicle exit, the lane at the end of the parking lot next to the trail signs: there are very deep and large holes in the road. Can cause damage to your vehicle.
Reviewed 7 months ago
4.0/5
One single long drop toilet which was fairly clean and didn’t stink!
A few level spots but not loads. We arrived at around 4pm and there were a few campers, when we woke up that had multipled - this is during spring so get there early in summer. Great location from the main town but have to leave at 9:30am, could possible stay till 10 to watch the rapid release! Perfect for a night :) - Follow us IG/YT Milly0nthem0ve
Reviewed 7 months ago
2.5/5
A guy told us a possum jumped onto him when he was walking to the toilet.
Basic parking lot near a nice lake
Lots of spots
Not all spots level tho
Believe it or not.
Fog was quite thick. Went on a walk. Couldn’t see much. But when the fog let up saw a beautiful bird. Basic. Free (
;)
Reviewed 10 months ago
4.0/5
Really great location with more spaces than expected.
We arrived about 5pm and there were only a few others parked up there. The long drop is clean and whilst the door can bang shut like other reviews say, you just need to close it slowly. Take your own paper! We didn’t have any noise issues during the night. As it was the off season in the middle of winter we took our chances and stayed past the 9.30am cutoff so we could cross the road and watch the Aratiatia rapids release at 10am. Would highly recommend! Lovely bird life to enjoy and a picnic table to take breakfast before departing.
Reviewed 10 months ago
3.5/5
Lovely view of the lake, drop toilet isn’t very pleasant so avoid if possible.
Plenty of space in the car park. Must leave by 9:30am
Reviewed 11 months ago
4.0/5
A great spot overlooking the dam.
A sealed parking. Mostly flat. Clean and tidy.very clean long drop with a noisy closing door!! Much better than Reid’s farm which sadly is dirty and with undesirable clientelle.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.5/5
Great DOC campsite, drop toilet and nice setting by the lake and dam.
Was a quiet night sleep with a handful of other campers, half full when we stayed in march. Super close to Taupo.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Great place by the dam with toilets and tables to eat.
If you can get there by 16:00 you can see the last rapids of the day. Quiet and plenty of place.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Good location.
We ate breakfast with a view by the Aratiatia rapid dam. No toilets
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.5/5
Great place to stay for the night!
There is a longdrop toilet, don't forget to bring your own paper 😀
Reviewed over 1 year ago
3.0/5
The good: reservoir is pretty, especially at sunrise; amazing stargazing; close-ish to Taupō; free The not so good: is just a car park on the side of the highway with no noise barrier from the road
(wasn’t too bad at night, but I didn’t stay during the day so can’t comment on that); one long drop toilet (no tp, sanitizer or light) with the loudest metal door that slams shut unless you actively prevent it; most of the sites have a slant to them, some worse than others, which is hard to gauge when parking at night; garbage has to be packed out
Overall, not bad but nothing to write home about either
Reviewed about 2 years ago
3.5/5
This place is only recommended if you Plan to see the opening of the water dam (which is cool).
It's basic and toilet was ok. In the morning an official looking dude was loudly using his cellphone, it was definitely too early to disturb others with loud talking. And the street is very near and you hear big trucks at night.
Reviewed 5 days ago
5.0/5
Stunning location right on the river, steps away from the rapids view point.
About 20 parking spots, one picnic table, and one drop toilet. Direct access to the huka falls track, spa park track, and a couple more. You can hear car traffic from the main road, but the birdsongs are arguably louder. 2 night max, must be out by 9:30am each day. This is the car park for the huka falls river cruise. Stumbled across this freedom camping location while coming to see the rapids and will certainly be back!!
Reviewed 7 days ago
4.0/5
Good spot for a one night quick stop.
The long drop toilets where smelly but clean. The rapids do give a nice morning walk before heading out. There were a couple other campevans but not much.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
5.0/5
A splendid camp near the lake, around 20-25 places.
Beautiful and calm. A 2h trail to Huka falls starts there. Only one drop toilet without water but clean.
Reviewed 2 months ago
4.5/5
Nice basic spot to spend the night.
Beware it will not be accessible the weekend of the 14th/15th December 2024 due the to Rotorua Ironman.
Reviewed 4 months ago
5.0/5
Very beautiful spor.
I loved it. You need to leave before 9h30. Beautiful lake. One of my favorite so far
Reviewed 6 months ago
5.0/5
Nice spot.
Pit/drop toilet with paper was clean. 8 other campers overnight. We watched 10am Dam release which was great.
Reviewed 7 months ago
3.5/5
Very basic campsite (but free, so what can you expect), just a parking lot.
1 public toilet with no lights, no flush, no toilet paper.
Rules around leaving camping before 9.30am a bit unclear, especially because you want to see the rapids release at 10am.
View on the lake is nice, lots of different birds to spot. Be aware of the vehicle exit, the lane at the end of the parking lot next to the trail signs: there are very deep and large holes in the road. Can cause damage to your vehicle.
Reviewed 7 months ago
4.0/5
One single long drop toilet which was fairly clean and didn’t stink!
A few level spots but not loads. We arrived at around 4pm and there were a few campers, when we woke up that had multipled - this is during spring so get there early in summer. Great location from the main town but have to leave at 9:30am, could possible stay till 10 to watch the rapid release! Perfect for a night :) - Follow us IG/YT Milly0nthem0ve
Reviewed 7 months ago
2.5/5
A guy told us a possum jumped onto him when he was walking to the toilet.
Basic parking lot near a nice lake
Lots of spots
Not all spots level tho
Believe it or not.
Fog was quite thick. Went on a walk. Couldn’t see much. But when the fog let up saw a beautiful bird. Basic. Free (
;)
Reviewed 10 months ago
4.0/5
Really great location with more spaces than expected.
We arrived about 5pm and there were only a few others parked up there. The long drop is clean and whilst the door can bang shut like other reviews say, you just need to close it slowly. Take your own paper! We didn’t have any noise issues during the night. As it was the off season in the middle of winter we took our chances and stayed past the 9.30am cutoff so we could cross the road and watch the Aratiatia rapids release at 10am. Would highly recommend! Lovely bird life to enjoy and a picnic table to take breakfast before departing.
Reviewed 10 months ago
3.5/5
Lovely view of the lake, drop toilet isn’t very pleasant so avoid if possible.
Plenty of space in the car park. Must leave by 9:30am
Reviewed 11 months ago
4.0/5
A great spot overlooking the dam.
A sealed parking. Mostly flat. Clean and tidy.very clean long drop with a noisy closing door!! Much better than Reid’s farm which sadly is dirty and with undesirable clientelle.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.5/5
Great DOC campsite, drop toilet and nice setting by the lake and dam.
Was a quiet night sleep with a handful of other campers, half full when we stayed in march. Super close to Taupo.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Great place by the dam with toilets and tables to eat.
If you can get there by 16:00 you can see the last rapids of the day. Quiet and plenty of place.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Good location.
We ate breakfast with a view by the Aratiatia rapid dam. No toilets
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.5/5
Great place to stay for the night!
There is a longdrop toilet, don't forget to bring your own paper 😀
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.0/5
Nice parking lot for overnight stay near the dam spillway.
It is beside a road, but only a few cars came through during the night and they didn't bother us, and the spot was very quiet and the drop toilet was clean.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.0/5
16-11-23 Nice place and view!
Got one time For the water runninh, was incredible. As a self contains perfect spot. Only a hidrop toilet. Not busy, enough space
Reviewed over 1 year ago