Huka/Aratiatia Rapids Scenic Reserve

Overnight Campervan Parking

Maps

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Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

DOC Central North Island

Central government organisation

Location

North IslandTaupo RegionTaupo

Categories

  • Activity__freedom_campingFreedom Camping
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-38.6181283748609

176.136832141876

Take a peak
Latitude
-38.6181283748609
Longitude
176.136832141876

Nearby

Reviews

    ✓ 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

    M
    Miriam's avatar
  • 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

    M
    Marine's avatar
  • 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

  • 5.0/5

    Great place to stay.

    15 other there. Feels safe and quiet

    Reviewed 3 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

    KM
    K M's avatar

    K M

  • 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

    A
    Aaron's avatar
  • 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

    A
    AJC's avatar

    AJC

  • 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

    AK
    A King's avatar
  • 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

    H
    Holly's avatar
  • 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

    V
    Valg's avatar
  • 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

    H
    Holly's avatar
  • 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

    L
    Linda's avatar
  • 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

    A
    Agnes's avatar
  • 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

    S
    Shel's avatar
  • 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

    M
    Miriam's avatar
  • 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

    M
    Marine's avatar
  • 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

  • 5.0/5

    Great place to stay.

    15 other there. Feels safe and quiet

    Reviewed 3 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

    KM
    K M's avatar

    K M

  • 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

    A
    Aaron's avatar
  • 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

    A
    AJC's avatar

    AJC

  • 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

    AK
    A King's avatar
  • 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

    H
    Holly's avatar
  • 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

    V
    Valg's avatar
  • 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

    H
    Holly's avatar
  • 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

    L
    Linda's avatar
  • 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

    A
    Agnes's avatar
  • 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

    M
    Mayla's avatar