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Freedom camping on a beach, super close to Gisborne City.
For Self Contained vehicles only.
Parks within painted blue lines
3 Nights Max Stay
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Gisborne District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷ Gisborne |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
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Websites |
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Feature | Value | Info |
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Overnight Camping Site Cost |
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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 |
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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. |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Maximum Stay Duration |
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Maximum Stay DurationHow many consecutive days can you stay overnight at this establishment? 3 nights You can only stay at this campsite for up to 3 nights in a row. 3 nights self contained vehicles only |
Booking Required |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
Vehicle Access |
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Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. |
Campfire Rules |
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Campfire RulesWhat are the rules for open air fires? Fires prohibited There is a total fire ban -no fires are permitted. |
Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. |
✓ Beachfront location
✓ Close to Gisborne
✓ Self-contained access
✓ Cold shower available
✓ Musical toilet
𐄂 Limited parking space
𐄂 Not for non-certified vehicles
Amazing spot to camp.
Carpark on the beach next to busy wharf.
Right on the beach.
Great spot.
Free spot by the beach.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 6 |
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26% |
9/10 | 5 |
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22% |
8/10 | 3 |
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13% |
7/10 | 3 |
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13% |
6/10 | 4 |
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17% |
5/10 | 1 |
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4% |
4/10 | 1 |
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4% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3.0/5
Nice spot right next to the beach, close to Gisborne.
One musical toilet and one outside cold shower (just to rinse sand, no soap allowed). About 10 parking spots for self-contained vehicles only (the spots are not super large though, bigger campervans might have trouble parking there).
A few weird people and stoners around but didn't feel too unsafe.
Reviewed 11 months ago
2.5/5
For certified self contained vehicles only.
This site is not for non-certified vehicles. Good spot otherwise for those with certified vehicles.
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
4.0/5
Right on the beach, nice toilets, shame about the noise from the wharf.
Reviewed over 3 years ago
3.0/5
I agree with the other reviewers, good location on a beach near town.
But felt slightly sketchy. We were there on a Friday and there was a lot of drunken people partying on the beach and shouting nearby. The resident campervans actually made me feel safer!
Reviewed over 3 years ago
4.5/5
Beautiful spot!
The toilets are 24 hours now - older reviews said they were closed at night. A few sketchy characters, but full enough with other campers that I felt safe
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
3.5/5
Right on the beach, we got there around 3pm and noone else was there but it was completely full by dinner time.
Toilets were open when we woke up at 7am. Pretty spot, very windy
Reviewed about 4 years ago
4.0/5
Literally is a row of parking spaces but it is a good spot.
Gets busy so be there before 3pm. Not that close to town, probably about 30 minute walk. Right on the beach, and a nice grassy area next to parking spots.
Reviewed about 4 years ago and experienced in February 2019
5.0/5
It was very good, nice beach beautiful, one one toilet with Musik;)
Reviewed over 5 years ago
5.0/5
Amazing spot to camp.
Recommend waking up before sunrise and giving it a watch. Sky goes the most amazing colours. Toilet sings to you. There isn’t much more your could ask for
Reviewed over 5 years ago
4.5/5
24Sept18.
Right on the beach. One flushing, singing toilet as previously described. Limited repertoire tho. Starts with “All the world needs now” and if you take long enough over your business you get “Evergreen”. The same with all the other singing toilets we have used elsewhere.
Kids playground adjacent. My wife enjoyed the swing.
A bit of noise from the timber works and port along the beach but not too bad.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
5.0/5
24Sept18.
One night only. Great location right by the beach. One public loo, singing, as another reviewer said. The same music as in all the other loos of this type we have encountered so far. “All the world needs now is love, sweet love”. The only downside was a little noise from the timber processing place and port a little way along the beach.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
4.0/5
Close to town but yet far enough away to be nice and quiet with the only sounds being the crashing waves.
Great singing toilet as well!
Reviewed about 6 years ago
3.0/5
Nice spot right next to the beach, close to Gisborne.
One musical toilet and one outside cold shower (just to rinse sand, no soap allowed). About 10 parking spots for self-contained vehicles only (the spots are not super large though, bigger campervans might have trouble parking there).
A few weird people and stoners around but didn't feel too unsafe.
Reviewed 11 months ago
2.5/5
For certified self contained vehicles only.
This site is not for non-certified vehicles. Good spot otherwise for those with certified vehicles.
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
4.0/5
Right on the beach, nice toilets, shame about the noise from the wharf.
Reviewed over 3 years ago
3.0/5
I agree with the other reviewers, good location on a beach near town.
But felt slightly sketchy. We were there on a Friday and there was a lot of drunken people partying on the beach and shouting nearby. The resident campervans actually made me feel safer!
Reviewed over 3 years ago
4.5/5
Beautiful spot!
The toilets are 24 hours now - older reviews said they were closed at night. A few sketchy characters, but full enough with other campers that I felt safe
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
3.0/5
Carpark on the beach next to busy wharf.
We didn’t love it and wouldn’t stay again. Too many homeless and dodgy vans, pretty sure one was selling drugs, lots of people coming and going to this one van. The beach is ok but I have been to better. It’s very hard to freedom camp in Gisborne and there is also very limited camp grounds which is such a shame.
Reviewed almost 4 years ago and experienced in August 2020
4.0/5
Literally is a row of parking spaces but it is a good spot.
Gets busy so be there before 3pm. Not that close to town, probably about 30 minute walk. Right on the beach, and a nice grassy area next to parking spots.
Reviewed about 4 years ago and experienced in February 2019
3.5/5
Right on the beach, we got there around 3pm and noone else was there but it was completely full by dinner time.
Toilets were open when we woke up at 7am. Pretty spot, very windy
Reviewed about 4 years ago
3.0/5
Lovely spot but lots of homeless living in there cars there and toilets not well kept, probably due to heavy use.
Would find somewhere else next time.
Reviewed about 4 years ago
5.0/5
It was very good, nice beach beautiful, one one toilet with Musik;)
Reviewed over 5 years ago
5.0/5
Amazing spot to camp.
Recommend waking up before sunrise and giving it a watch. Sky goes the most amazing colours. Toilet sings to you. There isn’t much more your could ask for
Reviewed over 5 years ago
4.5/5
24Sept18.
Right on the beach. One flushing, singing toilet as previously described. Limited repertoire tho. Starts with “All the world needs now” and if you take long enough over your business you get “Evergreen”. The same with all the other singing toilets we have used elsewhere.
Kids playground adjacent. My wife enjoyed the swing.
A bit of noise from the timber works and port along the beach but not too bad.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
5.0/5
24Sept18.
One night only. Great location right by the beach. One public loo, singing, as another reviewer said. The same music as in all the other loos of this type we have encountered so far. “All the world needs now is love, sweet love”. The only downside was a little noise from the timber processing place and port a little way along the beach.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
4.0/5
Close to town but yet far enough away to be nice and quiet with the only sounds being the crashing waves.
Great singing toilet as well!
Reviewed about 6 years ago
5.0/5
Free spot by the beach.
Excellent clean bathroom, outdoor shower supposedly to be used for after he beach but you can take a cold shower there to get cleaned up.
Close to town.
A lot of people and a small area. Get there early.
Cops do cruise by to check out the license plates to make sure no one over stays their limit.
Don't miss sunrise or sunset.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
4.5/5
It’s a great spot right by the beach.
There is a public toilet but no access to fresh water, which is fine if you’re self contained. We really liked to proximity to Gisborne even though you should arrive before six to get a spot there. Can definitely recommend it!
Reviewed over 6 years ago
4.5/5
Solid spot, nice toilets, you'll end up being cozy with your neighbours but the spot usually brings some lovely locals and backpackers together.
Standard bins for rubbish.
Reviewed almost 7 years ago
5.0/5
This place is awesome!
And it's free! Close to town and right in front of a beautiful beach with awesome sunsets! What more could you ask for. One of my favourite spots in NZ.
Reviewed over 7 years ago
3.5/5
A great little spot close to town.
Gets pretty busy and only one toilet so can be a bit of a queue there. Didn't really notice any problem with noise from the port the night we were there.
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
3.5/5
There's alot to like about this Freedom camping spot.
It faces south and when the sea breeze is blowing in summer, Kaiti Beach is super protected. The view is stunning, looking down to Young Nicks Head and Mahia in the distance. It's close to the city (just a 5 minute drive, or a 20 minute stroll down past the wharf). There's some great walking tracks on Kaiti Hill itself also. The only downer is the busy logging port that operates most of the day and into the night. But if you don't mind the buzz of a working port, then this place is a goody.
Reviewed almost 8 years ago