Kowharewa Bay
Overnight Campervan Parking
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Kowharewa Bay
Absolutely no tents are allowed
Closed to campers between 18 December and 8 February inclusive each year. Open to day trippers only during that period.
One night maximum.
You must park in the designated site that is indicated by signage.
If the site is full, you must move on.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Whangarei District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei |
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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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5.0/5
Camped here the night before diving Poor Knights Island and we loved it!
Beautiful view of the water and some small islands. Quiet. Good amount of space.
Toilets are available, no showers.
K![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(22,157,180)" /><path d="m 150 651 Q 210 90 -351 150 Q 210 210 150 -351 Q 90 210 651 150 Q 90 90 150 651 z" fill="rgb(50,80,251)" /><path d="m 150 363 Q 267 33 -63 150 Q 267 267 150 -63 Q 33 267 363 150 Q 33 33 150 363 z" fill="rgb(205,175,4)" /><path d="m 150 133 Q 129 171 167 150 Q 129 129 150 167 Q 171 129 133 150 Q 171 171 150 133 z" fill="rgb(233,98,75)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
A lovely little bay to park up for the night.
Very safe. Parking area is level and clearly marked. Toilets are about 30m away and are clean.
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4.5/5
Lovely and quiet spot.
Great place to swim. Space for around 5 campervans and park only between arrows, rangers will come and check. Toilets are very clean.
P![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(76,77,69)" /><path d="m 150 514 Q 110 190 -214 150 Q 110 110 150 -214 Q 190 110 514 150 Q 190 190 150 514 z" fill="rgb(55,116,38)" /><path d="m 150 371 Q 258 42 -71 150 Q 258 258 150 -71 Q 42 258 371 150 Q 42 42 150 371 z" fill="rgb(200,139,217)" /><path d="m 150 262 Q 255 45 38 150 Q 255 255 150 38 Q 45 255 262 150 Q 45 45 150 262 z" fill="rgb(179,178,186)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Nice little freedom camping spot with beautiful views of the bay, even on a rainy day.
Toilets were clean with soap and toilet paper. Only downside was no potable water.
R![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(81,113,220)" /><path d="m 150 560 Q 214 86 -260 150 Q 214 214 150 -260 Q 86 214 560 150 Q 86 86 150 560 z" fill="rgb(165,92,108)" /><path d="m 150 533 Q 127 173 -233 150 Q 127 127 150 -233 Q 173 127 533 150 Q 173 173 150 533 z" fill="rgb(90,163,147)" /><path d="m 150 187 Q 169 131 113 150 Q 169 169 150 113 Q 131 169 187 150 Q 131 131 150 187 z" fill="rgb(174,142,35)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Gorgeous little bay.
Nice and flat for bigger campers, although sign says for 6.5m max. 2 clean toilets. Great spot for 1 night.
K![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(198,224,206)" /><path d="m 150 587 Q 252 48 -287 150 Q 252 252 150 -287 Q 48 252 587 150 Q 48 48 150 587 z" fill="rgb(72,184,197)" /><path d="m 150 493 Q 152 148 -193 150 Q 152 152 150 -193 Q 148 152 493 150 Q 148 148 150 493 z" fill="rgb(183,71,58)" /><path d="m 150 227 Q 254 46 73 150 Q 254 254 150 73 Q 46 254 227 150 Q 46 46 150 227 z" fill="rgb(57,31,49)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Beautiful spot.
Lovely beach, great for a swim. Quiet, not many spaces. Clean toilets. One of our favourite spots in NZ.
C![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(71,25,181)" /><path d="m 150 706 Q 196 104 -406 150 Q 196 196 150 -406 Q 104 196 706 150 Q 104 104 150 706 z" fill="rgb(33,231,21)" /><path d="m 150 343 Q 124 176 -43 150 Q 124 124 150 -43 Q 176 124 343 150 Q 176 176 150 343 z" fill="rgb(222,24,234)" /><path d="m 150 286 Q 118 182 14 150 Q 118 118 150 14 Q 182 118 286 150 Q 182 182 150 286 z" fill="rgb(184,230,74)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Beautiful spot right at a small bay.
Only four overnight-parking spaces though. Clean flush toilet with non-treated running water.
B![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(208,41,56)" /><path d="m 150 547 Q 74 226 -247 150 Q 74 74 150 -247 Q 226 74 547 150 Q 226 226 150 547 z" fill="rgb(247,36,40)" /><path d="m 150 346 Q 49 251 -46 150 Q 49 49 150 -46 Q 251 49 346 150 Q 251 251 150 346 z" fill="rgb(8,219,215)" /><path d="m 150 309 Q 299 1 -9 150 Q 299 299 150 -9 Q 1 299 309 150 Q 1 1 150 309 z" fill="rgb(47,214,199)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Waouh, un super spot !
Magnifique !
Calme et paisible, une vue superbe, nuit calme, des toilettes propres, eau non potable.
Superbe aprem, nuit et matinée ici, je conseille fortement !
Enjoy guy's 🤙😎
G&A
G![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(88,181,53)" /><path d="m 150 593 Q 163 137 -293 150 Q 163 163 150 -293 Q 137 163 593 150 Q 137 137 150 593 z" fill="rgb(20,79,32)" /><path d="m 150 427 Q 281 19 -127 150 Q 281 281 150 -127 Q 19 281 427 150 Q 19 19 150 427 z" fill="rgb(235,176,223)" /><path d="m 150 239 Q 184 116 61 150 Q 184 184 150 61 Q 116 184 239 150 Q 116 116 150 239 z" fill="rgb(167,74,202)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Free camp avec vue directe sur la plage !
Les toilettes sont propres, des maisons pas loin donc safe.
Très agréable pour une nuit.
J![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(56,139,79)" /><path d="m 150 744 Q 102 198 -444 150 Q 102 102 150 -444 Q 198 102 744 150 Q 198 198 150 744 z" fill="rgb(145,6,153)" /><path d="m 150 506 Q 218 82 -206 150 Q 218 218 150 -206 Q 82 218 506 150 Q 82 82 150 506 z" fill="rgb(110,249,102)" /><path d="m 150 105 Q 101 199 195 150 Q 101 101 150 195 Q 199 101 105 150 Q 199 199 150 105 z" fill="rgb(199,116,176)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Super cute location and clean toilets!!
Free and lovely, highly recommended, the sunrise it’s just amazing from there
M![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(14,255,55)" /><path d="m 150 605 Q 285 15 -305 150 Q 285 285 150 -305 Q 15 285 605 150 Q 15 15 150 605 z" fill="rgb(191,90,239)" /><path d="m 150 335 Q 196 104 -35 150 Q 196 196 150 -35 Q 104 196 335 150 Q 104 104 150 335 z" fill="rgb(64,165,16)" /><path d="m 150 107 Q 45 255 193 150 Q 45 45 150 193 Q 255 45 107 150 Q 255 255 150 107 z" fill="rgb(241,0,200)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Stayed for one night, while we planned to go diving Poor Knights islands the next day.
The boat leaves from Tutukaka which was a 5 minute drive. We arrived early in the afternoon, and enjoyed the bay while we were the only ones who stayed there. Later in the evening 2 others arrived. If parked nicely 4 perhaps 5 vans will fit. Toilets are good, and were cleaned in the morning.
E![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(152,22,224)" /><path d="m 150 602 Q 222 78 -302 150 Q 222 222 150 -302 Q 78 222 602 150 Q 78 78 150 602 z" fill="rgb(28,61,130)" /><path d="m 150 436 Q 172 128 -136 150 Q 172 172 150 -136 Q 128 172 436 150 Q 128 128 150 436 z" fill="rgb(227,194,125)" /><path d="m 150 281 Q 245 55 19 150 Q 245 245 150 19 Q 55 245 281 150 Q 55 55 150 281 z" fill="rgb(103,233,31)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Nice spot in a lovely bay.
Stayed for one night. Toilets are okay. Signed area for about 4 vehicles. Access to the beach and a little creek.
F![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(197,20,189)" /><path d="m 150 739 Q 49 251 -439 150 Q 49 49 150 -439 Q 251 49 739 150 Q 251 251 150 739 z" fill="rgb(156,147,242)" /><path d="m 150 508 Q 217 83 -208 150 Q 217 217 150 -208 Q 83 217 508 150 Q 83 83 150 508 z" fill="rgb(99,108,13)" /><path d="m 150 237 Q 254 46 63 150 Q 254 254 150 63 Q 46 254 237 150 Q 46 46 150 237 z" fill="rgb(58,235,66)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Another beautiful free spot in Northland which you can swim/paddle out from yet feel secluded
J![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(13,176,186)" /><path d="m 150 629 Q 273 27 -329 150 Q 273 273 150 -329 Q 27 273 629 150 Q 27 27 150 629 z" fill="rgb(142,43,2)" /><path d="m 150 380 Q 181 119 -80 150 Q 181 181 150 -80 Q 119 181 380 150 Q 119 119 150 380 z" fill="rgb(113,212,253)" /><path d="m 150 104 Q 111 189 196 150 Q 111 111 150 196 Q 189 111 104 150 Q 189 189 150 104 z" fill="rgb(242,79,69)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Camped here in August.
Perfect waterfront location. Room for 4 campers. Tidal estuary with sheltered cove. Lots of bird life. Clean toilet block. Peaceful. Outrigger canoe riders came after work.
AS![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(119,80,233)" /><path d="m 150 663 Q 45 255 -363 150 Q 45 45 150 -363 Q 255 45 663 150 Q 255 255 150 663 z" fill="rgb(35,116,120)" /><path d="m 150 555 Q 235 65 -255 150 Q 235 235 150 -255 Q 65 235 555 150 Q 65 65 150 555 z" fill="rgb(220,139,135)" /><path d="m 150 135 Q 97 203 165 150 Q 97 97 150 165 Q 203 97 135 150 Q 203 203 150 135 z" fill="rgb(136,175,22)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Really nice location although gets a bit busy with locals after work.
They all bugger before dark though. Toilet was average but cleaned first thing in morning.
D![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(97,146,179)" /><path d="m 150 569 Q 112 188 -269 150 Q 112 112 150 -269 Q 188 112 569 150 Q 188 188 150 569 z" fill="rgb(150,22,82)" /><path d="m 150 306 Q 164 136 -6 150 Q 164 164 150 -6 Q 136 164 306 150 Q 136 136 150 306 z" fill="rgb(105,233,173)" /><path d="m 150 335 Q 138 162 -35 150 Q 138 138 150 -35 Q 162 138 335 150 Q 162 162 150 335 z" fill="rgb(158,109,76)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(163,225,220)" /><path d="m 150 702 Q 192 108 -402 150 Q 192 192 150 -402 Q 108 192 702 150 Q 108 108 150 702 z" fill="rgb(198,18,99)" /><path d="m 150 417 Q 91 209 -117 150 Q 91 91 150 -117 Q 209 91 417 150 Q 209 209 150 417 z" fill="rgb(57,237,156)" /><path d="m 150 336 Q 292 8 -36 150 Q 292 292 150 -36 Q 8 292 336 150 Q 8 8 150 336 z" fill="rgb(92,30,35)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(21,4,66)" /><path d="m 150 674 Q 69 231 -374 150 Q 69 69 150 -374 Q 231 69 674 150 Q 231 231 150 674 z" fill="rgb(146,126,201)" /><path d="m 150 520 Q 191 109 -220 150 Q 191 191 150 -220 Q 109 191 520 150 Q 109 109 150 520 z" fill="rgb(109,129,54)" /><path d="m 150 133 Q 252 48 167 150 Q 252 252 150 167 Q 48 252 133 150 Q 48 48 150 133 z" fill="rgb(234,251,189)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(28,98,173)" /><path d="m 150 516 Q 122 178 -216 150 Q 122 122 150 -216 Q 178 122 516 150 Q 178 178 150 516 z" fill="rgb(205,182,126)" /><path d="m 150 353 Q 191 109 -53 150 Q 191 191 150 -53 Q 109 191 353 150 Q 109 109 150 353 z" fill="rgb(50,73,129)" /><path d="m 150 107 Q 48 252 193 150 Q 48 48 150 193 Q 252 48 107 150 Q 252 252 150 107 z" fill="rgb(227,157,82)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Really quiet and spacious, grassy field right off the beach.
Lots of space to spread out! Toilets and cold showers and a really nice beach walk.
M![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(218,44,244)" /><path d="m 150 720 Q 189 111 -420 150 Q 189 189 150 -420 Q 111 189 720 150 Q 111 111 150 720 z" fill="rgb(4,130,139)" /><path d="m 150 555 Q 112 188 -255 150 Q 112 112 150 -255 Q 188 112 555 150 Q 188 188 150 555 z" fill="rgb(251,125,116)" /><path d="m 150 355 Q 275 25 -55 150 Q 275 275 150 -55 Q 25 275 355 150 Q 25 25 150 355 z" fill="rgb(37,211,11)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Camped here the night before diving Poor Knights Island and we loved it!
Beautiful view of the water and some small islands. Quiet. Good amount of space.
Toilets are available, no showers.
K -
4.5/5
A lovely little bay to park up for the night.
Very safe. Parking area is level and clearly marked. Toilets are about 30m away and are clean.
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4.5/5
Lovely and quiet spot.
Great place to swim. Space for around 5 campervans and park only between arrows, rangers will come and check. Toilets are very clean.
P -
5.0/5
Beautiful spot.
Lovely beach, great for a swim. Quiet, not many spaces. Clean toilets. One of our favourite spots in NZ.
C -
4.0/5
Nice little freedom camping spot with beautiful views of the bay, even on a rainy day.
Toilets were clean with soap and toilet paper. Only downside was no potable water.
R -
4.5/5
Beautiful spot right at a small bay.
Only four overnight-parking spaces though. Clean flush toilet with non-treated running water.
B -
4.5/5
Gorgeous little bay.
Nice and flat for bigger campers, although sign says for 6.5m max. 2 clean toilets. Great spot for 1 night.
K -
5.0/5
Waouh, un super spot !
Magnifique !
Calme et paisible, une vue superbe, nuit calme, des toilettes propres, eau non potable.
Superbe aprem, nuit et matinée ici, je conseille fortement !
Enjoy guy's 🤙😎
G&A
G -
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5.0/5
Free camp avec vue directe sur la plage !
Les toilettes sont propres, des maisons pas loin donc safe.
Très agréable pour une nuit.
J -
5.0/5
Super cute location and clean toilets!!
Free and lovely, highly recommended, the sunrise it’s just amazing from there
M -
5.0/5
Stayed for one night, while we planned to go diving Poor Knights islands the next day.
The boat leaves from Tutukaka which was a 5 minute drive. We arrived early in the afternoon, and enjoyed the bay while we were the only ones who stayed there. Later in the evening 2 others arrived. If parked nicely 4 perhaps 5 vans will fit. Toilets are good, and were cleaned in the morning.
E -
4.5/5
Nice spot in a lovely bay.
Stayed for one night. Toilets are okay. Signed area for about 4 vehicles. Access to the beach and a little creek.
F -
5.0/5
Another beautiful free spot in Northland which you can swim/paddle out from yet feel secluded
J -
5.0/5
Camped here in August.
Perfect waterfront location. Room for 4 campers. Tidal estuary with sheltered cove. Lots of bird life. Clean toilet block. Peaceful. Outrigger canoe riders came after work.
AS -
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4.5/5
Really nice location although gets a bit busy with locals after work.
They all bugger before dark though. Toilet was average but cleaned first thing in morning.
D -
5.0/5
If there is heaps of space, DO NOT park right next to another camper.
It's selfish and I will crank my music until you leave. Just had to do that now and they just left
C![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(41,91,193)" /><path d="m 150 658 Q 276 24 -358 150 Q 276 276 150 -358 Q 24 276 658 150 Q 24 24 150 658 z" fill="rgb(121,217,208)" /><path d="m 150 439 Q 166 134 -139 150 Q 166 166 150 -139 Q 134 166 439 150 Q 134 134 150 439 z" fill="rgb(134,38,47)" /><path d="m 150 217 Q 76 224 83 150 Q 76 76 150 83 Q 224 76 217 150 Q 224 224 150 217 z" fill="rgb(214,164,62)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Amazing spot!!
Bay is so calm and tranquil. Gets busy with locals on the weekends with water sports and day trips. Perfect place to paddle board when it’s calm!
K![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(47,166,120)" /><path d="m 150 687 Q 137 163 -387 150 Q 137 137 150 -387 Q 163 137 687 150 Q 163 163 150 687 z" fill="rgb(84,218,42)" /><path d="m 150 358 Q 144 156 -58 150 Q 144 144 150 -58 Q 156 144 358 150 Q 156 156 150 358 z" fill="rgb(171,37,213)" /><path d="m 150 328 Q 140 160 -28 150 Q 140 140 150 -28 Q 160 140 328 150 Q 160 160 150 328 z" fill="rgb(208,89,135)" /></svg>)
