Where to Camp in Auckland ⛺ [2023]

Glamping with Social Nature Movement

Wherever you decide to camp in Auckland, make it the ultimate glamping experience with Social Nature Movement! Whether it’s a night under the stars in the back garden or a beautiful glamping set-up at one of the Auckland campsites listed below, the dedicated team at SNM has you covered. Choose your level of inclusions: from just the tent to the full kit and caboodle with mattresses, plush bedding, gorgeous lighting, floral arrangements, chocolate, chilly bins with cold drinks in summer and Thermos with hot drinks in winter, and the list goes on!

Plan your glamping getaway at socialnaturemovement.nz.

Commercial Holiday Parks in Auckland

Holiday parks in Auckland have a range of facilities of a higher standard than what’s found in DOC or council-run campsites (see below). Unsurprisingly, this comes at a higher price: usually NZ$48-$55 per site for two people per night or around NZ$20 per person per night. They also offer a number of accommodation types, but campers can always rely on holiday parks to have powered sites to plug up their campervan and tent sites (providing there is availability).

For more on what to expect from a holiday park, check out The Accommodation Guide to Holiday Parks in New Zealand.

Matakana Coast

• Martins Bay Holiday Park, Warkworth – Huge campsite on the sandy shores with beach glamping
• Whangateau Holiday Park, Warkworth – Waterfront powered sites available
• Pakiri Beach Holiday Park, Tomorata – Camping along a 14 km (9 mi) beach good for fishing and surfing
• Sandspit Holiday Park, Warkworth – Family-friendly holiday spot with safe swimming.

Hibiscus Coast

• Red Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park, Orewa – Tidy holiday park nestled in the residential suburbs of Red Beach
• Orewa Beach Holiday Park, Orewa – A large holiday park with glamping just a short walk from the beach.

North Shore

• Auckland North Shore Motels and Holiday Park, Northcote – Basic holiday park with concrete parking for campervans
• Takapuna Beach Holiday Park, Takapuna – Right on the beachfront facing Rangitoto Island and 15 minutes from Auckland Central.

Waitakere

• Muriwai Beach Motor Camp, Muriwai – Mostly tent and campervan camping within walking distance of the beach
• Piha Domain Motor Camp, Piha – Grassy camping area nearby Piha Beach
• Whatipu Lodge & Campground, Whatipu – Affordable campground with vehicle access and tracks to the beach.

Auckland City Central

• Avondale Motor Park, Avondale – Parkland campground 15 minutes from the city centre
• Touchwood Motor Inn & Inner City Camping Ground, Meadowbank – Powered and unpowered sites just a short bus ride from the city centre.

Manukau

• Orere Point Top 10 Holiday Park, Manukau Heads-Activity-centric holiday park on the way to the Coromandel
• Port Waikato Holiday Park, Te Kohanga – Isolated holiday park at the estuary of the Waikato River
• Bruce Pulman Park, Takanini – Affordable camping exclusively for self-contained vehicles
• Orua Bay Motor Camp, Orua Bay – Peaceful holiday park at Manukau Heads
• Big Bay Holiday Park, Big Bay – Family-friendly getaway with a wood-fired pizza oven. Closed for winter
• Clarks Beach Holiday Park, Clarks Beach – Attractive river flats setting next to a golf course.

Hauraki Gulf

• Stray Possum Lodge, Great Barrier Island – Homely ambience with backpacker hostels and camping
• Awana Mickey’s Campground, Great Barrier Island – Farm campground with flush toilets and a cooking area
• Great Barrier Island Campground, Great Barrier Island – Park grounds with a freshwater stream and 4WD vehicles recommended.

Auckland Council Campgrounds

Auckland is blessed with approximately 40 campgrounds across the region. Most campgrounds are very basic, starting off with some sort of toilet and water supply (although you are likely to need to treat the water) while some campgrounds have extra facilities like gas barbecues and cooking shelters. Be aware that many of the campgrounds are accessed on foot and are only suitable for tents. Prices range from NZ$9.50-$21 per adult and NZ$4.50-$6.50 per child.

SCC Parking Areas or SCC Campgrounds are for certified self-contained vehicles only. Book your campsite spot at the Auckland Council website.

Kaipara Harbour

• Atiu Creek Campground, Atiu Creek Regional Park – Vehicle-based campground not suitable for swimming
• Atiu SCC Parking Area, Atiu Creek Regional Park – Self-contained motorhomes at this parking area.

Matakana Coast

• Mita Bay Campground, Sullivan’s Bay – Accessible by foot at low tide only
• Sullivan’s Bay Campground, Sullivan’s Bay – Vehicle access with swimming, picnics and watersports
• Schischka Campground, Wenderholm – Open park-like area alongside the Puhoi River estuary
• Wenderholm CSC Parking Area, Wenderholm – Motorhome parking on the grass at Whederholm Region Park
• Piwakawaka Eco Structure Site, Wenderholm – Glamping site next to the Puhoi River
• Mahurangi CSC Parking Area, Sullivan’s Bay – Motorhome parking with sometimes unsuitable ground conditions
• Scandrett CSC Parking Area, Scandrett Park – Motorhome parking for up to four vehicles.

Hibiscus Coast

• Te Haruhi Bay Campground, Shakespear Park – Parkland camping behind Te Haruhi Bay sand dunes
• Shakespear CSC Parking Area, Shakespear Park – Parking spaces among farmland at Army Bay
• Tawharanui Campground, Tawharanui Park – Large campground behind sand dunes in the Tawharanui Open Sanctuary (bird sanctuary).

North Shore

• Long Bay CSC Parking Area, Long Bay – Motorhome parking with some poor round conditions.

Auckland City Central

• Ambury Campground, Mangere – Basic flat campground with toilets and drinking water nearby.

Waitakere

• Craw Campground, Anawhata – Grassy camping area with a cooking shelter on top of a ridge. Not suitable for long vehicles
• Craw CSC Parking Area, Anawhata – Motorhome concrete parking area
• Pae o te Rangi Campground, Cascade Kauri – North-facing open site on a working farm. Foot access only
• Cascade Kauri CSC Parking Area, Cascade Kauri – See link for reopening
• Log Race CSC Parking Area, Piha – Gravelled parking area on the hilltops of Piha
• Barn Paddock (Karamatura Farm) Campground, Huia – Very basic campground with scenic mountain views and a bush stream nearby
• Karamatura Valley Campground, Huia – Basic foot-accessible campground next to a stream
• Cornwallis CSC Parking Area, Huia – Waterfront gravelled parking area
• Pararaha Valley Campground, Whatipu – Secluded coastal wetlands only accessible by foot at low or mid tide
• Tunnel Point Campground, Whatipu – Small campground between dune wetlands and coastal cliffs accessible by foot only
• Arataki CSC Parking Area, Arataki Visitor Centre – See link for reopening.

Manukau

• Brook Campground, Awhitu Park- Basic vehicle-based campground with grass parking areas. Closed for winter
• Peninsula Campground, Awhitu Park – Grassy campground with toilets, barbecues and drinking water
• Awhitu CSC Parking Area, Awhitu Park – Large motorhome and campervan parking area
• Lower Mangatawhiri Campground, Hunua Ranges – Grassy clearing in the Hunua Ranges accessible by foot
• Hunua Falls CSC Parking Area, Hunua Ranges – This large sealed car park is open for certified self-contained camping
• Mangatangi Trig Campground, Hunua Ranges – A grassy clearing accessible via a walking trail
• Piggott’s Campground, Hunua Ranges – Grassy campsite accessible by foot with streams, waterfalls and views
• Repeater Campground, Hunua Ranges – Campground at the end of a walking and mountain biking trail
• Thousand Acres Campground, Hunua Ranges – See link for reopening
• Hunua Upper Mangatawhiri CSC Parking Area, Hunua Ranges – Somewhere else to park your motorhome in the Hunua Ranges
• Workman Campground, Hunua Ranges – See link for reopening
• McCreadies Paddock Campground, Karekare – Small tent sites a short walk from the car park
• Odlins 2 Campground, Karekare – See link for reopening
• Cliff Top Campground, Omana – Grassy vehicle-based campground with trees providing some shade
• Omana CSC Parking Area, Omana – Limited motorhome parking on a sealed car park
• Beachfront Campground, Tapapakanga – A tent-only campground with vehicle access
• Seaview Campground, Tapapakanga – Grassy campground only suitable for vehicles when the conditions are dry
• Kaparanui Stream CSC Parking Area, Tapapakanga – Shady stream-side camping for motorhomes. Closed for winter
• Tapapakanga CSC Parking Area, Tapapakanga – Somewhere to park your motorhome at Orere Point
• Tawhitokino Campground, Tawhitokino – Accessible by foot or sea kayak, camp at the far end of the beach
• Blackberry Flats Campground, Waharau – A large camping area for vehicles and tents during summer
• Waharau CSC Parking Area, Waharau – Overnight parking for certified self-contained vehicles
• Tainui Campground, Waharau – Vehicle camping area extending from the Hunua Ranges to the coast
• Duder CSC Parking Area – A sealed parking area in the Duder Regional Park.

Hauraki Gulf

• Poukaraka Flats Campground, Waiheke Island – Family-friendly campground set back from a safe swimming beach
• Whakanewha CSC Parking Area, Waiheke Island – Overnight camping for motorhomes on Waiheke.

Learn more about the regional parks in the 20 Auckland Parks You Can’t Miss.

Department of Conservation Campsites in Auckland

The Department of Conservation (DOC) maintains the campsites on the Hauraki Gulf islands. Expect toilets, water (may need treating) and possibly cold showers and picnic tables. Book your camping spot on the DOC website. Fees are approximately NZ$10-$15 per adult per night and NZ$5-$7.50 per child. See The Complete Guide to Camping in New Zealand to learn more.

Motutapu Island

• Home Bay Motutapu Island Campsite – Large tent campsite with access to walking trails on Motutapu and Rangitoto.

Motuihe Island

• Motuihe Island Campsite – Camp on the headland near a sandy sheltered beach.

Moturoa Island

• Motuora Island Campsite – Camp on an early settlement and now an island sanctuary.

Great Barrier Island

• Akapoua Bay Campsite, Port FitzRoy – Family-friendly camping area near the sheltered waters of Port FitzRoy
• Awana Beach Campsite – Accessible for vehicle camping by a popular surf beach
• Harataonga Campsite – Vehicle-accessible grassy campsite next to the Harataonga Coastal Walkway
• Medlands Beach Campsite – Grassy campsite set back from Medlands Beach with vehicle access and shady areas under the trees
• The Green Campsite, Whangaparapara Harbour – A small scenic campsite only accessible on foot or by boat
• Whangapoua Campsite, Whangapoua Estuary – Camp near the airport close to a popular surf break.

Learn more about saving money when staying in multiple DOC campsites in our guide, DOC Campsite Pass: How it Works & is it Worth it?

Freedom Camping in Auckland

Camp for free in Auckland. Freedom camping in Auckland usually refers to a car park with no facilities where you can sleep in your campervan for free. For this reason, freedom camping is restricted to only certified self-contained vehicles.

The Auckland region has very little choice for freedom camping. However, there are a few spots to stay the night for free if you are travelling in a certified self-contained campervan:

• Gulf Harbour Car Park, Hibiscus Coast
• Ray’s Rest Camping Reserve, between Kaiaua and Miranda, South Auckland
• Car Park opposite Western Springs Reserve, Grey Lynn
• Hamilton’s Gap, Manukau
• Rosa Birch Park, Pukekohe
• Port Albert Domain, Rodney
• Sunburst Avenue, Snells Beach
• Parry Kauri Park, Warkworth
• Hatfield’s Beach Car Park, Orewa

For more information on these freedom camping spots in Auckland, check out 10 Free Camping Spots in Auckland.