Beach campsites in New Zealand you can drive to

DOC lists 41 coastal campsites you can drive to, 3 of them free. Summer weekends fill fast at the popular ones, so book early where booking is available.

Auckland

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Akapoua Bay Campsite Great Barrier Island/Aotea	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Awana Beach Campsite Great Barrier Island/Aotea	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Harataonga Campsite Great Barrier Island/Aotea	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Medlands Beach Campsite Great Barrier Island/Aotea	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Whangapoua Campsite Great Barrier Island/Aotea	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable

Bay of Plenty

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Matatā Campsite Matatā area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, hot showers, bookable

Canterbury

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Godley Head Campsite Awaroa/Godley Head	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable

Coromandel

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Fantail Bay Campsite Northern Coromandel	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	drive-in, bookable
Fletcher Bay Campsite Northern Coromandel	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	drive-in, bookable
Port Jackson Campsite Northern Coromandel	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	drive-in, bookable
Stony Bay Campsite Northern Coromandel	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Waikawau Bay Campsite Northern Coromandel	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable

East Coast

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Anaura Bay Campsite Anaura Bay area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable

Marlborough

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Aussie Bay Campsite Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Elaine Bay Campsite Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere and Kenepuru Sound area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
French Pass Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Harvey Bay Campsite Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere and Kenepuru Sound area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Kenepuru Head Campsite Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere and Kenepuru Sound area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Marfells Beach Campsite Marfells Beach area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Moawhitu Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Momorangi Campsite Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui area	Serviced $25 per adult (tent site)	drive-in, hot showers, bookable
Nikau Cove Campsite Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere and Kenepuru Sound area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Picnic Bay Campsite Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere and Kenepuru Sound area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Rarangi Campsite Blenheim area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Robin Hood Bay Campsite Blenheim area	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Waimaru Campsite Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere and Kenepuru Sound area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Whatamango Bay Campsite Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Whites Bay Campsite Blenheim area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable

Nelson/Tasman

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Tōtaranui Campground Abel Tasman National Park	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable

Northland

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Kapowairua (Spirits Bay) Campsite Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Maitai Bay Campsite Karikari Peninsula	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, first come, first served
Otamure Bay (Whananaki) Campsite Whananaki area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Puriri Bay (Whangaruru North Head) Camps Whangaruru North Head Scenic Reserve	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Raetea North Side Campsite Raetea Forest and Mangamuka Gorge Scenic Reserve	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Rarawa Beach Campsite Wharekāpu/Paxton Point Conservation Area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Taputaputa Campsite Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Uretiti Beach Campsite Waipū area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, hot showers, bookable

Otago

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Purakaunui Bay Campsite Catlins coastal area	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable

Wairarapa

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Putangirua Pinnacles Campsite Putangirua Pinnacles Scenic Reserve	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable

West Coast

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Gillespies Beach Campsite Gillespies Beach	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Kōhaihai Campsite Kahurangi National Park	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable

Campsite list: Department of Conservation open data (CC BY 4.0), refreshed weekly. Fees are DOC’s published category fees; some campsites differ and prices can change. Always check the DOC page for alerts and closures before you go.

Plan the rest of the trip

Find a campsite by region → Packing checklist Cheap car hire

Questions

Can I camp on the beach in New Zealand?

Only where it is allowed. Use an official campsite, or check the council and DOC freedom-camping rules for that beach.

When is beach camping busiest?

From Christmas to the end of January, and on long weekends. Weekdays and March are calmer.

More camping guides: all camping guides