Camping near Palmerston North

There are 48 DOC campsites within 150 km of Palmerston North, and 10 of them are free. 21 can be reached by car. The closest is Piripiri Campsite, about 44 km away in a straight line.

Drive-in campsites (21)

Campsite	Distance*	Type and fee	Good to know
Pohangina Base Campsite Pohangina Valley area	45 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, hot showers, dogs on a leash, bookable
Kiriwhakapapa Campsite Tararua Forest Park	51 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Holdsworth Campsite Holdsworth area	63 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Ōtaki Forks Campsite Ōtaki Forks area	67 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Waiohine Gorge Campsite Tararua Forest Park	74 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Bucks Road Campsite Tararua Forest Park	82 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Mangawhero Campsite Tongariro National Park	108 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Kuripapango (Ox Bow) Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	123 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Corner Creek Campsite Remutaka Forest Park	123 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Cameron Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	124 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Catchpool Valley Campsite Catchpool Valley & Ōrongorongo Valley	125 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Putangirua Pinnacles Campsite Putangirua Pinnacles Scenic Reserve	126 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Whakapapa Holiday Park Tongariro National Park	128 km	Serviced $25 per adult (tent site)	drive-in, hot showers, bookable
Lawrence Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	130 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Mangahuia Campsite Tongariro National Park	131 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Urchin Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	134 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Kaimanawa Road Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	136 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Waikoko Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	136 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Pokaka Mill Campsite Tongariro Forest Conservation Area	146 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Whakahoro Campsite Whanganui National Park	146 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	drive-in, bookable
Mangatutu Hot Springs Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	149 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served

Walk-in and boat-access campsites (27)

Campsite	Distance*	Type and fee	Good to know
Piripiri Campsite Pohangina Valley area	44 km	Basic Free	first come, first served
Simpsons Domain Campsite Hunterville area	50 km	Basic Free	first come, first served
Atene Skyline Campsite Whanganui National Park	81 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
Ngaporo Campsite Whanganui National Park	114 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Matiu/somes Island Campsite Matiu/Somes Island	119 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	bookable
Tīeke Marae/kāinga Campsite Whanganui National Park	124 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Graces Stream Campsite Catchpool Valley & Ōrongorongo Valley	124 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	first come, first served
Waihohonu Campsite Tongariro National Park	127 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	walk-in, bookable
Mangapurua Campsite Whanganui National Park	131 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Oturere Campsite Tongariro National Park	133 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	walk-in, bookable
Mangawaiiti Campsite Whanganui National Park	133 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Mangatepopo Campsite Tongariro National Park	134 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	walk-in, bookable
Hellawell's Campsite Whanganui National Park	135 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
Mangapurua Trig Campsite Whanganui National Park	135 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
Johnsons Campsite Whanganui National Park	137 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
Bettjemann Campsite Whanganui National Park	138 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
John Coull Campsite Whanganui National Park	138 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Mosley's Campsite Whanganui National Park	138 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
Cannibal Cove Campsite Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui area	140 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Ohauora Campsite Whanganui National Park	143 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Schoolhouse Bay Campsite Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui area	144 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, bookable
Wharehunga Bay Campsite Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui area	144 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Mangapapa Campsite Whanganui National Park	146 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Blumine Island/ōruawairua Campsite Blumine Island Scenic Reserve	147 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Mangatainoka Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	148 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
Maharanui Campsite Whanganui National Park	150 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Camp Bay Campsite Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui area	150 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	walk-in, bookable

*Straight-line distance from the city centre; the drive is longer.

Want a roof instead? Compare holiday parks on Holiday Parks NZ or stays near Palmerston North on our Stays page.

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

What is the closest campsite to Palmerston North?

From DOC's list, Piripiri Campsite is the closest, about 44 km away in a straight line.

Are there free campsites near Palmerston North?

Yes, 10 of the DOC campsites within 150 km are free basic campsites.

Do I need to book?

Many standard and serviced DOC campsites need booking, especially in summer. Basic campsites are usually first come, first served.

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