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Camping guide · updated 16 Oct 2026
Camping near Rotorua
There are 75 DOC campsites within 150 km of Rotorua, and 31 of them are free. 51 can be reached by car. The closest is Lake Ōkareka Campsite, about 10 km away in a straight line.
Drive-in campsites (51)
| Campsite | Distance* | Type and fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Ōkareka Campsite Lake Ōkareka Scenic Reserve | 10 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Rerewhakaaitu, Ash Pit Rd Campsite Lake Rerewhakaaitu Recreation Reserve | 27 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Rerewhakaaitu, Brett Road Campsite Lake Rerewhakaaitu Recreation Reserve | 27 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Arohena Campsite Lake Arapuni Conservation Area | 52 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Matatā Campsite Matatā area | 53 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
| Whakaipo Campsite Taupō area | 66 km | Basic Free | drive-in, dogs allowed, first come, first served |
| Kakaho Campsite Pureora Forest Park | 67 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Sanctuary Campsite Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park | 72 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Ngaherenga Campsite Pureora Forest Park | 73 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Mid Okahu Road Campsite Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park | 74 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Omahuru Campsite Te Urewera | 79 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Te Pakau (Eight Acre) Campsite Te Urewera | 80 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Mimiha Campsite Te Urewera | 81 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Piropiro Campsite Pureora Forest Park | 86 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Dickey Flat Campsite Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park | 89 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served |
| Clements Clearing Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 90 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Kakapo Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 91 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Te Iringa Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 91 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Orangihikoia Campsite Te Urewera | 91 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Army Road Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 93 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Te Taita A Makoro Campsite Te Urewera | 93 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Mokau Landing Campsite Te Urewera | 99 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Boulders Campsite Ōpōtiki area | 100 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Manganuku Campsite Ōpōtiki area | 101 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Rosie Bay Campsite Te Urewera | 105 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Waikaremoana Holiday Park Lake Waikaremoana area | 105 km | Serviced $25 per adult (tent site) | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
| Kaimanawa Road Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 117 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Waikoko Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 117 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Whitikau Campsite Ōpōtiki area | 117 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Glenfalls Campsite Mōhaka River area | 118 km | Basic Free | drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served |
| Mangatutu Hot Springs Campsite Kaweka Forest Park | 118 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Urchin Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 119 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Pokaka Mill Campsite Tongariro Forest Conservation Area | 120 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Broken Hills Campsite Broken Hills area | 123 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Kahikatea Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | 125 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Shag Stream Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | 125 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Hotoritori Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | 127 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
| Booms Flat Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | 129 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
| Catleys Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | 129 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Totara Flat Campsite: Coromandel Coromandel Forest Park | 129 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Wainora Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | 129 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Whangaiterenga Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | 129 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Ohinepane Campsite Ohinepane Recreation Reserve | 131 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
| Mangahuia Campsite Tongariro National Park | 134 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Whakapapa Holiday Park Tongariro National Park | 134 km | Serviced $25 per adult (tent site) | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
| Lake Tūtira Campsite Tūtira area | 134 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Waikari River Mouth Campsite Waikari River area | 135 km | Basic Free | drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served |
| Lawrence Campsite Kaweka Forest Park | 138 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Cameron Campsite Kaweka Forest Park | 139 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Kuripapango (Ox Bow) Campsite Kaweka Forest Park | 139 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Whakahoro Campsite Whanganui National Park | 149 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | drive-in, bookable |
Walk-in and boat-access campsites (24)
| Campsite | Distance* | Type and fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humphries Bay Campsite Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve | 16 km | Basic Free | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Hot Water Beach Campsite Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve | 20 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | walk-in, bookable |
| Lake Tarawera Outlet Campsite Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve | 23 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | walk-in, bookable |
| Verns Camp Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park | 75 km | Basic Free | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Maraunui Campsite Te Urewera | 95 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Waiharuru Campsite Te Urewera | 96 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Korokoro Campsite Te Urewera | 97 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Waiopaoa Campsite Te Urewera | 99 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Pahautea Hut Campsite Pirongia Forest Park | 103 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Kaniwhaniwha Campsite Pirongia Forest Park | 105 km | Basic Free | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Wentworth Valley Campground Coromandel Forest Park | 106 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | bookable |
| Central Clearing Campsite Pirongia Forest Park | 108 km | Basic Free | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Everetts Campsite Mōhaka River area | 113 km | Basic Free | walk-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served |
| Mangatainoka Campsite Kaweka Forest Park | 115 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Oturere Campsite Tongariro National Park | 124 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Mangatepopo Campsite Tongariro National Park | 126 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Waihohonu Campsite Tongariro National Park | 129 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Billygoat Basin Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | 129 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Trestle View Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | 130 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | walk-in, bookable |
| Dancing Camp Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | 131 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Moss Creek Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | 133 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Crosbies Hut Backcountry Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | 134 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Poukaria Campsite Whanganui National Park | 137 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | boat access, bookable |
| Maharanui Campsite Whanganui National Park | 148 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | boat access, 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 Rotorua 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 Rotorua?
From DOC's list, Lake Ōkareka Campsite is the closest, about 10 km away in a straight line.
Are there free campsites near Rotorua?
Yes, 31 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.
More camping guides: all camping guides