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Camping guide · updated 16 Oct 2026
Camping near Taupō
There are 75 DOC campsites within 150 km of Taupō, and 32 of them are free. 43 can be reached by car. The closest is Whakaipo Campsite, about 10 km away in a straight line.
Drive-in campsites (43)
| Campsite | Distance* | Type and fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whakaipo Campsite Taupō area | 10 km | Basic Free | drive-in, dogs allowed, first come, first served |
| Clements Clearing Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 31 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Kakapo Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 31 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Army Road Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 32 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Te Iringa Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 33 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Kakaho Campsite Pureora Forest Park | 33 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Ngaherenga Campsite Pureora Forest Park | 48 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Piropiro Campsite Pureora Forest Park | 51 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Kaimanawa Road Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 54 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Waikoko Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 54 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Urchin Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park | 56 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Sanctuary Campsite Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park | 57 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Rerewhakaaitu, Brett Road Campsite Lake Rerewhakaaitu Recreation Reserve | 58 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Rerewhakaaitu, Ash Pit Rd Campsite Lake Rerewhakaaitu Recreation Reserve | 59 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Lake Ōkareka Campsite Lake Ōkareka Scenic Reserve | 63 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Pokaka Mill Campsite Tongariro Forest Conservation Area | 63 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Mangatutu Hot Springs Campsite Kaweka Forest Park | 65 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Mid Okahu Road Campsite Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park | 67 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Arohena Campsite Lake Arapuni Conservation Area | 68 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Glenfalls Campsite Mōhaka River area | 73 km | Basic Free | drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served |
| Whakapapa Holiday Park Tongariro National Park | 74 km | Serviced $25 per adult (tent site) | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
| Mimiha Campsite Te Urewera | 74 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Mangahuia Campsite Tongariro National Park | 76 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Cameron Campsite Kaweka Forest Park | 81 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Kuripapango (Ox Bow) Campsite Kaweka Forest Park | 81 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Lawrence Campsite Kaweka Forest Park | 83 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Orangihikoia Campsite Te Urewera | 84 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Ohinepane Campsite Ohinepane Recreation Reserve | 85 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
| Te Taita A Makoro Campsite Te Urewera | 86 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Mokau Landing Campsite Te Urewera | 89 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Rosie Bay Campsite Te Urewera | 93 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Waikaremoana Holiday Park Lake Waikaremoana area | 94 km | Serviced $25 per adult (tent site) | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
| Lake Tūtira Campsite Tūtira area | 94 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Mangawhero Campsite Tongariro National Park | 96 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Te Pakau (Eight Acre) Campsite Te Urewera | 98 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Whakahoro Campsite Whanganui National Park | 98 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | drive-in, bookable |
| Omahuru Campsite Te Urewera | 100 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Waikari River Mouth Campsite Waikari River area | 102 km | Basic Free | drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served |
| Matatā Campsite Matatā area | 107 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
| Manganuku Campsite Ōpōtiki area | 123 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Boulders Campsite Ōpōtiki area | 131 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Dickey Flat Campsite Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park | 142 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served |
| Whitikau Campsite Ōpōtiki area | 147 km | Basic Free | drive-in, first come, first served |
Walk-in and boat-access campsites (32)
| Campsite | Distance* | Type and fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verns Camp Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park | 53 km | Basic Free | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Hot Water Beach Campsite Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve | 58 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | walk-in, bookable |
| Mangatainoka Campsite Kaweka Forest Park | 60 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Oturere Campsite Tongariro National Park | 62 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Mangatepopo Campsite Tongariro National Park | 65 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Humphries Bay Campsite Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve | 66 km | Basic Free | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Lake Tarawera Outlet Campsite Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve | 67 km | Standard $10–20 per adult | walk-in, bookable |
| Waihohonu Campsite Tongariro National Park | 67 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Everetts Campsite Mōhaka River area | 71 km | Basic Free | walk-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served |
| Korokoro Campsite Te Urewera | 80 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Maraunui Campsite Te Urewera | 80 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Waiopaoa Campsite Te Urewera | 81 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Waiharuru Campsite Te Urewera | 84 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Poukaria Campsite Whanganui National Park | 89 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | boat access, bookable |
| Maharanui Campsite Whanganui National Park | 99 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | boat access, bookable |
| Mosley's Campsite Whanganui National Park | 102 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Mangapurua Trig Campsite Whanganui National Park | 104 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Mangapapa Campsite Whanganui National Park | 105 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | boat access, bookable |
| Johnsons Campsite Whanganui National Park | 106 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Bettjemann Campsite Whanganui National Park | 109 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Ohauora Campsite Whanganui National Park | 110 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | boat access, bookable |
| Hellawell's Campsite Whanganui National Park | 112 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Pahautea Hut Campsite Pirongia Forest Park | 115 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, bookable |
| Mangapurua Campsite Whanganui National Park | 116 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | boat access, bookable |
| John Coull Campsite Whanganui National Park | 117 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | boat access, bookable |
| Tīeke Marae/kāinga Campsite Whanganui National Park | 118 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | boat access, bookable |
| Kaniwhaniwha Campsite Pirongia Forest Park | 120 km | Basic Free | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Mangawaiiti Campsite Whanganui National Park | 121 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | boat access, bookable |
| Ngaporo Campsite Whanganui National Park | 121 km | Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page | boat access, bookable |
| Central Clearing Campsite Pirongia Forest Park | 121 km | Basic Free | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Atene Skyline Campsite Whanganui National Park | 137 km | Backcountry Varies, see DOC page | walk-in, first come, first served |
| Simpsons Domain Campsite Hunterville area | 141 km | Basic Free | first come, first served |
*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 Taupō 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 Taupō?
From DOC's list, Whakaipo Campsite is the closest, about 10 km away in a straight line.
Are there free campsites near Taupō?
Yes, 32 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