Camping near Whanganui

There are 53 DOC campsites within 150 km of Whanganui, and 20 of them are free. 25 can be reached by car. The closest is Atene Skyline Campsite, about 28 km away in a straight line.

Drive-in campsites (25)

Campsite	Distance*	Type and fee	Good to know
Mangawhero Campsite Tongariro National Park	68 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Pohangina Base Campsite Pohangina Valley area	79 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, hot showers, dogs on a leash, bookable
Mangahuia Campsite Tongariro National Park	91 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, bookable
Whakapapa Holiday Park Tongariro National Park	91 km	Serviced $25 per adult (tent site)	drive-in, hot showers, bookable
Whakahoro Campsite Whanganui National Park	91 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	drive-in, bookable
Pokaka Mill Campsite Tongariro Forest Conservation Area	106 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Kiriwhakapapa Campsite Tararua Forest Park	106 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Ōtaki Forks Campsite Ōtaki Forks area	107 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Urchin Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	109 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Ohinepane Campsite Ohinepane Recreation Reserve	110 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Kaimanawa Road Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	111 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Waikoko Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	111 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Holdsworth Campsite Holdsworth area	115 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Waiohine Gorge Campsite Tararua Forest Park	122 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Cameron Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	125 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Kuripapango (Ox Bow) Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	125 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Bucks Road Campsite Tararua Forest Park	129 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable
Lawrence Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	135 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Army Road Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	143 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Moawhitu Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves	143 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Kakapo Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	145 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Clements Clearing Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	147 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Mangatutu Hot Springs Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	147 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Te Iringa Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	148 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Piropiro Campsite Pureora Forest Park	149 km	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served

Walk-in and boat-access campsites (28)

Campsite	Distance*	Type and fee	Good to know
Atene Skyline Campsite Whanganui National Park	28 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
Simpsons Domain Campsite Hunterville area	47 km	Basic Free	first come, first served
Ngaporo Campsite Whanganui National Park	56 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Tīeke Marae/kāinga Campsite Whanganui National Park	66 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Mangapurua Campsite Whanganui National Park	72 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Mangawaiiti Campsite Whanganui National Park	73 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Piripiri Campsite Pohangina Valley area	77 km	Basic Free	first come, first served
Hellawell's Campsite Whanganui National Park	78 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
John Coull Campsite Whanganui National Park	78 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Mangapurua Trig Campsite Whanganui National Park	80 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
Bettjemann Campsite Whanganui National Park	81 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
Johnsons Campsite Whanganui National Park	81 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
Mosley's Campsite Whanganui National Park	84 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
Ohauora Campsite Whanganui National Park	85 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Mangapapa Campsite Whanganui National Park	89 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Maharanui Campsite Whanganui National Park	95 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Waihohonu Campsite Tongariro National Park	97 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	walk-in, bookable
Mangatepopo Campsite Tongariro National Park	99 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	walk-in, bookable
Oturere Campsite Tongariro National Park	102 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	walk-in, bookable
Poukaria Campsite Whanganui National Park	105 km	Great Walk Great Walks prices, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Penguin Bay Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves	140 km	Basic Free	boat access, first come, first served
South Arm Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves	140 km	Basic Free	boat access, first come, first served
Mangatainoka Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	144 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	walk-in, first come, first served
Cannibal Cove Campsite Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui area	144 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	boat access, bookable
Mill Arm Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves	144 km	Basic Free	boat access, first come, first served
Lucky Bay Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves	147 km	Basic Free	boat access, first come, first served
Matiu/somes Island Campsite Matiu/Somes Island	148 km	Standard $10–20 per adult	bookable
Schoolhouse Bay Campsite Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui area	149 km	Backcountry Varies, see DOC page	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 Whanganui 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

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Questions

What is the closest campsite to Whanganui?

From DOC's list, Atene Skyline Campsite is the closest, about 28 km away in a straight line.

Are there free campsites near Whanganui?

Yes, 20 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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