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Camping guide · updated 16 Oct 2026
Family camping in the school holidays
With kids, flush toilets and a shower make all the difference. These 61 DOC campsites have at least one, and you can drive right in. Under-5s stay free at DOC campsites, and children 5–17 pay half the adult price.
School holiday tips
- Book early. DOC opens bookings for the summer season months ahead (in 2026, from mid-May), and popular campsites sell out for Christmas and January.
- Have a plan B. Holiday-park cabins are a good backup if the weather turns.
- Pack the family list from our checklist: two spare sets of clothes per child, games and a night light.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Avalanche Creek Shelter Campsite Arthur's Pass National Park | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Godley Head Campsite Awaroa/Godley Head | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
| Lake Middleton Campsite Twizel area | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served |
| Otaio Gorge Campsite Hunters Hills area | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Peel Forest Campground Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve | Serviced $25 per adult (tent site) | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
| Waihi Gorge Campsite Geraldine area | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| White Horse Hill Campsite Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
Central North Island
| Campsite | Type and fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Whakapapa Holiday Park Tongariro National Park | Serviced $25 per adult (tent site) | drive-in, hot showers, 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 |
| Whangaiterenga Campsite Coromandel Forest Park | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
East Coast
| Campsite | Type and fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Manganuku Campsite Ōpōtiki area | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Omahuru Campsite Te Urewera | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, first come, first served |
| Waikaremoana Holiday Park Lake Waikaremoana area | Serviced $25 per adult (tent site) | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
Manawatu/Whanganui
| Campsite | Type and fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pohangina Base Campsite Pohangina Valley area | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, hot showers, dogs on a leash, bookable |
Marlborough
| Campsite | Type and fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| French Pass Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves | 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 |
| Momorangi Campsite Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui area | Serviced $25 per adult (tent site) | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
| Onamalutu Campsite Mount Richmond Forest Park | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Pelorus Bridge Campground Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve | Serviced $25 per adult (tent site) | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
| Rarangi Campsite Blenheim area | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kerr Bay Campsite Nelson Lakes National Park | Serviced $25 per adult (tent site) | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
| Tōtaranui Campground Abel Tasman National Park | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| West Bay Campsite - Buller Zone Nelson Lakes National Park | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| West Bay Campsite - Jetty Zone Nelson Lakes 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 |
| Puketī Recreation Area Campsite Puketī and Omahuta Forests | 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 |
| 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 |
| Trounson Kauri Park Campground Trounson Kauri Park | Serviced $25 per adult (tent site) | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
| Uretiti Beach Campsite Waipū area | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, hot showers, bookable |
Otago
| Campsite | Type and fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Flat Campsite Mount Aspiring National Park | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Skippers Campsite Skippers area | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
| Tawanui Campsite Catlins coastal area | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
Wairarapa
| Campsite | Type and fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Holdsworth Campsite Holdsworth area | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
| Kiriwhakapapa Campsite Tararua Forest Park | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
| Putangirua Pinnacles Campsite Putangirua Pinnacles Scenic Reserve | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
| Waiohine Gorge Campsite Tararua Forest Park | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
Wellington/Kapiti
| Campsite | Type and fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Catchpool Valley Campsite Catchpool Valley & Ōrongorongo Valley | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
| Ōtaki Forks Campsite Ōtaki Forks area | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
West Coast
| Campsite | Type and fee | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Goldsborough Campsite Goldsborough (Waimea) - Kumara area | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
| Hans Bay - Lake Kaniere Campsite Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Kōhaihai Campsite Kahurangi National Park | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, dogs on a leash, bookable |
| Lake Māhinapua Campsite Māhinapua Scenic Reserve | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Otto/macdonalds Campsite Franz Josef Glacier/Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, bookable |
| Slab Hut Creek Campsite Victoria Forest Park | Standard $10–20 per adult | drive-in, 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
How much does family camping cost at a DOC campsite?
At a standard campsite two adults and two children (5–17) usually pay $30–60 a night; under-5s are free. Serviced campsites cost more, basic ones are free.
When do school holiday campsites book out?
The most popular campsites book out months ahead for Christmas and January. Book as soon as DOC bookings open.
More camping guides: all camping guides