Freedom camping

Camping is a popular way to stay in the Whangārei District. To ensure a great experience for campers, residents and the wider community it's important everyone follows the rules.

These include:

not camping in some areas
sticking to time limits in others
a range of other requirements.

Camping rules by accommodation type

Find out the rules and camping locations for people staying in:

Certified self-contained vehicles
Non self-contained vehicle
Tents

About the Camping in Public Places bylaw

Our Camping in Public Places bylaw regulates camping in Council controlled public places across the Whangārei District.

It does not apply to:

Department of Conservation land
commercial campgrounds
privately owned public spaces (e.g. supermarket car parks).

These areas have their own rules and regulations.

Camping map

The map below gives an indicative overview of camping rules and permitted locations in the Whangārei District. It is based on the Camping in Public Places Bylaw 2017 and is intended as a guide to help you plan your stay.

Freedom Camping map (gismaps.wdc.govt.nz)

Failing to comply with the rules can result in a fine under the Freedom Camping Act or the Reserves Act.

Camping locations for a self contained vehicle

Check if your vehicles complies with the rules set in freedom camping rule changes:

Freedom camping rule changes

Below are the sites where you can camp if you are certified self-contained:

Location	Number of spaces	Max Stay
A H Reed Memorial Park - Whareora Road(PDF, 339KB)	2 marked sites	1 night
Bascule carpark - Port Road(PDF, 337KB)	8 marked sites (4 for large, wide vans, 4 for small vans)	3 nights
Beach Road reserve - Onerahi(PDF, 325KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 4	1 night
Hātea East carpark - Riverside(PDF, 428KB)
Kowharewa Bay(PDF, 313KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 4	1 night
Manaia Walkway carpark - Whangārei Heads(PDF, 311KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - 2 to 3	1 night
Marsden Bay Reserve(PDF, 304KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 8 to 10	1 night
Matapōuri - Wehiwehi Road(PDF, 310KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 4	1 night
Ngunguru Library - Ngunguru Road(PDF, 316KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site	1 night
Ocean Beach carpark(PDF, 378KB) Grass overflow carpark is permanently closed for camping.	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 4	1 night
Onerahi sportspark(PDF, 414KB)	Camping permitted from 18 December to Northland (or Auckland) Anniversary Day each year.
One Tree Point - boatramp carpark(PDF, 313KB)	4 sites	1 night
Parua Bay(PDF, 232KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 15	3 nights
Reotahi(PDF, 243KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - up to 3	1 night
Ruakākā Beach reserve - Ruakākā(PDF, 294KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 6	1 night
Sandy Bay(PDF, 214KB) (toilet block carpark / grass area)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 4	1 night
Tamaterau(PDF, 274KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - 2 to 3	1 night
Tarewa i-Site - Tarewa Road(PDF, 534KB)	6 marked sites for small vehicles	1 night
Tikipunga sportspark(PDF, 480KB)	Camping permitted from 18 December to Northland (or Auckland) Anniversary Day each year.
Waipū Caves(PDF, 198KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - many	1 night
Wellingtons Bay - Whangaumu Reserve(PDF, 263KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 4	1 night
Otuihau / Whangārei Falls scenic reserve - Tikipunga(PDF, 415KB)	4 marked sites	1 night
Woolleys Bay - western carpark(PDF, 243KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 6	1 night

You can also stay in the areas for non self-contained camping, but you must comply with all site restrictions.

You can stay for a maximum of three nights in any other of Council's public places, except for the prohibited areas. Once you have reached the limit of your stay, you must move at least one kilometre away for your next stay and not return for at least four weeks.

Your self-containment certificate allows you to stay ‘off the beaten track’, and we encourage this.

Please empty your holding tanks at one of the dump stations available.

Camping locations for a non-self contained vehicle

If you are camping in a vehicle or a caravan that is not certified as self-contained, you may camp at the locations below.

Location	Number of spaces	Max Stay
A H Reed Memorial Park - Whareora Road(PDF, 339KB)	2 marked sites	1 night
Bascule carpark - Port Road(PDF, 337KB)	8 marked sites (4 for large, wide vans, 4 for small vans)	3 nights
Kowharewa Bay(PDF, 313KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 4	1 night
Manaia Walkway carpark - Whangārei Heads(PDF, 311KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - 2 to 3	1 night
Marsden Bay Reserve(PDF, 304KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 8 to 10	1 night
Matapōuri - Wehiwehi Road(PDF, 310KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 4	1 night
Ngunguru Library - Ngunguru Road(PDF, 316KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site	1 night
Ocean Beach carpark(PDF, 378KB) Grass overflow carpark is permanently closed for camping.	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 4	1 night
One Tree Point - boatramp carpark(PDF, 313KB)	4 sites	1 night
Parua Bay(PDF, 232KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 15	3 nights
Reotahi(PDF, 243KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - up to 3	1 night
Sandy Bay(PDF, 214KB) (toilet block carpark / grass area)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 4	1 night
Tamaterau(PDF, 274KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - 2 to 3	1 night
Tarewa i-Site - Tarewa Road(PDF, 534KB)	6 marked sites for small vehicles	1 night
Waipū Caves(PDF, 198KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - many	1 night
Wellingtons Bay - Whangaumu Reserve(PDF, 263KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 4	1 night
Woolleys Bay - western carpark(PDF, 243KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 6	1 night

Camping locations for people in a tent

There are five areas you can camp in a tent on public land.

Location	Number of spaces	Max Stay
Parua Bay(PDF, 232KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 15	3 nights
Reotahi(PDF, 243KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - up to 3	1 night
Sandy Bay(PDF, 214KB) (toilet block carpark / grass area)	As many as can fit safely into the site - around 4	1 night
Tamaterau(PDF, 274KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - 4 to 5	1 night
Waipū Caves(PDF, 198KB)	As many as can fit safely into the site - many	1 night

No camping areas

No one can camp in the following areas:

Coastal

Bland Bay Reserve(PDF, 239KB)

Helena Bay(PDF, 267KB)

Langs Beach - Cove Road beach access and carpark area(PDF, 287KB)

Marsden Point Wharf(PDF, 246KB)

Matapōuri – Morrison Road carpark(PDF, 323KB)

McAuslin Road, Matapōuri(PDF, 277KB)

Mcleod Bay - playground and reserve(PDF, 270KB)

Mcleod Bay - Stuart Road, all road reserve(PDF, 226KB)

Moureeses Bay(PDF, 258KB)

Ngunguru School(PDF, 245KB)

Ocean Beach - grass overflow carpark(PDF, 378KB)

One Tree Point Road layby(PDF, 296KB)

Otamure Bay(PDF, 223KB)

Pātaua South(PDF, 244KB)

Portland sportspark(PDF, 229KB)

Ruakākā - Princes Road Reserve(PDF, 240KB)

Ruakākā Recreation Grounds(PDF, 326KB)

Taiharuru(PDF, 227KB)

Teal Bay and Ngawai Bay(PDF, 235KB) (Teal Bay Recreation Reserve)

Tutukākā Marina Reserve(PDF, 443KB)

Urquharts Bay(PDF, 298KB)

Whananaki - Mangaiti Reserve(PDF, 341KB)

Whangaumu Reserve west(PDF, 298KB) (22 Whangaumu Street)

Woolleys Bay - eastern carpark(PDF, 259KB)

Urban / Rural

Abbey Caves - new carpark(PDF, 404KB)

Drummond Park Scenic Reserve(PDF, 462KB) (Parihaka lookout carpark)

Eliott Reserve(PDF, 614KB)

Finlayson Street / Reyburn House Lane carpark(PDF, 571KB)

Herekino Street service lane and carpark(PDF, 628KB) (behind 4-22 Herekino Street)

Hikurangi sportspark(PDF, 318KB)

Hora Hora sportspark(PDF, 508KB)

Kamo sportspark(PDF, 605KB)

Kensington Park(PDF, 1MB)

Koropupu Community sportspark(PDF, 780KB) (Springs Flat)

Mander Park(PDF, 628KB)

Morningside sportspark(PDF, 588KB)

Onerahi Beach Reserve(PDF, 467KB) (between Cliff Street and Johnson Street)

Otaika sportspark(PDF, 440KB)

Otangarei No. 1 Reserve(PDF, 618KB)

Otangarei sportspark(PDF, 842KB)

Port Road - service lane and carpark area(PDF, 418KB) (behind 11-67 Port Road)

Takahiwai sportspark(PDF, 218KB)

Whau Valley Dam(PDF, 268KB)

William Fraser Memorial Park on Pohe Island(PDF, 945KB)

Public and commercial campgrounds

For more information on campgrounds in our District, please visit our whangareinz website.

Whangārei District: Love it Here! (whangareinz.com)

For information on Department of Conservation (DOC) campgrounds visit their website.

Department of Conservation (doc.govt.nz)

You can also obtain a weekly campsite pass from the Department of Conservation, where you can save up to 50% on many of DOC's campsites.

Department of Conservation weekly campsite pass (doc.govt.nz)

You can find out more at our visitor information centre:

Whangarei isite (whangareinz.com)

Tips and notices for all campers

Keep your campsite clean and tidy - leave no sign of your stay when you leave.
Collect your rubbish and recycling then use a transfer station or dump station to dispose of it.
Care for the environment, wildlife and public facilities such as toilets, signs and fences.
Confirm that you are allowed to camp in your spot - from a freedom camping ambassador, an iSite or from the maps displayed:
- in each of the camping location drop-downs on this page
- in our online GIS map
  Freedom Camping maps (gismaps.wdc.govt.nz)
- on a sign at the site.
Consider other people nearby – share the space, keep noise to a minimum.

Freedom camping versus homelessness

People may sleep in vehicles for different reasons.

Some are genuine freedom campers travelling for recreation in purpose-built motorhomes, campervans, or caravans. Others may be sleeping in a car, van, or ute because they do not have stable housing.

Freedom camping rules apply only to recreational camping, typically in self-contained motorhomes, campervans, or similar vehicles.

If someone appears to be living in a vehicle long-term or is using a vehicle not typically used for recreational camping (such as a standard car, ute or van), this is usually a homelessness or welfare-related matter, not a freedom camping issue.

If you believe a person is not a genuine freedom camper and may be living in a vehicle semi-permanently, or is rough sleeping (for example, in a tent), please report this under the ‘Homelessness’ category rather than Freedom Camping.