Our top five Kiwi campgrounds this summer
Camping is a fantastic way to travel on a budget, experiencing a range of locations at a reasonable price. New Zealand has a brilliant range of campsites up and down the country, so you can head to the beach, the forest or the lakes.
Make a booking at one of these five top-rated Kiwi campgrounds. Take a campervan, tow a caravan, or pack up your tent and your burner stove – and don’t forget to fill up your bottled LPG before you set off!
Driftaway Queenstown
- Ranked #2 on TripAdvisor for best value
- Ranked #2 on TripAdvisor by overall traveller rankings – 5*
- Rated 4.9* on Google Reviews
Opened in 2022, Driftway is located on Frankton Beach, with stunning views of of Lake Wakatipu and just 6km from the centre of Queenstown. The camp facility is well-equipped, there’s a kids play area, and if you want to use the hot tubs, book ahead because they’re extremely popular. And of course there’s no shortage of activities nearby, from adrenalin-filled bungy jumping to something more relaxing like cruising Doubtful Sound.
Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, Whitianga
- Ranked #1 on TripAdvisor for best value
- Rated 4.6* on Google Reviews
- Featured in Stuff’s ‘10 of New Zealand’s best campgrounds’
Located a short walk from Hot Water Beach, this family-owned holiday park has year-round heated pools, an impressive array of shared facilities, and activities for the whole family. There are nine different accommodation options and you can even bring your dog (for the majority of the year). And you can dig yourself a hot tub at the world-famous beach to enjoy the naturally-heated mineral waters that bubble up through the sand.
Fitzroy Beach Holiday Park, New Plymouth
- #1 reader choice in the NZ Herald’s ‘Best of Summer’ campground vote
- Rated 4.6* on Google Reviews
Swim, surf or walk along Fitzroy Beach when you stay at New Plymouth’s only beachfront campsite. Camping, glamping and a range of cabins provide options for most budgets, and the facilities are clean, modern and well maintained. The park is right next to the Coastal Walkway, an award-winning 13.2km path from Pioneer Park to Bell Block Beach – well worth a wander.
Camp Waipu Cove, Waipu
- Ranked #1 on TripAdvisor by overall traveller rankings – 5*
- Rated 4.7* on Google Reviews
Around 90 minutes north of Auckland, Camp Waipu Cove is a not-for-profit campground located right on the beach. Activities include surfing, birdwatching, diving, fishing and even dolphin-spotting in Bream Bay. There are three large amenities blocks, a tennis court, a jumping pillow and two playgrounds nearby. Bookings at peak summer periods are very scarce, so plan ahead! Waipu Village is a 10-minute drive away and has regular markets.
TECT Park, Western Bay of Plenty
- Rated 4.9* on Google Reviews
This remote 1650 hectare park is located between Tauranga and Rotorua, and provides a real off-grid experience. You can camp here, making use of the KiwiCamp facilities, which include showers, some electricity, public toilets and laundry – you’ll need to purchase a digital key before you go. At TECT Park, there are walks, a high-wire adventure course, sport shooting, and motorsport.
Collingwood Holiday Park
- Ranked #6 on TripAdvisor by overall traveller rankings – 4.5*
- Rated 4.8* on Google Reviews
A self-described “rustic Kiwi camping experience”, Collingwood Holiday Park is right on the waterfront at Golden Bay, in the Tasman District. It’s perfect for kids, and outside the busy periods it even welcomes pets in some of its accommodation options. Use Collingwood as your gateway to the Kahurangi National Park – explore the bird sanctuary at the Farewell Spit, see the Rawhiti Caves or walk the Heaphy Track. There’s myriad outdoor activities and fantastic art galleries.
*Note: Rankings as at 5 November 2024, subject to change.