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Camping in the Coromandel, New Zealand, is one of the easiest three-day campervan from Auckland. Ninety minutes to the coast, then a loop of beaches, bush tracks and hot pools you can visit without rushing it. The catch is that freedom camping in the Coromandel is tighter than most people expect, and the two spots that you think you can sleep at do not allow you to. We have driven this loop plenty of times. Here's a 3-day itinerary that will let you enjoy the best camping spots in the Coromandel, while still all within council rules. |
Quick SummaryFreedom camping in the Coromandel is allowed only in a certified self-contained vehicle. There are only 25 areas the Thames-Coromandel District Council has designated. You're allowed to stay only between 5pm and 9am, with your vehicle gone by 9am. The council's Freedom Camping Bylaw 2022 also prohibits it outright in 84 named areas, including all of the Hāhei settlement and all of Hot Water Beach. If you plan to add these places to your itinerary, you need to consider staying in a holiday park nearby. Most designated sites in TCDC impose a limit on the number of campers who can stay at a time. There are even places where only two vehicles are allowed, and it's even on a first-come, first-served basis with no option to book ahead. So how do you plan your trip around this area? Sleep at Waiomu on the Thames Coast, Kapanga Road in Coromandel Town, Lee Street in Whitianga, Coroglen Reserve on State Highway 25, and Paku Drive in Tairua. That covers a three-day loop from Auckland with worry-free sleeping places for two nights. |
Where You Can Legally Freedom Camp in the CoromandelFreedom camping Coromandel rules are strictly enforced, with 25 council areas allowing it and 84 prohibiting it throughout. And there's a good reason for that. The Coromandel is closest to Auckland as a holiday destination, making it highly sought after for those who would like to experience the place in a campervan. The Freedom Camping Act 2011 lets councils determine where you can stay overnight, while TCDC's Freedom Camping Bylaw 2022 spells out the details of your stay if you intend to freedom camp. There are three specific rules that apply:
Some sites have additional rules on top of these. Woollams Avenue in Coromandel Town allows one night, not two, and runs 5pm to 8am. The Monk Street spaces in Whitianga are also 5pm to 8am. Pay attention to designated parking. Parking anywhere else, even if it is empty and spacious, will land you a ticket. Having a certified self-contained campervan is the key for accessing and enjoying these places. It means your vehicle is duly certified as having a fixed toilet, fresh water, waste water storage and a rubbish bin on board. A portable toilet no longer counts, and merely relying on public toilets does not make a van compliant. Without the certificate, you are limited to holiday parks and camping grounds. If you are still working out what the certification actually covers you for, our guide to self-contained versus non-self-contained campervans gives you a closer look. Vehicle caps are the thing that catches people the most in this area. Some freedom camping Coromandel spots take just two vans, including Beach Road in Whangamatā and Tui Terrace in Tairua. Coroglen takes five. Be sure to arrive early since they're on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive later at 8pm on a January evening, and you'll miss out on the good spots. So what does a 3-day itinerary look like in the TCDC? Here's what works based on our travels. |
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Day 1: Auckland to the Thames CoastFreedom camping at Waiomu is the first option worth stopping for. It takes about 15 minutes north of Thames on the Thames Coast Road. Auckland to Thames is roughly 115km and takes around 90 minutes, which makes this an easy afternoon pickup and drive. Be sure to stop in Thames for supplies. This is the last proper supermarket town before the coast road narrows. From there, State Highway 25 runs north with the Firth of Thames on your left and bush-covered hills on your right. Park in the north-western corner of the car parking area at Waiomu Domain, which is the designated place. It features a beachfront reserve - a perfect place to take a swim before dinner if the tide is just right. If it is full, there are other alternatives in the area. Danby Field car park, which is the biggest designated site in the district, offers 20 spaces for self-contained vehicles (with green warrants). |
Day 2: Coromandel Town to WhitiangaThames to Coromandel Town is about 55km on the coastal road, roughly an hour of slow, scenic driving. And just a five-minute walk from the centre of Coromandel Town is the Kapanga Road car park. It offers six freedom camping spaces for self-contained vehicles. Coromandel Town is small, but offers plenty of features you'll not find anywhere else. Their smoked mussels are a must-try, as are their cafes and the Driving Creek Railway up the hill. If Kapanga Road is full, the Woollams Avenue car park has four spaces to offer. But take note that they will only allow you to stay for a night, and you have to leave by 8am. The Coromandel Shelly Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park is the paid fallback just north of town if both these freedom camping spots are full. Moving on from there, you have two ways east. State Highway 25 loops north through Kūaotunu and runs about 90 minutes to Whitianga. The 309 Road cuts straight across and is shorter, but check the surface before you commit in a longer van. Matarangi freedom camping is worth a try if you're on the northern route. If you plan to camp in the area, then your only option for free camping is the Omara Reserve, which takes in five vehicles. The Pines and the Village Green are all prohibited, even though they look inviting to stay at overnight. Frankly, freedom camping in Whitianga is the most accessible on the peninsula. The Lee Street car park has eight marked spaces at the western end, making it the largest site to offer freedom camping in the area. There are also four more freedom camping spots that you can find behind the council office on Monk Street. |
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Day 3: Hahei, Hot Water Beach and TairuaTravelling from Whitianga to Hahei covers 35km, and reaching the Coroglen Reserve is one of the highlights of this 3-day trip. Located on State Highway 25 near number 1909, the reserve takes five vehicles and sits within about 20 minutes of both Hahei and Hot Water Beach. Once in Hahei, you can park for free at the Hahei Visitor Carpark on Pa Road. From there, take the shuttle that runs about $8 return to the Grange Road entrance for the Mautohe Cathedral Cove track. Allow around 90 minutes to explore and appreciate the place. But note that the old Hahei Beach to Grange Road walk is now closed for good. The land is unstable there; avoid passing this area. Hot Water Beach is 10 minutes on from Hahei. Here you can dig your own hot pool within a couple of hours either side of low tide. You can hire a spade locally, and often a better option than bringing your own. Be sure to check the tide charts before you drive over. To cap your trip, be sure to see Tairua. Tangimoana Esplanade on Paku Drive has five marked spaces opposite number 44, and Tui Terrace has two more. Climb Mount Paku before dinner for a spectacular view of the harbour. Tairua back to Auckland is around 180km, so be sure you're in top shape before you run it home the next morning. Our Tairua to Thames itinerary covers the same loop in the opposite direction if you would rather start from the southern end. |
Can You Freedom Camp at Hahei or Hot Water Beach?It's a clear no. Freedom camping at Hot Water Beach and at Hāhei is absolutely prohibited under Schedule 1 of the bylaw. At Hāhei, the ban covers every road reserve in the village, including Jackson Place, Orchard Road, the beach itself, Grange Road and Pa Road, plus the Pa Road car park and every council reserve. At Hot Water Beach, it includes Hot Water Beach Road, Pye Place, Radar Road, the Pye Place car park, and the Te Puia, Taiwawe Stream, Hot Water Beach and Hot Water Beach Esplanade reserves. There are no designated areas in either area, so be sure to keep this in mind to avoid being fined later on. You can still park for free at the Hahei Visitor Carpark during the day. You just cannot sleep there. Your options are to sleep at Coroglen, 20 minutes away, or book a powered site. The Hot Water Beach and Hahei holiday parks both take campervans and put you within walking distance of the beach. Expect to spend around NZD $70 to $110 a night for two, which is worth it, for a proper shower and laundry within this 3-day trip. |
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Frequently Asked QuestionsWhere can you freedom camp in Coromandel?Across 25 council-designated areas, in a certified self-contained vehicle, and between 5pm and 9am only. The most ideal for a three-day loop are Waiomu Domain on the Thames Coast, Kapanga Road and Woollams Avenue in Coromandel Town, Omara Reserve at Matarangi, Lee Street and Monk Street in Whitianga, Coroglen Reserve on State Highway 25, and Paku Drive and Tui Terrace in Tairua. Are there free campervan sites in Coromandel?Free camping in the Coromandel is limited to the ones we mentioned earlier. They take no bookings and charge no fee. Understandably, they run on a first-come, first-served basis, with a cap on the number of vehicles that can stay. Be sure to arrive before dark if you're visiting in summer. Free camping is only allowed in a certified self-contained van with a green warrant. Everything else on the peninsula is a paid holiday park or a DOC campsite. Where is the best place to stay on the Coromandel Peninsula?It depends on where you're coming from. Whitianga freedom camping offers more options to stay, with supermarkets and cafes that are accessible. Coromandel Town suits a quieter first night. Tairua works best as a last stop before the drive back to Auckland. Is there a campground near Hot Water Beach?Yes. Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park is located on Hot Water Beach Road within walking distance of the hot pools. Tasman Holiday Parks at Hahei Beach is about 10 minutes away. Both take campervans. You cannot freedom camp anywhere in either settlement, so a holiday park or Coroglen Reserve are the two best options. Do you have to pay for parking at Hot Water Beach?Yes. The main car park at Hot Water Beach charges for daytime parking. It is also a prohibited area under council bylaw. Paying to park during the day does not permit you to stay overnight. Where can I find a map of freedom camping in the Coromandel district?Schedule 3 of the council's bylaw has maps of every prohibited and restricted area, grouped by community board area: Coromandel-Colville, Mercury Bay, Tairua-Pāuanui, Thames and Whangamatā. Be sure to download the map of the area before you leave Auckland. Cell signal and coverage on the peninsula can be a bit patchy. Note that the maps are for reference only. Where a map and the written schedules disagree, the schedules win. |
ReferencesDepartment of Conservation. (n.d.). Mautohe Cathedral Cove Track: Hahei area, Coromandel. https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/coromandel/places/hahei-area/tracks/mautohe-cathedral-cove-walk/ Thames-Coromandel District Council. (2022). Freedom Camping Bylaw/Te Ture ā-rohe mō te Puni Mataraharaha ki rō waka. https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/Our-Council/Bylaws-Codes-and-Policies/Bylaws/Freedom-Camping-Bylaw-2022 |
Plan Your Freedom Camping Coromandel Loop
The Coromandel rewards travellers who read the signs and turn up early.
Get the sites right, and you sleep beside the waters, three nights running, 90 minutes from Auckland.
Every Big Little Campers van is certified self-contained, which is your key to getting access to these locations. The Little One is the easiest of the three to slot into the small car parks the bylaw designates.
Have a look at the fleet, or get in touch and we will help you pick the right van and sort your route before you go.
|
Camping in the Coromandel, New Zealand, is one of the easiest three-day campervan from Auckland. Ninety minutes to the coast, then a loop of beaches, bush tracks and hot pools you can visit without rushing it. The catch is that freedom camping in the Coromandel is tighter than most people expect, and the two spots that you think you can sleep at do not allow you to. We have driven this loop plenty of times. Here's a 3-day itinerary that will let you enjoy the best camping spots in the Coromandel, while still all within council rules. |
Quick SummaryFreedom camping in the Coromandel is allowed only in a certified self-contained vehicle. There are only 25 areas the Thames-Coromandel District Council has designated. You're allowed to stay only between 5pm and 9am, with your vehicle gone by 9am. The council's Freedom Camping Bylaw 2022 also prohibits it outright in 84 named areas, including all of the Hāhei settlement and all of Hot Water Beach. If you plan to add these places to your itinerary, you need to consider staying in a holiday park nearby. Most designated sites in TCDC impose a limit on the number of campers who can stay at a time. There are even places where only two vehicles are allowed, and it's even on a first-come, first-served basis with no option to book ahead. So how do you plan your trip around this area? Sleep at Waiomu on the Thames Coast, Kapanga Road in Coromandel Town, Lee Street in Whitianga, Coroglen Reserve on State Highway 25, and Paku Drive in Tairua. That covers a three-day loop from Auckland with worry-free sleeping places for two nights. |
Where You Can Legally Freedom Camp in the CoromandelFreedom camping Coromandel rules are strictly enforced, with 25 council areas allowing it and 84 prohibiting it throughout. And there's a good reason for that. The Coromandel is closest to Auckland as a holiday destination, making it highly sought after for those who would like to experience the place in a campervan. The Freedom Camping Act 2011 lets councils determine where you can stay overnight, while TCDC's Freedom Camping Bylaw 2022 spells out the details of your stay if you intend to freedom camp. There are three specific rules that apply:
Some sites have additional rules on top of these. Woollams Avenue in Coromandel Town allows one night, not two, and runs 5pm to 8am. The Monk Street spaces in Whitianga are also 5pm to 8am. Pay attention to designated parking. Parking anywhere else, even if it is empty and spacious, will land you a ticket. Having a certified self-contained campervan is the key for accessing and enjoying these places. It means your vehicle is duly certified as having a fixed toilet, fresh water, waste water storage and a rubbish bin on board. A portable toilet no longer counts, and merely relying on public toilets does not make a van compliant. Without the certificate, you are limited to holiday parks and camping grounds. If you are still working out what the certification actually covers you for, our guide to self-contained versus non-self-contained campervans gives you a closer look. Vehicle caps are the thing that catches people the most in this area. Some freedom camping Coromandel spots take just two vans, including Beach Road in Whangamatā and Tui Terrace in Tairua. Coroglen takes five. Be sure to arrive early since they're on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive later at 8pm on a January evening, and you'll miss out on the good spots. So what does a 3-day itinerary look like in the TCDC? Here's what works based on our travels. |
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|
|
Day 1: Auckland to the Thames CoastFreedom camping at Waiomu is the first option worth stopping for. It takes about 15 minutes north of Thames on the Thames Coast Road. Auckland to Thames is roughly 115km and takes around 90 minutes, which makes this an easy afternoon pickup and drive. Be sure to stop in Thames for supplies. This is the last proper supermarket town before the coast road narrows. From there, State Highway 25 runs north with the Firth of Thames on your left and bush-covered hills on your right. Park in the north-western corner of the car parking area at Waiomu Domain, which is the designated place. It features a beachfront reserve - a perfect place to take a swim before dinner if the tide is just right. If it is full, there are other alternatives in the area. Danby Field car park, which is the biggest designated site in the district, offers 20 spaces for self-contained vehicles (with green warrants). |
Day 2: Coromandel Town to WhitiangaThames to Coromandel Town is about 55km on the coastal road, roughly an hour of slow, scenic driving. And just a five-minute walk from the centre of Coromandel Town is the Kapanga Road car park. It offers six freedom camping spaces for self-contained vehicles. Coromandel Town is small, but offers plenty of features you'll not find anywhere else. Their smoked mussels are a must-try, as are their cafes and the Driving Creek Railway up the hill. If Kapanga Road is full, the Woollams Avenue car park has four spaces to offer. But take note that they will only allow you to stay for a night, and you have to leave by 8am. The Coromandel Shelly Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park is the paid fallback just north of town if both these freedom camping spots are full. Moving on from there, you have two ways east. State Highway 25 loops north through Kūaotunu and runs about 90 minutes to Whitianga. The 309 Road cuts straight across and is shorter, but check the surface before you commit in a longer van. Matarangi freedom camping is worth a try if you're on the northern route. If you plan to camp in the area, then your only option for free camping is the Omara Reserve, which takes in five vehicles. The Pines and the Village Green are all prohibited, even though they look inviting to stay at overnight. Frankly, freedom camping in Whitianga is the most accessible on the peninsula. The Lee Street car park has eight marked spaces at the western end, making it the largest site to offer freedom camping in the area. There are also four more freedom camping spots that you can find behind the council office on Monk Street. |
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Day 3: Hahei, Hot Water Beach and TairuaTravelling from Whitianga to Hahei covers 35km, and reaching the Coroglen Reserve is one of the highlights of this 3-day trip. Located on State Highway 25 near number 1909, the reserve takes five vehicles and sits within about 20 minutes of both Hahei and Hot Water Beach. Once in Hahei, you can park for free at the Hahei Visitor Carpark on Pa Road. From there, take the shuttle that runs about $8 return to the Grange Road entrance for the Mautohe Cathedral Cove track. Allow around 90 minutes to explore and appreciate the place. But note that the old Hahei Beach to Grange Road walk is now closed for good. The land is unstable there; avoid passing this area. Hot Water Beach is 10 minutes on from Hahei. Here you can dig your own hot pool within a couple of hours either side of low tide. You can hire a spade locally, and often a better option than bringing your own. Be sure to check the tide charts before you drive over. To cap your trip, be sure to see Tairua. Tangimoana Esplanade on Paku Drive has five marked spaces opposite number 44, and Tui Terrace has two more. Climb Mount Paku before dinner for a spectacular view of the harbour. Tairua back to Auckland is around 180km, so be sure you're in top shape before you run it home the next morning. Our Tairua to Thames itinerary covers the same loop in the opposite direction if you would rather start from the southern end. |
Can You Freedom Camp at Hahei or Hot Water Beach?It's a clear no. Freedom camping at Hot Water Beach and at Hāhei is absolutely prohibited under Schedule 1 of the bylaw. At Hāhei, the ban covers every road reserve in the village, including Jackson Place, Orchard Road, the beach itself, Grange Road and Pa Road, plus the Pa Road car park and every council reserve. At Hot Water Beach, it includes Hot Water Beach Road, Pye Place, Radar Road, the Pye Place car park, and the Te Puia, Taiwawe Stream, Hot Water Beach and Hot Water Beach Esplanade reserves. There are no designated areas in either area, so be sure to keep this in mind to avoid being fined later on. You can still park for free at the Hahei Visitor Carpark during the day. You just cannot sleep there. Your options are to sleep at Coroglen, 20 minutes away, or book a powered site. The Hot Water Beach and Hahei holiday parks both take campervans and put you within walking distance of the beach. Expect to spend around NZD $70 to $110 a night for two, which is worth it, for a proper shower and laundry within this 3-day trip. |
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Frequently Asked QuestionsWhere can you freedom camp in Coromandel?Across 25 council-designated areas, in a certified self-contained vehicle, and between 5pm and 9am only. The most ideal for a three-day loop are Waiomu Domain on the Thames Coast, Kapanga Road and Woollams Avenue in Coromandel Town, Omara Reserve at Matarangi, Lee Street and Monk Street in Whitianga, Coroglen Reserve on State Highway 25, and Paku Drive and Tui Terrace in Tairua. Are there free campervan sites in Coromandel?Free camping in the Coromandel is limited to the ones we mentioned earlier. They take no bookings and charge no fee. Understandably, they run on a first-come, first-served basis, with a cap on the number of vehicles that can stay. Be sure to arrive before dark if you're visiting in summer. Free camping is only allowed in a certified self-contained van with a green warrant. Everything else on the peninsula is a paid holiday park or a DOC campsite. Where is the best place to stay on the Coromandel Peninsula?It depends on where you're coming from. Whitianga freedom camping offers more options to stay, with supermarkets and cafes that are accessible. Coromandel Town suits a quieter first night. Tairua works best as a last stop before the drive back to Auckland. Is there a campground near Hot Water Beach?Yes. Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park is located on Hot Water Beach Road within walking distance of the hot pools. Tasman Holiday Parks at Hahei Beach is about 10 minutes away. Both take campervans. You cannot freedom camp anywhere in either settlement, so a holiday park or Coroglen Reserve are the two best options. Do you have to pay for parking at Hot Water Beach?Yes. The main car park at Hot Water Beach charges for daytime parking. It is also a prohibited area under council bylaw. Paying to park during the day does not permit you to stay overnight. Where can I find a map of freedom camping in the Coromandel district?Schedule 3 of the council's bylaw has maps of every prohibited and restricted area, grouped by community board area: Coromandel-Colville, Mercury Bay, Tairua-Pāuanui, Thames and Whangamatā. Be sure to download the map of the area before you leave Auckland. Cell signal and coverage on the peninsula can be a bit patchy. Note that the maps are for reference only. Where a map and the written schedules disagree, the schedules win. |
ReferencesDepartment of Conservation. (n.d.). Mautohe Cathedral Cove Track: Hahei area, Coromandel. https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/coromandel/places/hahei-area/tracks/mautohe-cathedral-cove-walk/ Thames-Coromandel District Council. (2022). Freedom Camping Bylaw/Te Ture ā-rohe mō te Puni Mataraharaha ki rō waka. https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/Our-Council/Bylaws-Codes-and-Policies/Bylaws/Freedom-Camping-Bylaw-2022 |
Plan Your Freedom Camping Coromandel Loop
The Coromandel rewards travellers who read the signs and turn up early.
Get the sites right, and you sleep beside the waters, three nights running, 90 minutes from Auckland.
Every Big Little Campers van is certified self-contained, which is your key to getting access to these locations. The Little One is the easiest of the three to slot into the small car parks the bylaw designates.
Have a look at the fleet, or get in touch and we will help you pick the right van and sort your route before you go.
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