We have a variety of paid and non-paid camping opportunities in the Whakatāne District - the choice is yours. We just ask you to treat the environment, residents and fellow visitors with consideration and respect.

Camping in public places

We are lucky to live in a very special environment. Although we are freedom camping-friendly, we need to balance this with protecting our environment. Camping regulations apply to all public areas that the Whakatāne District Council owns or manages and visitors to the District are asked to comply with those regulations. In most public places, overnight parking is only allowed in self-contained vehicles.

Some areas around the Whakatāne District need protecting, and all camping is therefore prohibited in those areas Camping in other areas is restricted and subject to specific conditions. All prohibited and restricted areas are clearly signposted. These areas will be monitored.

If you stay in a restricted area, these conditions apply:

• Vehicles must display evidence of a current self-containment certificate
• Vehicles must be parked only in the designated areas
• Stays in any one location are for a maximum of two consecutive nights

If you are unsure whether a rental vehicle complies as self-contained, ask your rental company. For other campers, anyone registered under the Plumber, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 1976 is eligible to certify compliance with NZS 5465. For local details, contact caravan or motorhome dealers or local branches of the NZMCA.

Overnight parking rubbish

We aim to keep our overnight parking areas as clean as possible for everyone to enjoy. You can help by managing your rubbish and recycling. While there are bins at our overnight parking areas, they are for litter only. If large amounts of rubbish or big items are put in these bins, they will fill up and no-one will be able to use them.

Find out more about managing your rubbish and recycling - (PDF, 175 KB)

Where can I camp in the Whakatāne District?

Camping grounds

There are many paid camping grounds within the District, most with full facilities.

Camping in the Whakatāne District

Permitted areas

Camping in tents and certified or non-certified vehicles is permitted at Aniwhenua Reserve, Galatea (near Murupara). Conditions applying to this site are:

• A maximum stay of seven nights in any four-week period
• Depositing of litter is prohibited (refuse transfer station available in Murupara - open Monday to Friday, 7 am - 9 am and 3 pm - 5:30 pm; Saturday 10 am - 5:30 pm)
• Camping sites must be left in a clean and tidy condition - please take all rubbish with you
• Campers must follow any direction(s) issued by an authorised officer

For other public places that Whakatāne District Council owns or manages, camping in certified self-contained vehicles is permitted, subject to any other conditions that may apply.

Restricted areas

Certified self-contained freedom camping is permitted in four designated areas:

• McAlister Street Car park
• Maraetotara Reserve
• Port Ōhope Boat Ramp
• West End Car Park (camping at West End car park is prohibited from the beginning of the third week of December until 31 March).

These restricted areas are subject to the following conditions:

• Vehicles must display a current self-containment certificate
• Vehicles may only be parked in designated camping areas
• A maximum stay of two consecutive nights in any one location

Prohibited areas for overnight parking

Overnight parking is prohibited in the following areas. These areas will be monitored.

Whakatāne

• Muriwai Drive
• Kōhī Point Scenic Reserve

Ōhope

• Mahy Reserve
• Wharekura East Reserve
• Ocean Beach Park, 243 Pohutukawa and Otao North Reserves
• Goodwins Landing
• Uretara East and West
• Otao South Reserve
• Ōhiwa Harbour Wharf car park

Otakiri

• Braemar Springs (Wairere‐a‐tu), Otakiri

Thornton / Matatā

• Western Coastal Recreation Reserve (excluding No.2 carpark)

More information

For more information on camping in public places in the Whakatāne District, please contact Whakatāne District Council or the Whakatāne Information Centre.

Whakatāne District Council

• 07 306 0500
• info@whakatane.govt.nz

Whakatāne Visitor Centre

• Contact the i-SITE via their website »
• 07 306 2030
• 0800 942 528
• whakataneinfo@whakatane.govt.nz