DOC campsites we route motorhomes through
Basic, low-cost, scenic. Site-by-site notes on access, vehicle suitability, and the best regions for each.
The Department of Conservation runs roughly 250 campsites across New Zealand — from simple roadside pull-ins to serviced sites with flush toilets and cold showers. The selection below is the subset we actually route motorhome travellers through, organised by region so you can see what's close to your planned stops.
Auckland
DOC SITE Waikawau Bay (Coromandel) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Northern Coromandel DOC beach campground, surf-clean east coast, busy Christmas/NY. What the Waikawau Bay (Coromandel) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the auckland region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Port Jackson (Coromandel tip) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
End-of-road Coromandel DOC site, 30 km gravel, no power, sea views. What the Port Jackson (Coromandel tip) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the auckland region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Opoutere (Coromandel) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Estuary-side DOC + holiday park, dotterel nesting beach, family favourite. What the Opoutere (Coromandel) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the auckland region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Piha Beach campground DOC campsite — motorhome guide
West-coast Auckland surf beach, gated DOC, no campervan turnaround for big rigs, summer waitlist. What the Piha Beach campground DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the auckland region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Kennedy Bay (Coromandel) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Quiet east-coast Coromandel DOC bay, gravel access road, no facilities beyond toilet. What the Kennedy Bay (Coromandel) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the auckland region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Hot Water Beach area DOC DOC campsite — motorhome guide
DOC options near Hot Water Beach — beach access at low tide for hot springs. What the Hot Water Beach area DOC DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the auckland region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Ngarunui / Raglan-area DOC DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Waikato West coast — Raglan-area DOC + freedom-camp sites, surf zone. What the Ngarunui / Raglan-area DOC DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the auckland region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Waipu Cove (Northland) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Northland surf-beach DOC + camp, 1.5 hr north of Auckland, summer busy. What the Waipu Cove (Northland) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the bay-of-islands region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Uretiti Beach (Northland) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
DOC beach campground south of Whangarei, 4 km of dunes, summer hot. What the Uretiti Beach (Northland) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the bay-of-islands region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Cape Reinga / Tapotupotu DOC campsite — motorhome guide
End-of-NZ DOC sites — Tapotupotu Bay closest to Cape Reinga, gravel road, no power. What the Cape Reinga / Tapotupotu DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the bay-of-islands region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Ninety Mile Beach campsites DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Far North dune-side DOC options — Te Paki stream entry, freedom-camp limits apply outside DOC. What the Ninety Mile Beach campsites DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the bay-of-islands region page and the route that passes through.
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Milford Sound
DOC SITE Milford Sound area DOC DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Hollyford Valley + Cascade Creek + Lower Hollyford — Milford-Road DOC sites for overnighting before the Sound. What the Milford Sound area DOC DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the milford-sound region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Manapouri / Te Anau DOC DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Fiordland gateway DOC options — Henry Creek, Te Anau Downs. What the Manapouri / Te Anau DOC DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the milford-sound region page and the route that passes through.
See the siteMount Cook / Aoraki
DOC SITE White Horse Hill (Aoraki) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Aoraki Mt Cook valley DOC site — Hooker Valley track start, alpine, no power, often snowed-in winter. What the White Horse Hill (Aoraki) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the mount-cook region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Lake Pukaki / Glentanner DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Lakeshore DOC + private adjacent — turquoise lake, Aoraki views, no shade, 50 km from Mt Cook village. What the Lake Pukaki / Glentanner DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the mount-cook region page and the route that passes through.
See the siteNelson
DOC SITE Anchorage Bay (Abel Tasman) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Abel Tasman National Park boat-in/walk-in DOC site, golden sand beach, books out 4-6 months ahead. What the Anchorage Bay (Abel Tasman) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the nelson region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Totaranui DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Far north end of Abel Tasman — drivable on 12 km of gravel, 850 sites, summer crowd magnet, ballot-booked Dec-Feb. What the Totaranui DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the nelson region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Cobb Valley (Kahurangi) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Kahurangi National Park alpine DOC site, gravel road, Mt Arthur trailhead. What the Cobb Valley (Kahurangi) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the nelson region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Wharariki Beach / Puponga DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Top of South Island DOC + farm camp, seal colony, wind-swept beach, no fees most of year. What the Wharariki Beach / Puponga DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the nelson region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Collingwood-area DOC sites DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Golden Bay DOC sites near Collingwood — Pakawau, Tukurua, low-cost beach side. What the Collingwood-area DOC sites DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the nelson region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Flora Saddle (Kahurangi) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Kahurangi National Park trailhead DOC, gravel road, no facilities, alpine. What the Flora Saddle (Kahurangi) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the nelson region page and the route that passes through.
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Queenstown
DOC SITE Mavora Lakes DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Southland DOC campsite 2 hours from Te Anau, gravel access, lakeside lord-of-the-rings filming location, basic facilities, busy Dec-Feb. What the Mavora Lakes DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the queenstown region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Kinloch (Glenorchy) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Lake Wakatipu DOC + holiday park, Routeburn track start, gravel approach. What the Kinloch (Glenorchy) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the queenstown region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Paradise (Glenorchy) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
End-of-road DOC bush camp near Glenorchy, Dart River start. What the Paradise (Glenorchy) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the queenstown region page and the route that passes through.
See the siteWanaka
DOC SITE Makarora DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Wanaka-Haast corridor DOC + private — Blue Pools trail, Mt Aspiring access. What the Makarora DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the wanaka region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Glendhu Bay (Wanaka) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Lake Wanaka shore DOC + holiday park, 12 km from Wanaka township, summer busy. What the Glendhu Bay (Wanaka) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the wanaka region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Mt Aspiring DOC flats DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Wanaka backcountry DOC flats — Aspiring Flat, Raspberry Creek — gravel access. What the Mt Aspiring DOC flats DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the wanaka region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Punakaiki area DOC DOC campsite — motorhome guide
West Coast pancake-rocks zone — Punakaiki Beach Camp + nearby DOC sites, sea-cliff views. What the Punakaiki area DOC DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the west-coast region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Okarito (West Coast) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Glacier-region lagoon DOC site, kiwi-spotting, between Franz Josef and Fox. What the Okarito (West Coast) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the west-coast region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Gillespies Beach (Fox) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
End-of-road West Coast DOC beach near Fox Glacier — seal colony, no facilities, gravel. What the Gillespies Beach (Fox) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the west-coast region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Lake Paringa (West Coast) DOC campsite — motorhome guide
Bush-clad lakeside DOC site between Fox Glacier and Haast Pass, no power. What the Lake Paringa (West Coast) DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the west-coast region page and the route that passes through.
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DOC SITE Haast Pass DOC sites DOC campsite — motorhome guide
DOC options along SH6 over Haast — Cameron Flat, Pleasant Flat, fast overnight stops. What the Haast Pass DOC sites DOC site is like; getting there (road type, drive time from nearest depot); facilities (toilet only / basic / mid); booking rules (first-come vs ballot); seasonal closures; which motorhome sizes fit (2/4/6 berth, length limits); nearby alternatives if full; linking back to the west-coast region page and the route that passes through.
See the siteThe other half of the picture
Most travellers mix DOC with holiday parks — DOC for the views, holiday parks for the long shower and laundry.
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