As we know that one of the biggest concerns of a backpacker in New Zealand is to find the places to park with the van, we have created a list with the “campsites” where you can park and sleep for free and legal with a van in New Zealand, with a description of our opinion of each one.
Here goes the second part: Center and South of the North Island.
Kaiaua Boat Club:
A good place to spend a night. Facing the sea and with a beautiful sunrise. The worst thing is that the town has nothing and the nearest library is in Thames or Ngatea. There are construction bathrooms open 24 hours.
Ngatea:
You can spend the night behind the library but only from Friday to Sunday. There are some bathrooms that speak to you very clean. The best thing is that they leave the wifi in the active library (closed on weekends). Next to it there are some sports fields where in the morning there are hockey and basketball competitions. A quiet place but without charm.
Karangahake Recreation Reserve:
Spectacular site next to a river, from where several walks leave to know the area of the gorges and the remains of mining operations. You can sleep but a parking limit, so in high season do not come too late. The bathrooms are very clean and open 24 hours. Recommended site (although cold).
Waihi beach:
In reality it is not allowed for “non self contained”, but we also sleep a few nights. Maybe in the summer season they control more, we had no problem. The site is very cool, with a spectacular black sand beach and very wild. It is a parking lot next to some construction bathrooms open 24 hours. There is a Spark cabin from which you can take a signal from the same parking lot and some Convenience Store nearby. It is located about 10 km from the town of Waihi.
Park in Ngaruawahia:
A very beautiful park, overlooking two rivers and bathrooms that close at night (of those who speak to you). There is a free electric barbecue. The village library is open from L-V. In the town you can also find supermarkets and some cheap fish & chips. Recommendable.
Mount Maunganui:
Behind some bathrooms open 24 hours. Next to the Police. It is advisable to ask if you can stay there any night. We did not even do it for fear of NO. We stayed 4 nights, on the way down and 2 on the way up. There is Spark connection point. Very comfortable and refugee site. In addition the city is very cool! Be careful to go in high season, because surely you are more controlled.
Whakamaru:
Beautiful place in the middle of a forest and next to the Waikato river where a lake is created. Good place to fish. Something cold and somewhat insecure, but incredible place. There are 24-hour “non flush” bathrooms but clean. There is no running water. We had to get here after checking that Matamata was impossible.
On the shore of Taupo Lake:
It is a parking lot by the lake with a bath of those super cutres non flush (quite dirty). But the site is spectacular, stunning views of the lake. You can sleep peacefully.
Tokaanu Bay:
Parking for people with recreational boats. There are several bathrooms 24 hours in a building (flush) and drinking water. The site is quiet and recommended, where you can relax with a book, feed the black swans, etc. It is about 10 km from Turangi, where there is New World, library and the i-Site where to ask about the trekking for Tongariro. Good place to spend some night, also if you plan to do the trekking (although there is a nearby parking lot).
Virginia Lake, Whanganui:
Park parking next to the main road. It has bathrooms that close at night (open at 07) and the place is very beautiful, with lots of ducks, an aviary and beautiful walks. The city is very big and with all kinds of businesses (pizza hut !!!) and a very cool library open every day. Near it there are some museums and other points of interest.
Marine Reserve, Wellington:
There is a construction bathroom, which closes at night, with a cold shower. The site is highly recommended, with spectacular views and not far from the city.
This is the map
If you want you can see PART I of this article.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE GENERAL SUMMARY OF NEW ZEALAND CLICK HERE
