12 Great Auckland Camping Spots
You don’t have to travel far to find an epic camping spot near Auckland.
There are so many incredible campsites around the Auckland region, and in this guide, I’ll share my favourites with you!
I’m partial to camping by the beach, so the campsites in this guide favour heavily towards beachfront campgrounds (which are honestly not hard to find around Auckland—how can a city be surrounded by SO many incredible beaches?!).
Most of these campsites are suitable for both tents and campervans, and some even have camping cabins onsite.
Let’s get to it then—here are 12 of the best camping spots in the Auckland region!
Auckland Camping Map
Camping Grounds in Auckland
These are basic but beautiful campgrounds in Auckland’s regional parks. They’re perfect places for getting back into nature (my favourite kind of camping!).
You’ll find that these campsites are similar in feel to DOC Campgrounds, but are run by the Auckland City Council. You’ll need to set up an account online to book these spots through the council.
1. Tāwharanui Campground
🚙 Distance from Auckland city centre: 85 km / 1 hour 15 minutes
Tāwharanui Campground is my absolute favourite camping spot near Auckland.
Located within Tāwharanui Regional Park in the northern Auckland region, you’ll get to camp amongst a native bird sanctuary, with a gorgeous beach right at your doorstep.
Spend your days at the beach and go for one of the many beautiful walks in the park. And at night, you can try to spot a kiwi!
For walks, I particularly love the 3.4km Tāwharanui Ecology Path, which includes great views of the coastline before descending through a lush forest filled with birdsong.
This place is one of Auckland’s treasures, and I really can’t recommend it enough if you’re after a camping spot near Auckland.
2. Beachfront Campground, Tāpapakanga Regional Park
🚙 Distance from Auckland city centre: 70 km / 1 hour 10 minutes
Located just over an hour south of Auckland city, Tāpapakanga Regional Park is a coastal farm park that’s perfect for picnicking, walking, kayaking, fishing—and camping!
Tāpapakanga is perhaps best-known as the location for the Splore Festival, but outside of festival times, it’s a quiet place to get back to nature without heading too far from the city.
Camp at the scenic Beachfront Campground, where the sheltered waters in the bay are great for a paddle—bring along your kayak or SUP if you have one.
And if you’re up for a walk, the 5km Tāpapakanga Coastal Walk is a lovely loop trail with great views.
The Beachfront Campground at Tāpakakanga is for tent camping only; if you have a campervan, you’ll need to camp at the Sea View Campground instead, which is located at the top of the park.
3. Schischka Campground, Wenderholm Regional Park
🚙 Distance from Auckland city centre: 50 km / 40 minutes
Wenderholm Regional Park is set in a stunning location where the Puhoi River meets the sea.
This regional park is a popular day trip from Auckland, but it also makes for an amazing camping getaway not too far from the big smoke.
The Schischka Campground at Wenderholm Regional Park is a spacious, grassed camping area next to the Puhoi River Estuary. There are pohutukawa trees scattered around the campground, offering shade and pretty red flowers in summer.
If you have a kayak or SUP, pack them along with you—the Puhoi River Estuary is a gorgeous spot for paddling.
Head to the beach with a picnic, or take off on one of the many lovely walks within the park. The 4.2km Perimeter Track is a great option, with a mix of bush and coastal views
There is also a lovely glamping option in the regional park—the Piwakawaka Eco Structure. It can sleep up to 4 people and is truly a beautiful spot.
4. Te Haruhi Bay Campground, Shakespear Regional Park
🚙 Distance from Auckland city centre: 52 km / 55 minutes
At the tip of the Whangaparāoa Harbour on the Hibiscus Coast, you’ll find the coastal beauty of Shakespear Regional Park.
Shakespear Regional Park is a wildlife sanctuary, and it’s also a farm. There’s a mix of farmland and native bush here, and it’s all lush and green.
Te Haruhi Bay Campsite is located in a picturesque spot within the park, close to nice walks and the tidal beach at Te Haruhi Bay.
This place is so peaceful that you might forget you’re near the city—until you look out over the Hauraki Gulf and get epic views of the Auckland city skyline!
For a nice walk within the park, I like the 8.2km Shakespear Regional Park Loop, although it’s best in the morning or on a day that’s not too hot, as there’s not a lot of shade along the trail.
If you’d like to explore further afield, you could drive to the Gulf Harbour ferry terminal (just 15 minutes away) to hop on a ferry to visit Tiritiri Matangi Island, a haven for birdlife.
5. Sullivan’s Bay Campground, Mahurangi Regional Park (West)
🚙 Distance from Auckland city centre: 56km / 45 minutes
Mahurangi Regional Park is such a stunning place, and the Sullivan’s Bay Campground here is one of my favourite camping spots in Auckland.
The views from Mahurangi Regional Park remind me of the Bay of Islands, but you’re only 45 minutes north of Auckland (traffic permitting).
The Sullivan’s Bay Campground is set above a lovely sheltered beach, where the calm waters are great for swimming, kayaking, or paddleboarding.
There are some wonderful walks within the park, too, including the 3km Cudlip Point Loop Track.
6. Cliff Top Campground, Ōmana Regional Park
📍 Distance from Auckland city centre: 40 km / 40 minutes
The Cliff Top Campground at Ōmana Regional Park is—at you might’ve guessed—perched on a clifftop above the sea.
This is a spacious, grassy campsite hedged in by trees, and there are picnic tables dotted around the grounds. You’ll also have access to free electric BBQs here, which is always a bonus in my book!
From Ōmana Regional Park, you’ll get gorgeous views over the inner Hauraki Gulf & Rangitoto Island. There’s a sheltered, shelly beach here that’s good for swimming or kayaking when it’s high tide.
While this isn’t my absolute favourite campsite on this list, I do think this is a peaceful, lovely spot considering it’s so close to the city!
For a lovely walk, head out on the Ōmana Perimeter Track, a 2.6km walk offering great coastal views.
7. Ambury Campground, Ambury Regional Park
🚙 Distance from Auckland city centre: 22 km / 20 minutes
If you’re after a campground close to the Auckland airport—or you’re camping with kids—then you should check out Ambury Regional Park.
The campground at Ambury Regional Park is located within a working farm along the Manukau Harbour, just 8km from the Auckland Airport.
You can wander around the farm to see the farm animals, including sheep, chickens & goats.
For a longer walk within the park, try the 2.3km Ambury Foreshore Path, where you’ll get beautiful coastal views and hopefully spot some birdlife, too.
Holiday Parks in Auckland
After more amenities, like hot showers? Then head to one of these great holiday parks around the Auckland region.
8. Whangateau Holiday Park
🚙 Distance from Auckland city centre: 78 km / 1 hour 10 minutes
The Whangateau Holiday Park makes an excellent base for visiting Matakana and the surrounding area.
This holiday park is run by the Auckland Council, and I’m seriously impressed by the facilities here. It’s an awesome spot for families in particular.
The holiday park is set along the water’s edge in the Whangateau Harbour. It’s such a peaceful setting.
When you camp here, you’ll be just a 10-minute drive from Matakana (one of my favourite weekend trips from Auckland!). There are so many other things to do nearby, too—you could day trip to Goat Island, Tawharanui Regional Park, Pakiri Beach, or Omaha Beach.
And if you’re a craft beer lover like I am, make sure to pop into 8 Wired Brewing and/or Sawmill Brewery while you’re up this way.
In addition to tent and campervan sites, this holiday park also offers some nice cabins. For a couple, I can recommend the lovely waterfront deluxe cabin.
9. Pakiri Beach Holiday Park
🚙 Distance from Auckland city centre: 92 km / 1 hour 15 minutes
Camp right by the beach at the Pakiri Beach Holiday Park, where 14km of squeaky-white sand stretches out before you at stunning Pakiri Beach.
Spend your days surfing, swimming, fishing, going for long beach walks, or simply relaxing under your beach umbrella with a good book.
If you feel like venturing further afield, you’re not far from Goat Island or Matakana, which both make for excellent day trips.
In addition to tent and campervan sites, they have a great selection of cabins at this holiday park, too.
10. Piha Campground
🚙 Distance from Auckland city centre: 40 km / 50 minutes
Piha Campground is the only camping spot in Piha, and it’s a gem.
When you camp here, you’ll be just steps away from the rugged black sands of Piha Beach, known for its excellent surf (and rough seas—please take care if you go swimming here!).
There are some excellent walks nearby, too. Head to Kitekite Falls to walk through dense rainforest to see a stunning waterfall, or head up to the Mercer Bay Loop Track for beautiful coastal views.
And whatever you do, don’t miss a sunset from the beach when you camp here—there’s nothing like a West Coast sunset!
11. Muriwai Beach Campground
🚙 Distance from Auckland city centre: 43 km / 40 minutes
Set within Muriwai Regional Park in Auckland’s wild West Coast, Muriwai Beach Campground is a beautiful place to set up camp.
This is the type of spot where surf, sun and sand are all you’ll need for an awesome camping getaway.
From this well-run campground, it’s just a short walk to Muriwai Beach, which features sparkling black sand and great surf when the conditions are right.
Nearby, you can visit the Muriwai Gannet Colony, where you can see thousands of gannets nesting between August and March.
And if you’re up for a walk, head to the Te Henga Walkway, a gorgeous coastal trail that has partly reopened after being damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
12. Takapuna Beach Holiday Park
🚙 Distance from Auckland city centre: 13 km / 16 minutes
For the best camping spot near Auckland’s city centre, head to the Takapuna Beach Holiday Park.
Set on the shores of Takapuna Beach in Auckland’s North Shore, you’ll get great views over Auckland city and Rangitoto Island from this spot.
This campground is in a handy location if you’re planning to drive from Auckland to Northland, or vice versa.
It’s also about a 35-minute drive between here and the Auckland airport (not including any traffic, which can be awful during commuter hours).
If you’re after a holiday park in Auckland after picking up a campervan (or the night before you need to return it), this is a solid choice.
The grounds themselves have more of an urban feel rather than an out-in-nature one, but for city camping, I think this is a pretty amazing spot!
From the campground, you can walk into the beautiful suburb of Takapuna, where you’ll find heaps of excellent places to eat and some great shops, too.
There are also some lovely walking paths in Takapuna, and the Takapuna Beach Cafe is a must for breakfast!
Thanks for reading my Auckland camping guide!
I truly hope it’s helped you plan your next camping trip.
And if you’re after more beautiful camping spots near Auckland, check out my other New Zealand camping guides below!
