Freedom camping

Find short and long term Waipā camping sites on privately owned or Department of Conservation (DOC) land by contacting:

• Cambridge Information Centre
• Te Awamutu Information Centre
• Pirongia Historic Visitor Centre
• Department of Conservation (Waikato)

We recommend Camper Mate app for finding parks, reserves and more around New Zealand.

Types of camping

Camping in the Waipā District is regulated by reserve management plan policies for each park and reserve. Freedom camping covers two different types of camping; contained camping and conventional camping.

• Contained camping refers to self-contained motor homes and camper vans that require self containment certification.
• Conventional camping refers to any tent, caravan or other vehicle that does not need to be certified as a self contained unit.

Camping locations

Mighty River Domain – Lake Karāpiro

• No restriction on number of nights permitted for contained or conventional camping
• Access via 601 Maungatautari Road
• Charges apply
• Mighty River Power Domain Reserve Management Plan.
• More information on Accomodation

Lakeside Areas of Arapuni and Karāpiro

• Contained camping: up to two consecutive nights stay permitted
• Conventional camping: no conventional overnight camping on any lakeside reserve permitted
• Access:
  • Arapuni Landing, access via Arapuni Landing Road off Te Ana Road.
  • Bulmer’s Landing, access via Bulmer’s Road.
  • Moana Roa Recreational Reserve, access via SH1.
  • Keeley Recreational Reserve, access via SH1.
  • Bob’s Landing, access via corner Maungatautari Road and SH1.
  • Horahora Domain, access via Maungatautari Road.

Lake Ngāroto

• Contained camping: up to two consecutive nights stay permitted
• Conventional camping: only permitted in association with and for the duration of an event on the site, to a maximum of five consecutive days
• Access via Bank Road
• Lake Ngāroto Reserve Management Plan

Kihikihi Domain

• Contained camping: only permitted in association with and for the duration of events on the site
• Conventional camping: no conventional overnight camping is permitted
• Access via Dick, Grey, Oliver, or Atkinson Street
• Kihikihi Domain Reserve Management Plan.

Urban reserves

• Contained camping is only permitted on a specific camping ground, or in association with a scout or similar youth event, circus or market event by approval in all cases.
• Conventional camping is only permitted on a specific camping ground.
• Charges apply
• Waipa Urban Reserves Management Plan.

Rata-tu Reserve at Kihikihi

• Contained camping: up to two consecutive nights stay permitted
• Conventional camping: no conventional overnight camping is permitted
• Access via Havelock Street
• Rata-tu Reserve Management Plan.