WELCOME TO FREEDOM CAMPING IN THE WAIROA DISTRICT

Wairoa district is a beautiful part of Hawke's Bay and the East Coast and it's the perfect place to visit for responsible campers. Enjoy our spectacular outdoor environment with Te Urewera, Lake Waikaremoana and Māhia Peninsula right on our doorstep. We have amazing beaches, rivers, hills, lakes, waterfalls and much more. Have a chat to one of our friendly locals and find out more about the district and its unique lifestyle.

The Wairoa district welcomes responsible campers and also encourages the use of designated commercial camping grounds and DOC campsites. Here's how you can help to maintain the district's natural environment during your stay:

• Use the toilets available in the area.
• Take advantage of local laundry facilities for washing clothes.
• Enjoy local facilities for bathing.
• Dump your rubbish only at designated areas (i. e. Wairoa landfill).
• Ensure your black water (sewage) and grey water (shower, sink and hand wash basin water) holding tanks are discharged at designated wastewater dump stations.

WAIROA

WAIKAREMOANA

MAHIA

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

FREEDOM CAMPING LOCATIONS

Freedom camping is permitted in any local authority area within the District unless it is restricted or prohibited.

We care for our district and appreciate your support in this by complying with the conditions set out in relation to each site.

Persons found camping on prohibited land will be issued with an infringement notice and directed to the nearest registered camping ground or freedom camping site.

DUMP STATION CHARGES

Please note some charges apply for dumping:

• Riverside Motorcamp, 19 Marine Parade, Wairoa: $5 per casual dump or FREE (included in camping fee) if staying onsite.
• War Memorial Park, Freyberg Street, Wairoa: FREE (no charge)
• Waikaremoana Motorcamp, SH38, Waikaremoana: FREE (no charge).

SPECIAL NOTE ON LIQUOR BAN

Please note a liquor ban applies as follows:

WAIROA (24 hours per day 365 days of the year) bounded by:

• Marine Parade from Murrae Street to King Street.
• Queen Street from Murrae Street to King Street.
• Riverbank from Murrae Street to King Street and all associated alleyways and car parks.

MAHIA (24 hours a day from December 20th to January 20th every year):

• The whole of Māhia Peninsula and surrounding area encompassed within the coastline from Nuhaka to Paritu.

DOGS

Dogs are permitted within the freedom camping areas as long as they are tied up or on a leash at all times.

TYPES OF FREEDOM CAMPING IN THE WAIROA DISTRICT

ALLOWED

Camping in self-contained vehicles is permitted on any area owned by the local authority within the district unless it is prohibited.

Self-contained camping - travelling in a motorhome with a built-in kitchen, bathroom, a fresh water tank and holding tanks for black and grey water.

RESTRICTED

Non self-contained camping is only allowed in restricted areas. So if you are travelling in a vehicle that is not a certified fully self-contained vehicle or sleeping in a tent, you are only allowed to camp in restricted areas which are marked with green signs.

Non self-contained camping - travelling in a modified car, van or vehicle without some or all of the facilities needed for day to day living or sleeping in a tent with no day to day amenities.

The restricted areas are the Clyde Court in Wairoa and Oraka on the Mahia Peninsula. Please have a look at the map above or at the map in the Freedom Camping Brochure to find out where those sites are located.

PROHIBITED

There are some areas where any kind of camping is prohibited. Those sites are marked with blue signs.

Persons found camping on Council-owned land that is prohibited will be issued with an infringement notice and can be fined up to $ 200.

Please have a look at the map above or at the map in the Freedom Camping Brochure to find out where the prohibited sites are located.

POPULAR FREEDOM CAMPING SITES

SAFETY FOR TRAVELLERS

You are travelling and you need to find a toilet where do you go?

In New Zealand you can expect to find toilets at:

• Information and visitor centres
• National park headquarters
• Petrol stations
• Hotels
• Public libraries
• Camp grounds
• Rail and bus stations
• Urban parks and children's playgrounds.

Use the toilets in towns as they may not be available in the countryside.

At remote locations where there are no toilets, bury your waste.

• Select a secluded spot well away from water, walking tracks, huts and potential campsites.
• Dig or scrape a shallow hole and refill with loose soil.
• Waste will degrade fastest in loose topsoil where humus is actively decomposing.

Campervan, Caravan and movan users

• Use public toilets rather than fill up your holding tank.
• Before setting out on your trip identify the location of sewage dump points e.g. camping grounds.

The procedure for dumping is simple and clean. If your vehicle has a holding tank it will have a flexible hose with a snap coupling to fit the dump point facility. In the event of a spillage a hose at the dump facility may be used to wash it away. Portable toilets may also be emptied into dump points with care.