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Camping guide · Where to camp

Camping in the Coromandel: Hot Water Beach and the Far North Tip

Cooks Beach curving around Mercury Bay, seen from Shakespeare's Bluff

Photo: “Cooks Beach from Shakespeare's Bluff” by Takver, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Overview

The Coromandel Peninsula is one of the North Island's favourite summer camping spots. The east coast has busy beach holiday parks near Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. The far north of the peninsula has rough gravel roads and DOC campsites near the sea.

Hot Water Beach TOP 10

Hot Water Beach TOP 10 is a Premium TOP 10 park, family-owned since 2008, about 700 m from Hot Water Beach.

  • At Hot Water Beach you can dig your own hot pool in the sand for about two hours either side of low tide. Check tide times before you go.
  • Cathedral Cove is about 10 minutes' drive away.
  • The park has heated pools, a dump station and EV trickle charging only.
  • Dogs are allowed on sites only outside peak season and public holidays.

Fletcher Bay Campsite (DOC)

Fletcher Bay is a backcountry DOC campsite at the very top of the peninsula, 64 km north of Coromandel town and 7 km past Port Jackson.

Sites45 tent sites
FeesAdult $18, child $9 per night; Campsite Pass accepted
BookingsRequired
RulesNo fires, no dogs, pack out all rubbish

Getting there: The road is unsealed beyond Colville and has been damaged, so DOC advises a 4WD. A ford between Port Jackson and Fletcher Bay can become impassable during or after heavy rain.

Walking: Fletcher Bay is the northern end of the Coromandel Walkway. Slips have closed part of it, so for now it's a return walk from Fletcher Bay to the lookout (about 4 hours). Check DOC's alerts for the latest.

Other holiday parks on the peninsula

Tasman Holiday Parks runs parks at Coromandel town and Hahei Beach, close to Cathedral Cove. Check both on Tasman's website.

Tips for Coromandel camping

  • Book summer early. Beach parks are busiest over the summer holidays.
  • Watch the tides. Tide times matter for Hot Water Beach, and for the ford on the Fletcher Bay road.
  • Freedom camping: Thames-Coromandel District Council has its own rules. See our freedom camping guide.

Sources

  • TOP 10 Holiday Parks: Hot Water Beach TOP 10
  • Department of Conservation: Fletcher Bay Campsite
  • Tasman Holiday Parks: NZ parks list

Campsite profiles in this guide

Visitors digging hot pools in the sand at Hot Water Beach, about 700 m from the holiday parkHoliday park

Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park

Hot Water Beach, Coromandel Peninsula

A Premium-classified TOP 10 park about 700 m from Hot Water Beach, where you can dig your own hot pool for two hours either side of low tide.

CoromandelTOP 10 Holiday Parks (Premium)
Coastal hills above a sandy bay on the Coromandel Coastal Walkway, just east of Fletcher BayDOC campsite

Fletcher Bay Campsite

Northern tip of the Coromandel Peninsula

A remote DOC backcountry campsite at the very end of the road on the northern Coromandel, and the northern start of the Coromandel Coastal Walkway.

CoromandelDepartment of Conservation

Check before you go

Prices, pet rules, closures and road access change. Confirm current details for Camping in the Coromandel on the official page before you book or travel.

DOC Coromandel