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Responsible camping

There are lots of options for camping in the Ōpōtiki district: privately-owned campgrounds on our beautiful beaches and rivers, Department of Conservation campsites in our forests and bush, and even some the best freedom camping spots in the country.

We all want to enjoy this great pastime, so it is important that everyone camps responsibly.

Wherever you stay, whatever your vehicle, it is about respecting the environment and the communities you are visiting.

Please remember the Tiaki Promise. Tiaki means to care for people, place and culture. By following the Tiaki Promise, you are making a commitment to New Zealand; to act as a guardian, protecting, and preserving our home. Find out more.

Kia haumaru te noho | Staying safe

It is important to be aware of your surroundings and think carefully before choosing your camping spot. Remember to check weather conditions and road updates and plan for unexpected events. Don't camp on private property, close to roads or thoroughfares, or inside river stopbanks.

  • Keep up to date with weather watches and weather warnings from MetService
  • Check council Alerts on our websites Home page for things like road closures, water outages and more.
  • You can also keep up to date with any planned on unplanned road closures on the State Highway network on the Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency website.

Me mōhio ki enei | Things to know if you’re freedom camping

There are a few rules under out Freedom Camping Bylaw for freedom camping throughout the district:

  • All areas are a 3-night maximum stay in any 4-week period (Hoani Waititi Reserves is a max 14 night stay in any 4-week period)
  • No freedom camping where marked prohibited (day areas, car parks or unsafe areas)
  • Take your waste away with you (more on that below)
  • No washing clothes or dishes in public facilities or waterways
  • No fires (except controlled fires at Hoani Waititi Reserve)
  • No illegal parking
  • Dogs under control at all times
  • Other local restrictions may apply (check for signs letting you know).

Kei hea ngā wāhi noho | Where can I camp?

Ōpōtiki has a number of incredible privately-owned campsites from Ōhiwa all the way east where our district joins Tairāwhiti. You can read more about camping and non-camping options and talk to the team at the Ōpōtiki isite.

The Department of Conservation also lists places to stay and visit in the Ōpōtiki District.

Council also has four great freedom camping areas with toilets and good parking facilities:

  1. Te Ahiaua Reserve (Pipi Beds)
  2. Hikuwai Reserve
  3. Hoani Waititi Reserve, Omaio
  4. Te Kaha Reserve, Maraetai Bay

The maps below show the areas where freedom camping is expressly prohibited to prevent ‘overflow’ camping. These areas are first-in-first-served so if you arrive and there is nowhere for you to fit within the permitted area, you will need to find somewhere else for the night.

Ngā wāhi aukati | Where can't I camp?

Please don't camp in cemeteries, reserves, sportsgrounds, residential areas, by a riverside, private property, inside a stopbank, or where there are 'no camping' signs displayed.

There is also a list of areas where our local bylaw expressly prohibits camping for safety or environmental reasons. The list is below and you can read more about the assessments and maps of these areas in our Freedom Camping Bylaw.

  • Ōhiwa Spit Reserve, Ōhiwa
  • Road Reserve, Ōhiwa
  • Road Reserve, Ōhiwa
  • Road Reserve, Ōhiwa
  • Ōhiwa Boat Ramp, Ōhiwa
  • Bryan’s Beach, Ōhiwa
  • Te Ahiaua Reserve (Pipi Beds), Waiotahe
  • Whitikau Reserve, town centre
  • Memorial Park, town centre
  • Road Reserve, Albert street
  • Ohui Domain, Otara street
  • Hikuwai Reserve, Hukuwai Beach
  • Road Reserve, Opape
  • Hoani Waititi Reserve, Omaio
  • Road Reserve, Omaio
  • Te Kaha Reserve, Maraetai Bay
  • Road Reserve, Waihau Bay

There is also some NZTA Waka Kotahi land on which freedom camping is specifically prohibited under our bylaw:

  • Road reserve, Waiotahe (5 separate locations)
  • Main entrance carparking, Waiotahe

Freedom camping is allowed in four specific RESTRICTED areas of our rohe (district):

  1. Te Ahiaua Reserve (Pipi Beds)
  2. Hikuwai Reserve
  3. Hoani Waititi Reserve, Omaio
  4. Te Kaha Reserve, Maraetai Bay

The maps below show the areas where freedom camping is expressly prohibited to prevent ‘overflow’ camping. These areas are first-in-first-served so if you arrive and there is nowhere for you to fit within the permitted area, you will need to find somewhere else for the night.

1. Te Ahiaua Reserve (Pipi Beds), Waiotahe

Te Ahiaua Reserve is located near Waiotahi Beach, approximately 9km west of Ōpōtiki township. It is accessed from State Highway 2.

  • Freedom camping is restricted to the southeast portion of the reserve within the green outlined area.
  • Freedom camping is prohibited in the majority of the reserve within the red outlined area.

2. Hikuwai Reserve

Hikuwai Reserve is located at Hikuwai Beach, approximately 3km east of Ōpōtiki township. It is accessed from State Highway 35.

  • Freedom camping is restricted to the southcentral area of the reserve within the green outlined area.
  • Freedom camping is prohibited in the majority of the reserve within the red outlined area.

3. Hoani Waititi Reserve, Omaio

Hoani Waititi Reserve is located in Omaio, approximately 55km east of Ōpōtiki township.

  • Freedom camping is restricted to the southcentral area of the reserve within the green outlined area.
  • Freedom camping is prohibited in the unmanaged bush areas on the outer edges of the reserve within the red outlined areas.

4. Te Kaha Reserve, Maraetai Bay

Te Kaha Reserve is located at Maraetai Bay in Te Kaha, approximately 68km east of Ōpōtiki township.

  • Freedom camping is restricted to the southcentral area of the reserve within the green outlined area.
  • Freedom camping is prohibited in the majority of the reserve within the red outlined area.

Please don't camp in cemeteries, reserves, sportsgrounds, residential areas, by a riverside or inside a stopbank, or where there are 'no camping' signs displayed.

There is also a list of areas where our local bylaw expressly prohibits camping for safety or environmental reasons. You can read more about these locations, see maps and details of the site assessments in out Freedom Camping Bylaw.

Prohibited areas include:

  • Ōhiwa Spit Reserve, Ōhiwa
  • Road Reserve, Ōhiwa
  • Road Reserve, Ōhiwa
  • Road Reserve, Ōhiwa
  • Ōhiwa Boat Ramp, Ōhiwa
  • Bryan’s Beach, Ōhiwa
  • Te Ahiaua Reserve (Pipi Beds), Waiotahe
  • Whitikau Reserve, town centre
  • Memorial Park, town centre
  • Road Reserve, Albert street
  • Ohui Domain, Otara street
  • Hikuwai Reserve, Hukuwai Beach
  • Road Reserve, Opape
  • Hoani Waititi Reserve, Omaio
  • Road Reserve, Omaio
  • Te Kaha Reserve, Maraetai Bay
  • Road Reserve, Waihau Bay

NZTA land

  • Road reserve, Waiotahe (5 separate locations)
  • Main entrance carparking, Waiotahe

Camping Waste

Please be a considerate camper and take care of our environment for future generations.

Me heri ōku para ki hea? | Where do I take my camping waste?

Please dispose of your waste correctly:
GREY WATER / SEWAGE

  • Sewage and grey water into our council approved dump station. And remember dump only the 3 p’s: Pee, Poo and toilet paper.
    Waiotahe Dump Station
    Located on State Highway 2, just north of the Waiotahe Settlers Hall, 11km before Ōpōtiki.

NON-RECYCLABLE & RECYCLABLE WASTE

  • Place non-recyclable rubbish into a refuse bin or dispose of it at one of our Resource Recovery Centre's (RRC). Locations and opening hours can be found here.
  • Recyclables can be dropped off at our Resource Recovery Centre in Ōpōtiki FREE of charge.

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