TL;DR
Tāwharanui Regional Park, about 90 minutes north of Auckland, is one of the region's best coastal camping spots: a white-sand surf beach, a marine reserve for snorkelling, an open sanctuary full of native birds, and a simple campground behind the dunes at Anchor Bay. Camping is basic (long-drop toilets, cold water, no power) and must be booked in advance through Auckland Council. It's popular in summer, so book early.
Some places are worth the drive out of the city, and Tāwharanui is one of them. Ninety minutes north of Auckland, this headland of white-sand beach, native bush and protected sea feels a world away from the motorway. For campers, it's one of the best nights you can have near the city.
Tāwharanui Regional Park has a single beachfront campground tucked behind the dunes at Anchor Bay. It's a basic site — long-drop toilets, cold water, no power — but the location is unbeatable: a surf beach, a marine reserve and an open bird sanctuary on your doorstep. You must book in advance through Auckland Council, and summer weekends fill fast.
The campground
Camping at Tāwharanui is deliberately simple. Sites sit in grassy paddocks just behind Anchor Bay, a short walk from the sand. Facilities are limited to long-drop toilets and cold water, so a self-contained camper makes life far more comfortable — you bring your own kitchen, bed and bathroom. There's no shop, so arrive stocked up.
The beach and marine reserve
Anchor Bay is the draw: a long, clean surf beach that's excellent for swimming and bodyboarding. The waters off the park are a marine reserve, so the snorkelling is superb — bring a mask and you'll see snapper and crayfish among the rocks at either end of the bay. It's protected, so take only photos.
Walks and wildlife
Tāwharanui is an open sanctuary, ringed by a predator-proof fence, so it's alive with native birds — you may spot bellbirds and saddlebacks, and hear kiwi at night. The Ecology Trail and the coastal walk loop through regenerating bush and along clifftops with wide Hauraki Gulf views. Give yourself a couple of hours.
How to book and when to go
Camping is bookable online through Auckland Council's regional parks, and you'll need to reserve ahead — it's one of the most popular parks in the region, and summer weekends and school holidays sell out. Shoulder-season weekdays are quieter and just as beautiful. It's an easy, scenic run from the city, and a perfect first or last night of a North Island trip. See our campers to travel it self-contained.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, at the beachfront campground behind Anchor Bay. It's a basic site (long-drop toilets, cold water, no power) and must be booked in advance through Auckland Council. A self-contained camper is ideal here.
Yes. Camping is by advance booking through Auckland Council's regional parks, and popular dates — summer weekends and school holidays — sell out well ahead.
About 90 minutes' drive north of Auckland, near Matakana, at the end of a partly unsealed road onto the headland.
Yes — Anchor Bay is a lovely surf-and-swim beach, and the surrounding marine reserve makes for excellent snorkelling. Take care in surf and rip conditions.
Written by the JustGoodCampers team
Family-owned camper rental in New Zealand. justgoodcampers.com
