Water from stream’
Wildlife
Picnic table
Playground
Cooking facilities
Dogs on a leash
Cooking shelter
No camping
BBQ
No fires
Showers
No dogs
Campervan
Boat ramp
Toilets
Fishing
R103437
Water skiing
Dump station
Check out rotoruaNZ.com for extensive information on
what to see and do in Rotorua – NZ’s Coolest Hot Spot
Visit doc.govt.nz for information
on tracks, trails and campsites
on conservation land.
This publication is produced using paper sourced from well-managed,
renewable and legally logged forests.
Editing and design:
DOC Publishing Team
November 2016
This publication is produced
by Department of Conservation
and Destination Rotorua
Always Check, Clean, Dry your footwear, vehicles,
boats, fishing equipment and other items before
entering and when moving between,
lakes, rivers and streams. Camp
managers – where present – can
provide resources to help clean your
equipment.
Lakeside camp
and campervan
sites around
Rotorua
Aquatic pests are a threat to our waterways. They
can spread when small weed fragments or fish
eggs attach to equipment or footwear.
Rotorua Lakes are currently free of most pest
weeds, pest fish (koi carp, rudd, and tench), and
didymo (rock snot).
10 Great Rotorua Campsites
Blue Lake Top 10 Holiday Park
www.bluelaketop10.co.nz
* Water from tap does not imply drinking water standards are met.
All water should be boiled for 3 minutes before consumption.
Water from tap*
Camping
Keep waterways pest-free
Lake Ōkareka
Photo: Nicole Portner Photography
Lake Tarawera Outlet (Te Tapahoro)
Photo: Nick Lambert
www.doc.govt.nz
FEES PER NIGHT:
FEES PER NIGHT:
From $35 for a non-powered
campsite.
Photo: DOC
www.doc.govt.nz
FEES PER NIGHT:
Adult $13, youth/child $6.50,
under 5s free (pay cash on arrival)
Nestled in the Tikitapu Scenic Reserve, 10 mins drive from the
centre of Rotorua, the campsite is home to threatened mistletoe and
a variety of bird species. Nearby, a 5.5 km walking track circles Blue
Lake. Kayak and bike hire available, and Redwoods/Whakarewarewa
Forest has great walking and mountain biking trails.
Adult $13, youth/child $6.50,
under 5s free (pay cash on arrival)
Just 15 minutes from Rotorua, popular during the summer. There
are trophy trout in the lake for permit holders to catch.
Water comes from the lake and must be boiled before drinking.
Look out for threatened dabchicks, and keep boats to the speed limit
to avoid wash swamping their nests.
Head east from Rotorua on SH30 for 1.7 km. Turn right into
Tarawera Road and continue until Blue Lake is in sight. The
campsite is on the left.
Continue past Boyes Beach campsite on Millar Road. The turn off to
Lake Ōkareka campsite is on the right where the road seal ends.
Boyes Beach
Hot Water Beach
Photo: Nicole Portner Photography
This large campsite is popular with families. A bridge links the
campsite to several walking tracks including one to the beautiful
Tarawera Falls. Trout fishing and water sports on the lake are
popular in summer.
From Rotorua follow SH30 east for 55 km, then take SH34 to
Kawerau. At the township, stop at the Kawerau information centre
on Plunkett Street for a permit ($5) to drive on the private forestry
road to the campsite (25 km). The forest gate is closed after dark
and when the fire risk is ‘extreme’.
Lake Okaro
Photo: DOC
www.whakarewarewa.com
FEE PER NIGHT:
FEES PER NIGHT:
Adults $10, youth/child $5,
under 5s free (pay cash on arrival)
Symbol key
Photo: Nicole Portner Photography
FEES PER NIGHT:
Adult $13, youth/child $6.50,
under 5s free (pay in advance)
Adult $8, youth/child $4,
under 5s free (pay cash on arrival)
Only accessible by boat or by walking the Tarawera Trail (5–6 hr).
Water taxis can be booked from Rotorua i-SITE.
Head east from Rotorua on SH30 for 1.7 km. Turn right into Tarawera
Road, then left into Okareka Loop Road. At Okareka settlement turn
left into Millar Road. The campsite is 500 m, on the right.
Bookings are made through Whakarewarewa Village Charitable
Trust, phone: +64 7 349 3463 ext 101, www.whakarewarewa.com.
Dogs: 15 December – 28 February inclusive, no dogs between hours of
9 am and 7 pm. Dogs not permitted in playground area at any time.
An extremely popular site in the summer, where you can relax
in natural hot springs on the shores of Lake Tarawera. Caution:
localised patches of sand and water are very hot.
Popular with families, there are BBQ facilities and a children’s play
area. This is great spot for water skiing during the day and trout fishing
in the early morning or at the change of light near the end of the day.
Lake Okaro is an important habitat for water birds such as grey teal
and paradise shelduck. The water is safe for recreational activities
such as kayaking and water skiing.
Close by, Waiotapu has a bubbling mud pool and an impressive
geyser, while Te Ranga (Kerosene Creek) is a geothermal creek
popular for bathing.
Access the reserve from Waimangu Road, off SH5.
Te Puke
10 Great
Rotorua
Campsites
33

Tauranga
36

Lake
Rotoehu
Hamurana
Lake Rotoiti
Ohau Channel
30

Blue Lake Top 10 Holiday Park
Putararu
Boyes Beach
Lake
Rotoma
Lake Rotorua
5

30

Mokoia
Island
Ngongotaha
Lake Ōkareka
Kawerau &
Whakatane
Mt Whakapoungakau
758 m
Hot Water Beach
Lake Tarawera Outlet
Rotorua
Airport
Mt Ngongotaha
757 m
Lake Okaro
ROTORUA
Guy Roe Reserve
Rotorua Visitor
Centre & i-SITE
Lake
Okataina
Fenton St
Rerewhakaaitu, Brett Road
Rerewhakaaitu, Ash Pit Road
Ta
ra
Trout Pool Road
Whakarewarewa/
Te Puia
we
Redwoods Visitor
Centre & i-SITE
ra
Ro
ad
Lake
Okareka
Rotorua mountain
bike car park
Rotorua Visitor Centre & i-SITE
is located at the lake end of
Fenton St (Rotorua's main street). We
are open every day (except Christmas
Day) from 7.30 am – 6.00 pm during
the winter, and from 7.30 am – 7.00 pm
during the summer. A DOC visitor
counter is available during opening
hours and a ranger is present part time.
Makatiti Dome
934 m
Tikitapu/
Blue Lake
Lake Tarawera
Tarawera
Lookout
30

Lake Rotokakahi
(Green Lake)
Buried Village
Mt Tarawera
1111 m
5

Map key
Tokoroa
Highway
Gravel road
Sealed road
Walking track
Waimangu
Volcanic Valley
Information
Parking
Airport
Historic site
Geothermal
bathing
Lake
Rotomahana
Lake
Okaro
Re
rew
Geothermal
feature
Waikite
Hot Pools
5

Dump station
d
ka
ait
743 m
Maungakakaramea/
Rainbow Mountain
Kerosene
Creek
Taupo
Guy Roe Reserve
ha
uR
ett
Br
oa
d
a
Ro
Lake
Rerewhakaaitu
38

0
5 km
10 km
Murupara
Rerewhakaaitu, Ash Pit Road
Photo: Nicole Portner Photography
www.doc.govt.nz
Photo: Nicole Portner Photography
FEES PER NIGHT:
FEES PER NIGHT:
Adult $8, youth/child $4,
under 5s free (pay cash on arrival)
Adults $8, youth/child $4,
under 5s free (pay cash on arrival)
Known as the Homestead Arm, this has been a popular fishing
spot for many years – permits available from local fishing stores.
The reserve is also popular for picnics and boat access to the lake.
Camping is permitted on parts of the reserve.
Head south from Rotorua on SH5, then SH35. Turn into
Rerewhakaaitu Road and continue for 2.7 km, then turn left into Brett
Road. The camp entrance is 2.5 km, on the right. Access is sealed.
Rerewhakaaitu, Brett Road
New Zealand dabchick.
Photo: © Shellie Evans
A larger site than Brett Road with a boat ramp and on-site camp
manager. Water must be boiled before drinking.
The nearby Rainbow Mountain Scenic Reserve has 2.5 km a tramping
track to the summit of Rainbow Mountain (Maunga Kakaramea),
which passes three crater lakes and steaming geothermal cliffs.
Follow directions for Brett Road Campsite but continue past it,
then turn right into Ash Pit Road. Follow for 1.7 km until you reach the
campsite. Access is sealed.
Protect water quality
Don’t use soaps or detergents
near waterways.
Use dedicated sewerage
stations to dispose of waste.
Remove litter when you leave
the campsite.
Report suspected pest fish
or weed sightings to the
DOC hotline (0800 362 468)
– if possible, take a photo.
Trout Pool Road
The Rotorua population
of New Zealand dabchicks
is one of the largest in the
country. Less than 2000
dabchicks are thought
to exist and populations
susceptible to changes in
water quality.
Follow these guidelines to
help protect water quality.
24/7 wastewater dumping is available at the
Rotorua Waste Water Treatment Plant, 5
minutes drive from Rotorua’s CBD on SH30A,
opposite Marguerita Street.
www.doc.govt.nz
Photo: Nicole Portner Photography
FEES PER NIGHT:
Adult $8, youth/child $4,
under 5s free (pay cash on arrival)
On the shores of Lake Rerewhakaaitu, so take binoculars for
watching water birds. There is good fishing, swimming and walking
nearby.
Water must be boiled before drinking.
Follow directions for Guy Roe Reserve, then continue another 2.5 km
on Brett Road. The campsite is on the right. Access is sealed.
Photo: Nicole Portner Photography
FEES PER NIGHT:
Free
Located in Okere Falls Scenic Reserve, where the Kaituna River
cascades between narrow, steep ravines before it enters the Trout
Pool’s tranquil waters. The area is popular with white water rafters
and kayakers. The 1.2 km Okere Falls Track starts from the camping
area, and has great look outs over the river’s spectacular waterfalls.
Swimming not recommended in this location.
Take SH30 from Rotorua past the airport, then SH33 towards
Tauranga. After 8 km, turn left into Trout Pool Road. Visitors are
allowed to camp in vehicles overnight in the car park at the end
of the road. Tents are not permitted.
Overnight camping
Overnight camping is prohibited on reserves except in
designated areas.
You may be fined $200 under the Freedom Camping
Act 2011 if, while freedom camping, you interfere with or
damage a public area, its flora or fauna, or any structure in
the area; or dispose of waste other than into an appropriate
waste receptacle, eg a motorhome discharging
wastewater to ground. You can be fined up to $10,000 for
serious offences.