Filed under: camping, Family Friendly, Free Activities
Camping – A New Zealand Summer Tradition!
If there’s one thing Kiwi’s love it’s camping!
Escaping the city and returning to nature, barbeques every night, swimming in the river or at the beach, and even the sand flies and mosquitoes! It’s a traditional kiwi summer tradition!
Some of the best campgrounds are just a stone’s throw from Auckland city – so why not pack up the kids and the family dog and check out our favourite three?
Muriwai Beach Motor Camp and Campground.
Just 40 minutes drive from Auckland; Muriwai is the closest camp ground to the beach. It’s usually beautiful weather any time of year and you can see gannets flying and people surfing in the wild west coast waves. Muriwai is a 50 km long surf beach, nearby there is an 18 hole golf course, a cafe and a shop. The area has fantastic picnic facilities and other activities including: surfing, rock fishing, beach fishing, mountain biking, kite boarding, paragliding, land sailing or just lying on the beach.
The motor camp has powered sites, tent sites alongside shower, laundry and kitchen facilities and is the ideal place to stay whether you have a tent, a caravan or a motor home. Tariff – Power sites are $25.00 per night includes 2 people. Camp rates are $12.00 per adult, $5.00 per child (preschool are free).
Just 45 minutes from Auckland City, Takapuna Beach Holiday Park is within walking distance to Takapuna’s vibrant city centre with trendy restaurants, cafes, shops and supermarkets.
The white sandy beach offers safe swimming where you can relax in the sunshine, watch the yachts sail by or explore rock pools and fossils nearby.
You can also launch your boat from the boat ramp adjacent to the park!
Takapuna is also renowned for its café culture, adjacent to Takapuna Beach Holiday Park you will find a gorgeous café and store where you can enjoy an al fresco breakfast, lunch or coffee overlooking Takapuna’s waterfront. Takapuna Holiday Park has a laid back atmosphere where everything you need is only a short stroll away. Walk into town to catch a movie, a theatrical performance or even a world class event at Takapuna’s Bruce Mason Centre!
Piha Domain Motor Camp
Although fairly basic the location makes up for the facilities at the Piha Domain Motor Camp.
There are hot showers, flush toilets and laundry facilities. To compliment these facilities there is a cook house with stove top cooking, microwave and a coin operated BBQ plus four cabins with bunks.
There has been a camping ground on the Domain at Piha since the early 1900s when families would make the two day trek from Auckland to Piha by horse and cart on a road that was little better than a bullock track. In the 1940s the Raynor Family gifted the land, as recreational reserve and camping ground. Just as well really as with the value of coastal land it would almost certainly would been sold otherwise.
Today the Camp is operated by the Waitakere City Council. The camp is two minutes walk to the beach. The Piha Camp attracts a diverse and eclectic selection of holidaymakers and is very popular with families. It offers a safe environment for children to roam and experience freedom not known in suburban lifestyles.
Camp rates are: $13.00 per adult, $6.00 for under 16 year olds and, preschoolers are free.
Image credits: Sarah MacMillan via flickr, Mel Sloan photography.
