Area & getting there
Dickey Flat Campsite
DOC's published campsite reference point, not a surveyed entrance or individual pitch.
Official location information: Department of Conservation (new tab)Location source & precision
- Reference coordinates
- -37.43927, 175.74678 (latitude, longitude)
- Precision
- Published DOC reference coordinates; not a claim of survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
- Source
- Dickey Flat Campsite: published Location coordinates (new tab)
Department of Conservation - Location source checked
Read the full guideArrival, planning and local advice
- Tent pitches require a walk from the carpark.
- Eligible camping vehicles under 11 m use the carpark area.
- Pay the manager in cash; the Campsite Pass is not accepted.
- Check flood, rat-bait and walking-track warnings before arrival.
- Location
- Waitawheta River near Karangahake, Waikato
- Bookings
- First come, first served; maximum seven-day stay
- Adult fee
- NZ$10 per night, age 18+; cash only
- Facilities
- Non-flush toilets; non-powered camping
- Water
- Bring drinking water; boil collected water
- Restrictions
- Alcohol ban includes vehicles; no fires
Dickey Flat needs two separate arrival plans: one for carrying a tent to the riverside area, another for an eligible camping vehicle in the carpark.
Match your setup to the site
The tent area is reached on foot from parking. Pack into loads you can carry rather than assuming a boot-to-tent setup. Keep the first load simple: shelter, sleeping equipment and whatever you need if rain starts during unloading.
DOC's vehicle guidance allows setups shorter than 11 m and counts a towing combination as a whole. Check actual length, turning ability and the narrow approach, not just the model name on a rental booking.
Pay and plan a flexible arrival
Camping is first come, first served. Adults pay NZ$10 nightly in cash to the manager, and the Campsite Pass is excluded. A seven-day stay limit applies.
Have a backup overnight choice and enough daylight to use it. Carry the correct payment without relying on onsite card facilities. The permanent alcohol ban includes vehicles, so remove alcohol from the trip's camp supplies rather than leaving it in the car.
Treat the river setting with care
Bring drinking water and boil any collected supply. Non-flush toilets are provided; other unconfirmed amenities should not be part of your essential plan.
The campsite can flood in heavy rain. Read the forecast before committing to an overnight stay and reconsider the plan when conditions change. Keep items you may need to move quickly together, and avoid treating a pleasant daytime river scene as evidence about overnight weather.
Read the active alerts
DOC's rat-bait alert, reviewed 6 July 2026, warns against touching bait stations and highlights risks to dogs. Supervise children and keep dogs leashed away from bait and carcasses.
The Crown Tramway Track partial closure also remains. Do not assume every advertised gorge walk forms a complete loop. Check the official campsite page and route notices before setting out, with a turnaround plan suited to your group.
Official facts and alerts are paraphrased from DOC under its CC BY 4.0 terms; planning advice is Outdoor Next's own.
Common questions
Can I park beside my Dickey Flat tent?
Not in the walk-in tent area. Plan to carry equipment from the carpark.
Can a large campervan use Dickey Flat?
DOC permits camping vehicles shorter than 11 m in the carpark area. Combined towing length matters; suitability at exactly 11 m is not confirmed.
Can I bring a dog?
Leashed dogs are normally permitted, but rat bait and carcasses are dangerous to dogs. Check the current alert and avoid bait stations.
