Area & getting there
Holdsworth 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
- -40.90667, 175.48016 (latitude, longitude)
- Precision
- Published DOC reference coordinates; not a claim of survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
- Source
- Holdsworth Campsite: published Location coordinates (new tab)
Department of Conservation - Location source checked
Read the full guideArrival, planning and local advice
- Book a non-powered campsite; Holdsworth Lodge is separate accommodation.
- Boil the untreated tap water before use.
- Check the weather-damaged approach road before travelling.
- Current predator-control advice means this is not a dog-friendly recommendation.
- Location
- Eastern Tararua entrance near Masterton, Wairarapa, Wellington region
- Stays
- Tent, campervan and caravan; non-powered
- Adult fee
- NZ$10 per night, age 18+; maximum seven-day stay
- Facilities
- Flush toilets and cooking shelter
- Water
- Untreated tap water; boil before use
- Dog caution
- Current Tararua 1080 warning; confirm the caution period's end with DOC
Holdsworth is a grassed campground at the eastern Tararua entrance. Before comparing pitches, read the current access and predator-control notices.
Put the dog warning first
DOC's alert records aerial predator-control operations near this area on 11 and 23 March and 19 May 2026. It describes an approximately eight-month caution period and advises visitors not to bring dogs into the area during it.
Do not calculate a guaranteed reopening date from that approximate duration. Ask DOC to confirm the warning has ended. The regular dogs-on-leads rule does not cancel this temporary safety advice, and Outdoor Next therefore does not present Holdsworth as a current pet-friendly recommendation.
Reserve the right accommodation
The checked adult camping rate is NZ$10 per night, with a seven-day stay limit. Book through the official campground page. Holdsworth Lodge is separate and is not included in a tent or vehicle reservation.
Keep those accommodation choices distinct when organising a group. Confirm who is sleeping where and avoid making the lodge an assumed wet-weather fallback without a separate arrangement.
Prepare for arrival and basic facilities
The approach from the SH2 turn-off is about 15 kilometres, with sealed road access and a gravel carpark. DOC notes weather damage on the road. Check the latest advice and leave time to adjust the drive.
Flush toilets, a cooking shelter and untreated tap water are listed. Boil water before use and bring your own meal equipment. Pack dry bedding and a ready-to-drink water supply where they can be reached first; neither should depend on borrowing facilities after arrival.
Keep the day's ambitions proportionate
Choose a particular walking outing only after checking its route information, forecast and your group's ability. Camping at a trailhead does not remove the need for a turnaround time or someone knowing your plans.
Keep a shorter option and separate wet day gear from sleeping clothes. A campfire is not an assumed cooking or heating option: current permission and designated arrangements must be confirmed. Use our conditions page and packing list before departure.
Official facts and alerts are paraphrased from DOC under its CC BY 4.0 terms; planning advice is Outdoor Next's own.
Common questions
Should I bring a dog to Holdsworth now?
Not on the basis of the normal leash rule. The current predator-control alert advises against taking dogs into the area during the caution period; ask DOC to confirm when it ends.
Does camping include Holdsworth Lodge?
No. The lodge is separate accommodation with its own booking arrangements.
Is a campfire automatically allowed?
No. Current fire conditions, a permit and a caretaker-allocated brazier are required. Confirm the current rules rather than relying on the presence of a fire area.
