Area & getting there
Lake Rerewhakaaitu - Ash Pit Road
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
- -38.27739, 176.50743 (latitude, longitude)
- Precision
- Published DOC reference coordinates; not a claim of survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
- Source
- Lake Rerewhakaaitu - Ash Pit Road: published Location coordinates (new tab)
Department of Conservation - Location source checked
Read the full guideArrival, planning and local advice
- Book Ash Pit Road specifically, not the separate Brett Road campground.
- A current DOC alert reports no running water; bring your own supply.
- Each booking allows at most six people and two vehicles, counting boats.
- Avoid trees identified as a falling-branch risk.
- Location
- Lake Rerewhakaaitu, Ash Pit Road, Bay of Plenty
- Stays
- Tent, campervan and caravan; non-powered
- Adult fee
- NZ$15 per night, age 18+
- Booking limits
- Seven nights; six people and two vehicles including boats
- Facilities
- Cooking shelter and non-flush toilets
- Water alert
- No running water; DOC alert reviewed 24 April 2026
Ash Pit Road offers bookable camping beside Lake Rerewhakaaitu. Its appeal depends on being able to arrive self-sufficient, especially for water.
Use the correct entrance
DOC's directions continue via Brett Road to Ash Pit Road. That does not make this the Brett Road campground. Put the full reserved campsite name into your saved itinerary and share it with everyone travelling separately.
Do not rely on a lake-wide map pin when matching a photograph, reservation or meeting point. Review the official Ash Pit Road listing before departure.
Budget for a bounded pitch
Adults pay NZ$15 per night for non-powered camping. Reservations have a seven-night maximum and limits of six people and two vehicles, including boats. The published maximum pitch area is 72 square metres.
Lay out your intended sleeping and shelter footprint before booking. Count the entire travelling party and discuss extra reservations if necessary; do not expect a second large tent or boat to fit simply because space looks open in a landscape image.
Bring the whole water supply
The current DOC alert reports no running water at either Rerewhakaaitu campground; it was last reviewed on 24 April 2026. The main listing also warns against assuming lake water is drinkable.
Plan drinking, cooking and hygiene needs before loading the vehicle. Divide clean water between manageable containers, keep an arrival bottle handy and avoid using the final reserve for washing equipment. Choose meals that reduce both water use and waste.
Select a safe spot and a simple day
Non-flush toilets and a cooking shelter are listed. Follow the marked tree warnings when choosing where to sleep. DOC notes intermittent reception, so save booking evidence and directions offline.
Birdwatching is a natural focus here; bring binoculars if you already have them and observe without approaching wildlife. Camping does not grant access to private Crater Road or Mount Tarawera. Keep those places out of an improvised walking route. Review weather and choose a shore-based alternative if water activities do not suit the day.
Official facts and alerts are paraphrased from DOC under its CC BY 4.0 terms; planning advice is Outdoor Next's own.
Common questions
Is water available at Ash Pit Road?
DOC's current alert reports no running water. Bring all water needed for the stay; do not rely on the lake as a drinking supply.
Is Ash Pit Road the same campsite as Brett Road?
No. They are separate campgrounds with different entrances and reference coordinates. Check which one is named on your booking.
Can a large group share one reservation?
DOC limits each reservation to six people. Larger groups need additional reservations; vehicle and pitch limits still apply.
