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Mangatainoka Campsite

Hawke's Bay, North IslandDOC campsite

AI-generated cartoon of a green and coral tent with trees and distant hills; not a photograph of this campsite.

AI illustration. Generic AI-generated camping artwork, not a photograph of this campsite. It does not represent the site's actual landscape, pitches or facilities.

Artwork: Outdoor Next / AI-generated artwork / AI-generated illustration / Details

Campsite essentials

Your stay at a glance

Walk-in backcountry tent camping beside the Mohaka River and Mangatainoka Hot Pools.

Campground type
DOC campsite
Setting
Riverside / Forest
Operator / brand
Department of Conservation
Stay options
Tent
Booking
First come, first served

Facilities

  • ToiletsAvailable
All facilities & policies

Confirm with the operator: powered sites, hot showers, showers, shared kitchen, laundry. Missing information does not mean a facility is unavailable.

Powered sites
Not confirmed. Powered pitches have not been verified.
Hot showers
Not confirmed. Hot water for showers has not been confirmed. A general shower listing does not establish hot-water availability.
Showers
Not confirmed. Showers have not been verified.
Toilets
Available. DOC lists non-flush toilets.
Shared kitchen
Not confirmed. An equipped shared kitchen has not been verified; bring cooking equipment.
Laundry
Not confirmed. Laundry facilities have not been verified.
Pets
Pets subject to conditions. Dogs only with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management; not general pet permission.
Campfires
Not allowed. The checked campsite rules prohibit fires. A stove or barbecue listing does not grant permission for a campfire.

Before you go

Untreated water

Collect stream water and boil before use.

Pets subject to conditions

Dogs only with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management; not general pet permission.

Campfires: Not allowed

The checked campsite rules prohibit fires. A stove or barbecue listing does not grant permission for a campfire.

Policy checked 1 October 2026.

Check current fire restrictions (new tab)

Access & important conditions
  • No fires; busy holiday periods can fill the unbooked site.
  • DOC lists changing Kaweka road access conditions. Check the approach for your actual trailhead rather than applying another carpark's instructions.
Fees & booking

Area & getting there

Mangatainoka Campsite

DOC campsite reference point, not a verified entrance or individual pitch.

Official location information: Department of Conservation (new tab)
Location source & precision
Reference coordinates
-39.16170, 176.39426 (latitude, longitude)
Precision
WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
Location source checked
Explore Gisborne & Hawke's Bay
Read the full guideArrival, planning and local advice

By Outdoor Next / Editorial standards / Last checked

  • Walk-in backcountry tent camping beside the Mohaka River and Mangatainoka Hot Pools.
  • No fires; busy holiday periods can fill the unbooked site.
  • DOC lists changing Kaweka road access conditions. Check the approach for your actual trailhead rather than applying another carpark's instructions.
Camping styles
tent
Fees
Non-powered camping: free; this is not a powered-site offer or a reservation.
Water
Collect stream water and boil before use.

Walk-in backcountry tent camping beside the Mohaka River and Mangatainoka Hot Pools.

Do not confuse the two hot-springs camps

Mangatainoka is the backcountry campsite beside the Mohaka River and Mangatainoka Hot Pools. It is not the similarly named Mangatutu Hot Springs road-end campground already listed elsewhere. Treat the overnight as a walking trip with a carried tent, and verify the route that reaches this particular place. A search result for the other springs is not a substitute for the correct approach information.

Carry what the campsite does not supply

DOC describes minimal facilities: non-flush toilets and stream water that needs boiling. Bring a complete cooking and sleeping setup, including enough fuel to make water preparation practical. No fires are allowed. Decide how much gear you can carry comfortably before adding pool-related extras, and organise wet items so they do not compromise sleeping clothes or insulation for the rest of the trip.

Leave room for a change of plan

This is first-come camping and DOC warns that holiday periods can fill it. Do not treat a free campsite as a reserved space. Review road and track information for your chosen trailhead, and identify a sensible alternative before setting out. Dog access is restricted to specified DOC permits, not ordinary pet camping. Plan the return walk with the same care as the outward journey.

Check the official campsite information for current restrictions, facilities and booking arrangements.

Sources & official links

Keep planning