Area & getting there
Maitai Bay 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
- -34.82959, 173.40808 (latitude, longitude)
- Precision
- Published DOC reference coordinates; not a claim of survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
- Source
- Maitai Bay Campsite: published Location coordinates (new tab)
Department of Conservation - Location source checked
Read the full guideArrival, planning and local advice
- Maitai Bay cannot be reserved; have another overnight option.
- Carry cash outside the Christmas-to-Waitangi staffed period.
- Boil the untreated tap water; showers are cold.
- The bay's rahui prohibits fishing and taking seafood.
- Location
- Karikari Peninsula, Northland
- Stays
- Tent, campervan and caravan; non-powered
- Bookings
- First come, first served
- Adult fee
- NZ$18 per night, age 18+
- Facilities
- Flush toilets, cold showers and untreated tap water
- Seafood
- No fishing or gathering under the bay's rahui
Maitai Bay suits a flexible coastal itinerary. It is less suitable when your entire evening depends on a guaranteed reserved pitch.
Make a first-come plan
The campground does not take bookings, and DOC warns that holiday periods can fill. Choose a second authorised overnight option before driving to the peninsula. Decide your latest sensible decision time so a full campground does not leave you searching after dark.
Do not assume a quiet-looking photo represents current space. Check the entrance information on arrival and ask about permitted areas before unloading equipment or driving onto the grass.
Payment and facilities
The published adult rate is NZ$18 per night. Prepare the appropriate payment method for the season; keep camping money separate from emergency fuel or travel funds.
Cold showers, flush toilets and untreated tap water are listed. Build your packing list around non-powered camping and boil water before use. Choose meals that work with the gear you actually carry, and pack a dry layer where it is easy to reach after a shower or beach visit.
Protect the bay
The rahui restricts fishing and seafood collection; snorkelling is still welcome. Leave the fishing plan out of this particular stay unless current official guidance clearly permits it elsewhere. A general Northland fishing recommendation does not override a local restriction.
Give shorebirds and marked nesting areas space. Keep your group together when deciding where to enter the beach rather than walking through sensitive areas to seek an empty spot.
Road and wet-weather choices
The final approach includes gravel, and DOC notes soft grass after rain. Walk a potential parking area before committing a vehicle, and do not use momentum as a substitute for assessing the ground.
Have an alternative activity for poor beach conditions. Carry waste bags and insect protection, and remember that dogs and open fires are not allowed. Review the official campsite page again before departure; our campsite comparison guide can help with the backup choice.
Official facts are paraphrased from DOC under its CC BY 4.0 terms; planning advice is Outdoor Next's own.
Common questions
Can I book Matai or Maitai Bay camping?
No. This guide uses DOC's current name, Maitai Bay; it is first come, first served, not an online-reserved campground.
Can I fish from Maitai Bay?
The rahui prohibits taking fish and shellfish in the protected area. Do not interpret a campsite stay as permission to fish.
Does Maitai Bay accept cards?
DOC lists cash or EFTPOS with camp managers from Christmas to Waitangi weekend; outside that period, cash at the onsite payment station.
