Area & getting there
Totaranui Campground
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
- -40.81861, 173.00491 (latitude, longitude)
- Precision
- Published DOC reference coordinates; not a claim of survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
- Source
- Totaranui Campground: published Location coordinates (new tab)
Department of Conservation - Location source checked
Read the full guideArrival, planning and local advice
- Book the drive-in campground, not the separate Coast Track walkers' area.
- The final 12 km is narrow, winding and unsealed.
- Gate closing changes by season; an online booking does not allow late entry.
- Cold showers and flush toilets are listed; untreated tap water needs boiling.
- Setting
- Abel Tasman National Park, beside the beach and estuary
- Stay types
- Tent, campervan and caravan access listed
- Adult fee
- NZ$18/night off-peak; NZ$20 peak, with NZ$40 minimum per booking per night
- Peak period
- 26 December-8 February; Campsite Pass excluded
- Facilities
- Flush toilets, cold showers and untreated tap water
- Gate
- 7:30am-8:30pm October-March; 7:30am-6:30pm April-September
Totaranui offers a beach-focused base in Abel Tasman National Park, but arrival logistics deserve as much attention as the campsite itself. Use the DOC campground page to confirm dates and read notices before setting out.
Choose the correct camping area
The main campground sits across the camp road from the beach. Coast Track walkers use a separate beach-side area. Select the product that matches your transport and itinerary, rather than assuming every booking with Totaranui in its name is interchangeable.
For a family stay, decide whether easy access to amenities or a particular camping zone matters more. Review the official zone map together before making the reservation; photographs do not establish which pitch you will receive.
Budget for your dates and party
Adult non-powered camping is NZ$18 nightly outside the 26 December-8 February peak period. During that period it rises to NZ$20, with a minimum NZ$40 nightly booking charge. A solo camper should therefore compare the booking total, not only the adult headline rate.
Enter every person's details and retain confirmation offline. Check Campsite Pass exclusions before budgeting a longer holiday around the pass.
Leave time for the last road section
The last 12 km is unsealed, narrow and winding. Gates close at 8:30pm in October-March and 6:30pm in April-September, opening at 7:30am. Build your travel day around reaching the gate comfortably before closing.
Save directions before leaving reliable reception. Avoid making an evening detour or a last-minute supply stop essential to the plan, especially when travelling in an unfamiliar rental vehicle.
Pack for cold showers and beach days
Expect flush toilets, cold showers and untreated tap water that needs boiling. Bring a water container and cooking equipment suited to your meals. Check current fire restrictions rather than relying on a photograph of a fireplace.
Take rubbish and recycling out, and leave dogs at home. For beach time, set supervision arrangements before unpacking; a campground booking is not a water-safety assessment. Our family camping guide helps organise the rest of the kit.
Source: Department of Conservation. Information is paraphrased under DOC's CC BY 4.0 reuse terms.
Common questions
Is this the Totaranui Great Walk campsite?
No. This guide covers the drive-in campground across the camp road. The beach-side camping area is for Abel Tasman Coast Track walkers; check the booking product carefully.
Can I arrive after the gate closes?
Do not plan on it. DOC lists overnight gate locking with different summer and winter closing times. Arrange any exceptional access directly with DOC before travel.
Are there hot showers?
DOC lists cold showers. Do not book assuming holiday-park-style hot showers; boil the untreated tap water before drinking.
