Area & getting there
Uretiti Beach Campsite
DOC campsite location point, not an individual pitch or verified entrance.
Official location information: Department of Conservation (new tab)Location source & precision
- Reference coordinates
- -35.93379, 174.45998 (latitude, longitude)
- Precision
- Stored to 5 decimal places (roughly 1 m resolution), not a claim of survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
- Source
- Uretiti Beach Campsite: published Location coordinates (new tab)
Department of Conservation - Location source checked
Read the full guideArrival, planning and local advice
- Book Uretiti Beach Campsite before arrival, including when using a DOC Campsite Pass.
- Your reservation covers people, not a designated campsite.
- Confirm evening gate access because DOC's two pages give different closing times.
- Take all rubbish, recycling and food waste away with you.
- Location
- Off SH1, 5 km north of Waipu, Northland
- Camping and access
- Non-powered/tent sites; car, campervan and caravan access
- Nightly fees
- NZ$18 adult 18+; NZ$9 child 5-17; under 5 free, subject to DOC confirmation
- Facilities
- Cooking shelter, non-flush toilets, treated tap water and coin-operated hot showers
- Holiday minimum
- Three-night minimum from 28 December to 1 January
- Waste
- No rubbish or recycling collection; no chemical toilet disposal into toilets
- Pets
- No domestic animals; DOC's rules state an exception for registered guide dogs
Book Uretiti Beach Campsite before arrival, including when using a DOC Campsite Pass. This non-powered DOC campground sits behind the dunes on Northland's Bream Bay coast and accepts tents, campervans and caravans. Check the official campsite listing for reservations and notices before setting off.
Fees and booking choices
At the time of checking, DOC lists nightly fees of NZ$18 for adults aged 18 and over, NZ$9 for children aged 5 to 17, and no charge for younger children. Confirm the final amount for your party and dates through DOC. A three-night minimum applies from 28 December to 1 January.
Your reservation covers people, not a designated campsite. There are no spaces held back for unbooked arrivals, so a patch of empty grass is not evidence that another group can stay. Book everyone travelling with you, and discuss any unusual layout or access needs before arriving.
The Campsite Pass instructions require reservations at bookable campsites. Add pass holders and non-pass holders correctly rather than assuming one pass covers a family. Take both the reservation confirmation and relevant passes.
DOC accepts a printed or digital confirmation email as proof of booking. Save it where you can retrieve it offline, and make sure another adult can access the information if the person who booked travels separately.
Getting there and the gate-time discrepancy
DOC's directions turn off SH1 at the campsite sign, 5 km north of Waipu. Follow the campground approach rather than using a beach access point as a substitute entrance.
Confirm evening gate access because DOC's two pages give different closing times. The main listing says gates are locked from 9pm to 7am; the camp rules say 8pm to 7am. Phone 09 432 1051 for the arrangement applying to your stay, and aim to arrive before the earlier time.
Do not build a long driving day around the later published hour. If a delay develops, contact the campsite while you can still change the plan and retain another authorised overnight option. Our campsite directory can help with that comparison.
Facilities, water and waste
DOC lists a cooking shelter, non-flush toilets, treated tap water and hot showers operated with $2 coins. Bring the coins you need; do not assume you can use a card at the shower.
| Need | Practical preparation |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | Bring a filled bottle and a container for carrying water |
| Meals | Bring your own cookware and a permitted cooking setup |
| Lighting and charging | Pack a head torch and charged power bank |
| Waste | Keep leak-resistant bags or containers available until disposal |
The rules prohibit connecting hoses to the campground water supply. Ask the manager about authorised tank filling rather than assuming a drinking-water tap can replenish a campervan. Chemical toilet contents must not go into campground toilets; plan an appropriate disposal stop separately.
Take all rubbish, recycling and food waste away with you. Reduce packaging before departure and leave space to carry waste on the next driving leg. A full chilly bin or tightly packed boot can make that unnecessarily difficult.
Use DOC's camping gear list and our packing list for bedding, warm layers, waterproof clothing, food storage and personal supplies.
Setting up considerately
Leave the required three-metre gap between your camp and neighbouring sites. Account for guy ropes, awnings and access routes before unloading everything, particularly when joining friends already established nearby.
Open fires are prohibited. The rules permit gas cooking or enclosed barbecue-style cookers using supplied fuel; check any additional restrictions before using your equipment. Generators and running vehicle engines to charge batteries are prohibited, so arrange charging elsewhere.
Domestic animals are prohibited, with the published exception for registered guide dogs. Contact DOC before travel about assistance-dog access rather than relying on an assumption. Keep noise down, especially after the rules' 10pm threshold.
Beach plans
DOC warns of strong currents and rips in Bream Bay and recommends the lifeguard-patrolled section beside Ruakaka for swimming. Check whether patrols are actually operating when you visit; a recommendation is not a live patrol report.
Review our conditions page, DOC's linked water-quality information and local signs. Make the decision at the beach based on conditions and everyone's ability, and keep a dry-land option for a day when the water is unsuitable.
Before you go
- Book the whole party and save the confirmation.
- Confirm gate hours directly and allow arrival time to spare.
- Pack shower coins, lighting and waste containers.
- Plan battery charging and toilet-waste disposal separately.
- Check weather, beach conditions and the current camp rules.
Source: Department of Conservation. Official information is paraphrased under DOC's CC BY 4.0 reuse terms.
Common questions
Do I need to book Uretiti Beach Campsite?
Yes. Book before arrival, including with a Campsite Pass. DOC keeps no spaces for unbooked arrivals, and your booking is for people rather than a designated pitch.
What time do Uretiti's gates close?
The main DOC listing says 9pm, while its separate camp-rules page says 8pm; both give a 7am reopening. Confirm with the campsite on 09 432 1051 and plan to arrive before the earlier closing time.
Can I fill my campervan tank from a campground tap?
DOC lists treated drinking water, but the camp rules prohibit attaching hoses to the campground supply. Ask the manager about any authorised tank-filling option before relying on one.
