The Herald Travel’s annual search for New Zealand’s best beaches is under way again and the competition is hot: will fan-favourite Ōhope retain the crown? Or will an underdog rise to the challenge?
Our readers have been busy nominating their favourite slices of paradise in five key categories, with our top 50 finalists unveiled last week. We’ve been profiling the top 10 in each of the five categories and today, we’re pitching a tent and cracking open a cold one, as we’re taking a look at your Best Camping Beach nominations.
But what criteria does New Zealand’s best camping beach need to meet? Your ultimate winner should tick all the boxes: swell views, stunning nature and somewhere to, you know, camp. Whether it be a holiday park, campsite or recreational reserve, this destination will have plenty of facilities or even on-site dining options to make any bivouacking the bee’s knees.
Read more: Best Beach 2025: New Zealand’s top 10 family beaches
Starting off strong, the first spot to make your top 10 is last year’s runner-up, Ōhope. The Bay of Plenty paradise boasts an award-winning beachside holiday park, while the popular campground features communal facilities including kitchen blocks and laundry, as well as a dining room, filleting station, games room and lounge. Ōhope was ultimately eclipsed in the category by Kaiteriteri, but will it rise to the top in 2025? The decision lies in your hands.
Next up, Hahei. Also scoring a Best Family Beach nod, this Coromandel fan-favourite is a popular choice among holidaymakers and locals alike. With 6.5ha of beachfront real estate, Hahei’s well-established resort caters to every camper, with spots for tents, bivouacs, campervans, motorhomes and caravans. Whether you’re nestled behind the dunes, beside the picturesque Wigmore Stream or beneath a pōhutukawa, there’s plenty of stunning reserves that are a stone’s throw from the beach, the Cathedral Cove walkway and Hahei village.
One of 2025’s most nominated destinations, Auckland’s Ōrewa has secured nods in four of the five categories: Best City Beach, Best Family Beach, Best Surf Beach and yes, Best Camping Beach. The popular holiday park offers beachfront powered campsites for tents, caravans and campervans, with stunning coastal vistas right on your doorstep. A safe spot for swimming and water sports, Ōrewa also features facilities such toilets, showers and a communal kitchen.
Northland oasis Waipu Cove, which scored a hat-trick with nods for Best Family Beach and Best Surf Beach, is a go-to camping getaway for many Kiwi families. With a range of options to choose from, including powered and unpowered campsites and self-contained and basic cabins, Waipu caters to fishers, surfers, swimmers, sunbathers – and even bird-watchers – alike. The historic village boasts cafes, boutiques and the famed Waipu Museum, but if you want to truly embrace the al fresco lifestyle, there’s also caves and native forest to explore.
Last year’s winner, Kaiteriteri, is back for 2025 – but can it take out the category two years running? The Tasman enclave, also nominated for Best Family Beach, trumped Ōhope for the title in 2024 with its recreation reserve and motor camp. Thirteen kilometres from Motueka and a gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park, Kaiteriteri is an ideal stop for a family getaway, with water activities to enjoy and beachside dining to boot.
Back in the North Island, Mount Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty makes a fourth appearance after nods in Best Family, Surf and City Beach. There’s an ocean-facing holiday park – nestled at the base of the towering Mauao and bordering the main beach – with picture-perfect views and various accommodation options, from a range of cabins to a powered campground. Facilities include a communal kitchen and dining area, barbecues, laundry, a playground, and all-important showers and toilets. There’s also the bustling village nearby to explore.
Also in the Bay of Plenty is our next nomination, Waihī. Also boasting Best Family and Best Surf Beach nods, this holiday hotspot has an abundance of holiday parks and recreation reserves on offer for camping enthusiasts. The family-friendly location is renowned for its sprawling 9km coastline and vibrant community, making it a popular choice for every kind of traveller.
Also in our top 10 is Tāwharanui and its popular campground at Tāwharanui Regional Park. This large, unpowered site is situated behind the sand dunes and between Phoenix Reef and Comet Rock, with native plants dividing the space into six areas. While the grounds are only for tents, there is also a dedicated space for vehicles. There are toilet blocks, but showers are not available. This is truly one for campers looking to reconnect with nature and life’s simple pleasures.
Next up is another fan favourite: Whangamatā. The motor camp is a great bet for adventure enthusiasts, with world-famous surfing, mountain bike tracks, and hiking all a stone’s throw away. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars in the vicinity, with accommodation options including old-school cabins and powered sites for motorhomes, caravans and tents. Facilities span showers and toilets, a communal kitchen, laundry, barbecue and a small playground.
Last but certainly not least, Coromandel’s Waikawau Bay is another beach competing for the 2025 Best Camping Beach title. The sprawling, family-friendly campsite is nestled beside pristine white sand and estuaries, perfect for fishing, swimming and kayaking. There are a multitude of beach- and bush-side non-powered sites for tent-pitching and a limited number of powered spaces, but no cooking facilities. Secluded and designed for self-sufficient campers, Waikawau Bay is also the country’s largest Department of Conservation campsite.
Now it’s time to pitch your favourite. Voting closes at 11.59pm on Sunday, January 26. The 2025 Best Beaches winners will be announced on Sunday, February 2.
Check out the New Zealand Herald from Monday to Friday this week for profiles on each of the finalists.
Go to nzherald.co.nz/bestbeach to vote or fill out the entry form below.
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