Maitai Bay camping, Karikari Peninsula: facilities, booking and what to expect

Maitai Bay camping puts you on a grassy strip beside a white sand beach at the outer end of the Karikari Peninsula in Northland, on the Doubtless Bay side of New Zealand’s Far North. The Department of Conservation (DOC) runs it as the Maitai Bay Conservation Campsite, part of the Maitai Bay Recreation Reserve, and it is the main place to pitch a tent or park a campervan on this stretch of coast. It suits tents, campervans, motorhomes, camper trailers and anyone arriving by bike or motorbike, as long as you can handle a short gravel finish.

Is Maitai Bay Campsite an operating DOC campsite?

Yes. DOC lists it as a conservation campsite on Maitai Bay Road, about 44 km north-east of Kaitaia, and it accepts the DOC Campsite Pass. DOC’s site page uses the name Maitai Bay Conservation Campsite. Older material, and Wikipedia, also use the spelling Matai Bay, so searches under either name lead to the same place. The page describes a beachfront grassy camping area, a white sand beach, a sheltered bay with pohutukawa trees, and rocky areas at each end of the beach that suit snorkelling.

Can you camp at Maitai Bay, and do you need to book?

You can camp here, and DOC states that the campsite is not bookable. You turn up and take a spot. That works well outside busy periods, when DOC says there is usually plenty of space. It does not work at peak times: DOC says the campsite is usually full over Christmas and New Year, through January, in school holidays and on long weekends, especially when the weather is good. DOC’s advice is to have a backup option for those dates.

A third-party directory describes it as open all year, first come, first served. DOC does not state a site count or whether any sites are powered, so ask the camp manager.

How much does it cost to camp at Maitai Bay?

Fees apply per night and vary by age group, with infants aged 0 to 4 free. DOC publishes the current rates on the campsite page, so check there before you go rather than relying on an old figure. How you pay depends on the date. From Christmas to Waitangi weekend you pay camp managers by cash or EFTPOS. At other times you pay cash only, into the iron ranger on site.

How do you get to Maitai Bay?

DOC gives these directions from Kaitaia:

• Drive north on State Highway 1 to Awanui.
• Turn right onto State Highway 10 and continue 14.6 km.
• Turn left onto Inland Road and continue 15 km.
• Turn left onto Maitai Bay Road and continue 5 km. The entrance is signposted on the right.

The last 2 km are gravel. A third-party listing calls the unsealed stretch suitable for campervans, but DOC does not rate the surface, so take it slowly. Cyclists and motorbike riders face the same gravel finish as cars.

What is the campsite like?

DOC describes a grassy area beside the beach. There is a top camp, because DOC’s headland walk begins at the top left corner of it.

Facilities need care. DOC’s campsite page does not list toilets, showers, drinking water or cooking facilities. A third-party directory reports public toilets, an outdoor cold shower and a fresh water supply, with no powered sites and no kitchen confirmed. Treat that as unconfirmed and carry your own drinking water.

The campsite is described as family friendly. DOC asks guests to respect others, keep noise down and store belongings securely to prevent theft. The grass becomes soft after heavy rain, and DOC suggests walking the ground before you park a vehicle on it.

Does Maitai Bay have showers and toilets?

DOC’s page states neither. One third-party directory reports toilets and a cold outdoor shower. If hot showers matter, ask DOC or the camp manager before you rely on them.

Is Maitai Bay dog friendly?

DOC’s page does not mention dogs. A third-party directory says dogs are not allowed, with exceptions such as guide dogs. Because the two sources do not match, contact the DOC Far North office before bringing a dog. DOC also says threatened birds may nest nearby.

What are the rules at Maitai Bay?

• Fires: Open fires are not permitted. Take care with candles and gas cookers, and note that DOC flags a high fire danger on the Karikari Peninsula.
• Fireworks: Fireworks, including floating lanterns, are prohibited all year on the Karikari Peninsula.
• Rubbish: There are no rubbish bins on site, so take in and take out. From December to February, rubbish is collected daily for a fee per bag. The nearest transfer station is at Whatuwhiwhi, 1 km past the Whatuwhiwhi garage.
• Horses: No horses are allowed at the campsite.
• Fishing and seafood: A rāhui is in place over the bay. See the next section.
• Beach driving: Some beaches in Northland no longer allow vehicles. DOC points to the Northland Regional Council map before you drive on sand.
• Generators and stay limits: DOC does not state a rule on generators or a maximum stay on the page used for this guide. Ask the camp manager.

What is the rāhui at Maitai Bay?

In 2017 Te Whānau Moana and Te Rorohuri placed a rāhui over the bay to stop fishing and the taking of seafood so the area can recover. DOC asks visitors not to remove fish or shellfish. Fishing is not permitted, and information is available at rahuimaitaibay.nz. Snorkelling is welcome. DOC also notes the area has spiritual and cultural significance. The headland on Maitai Point between the two accessible beaches is especially significant. Access around the rocks is permitted, but local iwi prefer that people avoid the elevated parts of the point.

What is there to do near Maitai Bay?

• Swim and snorkel: DOC describes clear water in the bay and a short walk to the beach.
• Maitai Bay Headland Track: The track starts at the top left corner of the top camp, follows a fence line to a wooden gate, then follows orange triangle markers through manuka and kanuka to the end of the headland. It has views over Waikato Bay, Maitai Bay and the Pacific. DOC says you need to be fit and self-sufficient, asks you to check in with the camp manager first, and warns that it is muddy in winter or after heavy rain and that streams may dry up in summer. A third-party summary gives it as about 3.45 km return, but DOC does not state a length.
• Karikari Bay Walk: Road access is 100 metres past the campsite entrance. A short walk leads to Karikari and Puwheke beaches, and a further short climb reaches the top of Puwheke for views over the northern peninsula and Doubtless Bay.
• Lake Ohia: DOC says the old lake bed shows traces of gum digging and an ancient kauri forest.
• Waimango Swamp: With Karikari Bay it covers 220 ha of beach, dunes, lagoons and swamp.
• Boat launching: DOC lists ramps at Tokerau beach, Perehipe Bay and Rangiputa.

Wildlife and safety

DOC says endangered birds such as the New Zealand dotterel and the oystercatcher may nest nearby, so keep your distance from nesting areas and keep dogs away. Mosquitoes are prolific, so pack insect repellent. The coast is susceptible to tsunamis, and DOC asks campers to read the site information and plan an escape route. Read DOC’s water safety guidance before swimming or snorkelling, and note that Wikipedia records the poisonous introduced Cape honey flower growing at Maitai Bay.

When is the best time to camp at Maitai Bay?

Summer gives the warmest days and the most sun, but it is also when the campsite is fullest. DOC says the off-season is a good time to visit Northland and usually has plenty of space. The figures below are for Kaitaia, the nearest long-term climate station, about 44 km away by road, so the exposed coast may feel windier.

Season	Months	Mean daily max	Mean daily min	Notes
Summer	Dec to Feb	21.7 to 24.5 C	13.8 to 15.6 C	Warmest and sunniest, busiest, fire danger
Autumn	Mar to May	18.4 to 23.0 C	11.2 to 14.3 C	Warm early on, wetter by May
Winter	Jun to Aug	15.4 to 16.2 C	8.5 to 9.4 C	Wettest, July the wettest month
Spring	Sep to Nov	16.7 to 19.4 C	9.6 to 11.7 C	Drier and quieter, milder days

Kaitaia receives about 1,320 mm of rain a year, with July the wettest month at about 168 mm.

What should you bring?

• Cash for the iron ranger, plus a card for EFTPOS in the Christmas to Waitangi period.
• Drinking water for the first day, since DOC does not list a supply.
• Insect repellent and a mosquito net or a fully screened tent.
• Rubbish bags and a plan to carry waste out, or cash for the daily collection in summer.
• A gas cooker, because open fires are not permitted.
• A mask and snorkel.

What supplies and services are nearby?

Whatuwhiwhi is the main settlement on the peninsula. DOC lists a dive centre, school, backpackers, cafe, takeaways and a general store with petrol, and the rubbish transfer station is just beyond the garage. Kaitaia, about 44 km away, is the nearest larger town; Wikipedia describes it as the last major settlement on State Highway 1 and the Far North’s second-largest town after Kerikeri. Opening hours are not verified here, so check before relying on them.

A one-night plan

Arrive in daylight outside peak season and walk the ground before parking. Pay the manager or iron ranger, pitch, then swim and snorkel at a rocky end of the beach. Cook on gas. In the morning, walk the Karikari Bay track to Puwheke for the Doubtless Bay view, then pack out your rubbish.

A weekend plan

On day one, set up and snorkel. On day two, check in with the camp manager and walk the headland track in dry weather, carrying water, then swim. Spend the afternoon at Karikari Beach and Puwheke. On day three, visit Lake Ohia on the way out, or restock at Whatuwhiwhi.

Who does Maitai Bay suit, and who should go elsewhere?

It suits campers who want a beach setting with basic facilities, tents and campervans without power, and a relaxed arrival without a booking. Look elsewhere if you need powered sites, certain hot showers, a firm booking at Christmas or in January, or want to bring a dog.

Two verified alternatives in Northland are Rarawa Beach Campsite, managed with Ngāti Kuri, where DOC says booking is required and the Campsite Pass cannot be used, and Tapotupotu Campsite near Cape Reinga, which also falls outside the Campsite Pass. DOC pages for both give conflicting booking notes, so check the current page first.

Planning checklist

• Check the DOC page for fees, alerts and the fire danger.
• Have a backup for peak dates.
• Carry cash, water, repellent and a gas stove.
• Take the last 2 km of gravel slowly.
• Check the headland track conditions and register with the manager.
• Respect the rāhui, nesting birds and the point.

Common mistakes

• Arriving at Christmas or in January without a backup.
• Expecting bookings, power or bins.
• Fishing or gathering shellfish in the rāhui.
• Parking a heavy vehicle on wet grass.
• Assuming hot showers or a shop on site.
• Bringing a dog without checking.

More from the operator: doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/northland/places/karikari-peninsula/things-to-do/maitai-bay-campsite.

Plan it in the app

Save the camp on your route in MotoRidez and the planner shows road closures along the way, and where your tank runs out once you have entered the range of your vehicle. Save the route for offline use before you lose signal: it saves the corridor around your route, not a whole region.

Details come from the operator’s own records and pages, read on 20 October 2026, and change. We do not show prices or availability. Confirm fees, bookings, closures and fire rules with the operator before you go.