August 6, 2026
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6 min read
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New Zealand3 North Island DOC beach campsites to book early
Daniel Thareja
Founder
Northland has three DOC beach campsites worth putting on your summer shortlist: Uretiti for scale and easy access, Otamure Bay for a reserved site, and Port Jackson for a remote Coromandel stay. All three require bookings, but they do not sell the same thing. At two of them you reserve space for your group and choose a spot after arrival. At Otamure Bay you select a particular site.
Bookings are open now for stays through 30 June 2027. DOC advises booking ahead for the busy summer period, particularly at Otamure Bay and Port Jackson.
Uretiti Beach campsite
Uretiti Beach Campsite sits behind the dunes near Waipu. DOC currently lists 300 non-powered or tent sites, making it the largest of this group.
A booking is for your party size, not a numbered site. Find an available space when you arrive. That looser setup helps groups camp together, but it also means a reservation does not promise a particular patch of ground.
The current rate is $18 per adult and $9 per child aged 5 to 17, with younger children free. The DOC Campsite Pass is accepted. A three-night minimum applies from 28 December to 1 January.
Otamure Bay campsite
Otamure Bay, Whananaki has 130 non-powered or tent sites. Unlike Uretiti, the booking system asks you to choose a site. That is useful when you care about a particular part of the campground, but it also fragments availability: one site may be free for your whole stay while the next is not.
The current rate is $20 per adult and $10 per child, with children under five free. The Campsite Pass is accepted. DOC specifically advises booking well ahead for stays from 1 December to 28 February and on public-holiday weekends.
Otamure's demand is not just a generic warning. In a December 2023 media release, DOC reported it full from 24 December into late January. That is historical evidence, not a forecast for every summer, but it shows why waiting until December is a poor plan for peak dates.
Port Jackson campsite
Port Jackson Campsite is the remote option at the top of the Coromandel Peninsula. DOC lists 74 non-powered or tent sites and a maximum of 250 people. Booking is by party size, with no designated site.
Rates change over the summer peak. From 9 February to 25 December, the price is $18 per adult and $9 per child. From 26 December to 8 February, it rises to $20 and $10. Younger children are free, and the Campsite Pass is accepted.
Bookings are required all year. DOC advises booking well ahead for 1 December to 28 February and public-holiday weekends. The access road is narrow, remote and gravel; DOC recommends a reliable four-wheel drive. The same 2023 release that recorded Otamure's sellout had Port Jackson full from Christmas Day through the first week of January.
When the next DOC season opens
The current 2026/27 North Island campsite season opened at noon on 14 May 2026. That was this year's date, not a permanent annual rule. DOC has not yet announced the 2027/28 opening schedule.
The DOC online booking page publishes the next dates when they are confirmed. Bookings are first come, first served, and there is no waitlist. Create your DOC account before an opening day, have payment ready, and keep backup dates in mind.
Cancellations and availability alerts
If your dates are full, keep checking the official booking calendar. DOC applies a percentage cancellation fee that rises closer to arrival, so space can return as plans change. The exact campground fee bands are published in the booking terms.
DOC's booking portal also offers a Create Notification option. It emails when space becomes available, but it does not hold that space for you.
Schnerp watches New Zealand campsite availability across dates you choose. It does not make the booking or reserve a site; you still need to return to DOC and check out. You can set up a New Zealand availability request if you want another set of eyes on summer dates.
For the system behind these campgrounds, read our DOC campground booking guide. Auckland campers should also note that Tāwharanui uses a different council booking system.
Quick comparison
| Campsite | Current size | Booking unit | Adult/child rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uretiti | 300 sites | Party size; choose space on arrival | $18 / $9 |
| Otamure Bay | 130 sites | Choose a numbered site | $20 / $10 |
| Port Jackson | 74 sites, max 250 people | Party size; choose space on arrival | $18 / $9, or $20 / $10 peak |
Stop refreshing. Start camping.
Schnerp watches for cancellations across Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
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