Best Camping Grounds in Whanganui: Riverside, Beachfront and Bush Sites

Choosing the best camping grounds in Whanganui comes down to whether you want the river, the coast, a lake or deep bush outside your tent door. The camping grounds in Whanganui listed below cover powered and unpowered sites for tents, caravans and campervans, plus cabins, self-contained units and glamping for anyone who would rather not sleep on the ground. Whanganui River TOP 10 Holiday Park sits five minutes upstream from town, while Whanganui Seaside Holiday Park puts you a short walk from Castlecliff Beach.

1Whanganui River TOP 10 Holiday Park

Whanganui River TOP 10 Holiday Park sits on the riverbank at Aramoho, 5.3 kilometres upstream of the city centre along Somme Parade. The park runs the full spread of accommodation, from unpowered tent sites and riverview power sites through kitchen cabins and self-contained units to deluxe motels, with a heated pool, spa and games room on the grounds. It suits families and touring campervanners who want facilities and activities on site rather than a minimal overnight stop.

Services

• Powered riverview and park sites for campervans and caravans
• Unpowered tent sites
• Glamping tents
• Kitchen cabins and standard family cabins
• Self-contained units, ensuite units and deluxe motels

Highlights

• Classified as a Superior Park under the TOP 10 park classification system
• Seasonally heated outdoor pool with a slide and a separate heated toddler pool, open from the September school holidays to the end of the April school holidays
• Private spa bookable at reception, with sessions running until 9pm
• Communal kitchen with three large ovens, full height fridges and a utensils cupboard, plus a TV room with book swap and board games
• Kayak, bike and trike hire, a jumping pillow, games room and petanque on site

Location & Contact

Name: Whanganui River TOP 10 Holiday Park
Address: 460 Somme Parade, Aramoho, Whanganui 4500
Phone: 06 343 8402
Website: wrivertop10.co.nz

2Whanganui Seaside Holiday Park

Whanganui Seaside Holiday Park occupies three acres of park-like grounds at Castlecliff, eight kilometres from the city centre and next to a large adventure playground and the beach. Campers can pitch a tent or park a campervan, or move indoors to one of the cabins or motel units, and the park handles school and sports groups of up to about 45 people in units. The saltwater pool, private sauna and covered outdoor kitchen make it an easy base for a longer coastal stay.

Services

• Camping sites for tents and campervans
• Cabins and motel units
• School and group bookings for up to about 45 people in units
• Hire of linen, bikes, RCD leads, portacots and the private sauna

Highlights

• Three acres of grounds adjacent to a large adventure playground and Castlecliff Beach
• Outdoor saltwater swimming pool and a private sauna bookable by the session
• Two kilometres from the North Mole, where the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail finishes, with secure bike storage and bike wash facilities
• Shower and toilet blocks fully renovated in 2020, with free showers and four showers in each block
• EV charging station, free WiFi and an undercover outdoor kitchen with a large open fireplace

Location & Contact

Name: Whanganui Seaside Holiday Park
Address: 1A Rangiora Street, Castlecliff, Whanganui 4501
Phone: 06 344 2227
Website: whanganuiholiday.co.nz

3Kai Iwi Beach Holiday Park

Established in the 1960s, Kai Iwi Beach Holiday Park sits at Mowhanau Drive, 250 metres from the iron sands of Kai Iwi Beach and about ten minutes from central Whanganui. Sites range from unpowered tent pitches to hard-pad seaview powered sites for campervans, alongside chalets, cottages and self-contained suites. Weekender sites let regulars hold a spacious 8 by 10 metre pitch for the summer.

Services

• Unpowered sites for tents and small motorhomes
• Powered sites for campervans, caravans and tents
• Seaview powered sites on hard pads with 16A supply
• Double chalets, Kai Iwi cottages and self-contained suites
• School camps and large group bookings

Highlights

• 250 metres from Kai Iwi Beach, which is patrolled during summer
• Discounted site rates for NZMCA and All Points members
• On-site general store, along with kitchens, lounge, laundry, dump station, BBQs and playground
• Seasonal weekender sites of 8 by 10 metres for campers who want the same pitch all summer

Location & Contact

Name: Kai Iwi Beach Holiday Park
Address: 66 Mowhanau Drive, Kai Iwi Beach, Whanganui 4574
Phone: 06 342 9658
Website: kaiiwibeach.co.nz

4Lakelands Holiday Park

Lakelands Holiday Park is at 316 Kaitoke Road, tucked at the back of Lake Wiritoa just off State Highway 3 south of Whanganui. It is a straightforward, well kept camping ground with powered and non-powered sites, a handful of cabins, hot showers and a shared kitchen. The lake and the neighbouring mountain bike tracks make it a good fit for active families and campervanners happy with the basics.

Services

• Powered sites for campervans and caravans
• Non-powered sites for tents
• Cabins sleeping up to four people
• Shared kitchen facilities, hot showers and toilets

Highlights

• Set at the back of Lake Wiritoa, signposted off State Highway 3
• Open for the summer season, from 1 December through to 31 March
• Owner-operated by Jackie and Darryl Dowman, with an office open 9am to 5pm
• No day visitors and no dogs, which keeps the grounds quiet for campers staying over

Location & Contact

Name: Lakelands Holiday Park
Address: 316 Kaitoke Road, Kaitoke 4572
Phone: 027 451 2905
Website: lakelands.co.nz

5The Flying Fox

The Flying Fox sits on the Whanganui River at 3081 Whanganui River Road, reached only by aerial cable car or boat. Its Koru Campsite is a bush camp with native plantings between the pitches, a kitchen shelter, a communal fire pit and a wood fired bath, and the property also has cottages, a tiny house and a treetop studio for anyone wanting a roof. Hosts Jane McCall and Kelly Stephens run catering and river activity packages alongside the accommodation.

Services

• Koru bush campsite with tent pitches spaced among native plantings
• Kiwi Cabin and Treetops Studio
• Self-contained cottages and the Tui tiny house
• Catering, from breakfasts and dinners to packed lunches and welcome baskets
• All-inclusive packages covering canoeing, jet boating and the historic mail bus run

Highlights

• Reached only by aerial cable car or boat, with no road access to the property
• Campsite kitchen shelter with cold running water, a two burner gas hob and a BBQ, plus a covered seating area with solar lighting
• Two toilets, a hot shower and a wood fired bath in the bush, with a communal fire pit for evening gatherings

Location & Contact

Name: The Flying Fox
Address: 3081 Whanganui River Road, RD6, Whanganui 4576
Phone: 06 927 6809
Website: theflyingfox.co.nz

Camping Grounds in Whanganui at a Glance

How to Choose the Right Camping Ground in Whanganui

• Match the setting to the trip: riverbank at Aramoho, surf beach at Castlecliff or Kai Iwi Beach, lake and bike tracks at Kaitoke, or remote bush on the River Road.
• Check what your vehicle or tent actually needs, because powered sites, hard-pad seaview sites with a 16A supply and unpowered grass pitches are priced and set up differently.
• Look at the season. Some Whanganui camping grounds run year round, while others open only for the summer months, so confirm dates before you drive.
• Work out which shared facilities matter to you, whether that is a communal kitchen and laundry, a dump station, a pool and spa, or simply hot showers and a fire pit.
• If you are travelling with children or a school group, ask about playgrounds, group rates and how many people can be accommodated in cabins and units.

Frequently Asked Questions About Whanganui Camping Grounds

How much does a campsite in Whanganui cost per night?

Rates vary by park and by site type. Published prices at the parks on this page start around $28 a night for an unpowered site for two people and around $33 to $48 for a powered site, with cabins from about $60 and self-contained units from about $80 to $120. Extra adults are usually charged per person per night, and some parks discount sites for NZMCA or All Points members.

Which camping grounds Whanganui offers are closest to the beach?

Kai Iwi Beach Holiday Park is 250 metres from Kai Iwi Beach at Mowhanau, and Whanganui Seaside Holiday Park is a short walk from Castlecliff Beach on the western edge of the city. Both put you on the coast rather than the river, which matters if you are planning fishing, surfing or a summer swim at a patrolled beach.

Are the camping grounds open all year?

Not all of them. The larger holiday parks at Aramoho, Castlecliff and Kai Iwi Beach take bookings year round, while Lakelands Holiday Park at Lake Wiritoa runs a summer season from 1 December to 31 March, and the bush campsite on the River Road operates from Labour Weekend through to April, weather permitting. Always confirm directly before travelling outside the peak months.

Can I freedom camp in Whanganui instead of using a camping ground?

Freedom camping is allowed in Whanganui only in the places the district council permits, and certified self-contained vehicles have to display their certification. Restrictions apply at spots including Castlecliff Beach, Kowhai Park, Moutoa Quay, Mowhanau, Taupo Quay, Westmere Lake and the River Road, and some areas are prohibited outright. Check the current rules on the Whanganui District Council freedom camping page before you park up.

Which camping ground suits a campervan or caravan best?

Look for a park with powered sites, a dump station and easy manoeuvring. Whanganui River TOP 10 Holiday Park has riverview and park power sites plus full amenity blocks, Kai Iwi Beach Holiday Park has hard-pad seaview powered sites with 16A supply, and Lakelands Holiday Park takes motorhomes on powered and non-powered sites. The bush campsite on the River Road is tent only, since there is no road access.

What is there to do near the camping grounds?

Kai Iwi Beach has a patrolled swimming beach, a playground and good surfcasting, with the Bason Botanical Gardens a couple of minutes away. Lake Wiritoa is used for swimming, kayaking, fishing and boating and sits beside the Araheke mountain bike park. On the river side, kayak and bike hire, the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail and jet boat trips towards the Bridge to Nowhere are all within reach.

Do any Whanganui campsites take school camps or large groups?

Yes. Whanganui Seaside Holiday Park can accommodate roughly 45 people in units and asks groups to supply numbers so it can put options together, and Kai Iwi Beach Holiday Park takes school camp and large group enquiries across its spacious grounds. Whanganui River TOP 10 Holiday Park also has a groups and schools arrangement. Book well ahead, because group space goes early over summer.

What about camping further up the Whanganui River?

Beyond the city, camping shifts into Whanganui National Park, where the Department of Conservation manages campsites and huts along the river and the Whanganui Journey. Access is often by canoe, jet boat or the River Road rather than by car, and facilities are basic. The Department of Conservation Whanganui National Park page lists what is available and how to book.