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Forest Glamping

The best forest glamping sites in New Zealand

Name: New Zealand
Address: Glamping
Rating: 4.7725

Ask a Kiwi what defines New Zealand (Aotearoa), and you'll get markedly different answers depending on where they hail from—even if they only grew up hours apart. That may be because New Zealand crams diverse landscapes and experiences into its 268,021 square kilometres. You can sleep at Māori maraes, park your campervan at the foot of active volcanoes, unroll your sleeping bag metres from the sea or deep in the rainforest, or pitch a tent at the foot of snow-capped mountains. Kiwis love road trips thanks to an extensive network of frontcountry, backcountry, and even urban camping areas. Freedom camping in New Zealand is also widespread, with free camping sites sometimes even equipped with flush toilets and hot showers. Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites and holiday parks can be found in even the most remote corners of the country, while local hosts are among the most welcoming you’ll find anywhere in the world.

95% (13) • 44 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in New Zealand

Hampshire Holidays Parks Arrowtown

1. Hampshire Holidays Parks Arrowtown

100%

(11)

Arrowtown · 171 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

Stay just a minutes’ walk from Arrowtown’s charming main street, where heritage buildings, boutique eateries, and leafy lanes create one of New Zealand’s most atmospheric small towns. Hampshire Holiday Parks – Arrowtown offers powered and unpowered sites in a peaceful, tree-lined setting with mountain views. Our spacious, level sites make accessing your vehicle easy, and you’ll find free Wi-Fi across the park, laundry, and BBQ/kitchen facilities all on-site. Kids will love the outdoor playground, and active travellers can enjoy the tennis court or hop onto nearby walking and cycling trails. A wide selection of cabins is also available for those wanting more than camping. Located just a short stroll from Arrowtown’s historic river, boutique shops and cafés, and only a short drive to Queenstown and local skifields, the park offers the perfect mix of relaxed village charm and access to big-weekend adventure.

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Electrical hookup

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Dickson Holiday Park

2. Dickson Holiday Park

Thames · 88 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

WELCOME TO THAMES Only 90 minutes from Auckland International Airport and to the cities of Hamilton and Tauranga. Bush, scenic bays, mountains, and cycling trails are all in the immediate vicinity. Museums, eateries, art and antiques shopping, a coastal walk, all part of the Thames. Thames is your basecamp on the Coromandel Peninsula, the perfect holiday destination for enjoying magnificent scenery, beautiful bush walks, cycling, playing, swimming, great fishing, and simply relaxing. DICKSON HOLIDAY PARK Set beside a stream and surrounded by native bush, Dickson Holiday Park offers peace and tranquility. We are only three kilometres from the centre of the town of Thames, and ideally located to explore the scenic wonders of the Coromandel Peninsula. A RICH HISTORY Dickson Holiday Park is located in the old Tararu gardens, planted late last century by the settlers looking to beautify this thriving gold town. It is also the site of the remains of the Brown and Campbell gold processing stamper battery. The Gold is mostly gone, or best left in the ground to preserve the scenic wealth of this beautiful area, but the history remains and is a part of life in the Coromandel. Enjoy our: Ebike Hires Normal bike Hire Swimming pool in summer 9 hole mini golf course Basketball court Games room River that you can find crystals and rocks in.

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Dune Lakes Lodge - Retreat & Horses

3. Dune Lakes Lodge - Retreat & Horses

South Head · 1 site

Dune Lakes Retreat & Horse Inspired Learning Centre is nestled on the wild South Kaipara Head Peninsula, just 60 minutes from Auckland CBD, yet it feels far removed from everyday life. Set among ancient sand hills, pristine wetlands, native bush, and the calm waters of Lake Kereta — a rare freshwater dune lake — this is a landscape shaped by deep time, quiet balance and wonderful for safe swimming. The South Kaipara Head is an ancient sand barrier separating the vast Kaipara Harbour from the Tasman Sea. Between the dunes, groundwater has gathered over thousands of years to form freshwater lakes and wetlands that filter water, support rich biodiversity, and create a profound sense of calm. Guests may choose from a range of camping sites — some nestled near the wetlands, others more open with wide skies and lake views. Facilities include excellent water quality, toilets, and showers. Accommodation includes the Flying Horse Barn with three studio rooms at $150 per night per room, and a cabin available for $100 per night (bring your own linen/towels etc or $25 extra per stay for supplied linen for all accommodation) To the west lies the dramatic Muriwai / Rangatira coastline with sweeping Tasman Sea sunsets. To the east is the sheltered Kaipara Harbour, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and a vital feeding ground for marine life and migratory birds such as godwits, knots, plovers, and terns. A quiet lagoon to the north shelters swans, ducks, pūkeko, paradise shelduck, kingfisher, fantail, warbler, and silvereye. At dawn, birdsong fills the air. At dusk, frogs rise in chorus, and from deep within the reedbeds the rare Australasian bittern calls — a nationally threatened bird whose presence signals an intact wetland. The retreat is also home to a free-roaming herd of horses at the Horse Inspired Learning Centre. The horses are free-roaming, barefoot, unridden, and without covers. Mindful, non-riding interactions grounded in Natural Horse Friendship and Equine-Assisted Learning sessions are available by arrangement at $250 per morning session) A place to rest, reflect, and reconnect — where land, water, wildlife, horses, and quiet beauty meet.

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Twin Coast Cycle Trail Nature Lodge

4. Twin Coast Cycle Trail Nature Lodge

100%

(2)

Ōkaihau · 1 site

Reset Retreat is an eco-retreat nestled away on 25 acres of private, native forest filled with Northland Brown Kiwis, glow worms, freshwater springs, Rurus, and resident native birds. We are right on the Twin Coast Cycle Trail and have access to several kilometers of private hiking trails that are yours to explore. You will have your own private guest wing and balcony with gorgeous views over this hidden valley. At night, you can sit by the fire and take in the stars, glow worms and kiwi calls. By day, you can explore the cycle trail and all the awesome local tourism Northland has on offer. You will have your own covered balcony and outdoor cooking space (pictured), your own entry and room (pictured), and private ensuite with shower. We have worked hard as Kaitiaki of this land over the last three years, working alongside the Northland Council to protect the kiwis, forest and animals here. As a result (alongside Kiwis) you can also see Titiwai/glow worms, Kererū, Tui, Tomtits, we have spotted longtailed bats outside our house on dusk, Ruru, Riroriro, Cave and Tree Wetas, the rare and gorgeous, large, green Puriri Moths, Piwakawakas, Peacocks, and a host of other native and non-native animals, insects and plants. Reset Retreat is fully off-grid – that means our power comes from the sun, our water comes from the rain, our internet comes from Starlink satellites and our heat comes from our fireplace (with a heat transfer system that disperses the heat throughout the house).

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Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Abby

March 2026

1 night at Twin Coast Cycle Trail Nature Lodge

We loved our stay here. Peaceful and relaxing, and thoughtful touches to the suite. John and Nicole are great hosts who clearly have a love for the land. We wish we could’ve stayed longer!

James

November 2024

1 night at Twin Coast Cycle Trail Nature Lodge

Unreal spot to stay. Heaps of wild life and very peaceful. Went down through a forest walk and watched the sunset on a hill and found glow worms in the forest 2 minutes away from the room. Very tidy rooms and accommodating to all needs. Highly recommend.

New Zealand camping guide

Where to go

Northland (North Island)

This stretch of land north of Auckland is the birthplace of both Māoridom and modern New Zealand. Campsites in the Bay of Islands offer modern amenities and services, while seaside sites in the relatively unpopulated Far North region do justice to the phrase "winterless north."

Waikato (North Island)

Just south of Auckland, Waikato may be known for its cows, but this is also where you'll find some of the most dynamic camping in the region, including riverbanks and caves lit up at night with glowworms, surf beaches, and the bays and inlets of the Coromandel.

Bay of Plenty & Hawke's Bay (North Island)

Kiwifruits, wineries, and seafood are just part of what makes these two regions so plentiful. In addition to beachfront camping sites, you'll also find farm stays and further inland, camping among the misty mountain peaks of Te Urewera or beside the steaming geysers at Rotorua.

Ruapehu (North Island)

Within the volcanic heart of the North Island, the Ruapehu region also marks the start Whanganui River, with its headwaters in Tongariro National Park. Lava flows have defined this landscape, yet you can also park your motorhome among lush green rainforest.

Tasman/Nelson & Marlborough (South Island)

After a ferry ride from Wellington, you'll arrive to the northern end of the South Island, where these Tasman and Marlborough are known for their gold-hued beaches (especially in the aptly named Golden Bay and Abel Tasman National Park), plus kayaking, wineries, endless coastline, and native bush.

West Coast (South Island)

New Zealand's West Coast is known for being both wild and wet. It lives up to both descriptions, but it isn't all rain and gloom. Here, you'll find glaciers that nearly touch the sea, native rainforest, windswept beaches, and some of the country's most remote campsites.

Canterbury (South Island)

From the turquoise lakes of Mackenzie Country and the snow-capped peaks of Arthur's Pass to the braided rivers that cross the plains, Canterbury is as big as it is diverse. Want to camp beachside, riverside, oceanside, mountainside, lakeside, or even cityside in Christchurch? Find it all in Canterbury.

Otago (South Island)

Otago's urban centre of Queenstown is known for hustle and bustle, but it's easy to find yourself totally immersed in wilderness after just a short drive. With massive lakes, rushing rivers, and high mountain peaks, there's no shortage of adventure or camping grounds in the country's adrenaline capital.

Fiordland & Stewart Island (South Island)

Fiordland National Park is one of New Zealand's most remote regions—yet it's also one of the most visited. The postcard-perfect Milford Sound is what lures many here, but for those who have time to camp for a few nights, it offers unparalleled wilderness opportunities starting from Te Anau.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

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