Freedom Camping
Council encourages responsible freedom camping in the Kawerau District and has designated two reserves as freedom camping areas.
These designated areas are Prideaux Park and Firmin Field.
Freedom camping in the Kawerau District must be in a self-contained vehicle or self-contained caravan only.
Council’s welcoming stance toward freedom camping was recognised in 2010 when the District was awarded motorhome friendly status by the NZ Motorhomes Association.
Duration of Stay
Freedom campers are welcome to stay in the Kawerau District for up to seven nights in any one calendar month.
Infringements
Council has approved the introduction of an infringement regime from for Freedom Camping Offences under its Freedom Camping Bylaw 2019. Details of the infringements and fines, and the infringements process, are available on the Council website. Use this link to the Freedom Camping section of the Council's website.
Prideaux Park
The grassed area behind the bowling club is available for use by campers in fully self-contained vehicles. This area is accessed from Plunket Street.
This site has four power connections at the streamside area behind the Prideaux Park Pavilion. Users must pay a $25 bond at the Kawerau isite for a powered site and a non-refundable $5 key fee. These powered sites are free of charge for the first three nights and at $10 per night thereafter. The maximum stay on a powered site is 7 consecutive nights.
Prideaux Park is a geothermal area so sleeping in anything other than a self-contained motor vehicle with an aboveground floor is strictly prohibited.
The carpark area in front of the Maurie Kjar Swimming Pool Complex is also available, but there are no power, water, or dump station facilities in this location.
Additional Services at Prideaux Park
• Council provides a dump station behind the bowling club (signposted) for the safe disposal of wastewater.
• Council also provides potable drinking water (the tap is located in the Pavilion building).
Firmin Field
Freedom campers may also use the sealed car park at Firmin Field. Access to Firmin Field is from Waterhouse Street.
This site has five power connections at the streamside area behind the Firmin Lodge, and another six power connections on the Firmin Lodge building. Users must pay a $25 bond at the Kawerau isite for a powered site and a non-refundable $5 key fee .
Additional Services:
• Council provides a dump station at the end of the carpark (signposted) for the safe disposal of wastewater.
• Council also provides potable drinking water (the tap is located on the Firmin Lodge Building).
Boyce Park, Stoneham Park & Waterhouse Street Reserve
These reserves are available for use by organised groups in fully self-contained motor vehicles.
To book one of these sites please contact the Council Customer Service Officers. >>Contact us
Arrangements will be made to open the gates when campers arrive and lock them again when they leave.
