Ōtaki Forks Campsite — Hotel in North Island

If you enjoy large pot holes on the road, judder ruts as the tyres try to grip the gravel road for traction as they go up & turn a corner, gravel roads, narrow roads where other car drivers think they are the only cars on the road, fords or edges that drop steeply away from the edge of the roaf to the river far below then this is the road for you to drive on! Great DoC campsites at the end for you to pitch your tent. Flushing toilets. Picnic tables and bench seats. A lovely stony river to paddle in & keep cool and of course bush and huts and hikes to pass the time. Well sign posted on SH1 from the southern...

Awesome spot. Difficult to access now (2022) due to a large slip that’s made the road a path from Shields Flat reserve (around 4 kms to the Otaki forks picnic area). The slip is hazardous but an easy hike through in dry weather. Beautiful bush and scenery. Lots of tracks around the Tararuas from this area but the slip has added an 8km return extra hike...

With the closure of Ōtaki Gorge Road, the quickest access is a hilly 8.5km walk from the carpark next to the road closure. As far as I can tell, the campsite is still open, but is quite overgrown and unmaintained. I was the only one in the whole campsite. Now even more isolated than ever, this is the place to come to truly get away...