Stony Bay Campsite — Hotel in North Island

My husband and I went to Stony Bay Campground during the only sunny week in January 2023, tenting for 7 nights. It was beautiful, peaceful and fully within nature. Yes, the beach is stony with a couple of small sandy spots. There is a stream flowing almost parallel to the beach before opening out into the sea, good for kids to play. I loved my long swims in the rather enclosed bay with its clear waters. There is a small boat ramp, and some people kayaked and paddle boarded. One guy spear-caught a decent snapper from his paddle board. The campground features several areas, which are slightly apart from each other, each with a name. Unfortunately there were few suitable trees for shading our tent, but plenty of shade for picnicking. Also plenty of well-serviced long-drop toilets with toilet paper, and nice, modern block with a long-drop toilet, water-less urinals, a sink to wash dishes and a family-sized private cold shower area with plenty of hooks and a rope to hang solar showers. The ranger came about every second day to clean facilities and talk with visitors. It was the last week of school holidays, and there were about a dozen parties around, but overall the campground was only about one quarter full. The campground is the start of the walk and the start of the mountain bike track to...

My wife and I went there in Oct this year. I think its over rated and so did one other couple I talked too. Doc told me its not their peak season so They don't look after the site as much. ||The grass was over grown there was recycling there from their last peak season. ||Don't get me wrong it is a nice spot, very tight road to get into the site with some blind corners. Awesome place if you want to get away from everything, bush walks, fishing or just reading a book.||But I think Doc are a bit cheeky charging people a full rate for camping for a site run down when there is a heap of free freedom camping spots in...

VERY large camp ground that is on the coast and absolutely stunning. There is a little creek on the property where you can also camp along if you don't want to be on the ocean side. There are tracks all around starting from the campground so you can easily do some day walks while you're there. There are toilet and shower facilities. The place is well looked after by the resident DOC rangers. They come around every evening to check the facilities are running well and people are happy. It's not a very busy campground as it's a bit of a mission to get to via very windy gravel roads far out in the...