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Best Camping Grounds in Hastings: Holiday Parks, Tent and Powered Sites

Tent pitches and powered campervan sites with dump stations, from Windsor Avenue by Splash Planet to Havelock North and beachfront Waimarama

Looking for the best camping grounds in Hastings? The holiday parks around the city offer tent pitches, powered sites for campervans and caravans, and shared kitchens, bathrooms and play areas, whether you want a base near Splash Planet or a campsite on the Hawke’s Bay coast. For camping in Hastings with the full holiday park setup, Hastings TOP 10 Holiday Park sits on Windsor Avenue, while Havelock North Holiday Park looks out to Te Mata Peak.

1Hastings TOP 10 Holiday Park

Hastings TOP 10 Holiday Park is set on 10 acres of landscaped, park-like grounds on Windsor Avenue, next to Splash Planet and about five minutes’ drive from Havelock North. Powered and unpowered tent sites are spread through the park under a canopy of established trees, alongside cabins, motels and apartments. It suits families, groups and campervan travellers who want a camping ground in Hastings itself, close to the city and the region’s wineries and cycle trails.

Services

  • Powered campervan and caravan sites
  • Unpowered tent sites
  • Cabins, motel units and self-contained apartments
  • Group accommodation
  • Long-term annual sites

Highlights

  • Park history dating back to the early 1900s
  • Owned and operated on site by Evander and Blair
  • Outdoor swimming pool and two private spa pools
  • Jumping pillow, adventure playground and tennis and basketball court
  • Dog-friendly sites by prior arrangement outside peak periods

Location & Contact

Name: Hastings TOP 10 Holiday Park
Address: 610 Windsor Avenue, Hastings 4122
Phone: 06 878 6692
Website: hastingstop10.co.nz

2Havelock North Holiday Park

Havelock North Holiday Park sits on Havelock Road in a rural setting of vineyards and orchards, with Te Mata Peak in the backdrop and many campsites looking straight at it. Campers choose between powered and non-powered sites of roughly 10 by 10 metres, with motel units, cottages and houses also on site. It suits campervan and caravan travellers, families and sports groups wanting a quieter base a few minutes from Havelock North village.

Services

  • Powered sites with power, drinking water and a dump station
  • Non-powered tent sites
  • Motel units, cottages and houses
  • Power cord hire for powered sites

Highlights

  • Views of Te Mata Peak from most campsites
  • Modern bathrooms and communal kitchen
  • Seasonal heated swimming pool and playground with jumping pillow
  • Off The Track restaurant within the grounds

Location & Contact

Name: Havelock North Holiday Park
Address: 114 Havelock Road, Havelock North 4130
Phone: 027 260 0659
Website: havelocknorthholidaypark.co.nz

3Waimarama Holiday Park

Waimarama Holiday Park is an absolute beachfront campground in the coastal village of Waimarama, backing onto a white sand beach with views of Bare Island. Tents and motorhomes are both welcome on powered and non-powered sites, with shared kitchen, barbecue, toilet and shower facilities. It is run by directors Karen Hema and Eru Smith and suits families after a classic Kiwi beach camping holiday on the Hastings coast.

Services

  • Non-powered sites for tents and motorhomes
  • Powered sites for campervans, motorhomes and tents
  • Communal kitchen and barbecue areas
  • Surfboard hire

Highlights

  • Backs directly onto Waimarama Beach
  • Beach patrolled by surf life savers
  • Refurbished children’s playground
  • Director Karen Hema lives on site and also runs the cafe
  • Water refill stations on site

Location & Contact

Name: Waimarama Holiday Park
Address: 3 Gilray Place, Waimarama
Phone: 06 874 6049
Website: waimaramaholidaypark.co.nz

4Clifton Road Reserve

Clifton Road Reserve is a large natural reserve run by Hastings District Council, right on the beachfront between Haumoana and Te Awanga. It is not a holiday park: there are no powered sites, kitchens or showers, and overnight stays are for certified self-contained vehicles only, with no tents. It suits campervan travellers exploring the Te Awanga wineries and Cape Kidnappers who carry their own water and waste facilities.

Services

  • Overnight parking for certified self-contained vehicles
  • Public toilets
  • Seating areas

Highlights

  • Beachfront setting between Haumoana and Te Awanga
  • Close to Te Awanga wineries and Cape Kidnappers
  • Managed under the Cape Coast Reserves Management Plan

Location & Contact

Name: Clifton Road Reserve (Hastings District Council)
Address: Clifton Road, Te Awanga 4180
Phone: 06 871 5000
Website: hastingsdc.govt.nz/hastings/reserves/clifton-road-reserve

Camping Grounds in Hastings at a Glance

BusinessHighlight
Hastings TOP 10 Holiday ParkPark history dating back to the early 1900s
Havelock North Holiday ParkViews of Te Mata Peak from most campsites
Waimarama Holiday ParkBacks directly onto Waimarama Beach
Clifton Road ReserveBeachfront setting between Haumoana and Te Awanga

How to Choose the Right Camping Grounds in Hastings

  • Site type: decide whether you need a powered site for a campervan or caravan, or an unpowered pitch for a tent, and check the site dimensions if you are towing a large rig.
  • Facilities: compare communal kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, dump stations and extras such as pools, spa pools and playgrounds, especially if you are camping with children.
  • Setting: choose between a central campground close to town and Splash Planet, a rural park near Havelock North, or a beachfront campsite on the coast.
  • Pets and groups: check each park’s dog policy and group booking terms before you book, as many limit dogs to certain sites or seasons.
  • Booking terms: read the deposit, cancellation and peak-season rules, as summer holidays and major Hawke’s Bay events fill up early.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hastings Camping Grounds

Can I pitch a tent on public land around Hastings?

No. Camping in a tent or a non-self-contained vehicle is not allowed on public land in the Hastings District, so tent campers need to book a site at a campground or holiday park.

Where can self-contained campervans stay overnight near Hastings?

Hastings District Council allows overnight stays on some reserves, such as Clifton Road Reserve, but only in vehicles showing a current certificate of self-containment and warrant card. The council publishes its rules and designated areas on its overnight parking for self-contained vehicles page.

Which camping ground is closest to central Hastings?

For a campsite in town, look at Windsor Avenue beside Splash Planet. Havelock Road, between Hastings and Havelock North, suits travellers heading for Te Mata Peak, while the coastal villages of Waimarama, Haumoana and Te Awanga are the places to look for beachside camping near Hastings.

Do campgrounds in Hastings have powered sites?

Most holiday parks around Hastings offer both powered and unpowered sites. Powered sites usually suit campervans, motorhomes and caravans, although some parks also let tent campers book one if they want to run electrical appliances.

What do I need to use a powered site?

Holiday parks commonly require campers on a powered site to use an approved residual current device (RCD) and a lead with a current electrical warrant of fitness. Some parks hire out power cords if you arrive without one.

Can I take my dog camping in Hastings?

Some camping grounds accept dogs, but usually only by prior arrangement, on campsites rather than in cabins, and often not during the peak summer period. Always confirm the park’s pet policy and any fees before you travel.

Is there beachfront camping near Hastings?

Yes. The coast east of Hastings has beachfront camping at Waimarama, and self-contained campervans can stay on beachfront council reserves between Haumoana and Te Awanga.

When should I book a camping ground in Hastings?

Book early for the Christmas and January school holidays, long weekends and major Hawke’s Bay events, when many parks fill up and apply stricter cancellation terms. Outside those periods it is usually easier to find a site at short notice.

How We Chose the Best Camping Grounds in Hastings

Every business in this guide was found by searching for camping grounds in Hastings, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Hastings, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.