Matauri Bay Holiday Park

Matauri Bay Holiday Park sits directly on the beachfront of one of Northland’s most scenic bays, about 30 minutes northeast of Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands region. The park is framed by Norfolk pines and rolling hills, with powered and unpowered campsites offering either beachfront positions or spots just a short walk from the sand. Cabins, chalets, and on-site caravans are also available for those who prefer not to pitch a tent.

Facilities include communal showers, toilets, a shared kitchen, laundry, BBQ hire, a dump station, and a well-stocked general store that doubles as a fish and chip shop, petrol station, off-licence, and LPG bottle swap. Dive bottle filling is available on site, which is particularly handy given the park’s proximity to some of Northland’s best underwater attractions. Pets are welcome by arrangement during low season only. Powered sites start from around $55 per night, with seasonal rates applying throughout the year.

The bay offers sheltered waters ideal for swimming, surfing, and snorkelling. World-class fishing around Whangaroa Harbour and the Cavalli Islands is a major draw, with snapper, kingfish, hapuka, crayfish, and scallops all available in season. The nearby Rainbow Warrior wreck, sunk in 1987 as a dive reef off the Cavalli Islands, is one of New Zealand’s most famous dive sites. A memorial on the headland above the bay commemorates the vessel and offers sweeping coastal views. Walking tracks around the rocky headlands provide excellent vantage points over the bay and out to the islands.