Last updated November 2026
Lake Tūtira, off State Highway 2 north of Napier, has two places to camp a short distance apart. The Department of Conservation’s Lake Tūtira Campsite sits at the southern end of the lake, right at the park gateway, and it is free, open all year and first come, first served.
About 950 m further in, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council runs a paid campground in a fenced, tree-lined paddock inside Tūtira Regional Park.
The council campground must be paid for online before you arrive, and DOC says it closes from 1 July to 30 September for lambing. Both are about 29 km from Napier in a straight line, and neither allows dogs or fires.
Practical Information
- Campsites
- Lake Tūtira Campsite (DOC); Tūtira Regional Park campground (Hawke’s Bay Regional Council)
- Location
- Tūtira, off State Highway 2; emergency address 3488 State Highway 2, Tūtira
- Distance from the city
- About 29 km from Napier (straight line)
- DOC campsite fee
- Free, no booking, first come, first served
- Council campground fee
- $15 per vehicle per night, paid online before you arrive
- Open
- DOC campsite all year; council campground closed 1 July to 30 September for lambing (DOC)
- Vehicles
- Campervans, cars and caravans at both; tents welcome
- Toilets
- Non-flush toilets (DOC); compost toilets (council)
- Water
- Untreated tap water, boil before use (DOC); handwashing water only (council). Bring drinking water
- Dogs
- No dogs at either site
About Lake Tūtira Camping
Tūtira Regional Park borders two lakes, Tūtira and Waikopirō, and sits on the Napier-Wairoa Heritage Trail. Across the lake is the Guthrie-Smith Trust homestead, which the council says is open on Sundays from October to May with free entry.
The two campsites suit different trips. The DOC campsite is a basic site at the park entrance, with a picnic shelter, non-flush toilets and untreated tap water. You don’t book, you just turn up.
The council campground is further into the park, past the causeway between the two lakes, and is set up for short-term stays in a flat paddock. It has compost toilets, picnic tables and cold taps, but no kitchen and no showers.
Both sites are pack in, pack out. Take all rubbish and recycling away with you, and come with enough water for drinking and cooking, because the council’s water is for handwashing only and DOC’s must be boiled.
The Two Campsites
Lake Tūtira Campsite (DOC)
DOC lists this as a basic campsite for campervans, cars and caravans, with tent sites as well. Coming from Bay View, stay on State Highway 2 for 31 km and turn right into the regional park; the DOC campground is at the gateway.
DOC asks drivers to keep left and wait for a clear gap before turning right onto the park road. Fires are not permitted, dogs are not allowed, and no motorboats are allowed on the lake.
Tūtira Regional Park campground
The council charges $15 per vehicle per night. Pay online before you arrive, because mobile reception at the park is limited, and keep a screenshot or printed copy as proof. The council classes its sites as remote campsites under the Camping Grounds Regulations 1985.
To reach it, go through the gates and the DOC wildlife reserve, cross the causeway between the lakes and follow the track to the signposted park gate; the camping entry is to the right. The council suggests bringing your own toilet paper. Dogs, cats and other pets are not allowed.
Lake Conditions and Park Rules
Both agencies warn about algae. DOC says the lake may have toxic algal blooms and asks you not to enter the water if signs advise against it.
The regional council goes further: it says the lakes are unsuitable for swimming because of periodic algal blooms and duck itch, a skin irritation picked up in warm, shallow water. The council is trialling an aerator in Lake Waikopirō to reduce blooms.
Motorised craft are not allowed on the lakes. Because the council is running a hydrilla eradication programme, wash boats and kayaks before they go in the water and check them for weed fragments.
The council lists several risks to plan for: narrow access roads with limited sight lines at the entrance, a causeway that can go under water and become impassable in heavy rain, falling branches in high winds, cattle with calves, and native stinging nettle (ongaonga).
Freedom camping is prohibited at DOC’s Lake Tūtira amenity area and boat ramp amenity area, so camp only at the two campsites.
Walking Tracks in the Park
The regional council lists the Table Mountain Track, Pera’s Track, the Kaitaratahi Track on the hill south of the campground, and the Valley Walk as open, along with a track linking the campground, the Table Mountain Track and the roadside shelter on Ridgemount Road.
DOC points to the walk up to Table Mountain trig for views over the inland Kaweka, the Maungaharuru Range and the Hawke’s Bay coast.
Tracks can be boggy and slippery in the wetter months, and you should close gates behind you between paddocks. The forestry harvest and paddock area behind the gate north of the campground, including Gailbraith’s Track, is closed for an extended season.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Lake Tūtira Campsite: campsite information, alerts and bookings. Campsite information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council: Tūtira Regional Park: campground fees and online payment, park rules, track closures and lake warnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I camp for free at Lake Tūtira?
Yes, at DOC’s Lake Tūtira Campsite at the park gateway. It is free, open all year and first come, first served. The regional council’s campground costs $15 per vehicle per night.
Do I need to book?
Not for the DOC campsite. For the council campground, register and pay online before you arrive, and keep proof of payment.
When is the council campground closed?
DOC says it closes from 1 July to 30 September for lambing. Check the council’s page before you go.
Can I bring my dog?
No. DOC’s campsite has a no dogs rule, and the regional council prohibits dogs, cats and other pets in the park.
Is there drinking water?
Not ready to drink. DOC’s tap water is untreated and must be boiled, and the council’s taps are for handwashing only. Bring your own drinking and cooking water.
Can I swim in Lake Tūtira?
The regional council says the lakes are unsuitable for swimming because of periodic algal blooms and duck itch. DOC asks you to stay out of the water when signs warn of toxic algae.
Are there showers?
No. Neither campsite has showers, and the council campground has no kitchen.
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