Kai Iwi Lakes Camp Ground

One of the most beautiful places I've ever swam in, white sand beaches and crystal clear water with almost no rubbish or pollution at all. Only bad thing is that they cut down the entire pine forest that made the lakes such a beautiful place! I think it was a TERRIBLE idea and I definitely wouldn't want to go camping there now, but is great for day trips

Stayed at the Pine Beach Campground - fantastic area for families and children.
Huge sandshelf in the lake means warm knee high water for about 50 metres, before a relatively steep drop off to about 30m deep.

Only complaints would be the need for cold water showers rather than just the $2 paid hot ones; and the surrounding landscape needs some years to recover from the pine forest removal as it's a bit barren at present.

Close to drive to Tane Mahuta and walks in the Waipoua forest mean there's heaps to do - at least in the connecting to nature kind of way.

Vodafone / 2Degrees coverage OK; Spark non-existent