Steer clear of the beach- and bush-fouling freedom campers this summer and park up at one of the country's last bastions of properly peaceful free campsites. READ MORE:* Freedom camping to put the squeeze on Kiwi holiday hotspots* The freedom camper who wants to ban freedom camping* Freedom camping hots up before summer's even hereLocated near a harbour protected by a sandspit that turns the water photogenic shades of milky blue, the car park that is the campground is set back slightly from the five kilometres of white sand and (usually) crashing surf that is Opoutere Beach. The coast boasts arguably some of the best quality free camping areas in New Zealand and this tiny four-space site tops the lot. Follow the Pohutukawa-lined Pacific Coast Highway about 75km up the coast from Ōpōtiki to this golden-grassed (in summer) reserve on a small peninsula beside often deserted Maraetai Bay. Where are your favourite off-the-radar freedom camping sites?

Source: Stuff November 27, 2019 00:00 UTC