NORTHLAND: WHANGAREI

Certified self-contained vans can park overnight in any council parking area that is not sign-posted as prohibited.
For complete details check wdc.govt.nz/camping. Check for onsite signs on arrival.
You risk a $200 fine for ignoring the rules.

Whangarei District Council also provides four designated freedom camping areas for self-contained vehicles
as well as 18 sites that permit non self-contained camping options.
Parking spaces and van length are limited at these sites and they are very popular, so be sure to arrive early
if you want to park overnight. We recommend you avoid these during the summer season.

There is a large carpark alongside Whangarei's new bridge to Onerahi and it is available for self-contained motor caravanners to park overnight.

For a city, Whangarei has an astonishing number of parking areas that are suitable for even the largest motorhomes. 

While this is a little was out of the city centre, there is a cylceway along the river bank that goes on to the Marina and the main shopping centre is less than 2km away.

We stayed overnight a second time in October, 2015 and woke up to a stunning sunrise being reflected in the river. I've included the picture below.

If the marked off area for freedom camping is already full when you arrive, you can almost always find suitable parking in the Northland Cricket Association carpark just around the corner.

River front parking

Reflections of a sunrise over the bridge