WAIKATO: COROMANDEL EAST

Please take careful note of council's designated parking areas.
You now risk a $200 instant fine if you don't park in the area provided

Opito Bay Esplanade Reserve is right at the end of Black Jack Road, and allows limited freedom camping to certified self-contained motor caravanners.

This is a really nice location, with a golden sand beach and backing on to a small community. The reserve is beautifully maintained. There is a small public toilet, and there is plenty of nice parking on a large grass reserve.

However, for freedom campers, parking is strictly limited to between the Thames-Coromandel district council signs - room for only a few motorhomes or caravans. 

On the day we visited, there was noone else on the reserve. However, over the summer holiday season, or even in late spring or early autumn, you are likely to have driven all the way down Black Jack road, only to find that there is nowhere for you to stay overnight because the freedom camping slots are all taken. And yet there might be plenty of other places to park.

We love the Coromandel Peninsula. It is one of our national treasures. And Opito Bay, on a clear sunny day, is just stunning. We have travelled all around New Zealand, and Queenstown was the only other other place that made us feel so unwelcome as self-contained motor caravanners.

And there isn't even a local holiday park in Opito Bay.

What gives???!