Auckland to the Bay of Islands with a caravan or motorhome
Auckland to the Bay of Islands runs 232 km from Auckland to Paihia. With a car and caravan, you're looking at 4 h 15 min behind the wheel. Our map shows it sealed the whole way.
We planned it on Motocamp's own router for a car and caravan and for a motorhome, at the sizes in the table below, so every number here comes from a real plan, not a guess.
The stops: Auckland · Whangārei · Paihia
Is Auckland to the Bay of Islands OK for a car and caravan?
Yes, on our plan. It gets through for a car and caravan without using a road signed too low, too short or closed to caravans. Here's what to keep an eye on.
- 4 km of it is steeper than 8%. The steepest kilometre is about 9% uphill on Paihia Road, at km 221.
- It keeps you off 3 nearby roads with a signed limit your rig wouldn't clear, like Lower Hobson Street (10.3 m long) and Market Place (8.3 m long).
The plan, rig by rig
| Car and caravan | Motorhome | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 232 km | 232 km |
| Driving time | 4 h 15 min | 4 h |
| Unsealed | none | none |
| Steeper than 8% | 4 km | 4 km |
| Total climb | 2,317 m | 2,317 m |
| Longest gap between fuel | 33 km | 33 km |
| Signed limits it goes round | 3 | 1 |
| Planned at | 3 m high, 11.4 m long and 5.2 t | 3.4 m high, 7.6 m long and 6 t |
Towns on the way
- Auckland · km 0
- Hibiscus Coast · km 36
- Snells Beach · km 62
- Wellsford · km 82
- Ruakākā · km 136
- Whangārei · km 163
- Hikurangi · km 178
- Haruru · km 232
Caravan parks on the way
- Takapuna Beach Holiday Park · km 8
- Auckland North Shore Motels and Holiday Park · km 9
- Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park · km 36
- Red Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park · km 36
- Sheepworld Caravan Park · km 67
- Whangarei Central Holiday Park · km 162
- Whangarei Top 10 Holiday Park · km 164
- Pahia TOP10 Holiday Park · km 230
- Orongo Bay Holiday Park · km 231
- Waitangi Holiday Park · km 232
- Russell Top10 Holiday Park · km 232
Free camps on the way
- Cox's Bay Esplanade · km 3
- Ruakaka Beach Reserve · km 133
- Ruakaka Riverside Reserve · km 133
- Tarewa i-SITE carpark · km 161
- Riverside/Hatea East Carpark · km 163
- AH Reed Memorial Park carpark · km 165
- Whangarei Falls carpark · km 167
- Tikipunga Sportspark · km 167
- Hundertwasser Car Park Freedom Camping · km 217
National park and other campgrounds
- Long Bay CSC Overnight Parking Area · km 21 · fees apply
- Te Muri Beach Campground · km 43 · fees apply
- Mahurangi CSC Parking Area · km 44 · fees apply
- Mita Bay Campground · km 44 · fees apply
- Schischka Campground · km 44 · fees apply
- Parry Kauri Park Designated Parking · km 62
- Port Albert Camping · km 85 · fees apply
- Baldrock View Farm · km 99
- Uretiti Beach Campsite · km 131 · fees apply
- Waterfalls Estate - Motel & Campground · km 232
- and 7 more in the app
Rest areas
- Motorway Service Area · km 1
- Dairy Flat Motorway Service Centre · km 26
Dump points
- Dump Station · km 2
- at Auckland North Shore Motels and Holiday Park · km 9
- at Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park · km 36
- at Red Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park · km 36
- Kioreroa Road Whangarei PDS · km 162
- at Whangarei Top 10 Holiday Park · km 164
- Kawakawa Caravan Dump Station · km 217
- at Orongo Bay Holiday Park · km 231
Fuel stops
- Mobil · km 0
- BP Connect · km 2
- BP 2go · km 2
- G.A.S. · km 10
- Z Milford · km 11
- Gull · km 12
- U-GO · km 16
- GAS · km 87
- Caltex Oakleigh Service Station · km 148
- Waitomo Petroleum · km 232
- and 6 more in the app
Plan this trip for your own rig
Free for 14 days. Cancel any time.
Tell Motocamp what you drive, from an enduro bike to a motorhome, and it plans this trip for that vehicle: the roads it fits, the low bridges and closed roads to steer clear of, and places to stay on the way. The maps keep working where there's no signal.
Plan this trip for your own rig Already have Motocamp NZ? Open it hereCamps, fuel and road limits come from OpenStreetMap and state agencies, and some can be missing or out of date. Distances are along our plan. Always go by the signs on the road.