Answers to the questions we get asked most — bookings and rates, check-in and check-out, what to expect during your stay, and getting to and around the camp.
We host a wide variety of groups — school camps, corporate groups and conferences, hobby groups, well-behaved sports teams and family reunions. If you have an idea for a group stay, talk to our staff.
As a family-friendly, educational and recreational camp, we don’t accept groups whose plans run against those values, and we don’t take groups of unsupervised children or young adults. If you’re unsure whether your group is a good fit, please ask us.
Yes. Full-camp bookings give you the freedom and flexibility of all our facilities — perfect for large family reunions, schools, conferences and wedding parties. Talk to our staff about this option.
Unfortunately, we do not allow long-term stays. As a Charitable Trust whose aim is to provide cheaper accommodation to school groups, we regularly close to the public when booked out by a school.
Our minimum age to stay without a parent or guardian is 21. At least one responsible person aged 21 or over must be present for the group. If you’re asked for ID on arrival, please don’t be offended.
Yes. We offer discounted rates for anyone holding a Hāpai Access Card and one support person, and New Zealand school groups visiting during school term receive discounted rates. If you think this applies to you or your group, please reach out to our staff for clarification.
Payment is completed at the time of booking, and a valid credit or debit card is held on file for the duration of your stay. A 3% surcharge applies to all card payments.
The card on file may be used for any additional charges during your stay — late checkout, damage, lost keys or breaches of the house rules. Completing your booking authorises these charges.
For group and school bookings we ask for a deposit to secure the booking (see the booking form for details). Our reservations manager will send an invoice through Xero, payable online.
Cancellations with at least 72 hours’ notice before your check-in time (2pm) receive a full refund minus a $15 administration fee.
Cancellations or no-shows with less than 72 hours’ notice forfeit the full booking amount.
Amendments made within the 72-hour window — changing dates, reducing guest numbers, or shortening your stay — fall under the same cancellation policy.
Disruptions such as cancelled flights, road closures or weather events are treated the same as any other cancellation and fall under this policy. We strongly recommend all guests take out travel insurance, as we can’t offer refunds for events outside our control.
Please note a 3% card surcharge applies to any amount charged.
Check-in is from 2pm. Check-out from all facilities, including kitchens, is strictly by 10am for all guests.
If you’re still on site after 10am, a $6 per person fee will be charged to the card on file. Would you like an early check-in or late check-out? Just let us know before your stay.
Yes. If you’re arriving after office hours we can arrange a late check-in, but payment must be processed before the office closes (a 3% card surcharge applies). We no longer accept cash or payment the next day. If you’ll need linen hire, please call ahead to arrange it before closing time, as we’ll need to process payment and put the linen into your rooms for you.
Please contact us before the office closes to avoid disappointment. If payment doesn’t go through, our staff will try to reach you before we close — failure of payment means your booking will be voided. For groups, our staff will arrange your late check-in for you.
Yes. We have a day charge of $8 per person, which must be pre-arranged with camp staff. All day visitors sign in at reception on arrival and must depart the premises by 10pm. This is a great option for day conferences, family picnics, or extra people visiting your group for the day.
If the “No Vacancy” sign is hung at the front gate, there’s no availability in the cabins or on the campgrounds. We put it up and take it down depending on who has booked — for example, a whole-camp booking by a school during term, or a group conference.
If you’ve booked our self-contained units or Double Forestry Huts, bedding and towels are included. For any other room you can bring your own bedding free of charge, or hire linen for $15 per set. Groups and schools, please let us know in advance if you need linen.
Dogs are welcome on the campsites only — in tents or campers. To keep the camp comfortable for everyone:
- There is a charge of $4 per dog. Please let reception know if you are bringing a dog onsite.
- Dogs are not permitted in any accommodation or communal areas (kitchens, toilets, etc.)
- Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times
- Please pick up after your dog — a dog bin and poop bags are provided on site
- Excessive barking or aggressive behaviour may result in being asked to leave
- Evidence of dogs in prohibited areas may incur a $200 cleaning fee and you may be asked to leave
- Service dogs are welcome in all areas — certification will need to be provided before arrival or at check-in, not after departure
The camp is smoke- and vape-free, inside and outside all buildings. Smoking and vaping are only permitted in the designated smoking area near the front gate. Smoking or vaping anywhere else incurs a $200 fee.
Yes. If your school or group wants exclusive use of a kitchen or conference hall, you can request one of our three main kitchens with your booking. All kitchen hire is subject to availability. Minimum numbers apply, and spaces are allocated according to availability and group size. Additional charges apply.
Yes — free WiFi is available to all guests. The password is on the back of the park map you’ll receive at check-in. Usage is unlimited, though speeds may vary depending on how busy the park is.
The card held on file may be charged for any damage, vandalism or theft towards the Forest Camp, for repairs, replacement or cleaning. Specific charges include:
- Lost or damaged room key: $30
- Missing linen or bedding: replacement fee
Parents and guardians must supervise children at all times, including in shared spaces like the kitchen. We recommend all guests arrange travel and personal insurance before arrival.
Helping our staff clean up after your stay is what lets us keep accommodation low-cost. Once you’ve left, staff sanitise everything for the next group. You don’t need to clean the bathrooms, but please keep them tidy and treat all spaces as your own.
If your group would prefer to opt out of cleaning, contact our staff about a cleaning charge that can be added to your bill.
We’re a family-oriented camp and kids’ school camp, so please keep noise to a minimum between 10pm and 8am and be respectful of other guests. Loud or disruptive behaviour, excessive drinking, parties, theft or drug use will not be tolerated and may result in being asked to leave. For everyone’s comfort, no gang patches or affiliation may be shown or worn on site, and recreational use of motorbikes or motorised go-karts within the campground is prohibited unless arranged with management in advance.
Much of the camp is sealed and easy to get around, with some gravel paths in places. We also have a number of accessible facilities and room types to suit a range of needs, including the Abilities Lodge and our Ngahere and Matariki rooms. If you have specific mobility or accessibility needs, give us a call before your stay and we’ll help you find the right option.
Each booking has one car park allocated per room. If you have multiple vehicles arriving for a single room, please call ahead so we can arrange space. When parking, please park responsibly and do not parallel park in front of the units.