About Big Bay Holiday Park
Big Bay Holiday Park sits near the tip of the Āwhitu Peninsula, about 40 km from Waiuku and 75 minutes from Auckland Airport, on a white-sand beach that is safe for swimming. It is a classic Kiwi seaside camp rather than a resort, and it is far enough out that the drive itself is part of the trip.
You can stay on a tent site or power site, in a kitchen cabin, or in a self-contained unit, and a limited number of annual sites are available. Campers share an indoor-outdoor barbecue area and a free wood-fired pizza oven, there is an on-site camp store, and a takeaway opens in season. The park is also proud of its wormery septic system. Bookings are essential.
The beach is the main draw for families, with good fishing and walks along the shore. The wider peninsula has other bays such as Hudsons Beach, Grahams Beach, Wattle Bay and Orua Bay, plus Āwhitu Regional Park and the Manukau Heads Lighthouse, a replica of the light built after HMS Orpheus was wrecked in 1863, open daily 9am to 5pm for a donation. The Glenbrook Vintage Railway runs from Labour Weekend in late October through early June.
The park closes for winter, though winter stays of three nights or more may be considered. Leafy Hollow Botanicals, the lavender garden in Waiuku, is about 50 minutes south and opens on set days, so check its schedule and visit on your way in or out.
What to do
- Swim at the white-sand beach in summer
- Fish from the shore
- Bake your own pizza in the free wood-fired oven
- Visit the Manukau Heads Lighthouse (daily 9am–5pm, donation)
- Walk in Āwhitu Regional Park
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open outside winter; closed for the winter months (winter stays of three nights or more considered)
Good to know
- Dogs
- Only in motorhomes and caravans by prior arrangement, kept on your own site (NZ$5 per dog per night as listed)
- Reservations
- Required
Tips for your visit
- Book ahead; bookings are essential.
- Ask before bringing a dog; pet-friendly sites are limited to motorhomes and caravans.
- EV charging is not permitted at the park.
- The takeaway is seasonal, so bring supplies if you arrive out of peak season.
Pair it with a lavender farm
Leafy Hollow Botanicals · about 50 minutes away
Leafy Hollow Botanicals in Waiuku is about 50 minutes south, an easy stop at the start or end of a peninsula stay if it is holding an open day.
Getting there
Questions
What accommodation does Big Bay Holiday Park have?
Tent sites, power sites, kitchen cabins and self-contained units.
Are dogs allowed?
Only in motorhomes and caravans by prior arrangement, at NZ$5 per dog per night as listed.
Is it open in winter?
It closes for winter, but stays of three nights or more may be considered.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of the Auckland Countryside, New Zealand
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
