Image: Robert Ashe | ©
Small child at a camp spot at Boilles Campsite.
Boielles Campsite

Located in Ōtaki Forks area in the Wellington/Kapiti region

Boielles Campsite remains open, despite the slip on the Otaki Gorge Road, but for foot access only.

The campsite is an open grassy field directly adjacent to the Waiotauru River. There is a small cooking shelter, flush toilets, good river swimming, and at the start of a number of day walks and longer overnight tramps. The campsite is on the Te Araroa Trail. 

Access to the campsite is via the Ōtaki Gorge emergency access track. How to get to the emergency access track.

Fees

  • Adult (18+ years): $10 per night
  • Child (5–17 years): $5 per night
  • Infant (0–4 years): free

Pay cash on arrival at the self-registration stand at the campsite. There is a maximum of seven days per stay for this site.

Bookings

Bookings for 1 December 2025 to 1 March 2026

Bookings open at 9.30 am on Tuesday 20 May 2025.

All bookings are first-come first-served. We do not have waiting lists for bookings for future seasons or facilities that are already booked-out.

Bookings for stays up to 1 March 2025

Bookings are currently open.

1 December – 1 March

Bookings required.

2 March – 30 November

Bookings not required but fees still apply.

Book Boielles Campsite online

A $10 service fee applies to phone and in-person booking. This is a limited service – book online first. An in-person booking is dependent on there being space available.

There's no vehicle access to this area currently because of a major slip on Ōtaki Gorge Road. 

You can access Boielles Campsite from the Ōtaki Gorge Road via an emergency access track. The track is steep and slippery in places. This temporary emergency access track has been made possible through private land, courtesy of the private landowners. 

Directions to access emergency track

If coming from SH1: 

  • Starting from SH1 follow the Ōtaki Gorge Road around 11 km until Shields Flat.
  • 1.3 km after Shields Flat Carpark there is a marked gate on the right-hand side. 
  • Follow orange markers through the pine forest then a small section of the logging track before dropping down through native forest to re-join the Ōtaki Gorge Road. 

If coming from Ōtaki Gorge/Parawai Lodge: 

  • Follow Ōtaki Gorge Road out from Ōtaki Forks for around 2 km. 
  • Turn off to the left through private land on the marked dam track. 
  • Follow orange triangles and signage through native forest, along logging track then through the pine forest back onto Ōtaki Gorge Road. 
  • When on Ōtaki Gorge Road it’s 1.5 km to Shields Flat and around 11 km to SH1. 

Roadside parking is available as well as at the Shields Flat carpark. 

Tracks, huts, and campsites accessible from Ōtaki Forks area. 

Location

NZTM2000 coordinates: 1787983-5472984 

Due to a slip, Boielles Campsite is only accessible by foot. 

There is no cell phone reception at the site.