Kaiaua Beach is a beach and freedom camping spot at Kaiaua in Franklin, Waikato, with a Google rating of 4.8 from 80 reviews. Visitors mention camping right by the sea, day parking, a general store with ice cream, fish and chips, and fishing. The shorebird hides nearby are also popular.
A good beach camping spot is judged on how close the sites are to the sand, how the parking is laid out, and what facilities are nearby. Quiet places suit travellers, but it helps to arrive in daylight and read the signs on arrival. Shorebird hides are best visited at low tide, when birds feed on the mudflats. Regulars often bring their own water and rubbish bags, since small settlements may have limited bins and shops.
Its beachfront setting makes Kaiaua a relaxed weekend escape across the Firth from Thames.