Caravanning in Northland

The Pouto Hideaway is about $100-130/night, much cheaper and I think nicer. Self contained and they run the camp ground next door (the old customs house and grounds). The Hideaway usually takes the overflow from the Lighthouse Lodge and is about 3 houses down. After years of camping out in shearers sheds it was a wonderful find! The road is sealed to about 9km from Pouto itself, and as I said all regraded (we followed the vehicles almost every day for 4 weeks! Makes a huge difference.
The Matauri development is a definite and is underway as we write. By April next year all the services will be in, Sewerage treatment station is in now;roads are almost completed and the huge parking area began last week. So enjoy the peace while you can. The camp ground should be okay there is a small hill between it and the subdiv., which blocks most of the development. The beach is exactly the same as it has always been and the diving even better. Ethically cannot comment one way or another...but I may not spend that much time there any more.