Hawkes Bay Naturist Club
Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
A long-established, sociable clothes-free club near Napier, with wine country and Art Deco touring on its doorstep.
snapshot
Hawkes Bay Naturist Club is a clothes-free club near Napier, on New Zealand’s North Island, founded in 1962. The property offers powered and unpowered camping, a small guest lodge and a self-contained cabin, alongside a large pool and spa, sports courts and a lakeside walking area. It suits sociable travellers who don’t mind striking up conversation on every walk, and who want easy access to Hawke’s Bay’s wine region and Art Deco Napier.
resort type
Mid-size Campground
dress code
Clothes-Free
budget
Mid-range
When to visit
November to March
THE DESTINATION
THE DESTINATION & where to find it
Hawkes Bay Naturist Club is located a short drive from Napier, about 25 minutes from Napier Airport. The club has occupied the same property since the mid-1960s, and the grounds now hold a mix of camping areas, a small lodge, a self-contained cabin, a clubhouse and a lake used for walking rather than swimming.
Higher campsites on the property catch the best views across the surrounding countryside. The clubhouse sits at the centre of the layout, with its large kitchen, indoor spaces, pool and spa a short walk from most pitches and the lodge.
The whole property operates on a clothes-free basis, in keeping with the naturist club culture the site was founded to support.
THE EXPERIENCE
THE EXPERIENCE & what to expect
Hawkes Bay Naturist Club has the feel of a long-running community rather than a commercial campsite, which tracks with its history. It grew from eleven founding members in 1962 into an established club with decades of continuity on the same ten acre property.
The social character shows up most on the lake walk. Visitors report setting out for a short stroll and ending up gone much longer, simply because someone else was walking the same path and wanted to talk. That pattern repeats around the pool and spa, which double as the club’s main gathering points, and in the clubhouse kitchen, where cooking often turns into conversation.
Days here tend to follow the weather rather than a schedule. Warm afternoons pull people towards the pool and spa, while cooler ones shift the action indoors to the clubhouse. The sports courts and playground add options for anyone who wants to be active rather than social.
Accommodation splits into three types. Powered and unpowered campsites suit visitors who want flexibility and don’t mind shared facilities, with the higher pitches worth requesting for the view. Norm’s Lodge offers three guest rooms with shared facilities, a straightforward option for solo travellers or couples who’d rather not pitch a tent. Bell’s Bach is the most self-contained choice: a newly built cabin with its own kitchenette and private deck, with a shower and toilet block close by. It suits couples wanting more privacy without giving up the social pull of the wider club.
WHO THIS IS FOR
WHO SHOULD GO & who should not
Great for
- ✓ Sociable travellers happy to chat on every walk around the property
- ✓ Wine country visitors combining a stay with Hawke's Bay's vineyards
- ✓ Couples wanting a self-contained cabin in a clothes-free community
- ✓ Campers comfortable with a rustic, community-run rather than resort-style setup
not ideal if
- ✕ You want total privacy or anonymity
- ✕ You need a car-free trip
- ✕ You're after resort-style polish
practical
GETTING THERE & what to know
getting there
The club is about a 25 minute drive from Napier Airport. From Auckland, the route runs along State Highway 1 to Taupo, then State Highway 5 into Napier before joining Glengarry Road to the club. From Wellington, State Highway 2 heads directly towards Napier.
Bus services connect to Napier and Hastings, with a taxi covering the final stretch to the club. A car is still the most practical option, particularly for reaching the wineries and Art Deco sights nearby.
where to stay
Options run from powered and unpowered campsites to Norm’s Lodge, a three room guesthouse with shared facilities, and Bell’s Bach, a newly built self-contained cabin with a private deck and kitchenette. Contact the club directly to confirm current pricing and availability before booking, especially for the lodge and cabin, which have fewer spaces than the campground.
when to go
Hawke’s Bay is one of New Zealand’s driest, sunniest regions, which makes the warmer months from November to March the most reliable for pool days and long lake walks. The wine harvest in autumn adds an extra reason to time a visit for March or April.
The club’s social routines, including regular gatherings, run throughout the year, so a quieter off-season visit still comes with company if you want it.
what to know
This is a long-running club with deep roots in the local clothes-free community, and it welcomes visitors as well as members. First-time guests are supported rather than left to work things out alone, so don’t hesitate to ask questions on arrival.
Bring a car if possible. The region’s wineries, Napier’s Art Deco architecture and the Te Mata Peak lookout are all easy day trips, but public transport between them is limited. Pack for a working kitchen stay: the clubhouse kitchen is well equipped, but groceries are best bought before arriving.
plan your visit
Book at Hawkes Bay Naturist Club
Contact the club directly by phone or through its website to check accommodation availability and current visitor arrangements before travelling.
virtual visit
HAVE A peek inside
Sometimes a two-minute watch tells you more than a page of text. Our video visit covers the setting, the facilities, and what the atmosphere actually feels like on the ground.
keeping you busy
FACILITIES & amenities
●Pool and spa
Large pool with an attached spa, the main daytime gathering point.
●Sports courts
Multiple courts on site.
●Playground
On-site children's playground.
●Clubhouse kitchen
Large communal kitchen, well equipped for self-catering stays.
beyond the resort
NEARBY VISITS
Napier Airport25 min drive
Hawke's Bay wine regionthroughout the surrounding area
Te Mata Peakshort drive from Napier
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FAQ
most asked questions
Is Hawkes Bay Naturist Club suitable for first-timers?
Yes. The club has a long history of welcoming newcomers alongside its established membership, and the social atmosphere makes it easy to ask questions and settle in quickly.
Is Hawkes Bay Naturist Club family-friendly?
There's an on-site playground and open lawns, creating a family-friendly setup.
What is the best time of year to visit Hawkes Bay Naturist Club?
November to March, when Hawke's Bay's dry, sunny weather is at its best for the pool and lake walks. Autumn, around March and April, adds the region's wine harvest to the trip.
How do I get to Hawkes Bay Naturist Club from Napier?
It's about a 25 minute drive from Napier Airport via Glengarry Road. Bus services reach Napier and Hastings, with a taxi needed for the final leg to the club.
Is nudity mandatory at Hawkes Bay Naturist Club?
The club operates on a clothes-free basis in keeping with its origins. For current expectations around specific areas of the property, it's best to check directly with the club before your visit.
What accommodation options are available at Hawkes Bay Naturist Club?
Powered and unpowered campsites, a three room guesthouse called Norm's Lodge with shared facilities, and Bell's Bach, a self-contained cabin with a kitchenette and private deck.
