Waimanu Valley Campsites

In 2015 I was fortunate enough to be able to hike the Mulawai trail to Waimanu Valley to camp for a few nights. There are six campsites along the mile wide beach and we were the only ones out there the entire time. The only negative thing is the helicopters flying low over every 30 mins throughout the day. The farthest campsite is the best, closest to the fresh water stream. We bushwhacked back to a huge waterfall. We were blessed to have the opportunity to enjoy the experience! Pack light it's quite the hike out with a lot of elevation in the heat & humidity.

A super secluded campsite that takes a variable amount of time depending upon the conditions and your fitness level (couple hours if everything is favorable). There are numerous water crossings that can quickly become treacherous with a downpour, so be careful! If returning to the Waipio Valley Lookout Area, be sure to check high and low tide times as in December 2021 the tide was marginal before midday, but feet higher in the evening that make crossing especially tricky and downright dangerous. Reservations are made online, so be sure to reserve your spot. At the time, there were 3 other campers. One of them was a younger guy who was truly adventerous spirit going for walks to hidden caves during the day who said he had been there for weeks. At night, I could hear the same guy screaming at the top of his lungs while in his tent that was mostly repelled by the sound of the ocean waves feet away. I also met a lovely traveller from Quebec Canada also camping here, so you never know who'll you will run into!

This was the hardest hike I have even done, but it was worth it. The please is incredible and magical. The beach is so long and because it is really hard to get there, you’ll probably be on your own.

I hiked to Waimanu by myself in September 2021. The hike was definitely a challenge initially. I wasn’t as prepared because I had no sleeping bag or tent. Had to cross 2 rivers, the second river to the Waimanu camp site is about 3 ft deep so prepared to get wet. The views were gorgeous. Watching the sunset and the sunrise was a spiritual experience. I would definitely do this again. Of note, the outhouse was covered in bugs, be prepared.

The best hiking and camping experience EVER. This remote valley offers beautiful tropical forest scenery. The campsite is located right next to the beach. Every campsite (there are nine) has its own wall and fireplace made of black stones. There's plenty of firewood lying around.

The campground is surrounded by coconut trees. If you're lucky enough, you can find a fresh coconut on the ground or get one down yourself!

There are surprisingly clean toilets, but obviously there's no shower. You can jump in the river or the ocean if you're looking to freshen up instead!

If you decide to visit, do keep in mind that the valley gets a lot of rain (think at least 2-3 showers a day) so keeping your things dry is going to be a challenge.