Onaero Bay Holiday Park is reopening its gates right as the 2026 whitebait season begins. National campground management company Penny has secured a five-year lease with the New Plymouth District Council to operate the popular coastal spot.
Nestled right on the mouth of the Onaero River, the holiday park features a mix of powered and tent sites just a short walk from the beach.
Timing for the handover aligns perfectly with the start of the whitebaiting season, which runs from 1 September to 30 October.
In a council press release, New Plymouth District Mayor Max Brough welcomed the fresh management and the return of a classic Kiwi camping experience.
"What could be better than a day on the Onaero River followed by fresh whitebait fritters back at your tent or caravan?" Brough said.
"It’s also an awesome place for surfcasting or for just getting away and letting the kids run wild like generations of Kiwis have done before them. So, grab your fishing kit, book a campsite on Penny and get out there."
The New Plymouth District Council owns a total of six campgrounds across the region. Alongside Onaero, there's also Belt Road and Fitzroy Beach in New Plymouth, as well as sites in Oakura, Waitara and Urenui.
All six are leased out and managed privately.
