Narrows Park Camping & Events

About this place

Narrows Park is a rural camp and events venue at 442 Airport Road, Tamahere, about ten minutes from central Hamilton and close to both Hamilton Airport and Mystery Creek. It occupies 27 acres of park-like grounds high on the banks of the Waikato River. It is a non-profit Christian camp governed by a trust board, and it has been operating since 1953.

Accommodation is substantial for a camp of this type: around 120 beds in cabins and bunkrooms, plus camping and marae-style sleeping that takes the total up to about 300. There are roughly 26 powered sites and acres of tenting space. Cabin bunkrooms are simple, with a heater for winter and linen available for hire.

Shared camper facilities include a kitchen, covered deck, washrooms and hot showers, a pool, a coin laundry, WiFi vouchers and wood-fired barbecues. The venue also offers storage for caravans, vehicles and boats.

For groups, Narrows runs a full-service model covering accommodation, programmes, catering, activities and staff. Meeting space includes indoor seating for 100 or more with a projector option and a private side room, plus two stages and an outdoor garden setting. Groups from roughly 15 to 250 people are hosted, and the venue can be booked for a day event, a fully catered multi-day camp, or evening venue hire.

Activities are run by trained and accredited instructors with RAMS documentation in place, which matters when an organisation needs to sign off health and safety before a team day.

Narrows lists corporate retreats alongside school camps, church camps, community groups, family reunions and festivals, and its published feedback includes a corporate team day and a professional development group. The fit for business events is clear enough: multi-day team retreats, leadership and development programmes, professional development days, and team-building days where the activity programme and catering are handled by the venue.

It is a camp rather than a hotel, so expect bunk accommodation and shared facilities rather than ensuite rooms. For a group that wants everything in one place near Hamilton at a not-for-profit price point, it is well set up. Bookings start with a site tour and an information book from the office.