Upper Mangatawhiri Campground sits beside the Upper Mangatawhiri Reservoir in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park, roughly an hour's drive from Auckland.

The site is vehicle accessible via a steep gravel road, though caravans may find the approach challenging, and heavy vehicles such as campervans and motorhomes are restricted when the ground is soft after rain.

The campground accommodates up to 40 people with a maximum stay of seven nights, and toilets are available on site. The surrounding Hunua Ranges provide a rich natural setting, with the reservoir and regenerating forest supporting a variety of birdlife.

The area is part of an active kōkako recovery programme, and visitors may spot or hear wetland and forest species around the campground and reservoir margins.

Several tracks, including the Ernies Loop, depart from the area for those looking to explore further into the ranges.