Since we cant camp on slipper, we will now be staying on Motuihe island. About $20 a night for a family of five,plus a great base for day trips out to rakino island and the noisies etc. Has plenty of kiwi and tuatara released on the island the past few years as well.Full camping facilities.
Rotoroa island also has camping plus its own website.
A more remote getaway that not many know of is Otata island, the largest island of the Noises,just past Rakino island. It has a hut on it,(the old lighthouse keepers house) has bunks and a gascooker,maintained by the auckland canoe club. ive stayed there a few times a year for the past 30 and seldom see anyone else there. Awesome fishing right off the beach/rocks and anyone whose dived there will know about the nearby underwater lava caves that go several hundred metres.
Little further afield is Motuora island,which also has camping for $6 for adults.
Tiritirimatangi has huts with bunks in them for $15 a night and all the walking tracks and birdlife you could ever want,plus decent anchorages plus fishing.
Motukawanui Island of the cavalli islands just out of whangaroa harbour also has a hut on it ,quite cheap to stay but no camping allowed. Be aware that 3 pilot whales died 2 months ago and are just rotting on the beach in front of the hut, so will stink a bit.
If you think you are too small to make a difference,try sleeping with a mosquito in your tent.