UPDATED 8.59am: Hardy campers are using Kiwi ingenuity and finding ways to tough it out in miserable weather.

Heavy rain and gale force winds have belted parts of Northland and Auckland, setting in early on New Year's Day.

MORE: Torrential rain hits campers in Northland

That's sent many holiday makers packing, but some diehards are sticking it out.

At Opononi Beach Holiday Park, Harry Barlow said he's lost campers with small, light tents to the weather.

But there are still game groups there braving the wild weather.

"I see there's about 8 or 9 people out there swimming, so they're pretty tough here on the West Coast. Our annual fishing tournament has been cancelled for the day, but apart from that we're all above the ground and have half a smile anyway."

Holiday Parks Association boss Fergus Brown said some parks have lost half of their bookings.

But he said people are pretty hardy and they don't want to cut their summer holidays short, leading to some creative thinking.

"People moving into hay bales, one family actually moved into a horse float to keep themselves dry."

He said most campers can put up with a bit of rain, but the gale force winds are knocking tents around.

He said people need to be careful and sensible with their camping locations.

"It's a matter of those experienced campers - take extra tent pegs, peg themselves down well. Don't go near rivers, ask advice from the camping ground operators as to where they should be camping."

No major incidents or damage have been reported to Northland Civil Defence overnight.