Flooding has put a severe dampener on the Christmas camping plans of dozens of holidaymakers in the Bay of Plenty

Severe rain caused intense flooding overnight, and the evacuation of around 150 campers at the Waihi Beach Top 10 holiday park in the early hours of this morning.

Resort owner and former fire chief Ian Smith says some campers are sticking around and hoping for the best, but most people don't want to risk it.

He says quite a few people are heading away - they'd hoped to be there for Christmas day but their tents are just too wet.