McMillan Road Freedom Camping Area
4.3 22 reviews
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Cymen Crick
Rankers Crew
Search beyond the carpark
Search beyond the carpark
Of first look, there's not much happening here. It's a basic carpark with no toilet facilities.
But this is one of my fav's along the West Coast when the weather plays ball. Here's why.
Firstly, this beach is wild, full of driftwood and perfect for a fire. Grab your camp chairs, find your own little spot and soak up a West Coast sunset. (please extinguish your fire when done).
There's fun exploration on the cards too. Ideally at a lower tide. Head north along the beach and you'll find an outcrop of caves and crannies. Good times and much lesser visited than other places nearby.
And then there's the endangered Tāiko, or Westland Black Petrel. These cool birds nest in one place in the world, and it happens to be right behind Mcmillan Road Carpark. Between April and January, look out to sea at sunset and you get a front row seat as the adults circle over the ocean and then fly overhead, returning to their nesting grounds. For those that are keen, get up early between November and early January to join the local wardens that station themselves to help the chicks that get distracted by artificial lights (often by cars on the highway) on their first flight. Once into clear skies, fledglings might not return for 10 years. Go you good things:)
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Information
McMillan Road Freedom Camping Area
Welcome to McMillan Road
Our community consider ourselves fortunate to be kaitiaki / guardians of this unique forest, mountain and
beach environment. We want you to enjoy our place as much as we do, so rather than leave no trace, please
leave it better for the locals and visitors that will follow in your footsteps.
Throughout the Buller and Grey Districts freedom camping areas like this one are provided to assist in the
preservation of our stunning coast and inland forest areas. Please use these sites and their facilities to protect
the environment for those who live here, our visitors, and future generations to come.
You can do your part to help keep this place beautiful by:
Keeping your stay to a maximum of 2 nights in self contained vehicles only
Only staying overnight in the designated area, as shown on the map
Not driving on the beach. The sand is very soft and many vehicles have been stuck out there. This
beach is also a breeding ground for Tuturiwhatu (Banded Dotterel) and Torea Pango (Variable Oyster-
catchers)
Only using the toilets in your vehicles. Please do not use the surrounding bush for this purpose
Disposing of any waste water in your vehicles waste system
Respecting those you share the site with. Please keep noise to a minimum, and your gear well
contained.
Keeping access ways clear for other users
Calling 111 in the event of a fire. Please ensure any bonfire sites are clear of rubbish before you leave
them.
Taking all your rubbish with you. Bins for disposal are available in Punakaiki, Westport, Hector,
Karamea and Reefton. Please only place your rubbish in a bin, not beside it to prevent the local
birdlife from spreading it far and wide.
Dump stations are available on The Esplanade in Westport, The Strand in Reefton and at the Cobden
Bridge in Greymouth.
For more information about freedom camping in the Grey District please head to
https://www.greydc.govt.nz/our-district/freedom-camping , and in the Buller District head to
http://bullerdc.govt.nz/freedom-camping-in-buller. Enjoy your stay and thank you for respecting our
environment.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Buller District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Punakaiki |
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Categories |
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Operating Season And Hours |
Available year-round for certified self-contained campers, with a maximum stay of two consecutive nights in one location and nine nights per calendar month across the Buller District. |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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Great little spot.
Steve Mac -
Right next to beach.
Corrine -
Great Place, close to the sea.
Tania -
No facilities.
Joaie -
Great place to stay for self-contained campers.
Tinche
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Limited facilities (we couldn't find any) and a pretty cramped spot (is free tbf).
Also quite a lot of flies about. Nice to listen to the waves breaking as you go to sleep though.
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One of the best freedom camp spots in NZ, the beach and the sundowns there are magic, even if there are no facilities!
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We were a family of 5 in a motorhome, we loved it here, there beach is fantastic.
It is a quiet place to stay. If you walk north on the beach there is a hidden entrance to a lovely cave-like area. Highly recommended!!
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Beautiful spot, just behind dunes near beach.
A few other campers. Beautiful view. No toilet or any other facilities.
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Absolutely lovely spot close to the beach!
The surroundings are beautiful and there is no sight of litter.
However just to let everyone know there is no rubbish disposal facilities, water facilities or toliet facilities so make sure you definitely have everything you need before you come.
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Its basically a gravelled car park area next to the beach no amenities but great views of the beach.
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Spot sympa au bord de l'océan, pas de toilettes ni de poubelles.
Collés les uns aux autres comme dans un parking
Vraiment proche des Pancakes Rocks et assez prisé, mieux vaut arriver tôt
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This is the closest i habe ever slept by the sea.
Beautiful beach and not far from pancake rocks. Expect some wind!
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Right next to beach.
No toilets as described. States hot showers but there are none aswell as no public wifi. Great little spot though
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Nice freedom park area but no toilets so go in town before you set up Its last freedom park area before greymouth .
Right by a nice beach hike to end on right there was a canyon in rocks very scenic unless you see track don't know canyon is there
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Lovely spot near the beach and 3 min from the Pancake Rocks.
No bathrooms, no water, lots of sandflies. If its too windy its hard to cook, but not impossible. Doc ranger checking daily. Sandflies level: 7.
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Great place to stay for self-contained campers.
Beach was great for a walk. The rooster was a bit annoying in the morning.
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No toilet but being self contained its not an issue.
Beautiful beach. We made a we fire and had marshmallows and met some cool people. Friendly wekas boosting around in the morning. Kids loved it.
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Limited facilities (we couldn't find any) and a pretty cramped spot (is free tbf).
Also quite a lot of flies about. Nice to listen to the waves breaking as you go to sleep though.
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One of the best freedom camp spots in NZ, the beach and the sundowns there are magic, even if there are no facilities!
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We were a family of 5 in a motorhome, we loved it here, there beach is fantastic.
It is a quiet place to stay. If you walk north on the beach there is a hidden entrance to a lovely cave-like area. Highly recommended!!
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Beautiful spot, just behind dunes near beach.
A few other campers. Beautiful view. No toilet or any other facilities.
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Absolutely lovely spot close to the beach!
The surroundings are beautiful and there is no sight of litter.
However just to let everyone know there is no rubbish disposal facilities, water facilities or toliet facilities so make sure you definitely have everything you need before you come.
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Its basically a gravelled car park area next to the beach no amenities but great views of the beach.
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Spot sympa au bord de l'océan, pas de toilettes ni de poubelles.
Collés les uns aux autres comme dans un parking
Vraiment proche des Pancakes Rocks et assez prisé, mieux vaut arriver tôt
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This is the closest i habe ever slept by the sea.
Beautiful beach and not far from pancake rocks. Expect some wind!
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Right next to beach.
No toilets as described. States hot showers but there are none aswell as no public wifi. Great little spot though
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Nice freedom park area but no toilets so go in town before you set up Its last freedom park area before greymouth .
Right by a nice beach hike to end on right there was a canyon in rocks very scenic unless you see track don't know canyon is there
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Lovely spot near the beach and 3 min from the Pancake Rocks.
No bathrooms, no water, lots of sandflies. If its too windy its hard to cook, but not impossible. Doc ranger checking daily. Sandflies level: 7.
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Great place to stay for self-contained campers.
Beach was great for a walk. The rooster was a bit annoying in the morning.
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No toilet but being self contained its not an issue.
Beautiful beach. We made a we fire and had marshmallows and met some cool people. Friendly wekas boosting around in the morning. Kids loved it.
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Perfect for relaxing just in the middle of the nature, on the super beautiful and wild beach.
No facilities, so just full contained vehicles are allowed.
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Good spot.
Good spot. No power or water, but very nice and peaceful!!! Sandfly's, but not so much if the southwesterly is on.
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Basic car park but away from the main road and very peaceful apart from the sound of the breakers on the beach.
Note: this site is actively managed, with a community ranger visiting the site to make sure everyone was SCC. Oh, and sandflies. Lots and lots of sandflies.
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