Welcome to New Zealand's most comprehensive database of freely available camping information. This is the only travel map of its kind in NZ.
- Camping for free in a certified self-contained vehicle is allowed for a maximum of 1 night in
any four week period.
- Vehicles must park within defined spaces.
- One vehicle per space.
- All personal effects must be kept within the vehicle.
- Marked spaces only.
- Maximum 6 vehicles.
- Maximum vehicle length 7.5 metres.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Kaikoura District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Overnight Camping Site Cost |
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Overnight Camping Site CostWhat is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? Free Camping It costs nothing to stay overnight. In general this means that you should not expect any facilities. |
Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Self-contained motorhomes only Overnight stays are only permitted if your vehicle is certified as being 'self-contained'. The vehicle must display the "Responsible Camper" sticker. |
Campsite Managing Organisation |
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Campsite Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this campsite? Local Council This experience is managed by a local council. |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Maximum Stay Duration |
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Maximum Stay DurationHow many consecutive days can you stay overnight at this establishment? 1 night You are permitted to stay only one night here in a row. One night maximum in any 4 week period |
Maximum Sites Available |
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Maximum Sites AvailableHow many camping or parking sites are available for staying overnight in? 6 to 10 sites There are between six and ten sites available to stay overnight in. A maximum of 6 vehicles allowed. |
Booking Required |
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Booking RequiredIs it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? First Come, First Served Sites are allocated in a first come, first served basis. Get in early for the best spot. |
Large Vehicle Access |
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Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. Maximum vehicle length 7.5 metres |
Vehicle Access |
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Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. Maximum vehicle length 7.5 metres |
✓ Stunning coastal views
✓ Clean toilets available
✓ Cold showers on site
✓ Proximity to seal colony
✓ Yummy seafood nearby
𐄂 Must leave by 7am
𐄂 Limited parking spaces
Best spot in town.
The toiletblock also has outside cold showers.
It's a cool spot to stay overnight.
Amazing spot.
Really hard site to review.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 16 |
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43% |
9/10 | 12 |
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32% |
8/10 | 3 |
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8% |
7/10 | 4 |
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11% |
6/10 | 1 |
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3% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 1 |
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3% |
4.5/5
A few spots(about 6) right on the edge of the beach.
We got there about 4pm and got the last one, lots of others came past later and had to go to a paid field up the road. Opened the boot and had a sea view!better than the town spots which are street side parking lots. Basic toilet, clean but the lights went on and off. Had to leave by 7am but that was fine as we left super early to go dolphin swimming- an absolute must do experience. Loved it all.
Reviewed 20 days ago
5.0/5
Great spot!
Very nice view, toilets and picknick tables nearby, but only six spots and they fill up quickly. Also great to look at the stars in the evening.
Reviewed 27 days ago
4.5/5
Wie kamen leider erst gegen 22 Uhr an und alle Plätze waren belegt.
Lage wunderschön direkt am Strand und Nähe der Seelöwen.
Toilettenhaus vorhanden kann nicht beurteilen ob e sauber ist.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
4.5/5
Really nice spot A few spaces and filled up by 4pm ish and this is mid winter Little to no service so bare that in mind Ranger didn’t come check morning or evening Nice clean toilets Would
recommend leaving by 7am as advised and go to Point Keane to view sunrise as it was amazing
Reviewed 5 months ago
4.5/5
Great place, peaceful and fantastic view, unbeatable!
Toilets were clean. Only drawback is the rule that you have to be gone by 7am in the morning.
Reviewed 6 months ago
4.5/5
Great location, night sky, get there early in late April, spots were gone by early afternoon.
Late at night others parked illegally and no one seemed to check . We were out by 7 am as posted. Toilets flushed but were not the cleanest.
Reviewed 7 months ago
3.5/5
It's a cool spot to stay overnight.
We were here at 1:00 p.m. but it was already very full! We were happy to have gotten the last spot! NOTE: You have to be gone by 7:00 a.m. This is checked by a security guard. Otherwise you will be fined $400. We were checked
Reviewed 8 months ago
5.0/5
Best spot in town.
Toilets, sunsets, cold water shower, crayfish store. What else can you wish for?
Reviewed 9 months ago
5.0/5
We stayed here in early March at a weekend and it was one of the best freedom camps we've done!
Cold shower and clean toilets, right beside a bar and bbq shack with amazing crayfish and super sheltered with a sea view. You really need to be there early though! We got there at 11am and got the last spot. Same goes for the crayfish on a Saturday - ordered around 2pm and got one of the last ones. Great spot if you can get in early
Reviewed 9 months ago
5.0/5
Arrive early.
Last spot was occupied at 3pm. Beautiful sunrise. Not far from town & Peninsula. Clean toilets & cold outside shower. Be aware you have to show the ranger that your toilet is usable while bed is made. Ranger is also checking at exactly 7am if you are ready to go
Reviewed about 1 year ago
3.0/5
Hard to find a park since the locals use the park for recreation and quite busy.
Vacate by 7am is fine, but unfortunately the foreign campers weren’t even awake by that time. Us and another kiwi couple left at 7. Please leave on time so they don’t remove this campsite….
Reviewed about 2 years ago
4.5/5
A few spots(about 6) right on the edge of the beach.
We got there about 4pm and got the last one, lots of others came past later and had to go to a paid field up the road. Opened the boot and had a sea view!better than the town spots which are street side parking lots. Basic toilet, clean but the lights went on and off. Had to leave by 7am but that was fine as we left super early to go dolphin swimming- an absolute must do experience. Loved it all.
Reviewed 20 days ago
5.0/5
Great spot!
Very nice view, toilets and picknick tables nearby, but only six spots and they fill up quickly. Also great to look at the stars in the evening.
Reviewed 27 days ago
4.5/5
Wie kamen leider erst gegen 22 Uhr an und alle Plätze waren belegt.
Lage wunderschön direkt am Strand und Nähe der Seelöwen.
Toilettenhaus vorhanden kann nicht beurteilen ob e sauber ist.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
4.5/5
Really nice spot A few spaces and filled up by 4pm ish and this is mid winter Little to no service so bare that in mind Ranger didn’t come check morning or evening Nice clean toilets Would
recommend leaving by 7am as advised and go to Point Keane to view sunrise as it was amazing
Reviewed 5 months ago
4.5/5
Great place, peaceful and fantastic view, unbeatable!
Toilets were clean. Only drawback is the rule that you have to be gone by 7am in the morning.
Reviewed 6 months ago
4.5/5
Great location, night sky, get there early in late April, spots were gone by early afternoon.
Late at night others parked illegally and no one seemed to check . We were out by 7 am as posted. Toilets flushed but were not the cleanest.
Reviewed 7 months ago
3.5/5
It's a cool spot to stay overnight.
We were here at 1:00 p.m. but it was already very full! We were happy to have gotten the last spot! NOTE: You have to be gone by 7:00 a.m. This is checked by a security guard. Otherwise you will be fined $400. We were checked
Reviewed 8 months ago
5.0/5
Best spot in town.
Toilets, sunsets, cold water shower, crayfish store. What else can you wish for?
Reviewed 9 months ago
5.0/5
We stayed here in early March at a weekend and it was one of the best freedom camps we've done!
Cold shower and clean toilets, right beside a bar and bbq shack with amazing crayfish and super sheltered with a sea view. You really need to be there early though! We got there at 11am and got the last spot. Same goes for the crayfish on a Saturday - ordered around 2pm and got one of the last ones. Great spot if you can get in early
Reviewed 9 months ago
5.0/5
Arrive early.
Last spot was occupied at 3pm. Beautiful sunrise. Not far from town & Peninsula. Clean toilets & cold outside shower. Be aware you have to show the ranger that your toilet is usable while bed is made. Ranger is also checking at exactly 7am if you are ready to go
Reviewed about 1 year ago
3.5/5
This was a great place to stay great proximity to seal colony a walk along the Boardwalk half a km very pleasant however you have to get in early, there are only 6 spaces for self contained campervans
they fill up fast
there is a very nice clean toilet next to the spaces and they face out to the sea there is also a picnic table with a sun shade cover over it
There is a stand that sells beer and wine and also a seafood caravan with all sorts of yummy Delights crayfish, grilled fish and other seafood which looked so yummy,
I didn't try but saw some large platters coming out looked amazing
all in all quite a good place to stay if you get in early
Reviewed about 2 years ago
3.5/5
Really hard site to review.
The view is gorgeous. The stalls that set up close by are lovely. The view is amazing. However, the 7am leave time is policed- he is a nice guy and doesn't generally fine but still you need to be showing willing before 7... I'd rather pay the $20 and camp in the field at The Point close by and be able to enjoy waking up close to the ocean rather than rush off partly dressed
Reviewed about 2 years ago
4.5/5
Lovely position right on the coast, 6 space for overnight self contained freedom campers.
Get there early all spaces gone by 4pm, leave by 7am. Clean toilets, cold outdoor shower. Seafood shack right next door, closes at 5pm. If you arrive late and no spaces are left, there is a farm opposite side of riad ca. 200 m further down, you can camp in their space for a small fee
Reviewed about 2 years ago
3.0/5
Hard to find a park since the locals use the park for recreation and quite busy.
Vacate by 7am is fine, but unfortunately the foreign campers weren’t even awake by that time. Us and another kiwi couple left at 7. Please leave on time so they don’t remove this campsite….
Reviewed about 2 years ago
5.0/5
Great spot, lovely views and quiet road, seemed quite popular.
Reviewed about 2 years ago
3.5/5
The toiletblock also has outside cold showers.
The sign says this is one of the few safe swimming beaches on this stretch of coast. Sleeping to the sound if waves is perfect.
Reviewed over 2 years ago
5.0/5
Amazing spot.
Nice clean toilets close by & Seal colony around the corner. Beautiful ocean view to wake up to
Reviewed over 2 years ago
0.5/5
Great spot clean toilets unfortunately though the council expects you to leave by 7am & when I got up early to do so a very rude bald man on a quad bike was taking photos of the free campers to report
them. Let’s hope Karma gets him.
Reviewed over 2 years ago
4.0/5
Definitely the nicest freedom camping spot in Kaikoura.
Only 6 spaces which fill up fast, you really need to get there before 5. Sign says for campers to leave before 7am which is a bit of a drawback. Nice toilets, and rubbish/recycling bins are handy. Near the seal colony and right next to a seafood stall. The beach isn't one for relaxing on.
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
5.0/5
Would 100% stay here again.
Pretty flat, clean toilets and amazing view of the beach. Seal colony are a short 5 minute walk and there's a Roadside Cafe that sets up about 50m along that serves yummy seafood.
Reviewed about 3 years ago
5.0/5
Great place clean toilets, rubbish and recycling right there.
Take a walk to see the seal colony
Reviewed over 3 years ago
5.0/5
We were super impressed by this site.
It was a gorgeous place to stay with a toilet that was very clean.
Reviewed over 3 years ago
5.0/5
Nice spot by the beach.
Again, make sure you arrive before 5pm. Toilets and cold shower.
Next door, you can have crayfish and a glass of wine 😊
Reviewed over 3 years ago
4.5/5
This was a great, quiet spot with six sites.
Excellent toilets, picnic tables and a seal colony near by. The rule of leaving early was followed by all when we were there - a short drive to the seal colony for breakfast. There was a nice walk on the cliffs above the seal colony. The near by beach bbq seemed pretty good value.
Reviewed over 3 years ago
4.5/5
Awesome spot right on the beach!
6 designated parking spaces. Clean Toilets close by and 2 picnic tables. Council come and kick you out by 7am so no luck with a sleep in :(
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
5.0/5
Great spot by the beach!
Close to the Kaikoura Peninsula Walk! Cold Shower, toilets and tables!
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
5.0/5
Only 6 spaces for certified campers, we got the last spot at 4.30.
Council door knocked all campers at about 5 reminding us to be gone by 7am. Council checks every morning. Plenty of campers arrived after and stayed in the non designated area. Most campers migrated to the seal colony car park by 7am for coffee and brekkie. Toilet clean.
Great view!
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
5.0/5
Awesome free spot with the sea right in front of you where you can snorkle, you can buy lunch/dinner 30m at the fish place and 15mins walk is Point Kean with loads of seals, what's not to like?
We were here in december and it got full around 6 but guess thats incomparable in these corona times...
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
4.5/5
As others have said you do need to be here early - in winter (July 2020) & NZ border closed b/c COVID - we got the last spot ~ 6pm and there were others who missed out.
Close to the seal colony and cliff walkway which is well worth doing. Very clean new toilet facilities, rubbish/recycling; quiet tho parked right next to the road.
Reviewed about 4 years ago and experienced in July 2020