Robin Hood Bay Campsite
Blenheim area
Reviews
Tricia
Ranking: 10/10
This was our favourite camp site so far. It's quite busy but we followed the advice of the earlier comments and parked up on the grassy field. We had stunning views from the van over the beach and our neighbour caught 2 kawa and even shared their catch with us! Would definitely stay here again. Sandflies are horrendous so bring plenty of repellant. Road in was a bit dodgy but fine in our Toyota Hiace - wouldn't recommend towing in. Sadly it was cloudy at sunrise and the dolphins didn't show - maybe next time.
Beaudene
Ranking: 10/10
Camping area is very spacious definitely first in first serve as some of the better sites can be swept up real fast, awesome beach and opportunity’s to do abit of fishing or diving. Drive in is abit rough but worth the stay
Wayne Turp
Ranking: 1/10
Went to camp here today to find a ramshackle collection of tents, fly sheets and a decrepit caravan occupying the majority of the available space. There didn’t seem to be anyone in residence so I presume it has been set up as a fly camp?
Aisling
Ranking: 8/10
Don't pull into the signposted spot, go 500m up the road to the huge flat green. You have amazing views of the ocean from here. Sandflies are everywhere so bring repellant. There's a drop toilet in the signposted site which we didn't use. We walked up about 4mins the other direction and used the one there. It was perfect and clean. Only about 4 campers around us so nice and quiet. It is a long gravel road which is windy so be careful. Great spot for a quiet night
NZroadtrippers
Ranking: 10/10
Really cool camping spot, the road to get there was a long gravel road but doable, our campervan could handle it. We came in around 5 and there was plenty of space. We did a little bit of surfing, the waves were nice.
Michelle D
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful views and secluded spot to camp in. We had great weather and shared the campground with only a few other vehicles. Long drop toilet, clean condition.
Alyson Reid
Ranking: 7/10
If you're driving from Picton, don't drive along the winding road from the north. It takes forever! Instead, drive first to Blenheim and approach the campsite from the south.
A pretty spot, but not ideal if it's raining.
Catherine Hunter
Ranking: 8/10
Great spot if you are willing to make the drive out. Very quiet and beautiful views. Beware of minimal cell phone coverage (if at all!) and the sandflies. The site is flat so good for tents and toilet is regularly cleaned. Not a huge site and was overcrowded by the time I woke up. Don't be surprised if you can't get your car out in the am because someone pitched a tent behind it!
Lizzy Cobeldick
Ranking: 7/10
Great spot, easy to find via safe gravel road, and clean toilet. No water supply, small area but there was 12 other cars there and did not feel cramped. Stoney beach.
Michael Talbot
Ranking: 8/10
Nice simple camp close to the beach. Quite small area, beautiful place to be.
Chas Bronson
Ranking: 9/10
Great place to review the beach in private. Very clean facilities, but it is quiet and a way out of town. Dirt road and a long one at that!
Lisa
Ranking: 8/10
Free, simple campsite in a remote bay - the way towards North not passing Blenheim is large, but stunning views reward you! Sandflies!
Jonas
Ranking: 8/10
Great camping spot. It is a beautiful road that takes you there. On low tide, you get to collect Paua - prepare for sandflies.
Niels Bellaar
Ranking: 9/10
Nice little site with toilet, already very crowded at 6pm in January. Protip: if self-contained and coming from Rarangi; drive past the DOC campsite for about 500m and you'll have a huge open grass field with awesome oceanview.
Rodrigo
Ranking: 9/10
Best DOC campsite I have been to in New Zealand. The bay 10km after the campsite is wonderfully perfect for spending a sunny day with your friends.
Joanne Butfield
Ranking: 7/10
Several people despite being mid winter, mid week and miles from anywhere! Sandflies were plentiful too. We're self contained so didn't use amenities. Great beach and surf.
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Chadd Holland
Ranking: 10/10
Great spot PLUS there's surf! It's on the road, but it's so quiet here that barely any cars actually drive to it. The drive here is also absolutely stunning no matter which way you're travelling. Highly recommended.
Tatiana Rochereau
Ranking: 6/10
Beautiful location but the road to come to it is so dangerous. We have a Toyota Estima 4WD but not enough to drive on this road. Some parts are just sand, so slippery and with going down so dangerous. Too much weight and my boyfriend lost the direction. We were close to having an accident. But well, a just beautiful location. The water was quite cold. No water supply. Only 10 spots are flat because the ground is steep. PLEASE DON'T SPIT YOUR TOOTHPASTE OR THROW YOUR LIQUID DISH WASHING IN WATER AND EARTH. Protect and respect nature !
Staffan Johansson
Ranking: 7/10
Nice and simple by the water!
Raita
Ranking: 7/10
Good services and nice place.
Naelan Le Borgue
Ranking: 8/10
A small campsite with toilets, just next to the beach. No water except from the stream under the bridge nearby, but not good to drink.
Doreen Gendel
Ranking: 10/10
Gravel road. Marvelous views on the way there (to the site). You can collect huge mussels and eat them, very tasty.
Erik Nestlez
Ranking: 10/10
Nice location and I really appreciate it that there are free campsites.
Claude Nobs
Ranking: 10/10
Free! Awesome views! Remote & quite Small (~6 vehicles). Got the last space at 6pm, even in off season before christmas!
Kathi
Ranking: 7/10
Free campground with toilet, next to the beach, you need to drive along a gravel road, it is not much comfort but very quiet.
Tom Hill
Ranking: 9/10
Long gravel road to camp but worth the drive. Nice and quiet.
Romina De Hill
Ranking: 8/10
Gorgeous and secluded beach. Stunning view and for free. It is a bit tricky to get there because it is a long ride on a gravel road but absolutely worth it!!
Sander and Eliza Hembrarskamp
Ranking: 9/10
Half hour gravel drive with awesome views over the coast. Tiny little campsite that allowed about 5 campervans but definitely one of our favourites. Very clean vault toilet and clearly signposted DOC. Water from the stream under the bridge. Friendly Fantails and DOC people.
Phillip
Ranking: 10/10
DOC camp with toilets (bush), lovely spot, beach nearby - recommend.
Luca Maria Willensrock
Ranking: 4/10
The road to the campsite is long and not a 'real' road. The toilet is VERY dirty.
Gordon Thomas
Ranking: 8/10
Nice place at the beach - disgusting toilets.
Jessica Wagner
Ranking: 9/10
Very quiet and nice place at the beach.
arnaud paquet
Ranking: 5/10
Bad gravel road, which may be dangerous if it's raining cause it turns to mud, and that for 25km. Moreover, sceneries were not those expected, so quite a loss of time (for me).
About the camping itself, it's quite small, with long grass, basic toilets and heaps of sandflies. Not the one I would recommend.
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Andrew Potratz
Ranking: 5/10
Tried staying here on 23 October. Lovely spot, very secluded. The drive in isn't as bad as we thought it would be, either. Certain times of the year, I'm sure this would be one of the best freedom camping spots on the South Island, but unfortunately, after nightfall, we were attacked by heaps of mosquitoes. I opened our van door for just a brief moment and about 100 of the pests slipped in. We ended up driving back to Blenheim around midnight, as the bugs made Robin Hood Bay absolutely unbearable. Worse than any experiences we've had with sandflies, even.
Other than the bugs, it is absolutely incredible and gorgeous and well maintained.
Emma K
Ranking: 8/10
Nice little site with a stinky toilet.
The views on the drive there are stunning.
Loop track is right there for you to enjoy and the sound of the waves will take you to sleep.The mosquitos and sandflies ate me. But other than that I can really recommend it!
Jonas Herrmann
Ranking: 9/10
Clean facilities, very beautiful, you can get a lot of seafood out of the sea.
Fabian
Ranking: 9/10
Is located far from the main roads, but definitely worth a visit.
Valentina Fuchs
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome! Free campground with toilet, lovely beach and river.
Lea Bulle
Ranking: 8/10
Good spot and campsite, but we did not see dolphins.
Sebastian
Ranking: 10/10
I met friendly local people who were camping as well. They showed me great things from the sea.
Pei
Ranking: 7/10
Small compact camping sites, you could pitch a tent here, the drive view of this route is awesome to me, not very good when raining.
Patrick Stoeit
Ranking: 7/10
Nice little campsite with one toilet. No water but a river to wash dishes and take cooking water. Free camping/no costs.
Florian
Ranking: 8/10
Small but free.
Near a rocky beautiful beach where you can watch dolphins if you're lucky.
Leave you dishes unattented and the weka will do you dishes for you ;)
Steep 6km gravel road to get there.
Don't arrive too late.
Loesje
Ranking: 10/10
Free and excellent!
Just put yourself a little away from the dusty gravel road and everything will be perfect :).
Heard you might see some dolphins here too, unfortunatly not when I was there.
That whole road (Port Underwood road from Blenheim to Picton) is magic! One of my favorite roads in NZ! Beautiful bay after bay and then camping here for free, what do you want more in life?
Make sure to have a stop at the bays nearby too.
auré bis
Ranking: 7/10
First doc campsite experience in south island.
1hr drive from picton (gravel) but what a surprise!
A small and lovely bay with rocky beach.
No walks around but ok to spend a couple of nights.
Toilets and a small stream (go under the bridge) to pick up fresh water.
Mussels and Paua (125mm min!) at low tide ;)
Lucie
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome and free!! In the middle of nowhere. Nice landscape and alone during the winter!
gareth williams
Ranking: 10/10
lovely campsite on the edge of a bay. the beach is stoney but walkable. the site has a toilet only so you need to be self sufficient. lovely views though
Laura Smith
Ranking: 8/10
Nice campsite in front of the beach, for free.
Ilse & Thys
Ranking: 8/10
DOC campground for free - nice place, free, off the beaten track.
Sarah Smith
Ranking: 7/10
Lovely spot shame about power lines and smell of toilet. Good surf and nice night staff.