French Pass Campsite

French Pass Campsite

French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves

16 Rankers Reviews

5 Face-to-Face

9 Outer Marlborough Sounds

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French Pass Recreation Reserve

Information

French Pass Campsite

This campsite is a great base for boating, fishing, swimming and kayaking and is the gateway to Rangitoto ki te Tonga/D’Urville Island.

A campground location suited to the classic Beatles tune 'The long and winding road'. It's well worth the effort getting here though. It's edge of the earth stuff and tis beautiful indeed.

DOC Campsite Pricing

French Pass Campsite is categorised as a DOC Standard Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing. Prices vary for some campsites and may include seasonal pricing. Visit the DOC website for exact pricing.

DOC Standard Campsite

Standard campsites have a more limited range of facilities and services than Serviced campsites. These campsites have toilets, a water supply that could be treated or untreated tap water, or from a stream or lake, and vehicle or boat access. Bring your own soap for washing hands. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Wood BBQs and fireplaces, cold showers, picnic tables, a cooking shelter and rubbish bins may be provided; this will vary from site to site.

Feature Value Value
Unpowered Site Adult $10.00 to $15.00 per night
Unpowered Site Child $5.00 to $7.50 per night
Unpowered Site Infant $0.00 per night

Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

DOC Marlborough

Central government organisation

Location

South IslandMarlboroughOuter Marlborough Sounds

Categories

  • Activity__basic_facility_campingBasic Camping

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-40.9261994253507

173.842397962952

Latitude
-40.9261994253507
Longitude
173.842397962952

Websites

Reviews

    ✓ Beautiful scenery

    ✓ Scenic drive

    ✓ Clean facilities

    ✓ Friendly atmosphere

    ✓ Wildlife sightings

    𐄂 No potable water

    𐄂 Windy conditions

    • Très belle vue.
    • Great location and clean facilities.
    • DOC campsite.
    • A great spot for mad keen fisherman.
    • Stunning drive to this beautiful place.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 4
    25%
    9/10 7
    44%
    8/10 0
    0%
    7/10 2
    13%
    6/10 2
    13%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 1
    6%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 4.5/5

    It’s a bit of a hassle to get here but the views along the way were breathtaking!

    The site is facing the water, with clean flushable toilet. Beautiful sunrise. $15 per person.

    Reviewed 26 days ago

    EI's avatar

    EI

  • 3.0/5

    Très belle vue.

    Mais pas d'eau potable, eau marron et la douche ne fonctionne pas.

    Reviewed 6 months ago

  • 3.5/5

    A great spot for mad keen fisherman.

    Facilities very clean. At the time of our stay there was a water shortage, so no showers. We stayed two nights. A very friendly stop over.

    Road in not for the faint hearted though. Long windy and dusty.

    Reviewed 9 months ago

  • 4.5/5

    Stunning drive to this beautiful place.

    Basic facilities but enough and clean. It wasn't busy when I stayed there yesterday - just 3 other Camper and a group of youths who were having a good party at the campground. I don't mind - they had fun :) amazing sunrise. Windy though. If you are lucky you can see the 'natural whirlpools' at the Lookout

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • 5.0/5

    Beautiful scenery, really nice place to stay, we stayed in winter so was very peaceful.

    There is flush toilets and cold shower which were quite clean. There is water but must be boiled for drinking. Saw lots of stingrays on the beach. There is a little shop in the village. The drive out there is very scenic but also very windy, steep and lots of slips, not great for people with vertigo or large campers!

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    What a spot.

    It's truly amazing. We only stayed one night and so wish we stayed more. We were lucky there were spots available, so imagine peak holiday time you'd definitely have to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

    The drive was one of the most scenic we've seen in a while, however you'd definitely would want the weather to be perfect and low winds.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    "A hidden paradise" best describes this scenic spot, at the end of an even more scenic drive.

    The drive alone is worth coming here! The campsite is literally on the beach, equipped with toilet, shower and dish basin (tiny though) under roof provided. Fresh water supplied (needs treatment or boiling)! A small convenience store with ice cream, coffees, some hot foods and ice next door to the campground. We have network coverage on both 2degrees and Vodafone here. Bookings required. It can get very windy here - check weather report if tenting especially!

    Reviewed about 3 years ago

  • 2.0/5

    Long slow drive there doc had closed off all the nice grass areas so had to park in a big mud pool was $15 a night definitely not worth that no kitchen no coin showers only cold shower shop said open but

    was all locked up nothing there it's a dead end!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    An amazing campsite and beautiful beach.

    There are however, many stingrays and it is not signposted. It is safe for swimming but not in the evening.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Great facilities.

    Awesome views. Nice walks. Saw dolphins and a stingray.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    DOC campground at the end of the road in the busy(sometimes) settlement of French Pass.

    Right on a lovely sand beach. Good facilities but a little regimented for my liking. Sites marked out.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in October 2014

  • 4.5/5

    Cold shower, $10 per night per person.

    Cool owners, friendly.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

  • 4.5/5

    It’s a bit of a hassle to get here but the views along the way were breathtaking!

    The site is facing the water, with clean flushable toilet. Beautiful sunrise. $15 per person.

    Reviewed 26 days ago

    EI's avatar

    EI

  • 3.0/5

    Très belle vue.

    Mais pas d'eau potable, eau marron et la douche ne fonctionne pas.

    Reviewed 6 months ago

  • 3.5/5

    A great spot for mad keen fisherman.

    Facilities very clean. At the time of our stay there was a water shortage, so no showers. We stayed two nights. A very friendly stop over.

    Road in not for the faint hearted though. Long windy and dusty.

    Reviewed 9 months ago

  • 4.5/5

    Stunning drive to this beautiful place.

    Basic facilities but enough and clean. It wasn't busy when I stayed there yesterday - just 3 other Camper and a group of youths who were having a good party at the campground. I don't mind - they had fun :) amazing sunrise. Windy though. If you are lucky you can see the 'natural whirlpools' at the Lookout

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • 5.0/5

    Beautiful scenery, really nice place to stay, we stayed in winter so was very peaceful.

    There is flush toilets and cold shower which were quite clean. There is water but must be boiled for drinking. Saw lots of stingrays on the beach. There is a little shop in the village. The drive out there is very scenic but also very windy, steep and lots of slips, not great for people with vertigo or large campers!

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    What a spot.

    It's truly amazing. We only stayed one night and so wish we stayed more. We were lucky there were spots available, so imagine peak holiday time you'd definitely have to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

    The drive was one of the most scenic we've seen in a while, however you'd definitely would want the weather to be perfect and low winds.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    "A hidden paradise" best describes this scenic spot, at the end of an even more scenic drive.

    The drive alone is worth coming here! The campsite is literally on the beach, equipped with toilet, shower and dish basin (tiny though) under roof provided. Fresh water supplied (needs treatment or boiling)! A small convenience store with ice cream, coffees, some hot foods and ice next door to the campground. We have network coverage on both 2degrees and Vodafone here. Bookings required. It can get very windy here - check weather report if tenting especially!

    Reviewed about 3 years ago

  • 2.0/5

    Long slow drive there doc had closed off all the nice grass areas so had to park in a big mud pool was $15 a night definitely not worth that no kitchen no coin showers only cold shower shop said open but

    was all locked up nothing there it's a dead end!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    Camping spot and route to get there are really priceless.

    However, price is too high for a overnight stay, $13 per person. But no kitchen, no hot shower, no rubbish place, no shelter to meet other people. So just a basic camping ground, at a priceless spot, but to expensive for no facilities at all...

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    An amazing campsite and beautiful beach.

    There are however, many stingrays and it is not signposted. It is safe for swimming but not in the evening.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Great facilities.

    Awesome views. Nice walks. Saw dolphins and a stingray.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    DOC campground at the end of the road in the busy(sometimes) settlement of French Pass.

    Right on a lovely sand beach. Good facilities but a little regimented for my liking. Sites marked out.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in October 2014

  • 4.5/5

    Cold shower, $10 per night per person.

    Cool owners, friendly.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

  • 4.5/5

    Nice location right at the beachfront.

    Managers were very helpful :-) a beautiful spot.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013

  • 4.5/5

    Great location and clean facilities.

    Reviewed about 15 years ago and experienced in April 2009

  • 4.5/5

    DOC campsite.

    Great spot with nice views, good facilities and rays in the morning.

    Reviewed over 15 years ago and experienced in April 2009