Kerr Bay Campsite
Lake Rotoiti
41 Rankers Reviews
23 Face-to-Face
7 St Arnaud
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Kerr Bay Camping Ground is a large, serviced camping area, on the shores of Lake Rotoiti and close to the village.
Recent mainland island pest control (good on you DOC and the local community) has seen this area become more alive with birdlife. Kaka numbers have grown and recently introduced Kiwi are starting to thrive also. It's a great story and it's a great spot too.
Details
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Location |
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ St Arnaud |
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Categories |
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Operating Season And Hours |
Bookings not required from Easter (mid April) to mid December.
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Reviews
Showing 8 reviews of 38.
Ying
Ranking: 10/10
A fantastic campsite near beautiful Lake Rotoiti, we were very impressed with the cooking and paid hot shower facilities (didn't expect it at a DOC site). There are lots of sites spaced out and it was nearly empty when we were there, so quiet and peaceful. Great spot for nature walks - we spotted lots of birds and even a pair of wild deer
Kysha
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful location right by Lake Rotoiti. Campsite well set up with kitchen facilities, toilets and hot showers (token system, $1 per token for 6 mins of hot water). We stayed in a powered site for $23 per adult. Non powered sites were $20 pp.
If arriving before 4.30pm, register at the DOC office about 200m before the lake on the right-hand side. You can buy tokens for the showers there too. If coming after hours, there's an onsite host (but they can't give you a campsite until after the DOC office closes).
As others have said, plenty of sandflys about so bring repellent.
Lake 100m away from campsite, where you can swim, hire canoes, get a water taxi and there's a playground for kids.
Campsite has rubbish and recycling bins and a dump station.
Saw some American tourists feeding eels off the jetty.. which I'm glad I only saw after I'd had a swim!
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lisa
Ranking: 9/10
Fantastic facilities at this campsite...best I've experienced.
And a beautiful setting on the lake with a lovely walk around the lake and the option of boat ride to lake head and walk back to camp.
Sophi
Ranking: 8/10
A great DOC site, lake Rotoiti is just beautiful. We were delayed arriving due to bad weather so missed checking in at the visitor center. The camp hosts were then not around until later & had no shower tokens on them. We managed to park up in the right area with our tent as per our booking email though.
The new toilets are fab, didn’t use the showers due to no tokens.
Be warned, the sand flies are a pain!!
Vanessa
Ranking: 7/10
Stayed for 2 nights because of the beautiful lake surrounding. Nice camp hosts. Payed 35 $ for 2 persons and a campervan on a non powered site. Facilities were old but clean, not very welcoming. Showers run by tokens. Starting point for several great walks. Register in visitor centre if arriving before 4.30pm. If later present to the hosts at the site.
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Geoff Steele
Ranking: 10/10
Our favourite DoC campsite from our NZ visit. This was a surprise find, so near the town of St Arnaud. Flat campsites, with power. Kitchen with a great lake view. Clean modern toilets. We visited in September and found the showers locked, and a laundry with no machines but the DoC ranger explained these are available in high season. Some easy walks start from the camp, including one that leads back to the town. Shine a torch from the jetty in the lake after dark to bring out the long finned eels. Crystal clear water you can see the trout! Lots of birdsong in the morning, and an owl at night. While it didn't snow while we were here there was a good cover on the mountains that surround the lake, and clouds rolled in after dark that made the whole scene surreal. Check out the displays at the DoC office - lots of info there on walks, wildlife, history and the management plan for the area. The DoC ranger was incredibly helpful. We were fortunate enough to find a water taxi active on the day we arrived, and took a tour up to see Whiskey falls and the head of the lake which we recommend.
Silvia Romeiro
Ranking: 7/10
The location is great, easy to find, even if you arrive at night like we did. Bathrooms were clean but had no showers open. Kitchen had no doors, so it was a bit cold.
The view when you wake up is priceless.
Adam Yates
Ranking: 9/10
Arrived late and got a little lost in the dark, didn't get a chance to use all the facilities but seemed very well maintained.
BUT, the walks and scenery here in the morning are incredible. Worth every penny, make sure you get up early and enjoy the Mirror Lake.
DOC Managed
Thanks to all the good people working for the NZ Department of Conservation - for all your hard work - making NZ more beautiful, accessable and healthy! Cheers 😍
