Kerr Bay Campsite
Lake Rotoiti
4.5 58 reviews
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Kerr Bay Campsite
Kerr Bay Campsite is next to Lake Rotoiti, surrounded by beech forest, with a boat launching ramp nearby.
Kerr Bay Campsite is 500 metres from the St Arnaud village shop.
The campground is open all year around. During the summer months bookings are essential. Bookings are not available during the winter.
Summer Rates (18th Oct - 1st May) - $25/night unpowered, $28/night powered. Youth (5-17) are half the adult rates & under fives free. The DOC campsite pass is not valid here while the summer rates are in place.
Winter rates (2nd May - 17th Oct) - $20/night unpowered and $23/night powered. Youth rates (5 - 17 yrs) are half the adult rates and under fives are free.
BOOKINGS:
A $10 service fee applies to all phone, email and in-person bookings.
Your booking will be for a site, which will be allocated or selected on arrival.
Bookings are required 1 December to 30 April. Book well in advance for the Christmas holiday period, classic boat show and powerboat regatta weekends, and Easter.
Campsite zones:
There are five camping zones, each with varying numbers of sites.
Powered Sites with hardened surfaces:
- Bellbird
- Fantail
- Robin and Tui zone.
Grassy zone suitable for tents:
-Kaka zone
Kiwi sites are suitable for campervans and provide a gravel surface with some grass around the sites.
Facilities and services:
- A day shelter provides kitchen and cooking facilities – no pots, pans, cutlery.
The ablution block has:
- hot showers that are token operated. You can get tokens from the Visitor Centre.
- toilets
- full access shower/toilet, and washing machine and clothes dryer.
- There is a sewage dump station opposite the cooking shelter.
Notices
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Lake Rotoiti boat show events 20 February 2025 - 26 April 2026
The following boat shows are being held at Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes National Park:
• Waka ama racing: 20 – 21 February 2026
• Power boats: 28 February – 1 March 2026
• NZ Antique and Classic Boat Show: 7 – 8 March 2026
• NZ Rowing Masters: 24 – 26 April 2026Public access remains open, with boat and beach access available at West Bay.
First published on 1 January 2026.
Access to all walking tracks remain open.
These events can attract large crowds and event management may be in place at Kerr Bay.
Online bookings for Kerr Bay campground and West Bay campground are essential.
Parking at the visitor centre is not permitted for these events.
Accommodations
DOC Campsite Pricing
Kerr Bay Campsite is categorised as a DOC Serviced Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing.
DOC Serviced Campsite
Serviced campsites have a wide range of facilities and services. Flush toilets, tap water that could be treated or untreated, kitchen/cooking bench, hot showers, rubbish collection and road access for all types of vehicles. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Serviced campsites may have laundry facilities, barbecues, fireplaces, cookers and picnic tables.
| Feature | Value | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Unpowered Site | Adult | $20.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Child | $10.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Infant | $0.00 per night |
| Powered Site | Adult | $23.00 per night |
| Powered Site | Child | $11.50 per night |
| Powered Site | Infant | $0.00 per night |
Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
|---|---|---|
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Organisation |
DOC MarlboroughCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ St Arnaud |
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Categories |
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Operating Season And Hours |
Bookings not required from Easter (mid April) to mid December.
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
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Websites |
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Basic Camping
Dump Station
Google Maps
Reviews
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Stunning location by the lake -
Great walking trails
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Clean and maintained facilities
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Hot showers available
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Pricey for the facilities -
Limited showers for the number of campers
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Lots of sandflies
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Fantastic location.
Annette May -
By far the best DoC camp I’ve visited.
Wayne -
Great campground.
Ken Richardson -
Expensive but nice.
Rob Cadmus -
Good DOC facilities at a good price.
Brendan Dunn
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Arrivé un peu tard sur le site, cela n'a pas été facile de trouver notre emplacement.
Une fois branché, l'emplacement était calme. Les Toilettes étaient fonctionnelles mais seulement une douche froide.
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It‘s a great campsite, BUT it could be better for the price in my opinion.
Paid 50$ for 1 night on an unpowered campsite (even though we have the DOC Pass).
They have only 3 showers for the entire camp, there‘s no trashcans and also just one old stove in the shared kitchen area.
Wouldn’t normally complain but the price is the same as at a holiday park and honestly those are just better equipped and serviced.
Needless to say, the area and walks surrounding it are stunning and you will have a great time!
There‘s an awful amount of sandflies though, so pack accordingly.
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Really fabulous Campsite, between the lake & forest.
As mentioned, lots of lovely walks from here, the Bellbird & Fantail sites are best for being up close to the forest.
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Most of the site already booked when I arrived.
Despite signage saying the doc campsite pass is valid (except for 26 Dec to 8 Feb), the website disagrees and there is a $28 charge. Nearby access to beautiful lake although seemingly no views from the camping area.
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Beautiful spot.
We paid for a site. Great toilets n token showers. Washer ($?) n dryer $3), we used dryer. camp kitchen was great - stove too n hot water tap, seating n tables n view. Was cold overnight. One of favourite spots we camped.
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Nice campground, good showers, tokens to be bought in the Visitor's center.
1 token 6 minutes hit shower. Toilets could be cleaner. Semi-sheltered cooking area with a boiled water tap, very convenient!
It filled up quickly over the weekend.
Drinking water tap has a strange wide screw, not every hose will fit.
Lots of sand flies even end of September. With clear skies stargazing in the night is incredible.
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Serviced DOC site.
Large kitchen area with gas stove, toilets with token operated showers. Also a dump station and fresh water refill.
We stayed in a powered site, got the feeling that those are a bit more private than the unpowered ones. The location is amazing, many great trails from there. DOC visitor centre 5 minutes walking away. Might even hear kiwi calling in the night :-)
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Très bon campsite.
Si vous arrivez avant 4:30 PM vous devez passer par le centre d'information (à quelques mètres du campsite) pour check-in. Vous pouvez aussi retirer des token pour la douche chaude : 1$ pour 6min.
Une cuisine est à disposition, avec plaques au gaz, éviers et tables. Pas de frigo.
Vue sur le lac et de nombreuses randonnées à proximité.
4G ok. Chien interdit.
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Awesome place with all the facilities you could need (cleans and well maintained), just make sure you get tokens for the showers from the visitors centre which we weren’t told about when we booked there
in person. Beautiful bird song but lots of sandflies.
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Bon camping proche du lac avec de belles vues Sanitaires nombreux et propres Emplacements spacieux et plats
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Very nice campsite, awesome facilities, can was clothes and take a shower and have a shelterd spot where to cook.
Has drinking water which is always a plus. Some nice walks in the are and the position is perfect. Make sure to check out the eels in the lake just by pointing a torch to the water as suggested in a previous review. Only problem were the ridicolous amount of sandflies so be well prepared!
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Amazing campsite!!
Secluded spots available and picnic tables. Wonderful location next to the lake with mountain views.
Facilities (toilets, showers, kitchen area) were well maintained and clean. Hot showers are available, to use them you need to buy a coin (from the campsite host or at the DOC visitor center close by). When we arrived, it was after hours, and the campsite host wasn’t there so remember to get the coin in time.
Wear long sleeves as there are sandflies (even in october when we stayed here).
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Beautiful campground with lots of room available.
Hot water and gas stove available for free. Showers that cost $1 and laundry on-site. Amazing views of the lake and surrounding mountains, would highly highly recommend!
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By far the best DoC camp I’ve visited.
Spent last three nights here on powered site. Great environment and every amenity.
Camp hosts are awesome.
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This is a beautiful campsite with all the trimmings, powered sites, new toilets,laundry,kitchen area with hot water , hot showers ($1)and dump station.we stayed the long weekend so had to book on line
and got the last space. A beautiful lake with walks or bike tracks to choose from.
Only problem was the sandflies and masses of bumblebees! Take plenty of insect repellent!
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Great place to stay!
Showers 2 dollars, powered and non pwrd places. Great place to cook and eat, hot (boiling) and fresh water. Hose to water up your campervan, washing machines and hand/hair dryers. Highly recommended, check in 10 am and out 11/12am. Sandflies level: 4/10.
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Superb location, fantastic facilities - not the usual bare necessities you might expect from DoC.
So one star? Well, that was thanks to appallingly incompetent management. First of all, it states you MUST make bookings. So we did, back in November. When we arrived, however, we found that someone was backed up so far they were blocking off half our site. We raised the issue with the camp host, but he didn't care as that person was there for the week and we were only staying the night. Ok. Fine. We can work around that.
Later that night, we heard an engine outside. The host was arranging with late strivers who didn't have a booking to make themselves at home on the front of our site. Given his earlier belligerence, we knew that any conversation would be unproductive.
It was hugely annoying as this was supposed to be a two site spot... but by the time we woke up, there was another vehicle shoved onto the front of our site. So, to recap, we had one party taking up a big portion of our (booked and paid for) site. Then two more vehicles were shoved onto the site at the camp host's instruction (without asking us, of course).
This sloppy attitude and disregard for the signposted and widely publicised rules was upsetting and ruined our stay. I would discourage anyone from paying $21 per person for a powered site and suggest that they head to a professionally managed campground instead. At least there you know that when you wake up in the morning there won't be random people sprawled out on the site that you thought you paid for to enjoy to yourself.
Shameful stuff, DoC. You do such great work, but you need to get the administration of this place under control. It makes a mockery of the whole system.
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Arrivé un peu tard sur le site, cela n'a pas été facile de trouver notre emplacement.
Une fois branché, l'emplacement était calme. Les Toilettes étaient fonctionnelles mais seulement une douche froide.
-
It‘s a great campsite, BUT it could be better for the price in my opinion.
Paid 50$ for 1 night on an unpowered campsite (even though we have the DOC Pass).
They have only 3 showers for the entire camp, there‘s no trashcans and also just one old stove in the shared kitchen area.
Wouldn’t normally complain but the price is the same as at a holiday park and honestly those are just better equipped and serviced.
Needless to say, the area and walks surrounding it are stunning and you will have a great time!
There‘s an awful amount of sandflies though, so pack accordingly.
-
Really fabulous Campsite, between the lake & forest.
As mentioned, lots of lovely walks from here, the Bellbird & Fantail sites are best for being up close to the forest.
-
Most of the site already booked when I arrived.
Despite signage saying the doc campsite pass is valid (except for 26 Dec to 8 Feb), the website disagrees and there is a $28 charge. Nearby access to beautiful lake although seemingly no views from the camping area.
-
Beautiful spot.
We paid for a site. Great toilets n token showers. Washer ($?) n dryer $3), we used dryer. camp kitchen was great - stove too n hot water tap, seating n tables n view. Was cold overnight. One of favourite spots we camped.
-
Nice campground, good showers, tokens to be bought in the Visitor's center.
1 token 6 minutes hit shower. Toilets could be cleaner. Semi-sheltered cooking area with a boiled water tap, very convenient!
It filled up quickly over the weekend.
Drinking water tap has a strange wide screw, not every hose will fit.
Lots of sand flies even end of September. With clear skies stargazing in the night is incredible.
-
Serviced DOC site.
Large kitchen area with gas stove, toilets with token operated showers. Also a dump station and fresh water refill.
We stayed in a powered site, got the feeling that those are a bit more private than the unpowered ones. The location is amazing, many great trails from there. DOC visitor centre 5 minutes walking away. Might even hear kiwi calling in the night :-)
-
Très bon campsite.
Si vous arrivez avant 4:30 PM vous devez passer par le centre d'information (à quelques mètres du campsite) pour check-in. Vous pouvez aussi retirer des token pour la douche chaude : 1$ pour 6min.
Une cuisine est à disposition, avec plaques au gaz, éviers et tables. Pas de frigo.
Vue sur le lac et de nombreuses randonnées à proximité.
4G ok. Chien interdit.
-
Awesome place with all the facilities you could need (cleans and well maintained), just make sure you get tokens for the showers from the visitors centre which we weren’t told about when we booked there
in person. Beautiful bird song but lots of sandflies.
-
Bon camping proche du lac avec de belles vues Sanitaires nombreux et propres Emplacements spacieux et plats
-
Very nice campsite, awesome facilities, can was clothes and take a shower and have a shelterd spot where to cook.
Has drinking water which is always a plus. Some nice walks in the are and the position is perfect. Make sure to check out the eels in the lake just by pointing a torch to the water as suggested in a previous review. Only problem were the ridicolous amount of sandflies so be well prepared!
-
Amazing campsite!!
Secluded spots available and picnic tables. Wonderful location next to the lake with mountain views.
Facilities (toilets, showers, kitchen area) were well maintained and clean. Hot showers are available, to use them you need to buy a coin (from the campsite host or at the DOC visitor center close by). When we arrived, it was after hours, and the campsite host wasn’t there so remember to get the coin in time.
Wear long sleeves as there are sandflies (even in october when we stayed here).
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Beautiful campground with lots of room available.
Hot water and gas stove available for free. Showers that cost $1 and laundry on-site. Amazing views of the lake and surrounding mountains, would highly highly recommend!
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By far the best DoC camp I’ve visited.
Spent last three nights here on powered site. Great environment and every amenity.
Camp hosts are awesome.
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This is a beautiful campsite with all the trimmings, powered sites, new toilets,laundry,kitchen area with hot water , hot showers ($1)and dump station.we stayed the long weekend so had to book on line
and got the last space. A beautiful lake with walks or bike tracks to choose from.
Only problem was the sandflies and masses of bumblebees! Take plenty of insect repellent!
-
Great place to stay!
Showers 2 dollars, powered and non pwrd places. Great place to cook and eat, hot (boiling) and fresh water. Hose to water up your campervan, washing machines and hand/hair dryers. Highly recommended, check in 10 am and out 11/12am. Sandflies level: 4/10.
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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
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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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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.