Deer Valley Campsite
Lewis Pass
Photos
Information
Deer Valley Campsite
Camp in beech forest next to the Lewis River.
A small campsite on grassy flats next to the Lewis River. It is quite tight to turn at the end of the road - so check if you have room, or at least to ability to back out. This site is close to the St James walkway, and only about 10km from Maruia Springs.
Notices
-
Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve huts and campsites open for bookings
Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve huts and campsites are open for bookings on 1 September for stays from 1 October 2027.
First published on 27 August 2026.
Accommodation
DOC Campsite Pricing
Deer Valley 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 | $15.00 to $20.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Child | $7.50 to $10.00 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 CanterburyCentral government organisation |
|
|
Location |
South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Springs Junction |
|
|
Categories |
|
|
|
Operating Season And Hours |
Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. |
|
|
Directions To Coordinates |
||
|
Coordinates |
||
|
Websites |
|
Basic Camping
Reviews
-
-
Disappointing site.
FC -
Nice spot.
Anthony Hemopo -
Good and free!
Christina Murphy -
A bit cold this winter, but a fine site.
Jan mentink -
Pure nature, close to a nice river.
mawueth
-
Disappointing site.
Toilet was not clean and full of flies. Tight turns if crowded. $15/adult using forms. We did not stay overnight.
-
Good and quiet place.
We spent one night there. It was good. There were a lot of sand flies. Good phone signal. Toilets very clean and odorless. It fits 10 campervans. You can't book online, you have to register when you arrive on site.
-
Yes the main problem was sandflies that rip your arms off.
Other than that, relaxing, peaceful overnight with clean toilet.
A beer six pack nearly froze in the stream. Table and chairs and a lovely fast flowing stream below snowcaps, and mobile signal great.
-
Basic campsite next to the river.
Of course there are sandflies - that's given with a river and otherwise covered spot.
Minus one for the road which is a few tens of meters away - you can very clearly hear cars and trucks passing by.
-
-
Nice place with many facilities and beautifull river.
But toilet not very clean.
It was à rainy day and we had à lot of sandfly.
-
cute place by a stream, only two other cars were there, lots of privacy, gets a little chilly at night & the toilet was what you’d expect, needs a clean
-
Nice spot.
Quite cold in the morning. A little hard to find from the North. Needs better signage. Toilet was unclean as well.
-
Basic DOC camp ground.
There is a $5 honesty fee. Is in a valley so gets freezing cold overnight even in summer. Couple of sandflies around too so pack the repellent!
-
A good little campsite right on the river but close to the road.
The toilet smells because they do!
-
Great location, well managed, right at the river with plenty of spaces and sandflies.
-
A bit cold this winter, but a fine site.
Quiet in the night, hardly no traffic. Toilet was clean. We were alone and stayed one night after a satisfying Maruia hotpool.
-
Nice spot, but we arrived on a rainy day and there were so many sandflies that we had to jump back on the car and keep on going.
Also quite noisy from the road nearby, but that was probably worsened by the wet surface.
-
-
Location: very pretty view, in the mountains, mornings are beautiful there, spacious, little corners so no need to stay too close Sanitary facilities: well - free site, expect a smelly loo lots of sandflies
though, would stay there again.
-
Too cold and closed in.
Close to Lewis Pass so the altitude is an issue in any season other than full summer.
-
Long drop toilet, easy to find, wind shelters, nice and free spot and convenient distance after visit of Hamner Springs pools.
-
-
Disappointing site.
Toilet was not clean and full of flies. Tight turns if crowded. $15/adult using forms. We did not stay overnight.
-
Good and quiet place.
We spent one night there. It was good. There were a lot of sand flies. Good phone signal. Toilets very clean and odorless. It fits 10 campervans. You can't book online, you have to register when you arrive on site.
-
Yes the main problem was sandflies that rip your arms off.
Other than that, relaxing, peaceful overnight with clean toilet.
A beer six pack nearly froze in the stream. Table and chairs and a lovely fast flowing stream below snowcaps, and mobile signal great.
-
Basic campsite next to the river.
Of course there are sandflies - that's given with a river and otherwise covered spot.
Minus one for the road which is a few tens of meters away - you can very clearly hear cars and trucks passing by.
-
-
Nice place with many facilities and beautifull river.
But toilet not very clean.
It was à rainy day and we had à lot of sandfly.
-
cute place by a stream, only two other cars were there, lots of privacy, gets a little chilly at night & the toilet was what you’d expect, needs a clean
-
Nice spot.
Quite cold in the morning. A little hard to find from the North. Needs better signage. Toilet was unclean as well.
-
Basic DOC camp ground.
There is a $5 honesty fee. Is in a valley so gets freezing cold overnight even in summer. Couple of sandflies around too so pack the repellent!
-
A good little campsite right on the river but close to the road.
The toilet smells because they do!
-
Great location, well managed, right at the river with plenty of spaces and sandflies.
-
A bit cold this winter, but a fine site.
Quiet in the night, hardly no traffic. Toilet was clean. We were alone and stayed one night after a satisfying Maruia hotpool.
-
Nice spot, but we arrived on a rainy day and there were so many sandflies that we had to jump back on the car and keep on going.
Also quite noisy from the road nearby, but that was probably worsened by the wet surface.
-
-
Location: very pretty view, in the mountains, mornings are beautiful there, spacious, little corners so no need to stay too close Sanitary facilities: well - free site, expect a smelly loo lots of sandflies
though, would stay there again.
-
Too cold and closed in.
Close to Lewis Pass so the altitude is an issue in any season other than full summer.
-
Long drop toilet, easy to find, wind shelters, nice and free spot and convenient distance after visit of Hamner Springs pools.
-
-
Has the smelliest and dirtiest long drop I have ever seen, well overdue for a good clean inside the shed.
Otherwise pleasant spot by river, just off main road.
-
You can't ask for much more from a free camping spot.
Highly recommend. Word of advice though: If you're traveling from Hamner Springs, it would be wise to fill up on petrol before leaving, as this site is in the middle of nowhere. I wish somebody had told me that prior to our departure. Whoopsie!