Deer Valley Campsite

Deer Valley Campsite

Lewis Pass

22 Rankers Reviews

5 Face-to-Face

3 Springs Junction

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Photos

The view from Deer Valley Camping Ground
Tight turns at Deer Valley Camping Ground

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.

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 $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 Canterbury

Central government organisation

Location

South IslandCanterburySprings Junction

Categories

  • Activity__basic_facility_campingBasic Camping

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-42.40429961

172.3965421

Latitude
-42.40429961
Longitude
172.3965421

Websites

Reviews

    ✓ Quiet camping spot

    ✓ Beautiful river view

    ✓ Many facilities

    𐄂 Too many sandflies

    𐄂 Unclean toilets

    • Basic campsite next to the river.
    • Great place directly at the river.
    • It's by the road, it's beautiful and it's free.
    • Too cold and closed in.
    • Basic and remote camping ground.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 2
    9%
    9/10 4
    18%
    8/10 5
    23%
    7/10 6
    27%
    6/10 2
    9%
    5/10 1
    5%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 2
    9%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 4.5/5

    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.

    Reviewed 2 months ago

  • 1.0/5

    Quiet camping spot but way too many sandflies..

    therefore we had to leave..

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

    Ann's avatar

    Ann

  • 3.5/5

    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.

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    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

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    Nice spot.

    Quite cold in the morning. A little hard to find from the North. Needs better signage. Toilet was unclean as well.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    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!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    A good little campsite right on the river but close to the road.

    The toilet smells because they do!

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Great location, well managed, right at the river with plenty of spaces and sandflies.

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    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.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    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.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Basic and remote camping ground.

    Good for some quiet time. Toilet was not too clean.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago

  • 2.5/5

    Too cold and closed in.

    Close to Lewis Pass so the altitude is an issue in any season other than full summer.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    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.

    Reviewed 2 months ago

  • 1.0/5

    Quiet camping spot but way too many sandflies..

    therefore we had to leave..

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

    Ann's avatar

    Ann

  • 3.5/5

    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.

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    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

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    Nice spot.

    Quite cold in the morning. A little hard to find from the North. Needs better signage. Toilet was unclean as well.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    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!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    A good little campsite right on the river but close to the road.

    The toilet smells because they do!

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Great location, well managed, right at the river with plenty of spaces and sandflies.

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    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.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    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.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Basic and remote camping ground.

    Good for some quiet time. Toilet was not too clean.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    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.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago

  • 2.5/5

    Too cold and closed in.

    Close to Lewis Pass so the altitude is an issue in any season other than full summer.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Long drop toilet, easy to find, wind shelters, nice and free spot and convenient distance after visit of Hamner Springs pools.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Great place directly at the river.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 3.0/5

    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.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    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!

    Reviewed about 11 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    It's by the road, it's beautiful and it's free.

    River is lovely, toilet is fine (long drop). Not that many tent places but the places that are there are nice and it's great for campers- nice one DOC

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Beautiful but mozzies OMG!!

    Free camping.

    Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in March 2012

  • 4.0/5

    Pure nature, close to a nice river.

    Thousands of sandflies! Make sure you have repellent with you.

    Camped on a nice spot, stars at night were amazing, nice & peaceful night.

    Reviewed almost 13 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Good and free!

    Basic with lots of toilets.

    Reviewed about 13 years ago and experienced in April 2011

  • 1.0/5

    Very poor toilets.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago