Kidds Bush Reserve Campsite
Lake Hawea
84 Rankers Reviews
23 Face-to-Face
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The Kidds Bush Reserve Camping Ground is super busy during the holidays an awesome spot with plenty of space to join on in with the locals.
Its away from the main road so it feels like you are in quite an isolated spot. The campsite is alongside the lake in a large grassy area, with lots of shade from beech trees. Walking track nearby. This place gets extremely cold in the winter, so cold that the water pipes all freeze up! Well out of the sandfly zone - wicked.
There is a shelter and a boat ramp here.
Notices
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Portable toilets at Kidds Bush Campsite
Kidds Bush Campsite has portable toilets until a new toilet block is built.
There may be some disruption at the campsite when building of the new toilet block takes place.
First published on 1 October 2021. Last reviewed on 30 May 2022.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC OtagoCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township |
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Categories |
Reviews
Showing 13 reviews of 82.
RaghaV
Ranking: 8/10
Place was good! Beautiful views and Sunset is amazing. Nice place to stay. Sand flies are everywhere, so remember to take precautions.
EvaBelle
Ranking: 7/10
Beautiful spot on the lake. Portaloo toilets were awful and not well maintained at all. Watch out for deer, rabbits, and sheep on the road if driving there at night!
The Gillies
Ranking: 10/10
Fantastic spot on the lake down a good gravel track. Clean toilets. Great skimming stones.
Maree
Ranking: 10/10
The best little spot . $16 for 2 adults and an infant . Beautiful views . Flush toilets . Sinks to wash up in .
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Siobhan
Ranking: 10/10
This site is stunning. I could have stayed for 3 days. If your hesitating, stay here. Its a little tricky to find but once your on the gravel track just stay on it.
Ambili
Ranking: 9/10
This was our second visit and we were lucky to get a flat site right on the lakefront to pitch our tent. Beautiful views, clean flushing toilets, washing up and cooking areas, and the whole place was nice and quiet (residents permitting!) . There are lots of bitey little bugs here so bring good repellent.
Ange
Ranking: 10/10
A hidden gem. Worth the drive. We had a camper van and the road was no trouble at all. We had a lake front park. Facilities typical of DOC. Very reasonable rate to stay. Lake was beautiful. Stunning place to stay. Sand flies were not too much of a problem if you take precautions!
Paula
Ranking: 8/10
Beautiful spot for camping. Clean flush toilets. Lots of space even for large caravans. You will have to drive on gravel road for 15 min, very dusty. We had a lots of sandflies!!! That was the only problem there. Nice hike next to it and after swim in the lake.
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Boardwalk Blss
Ranking: 9/10
Great campsite right on Lake Hawea - we were there by ourselves early Aug 2020. It’s easy to miss the road into this DoC site as its not well signposted and referenced only as Kidds Bush reserve on an old “camping prohibited” sign - as Hwy 6 heading east drops down to Lake Hawea look for Meads Rd signpost. Gravel road through farmland and several cattle grates but no gates to open/close.
Thangs
Ranking: 10/10
Facing Lake Hawea, this was a fantastic site to stay for a night. There are a few toilets, a washing area and a shelter, but otherwise no facilities. You’ll drive about 15 minutes on the gravel road to get to the site, and about 20 minutes to the carpark to climb Isthmus Peak.
Jean-Michel and Bambi
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful scenery, great view and not too packed. Toilets were very clean and toilet paper was available.
Bring some mosquito repellent.
Anneke
Ranking: 9/10
Wow what an amazing site, we missed the exit, that small, it is approx 7km driving on gravelroad we have a big campervan but went great. Good big spot with good toilets. Directly on the beautiful clear lake. The only ‘bad’ thing sandflies
One of the best DOC campings we have seen.
Leona
Ranking: 9/10
Really great view of the lake - very few sandflies but some larger houseflies with annoying buzzing. Lovely clean flush toilets. No drinking water. I could have stayed here for a week, just lying around by the lake, swimming, kayaking, relaxing. Ideal for families. I had good 4G and cell reception.
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 😍
