Bowyers Stream Scenic Reserve

Bowyers Stream Scenic Reserve

Overnight Campervan Parking

25 Rankers Reviews

1 Face-to-Face

7 Ashburton

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Bowyers Stream Scenic Reserve

The Ashburton District Council provides this service for self-contained free camping - found along the inland scenic route. Choice guys! Overnight camping permitted but not long term stays, toilet facilities are provided.

Donations accepted on site to keep this place running. Good karma!

Remember your good free-camping etiquette, and enjoy!

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Ashburton District Council

Council organisation

Location

South IslandCanterburyAshburton

Categories

  • Activity__freedom_campingFreedom Camping
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-43.6847260547754

171.445562744141

Latitude
-43.6847260547754
Longitude
171.445562744141

Nearby

Reviews

    ✓ Beautiful river location

    ✓ Clean and tidy toilets

    ✓ Spark 4G coverage

    ✓ Not crowded

    ✓ Level parking spots

    𐄂 Temporary closures

    𐄂 Soft grass when wet

    • Huge space with loads of room for cars.
    • Great spot for overnight stay.
    • Awesome place!
    • Great spot, nice view.
    • Great for over night stop.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 6
    24%
    9/10 5
    20%
    8/10 6
    24%
    7/10 2
    8%
    6/10 2
    8%
    5/10 2
    8%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 2
    8%
  • 4.5/5

    Really great place, toilet very new and clean, nice river location.

    Reviewed 28 days ago

  • 5.0/5

    Nice easy place to stop for the night.

    A few other vans. Friendly people. The ground was pretty soft in the middle. Could easily get stuck . Stick to the gravel areas if possible.

    Reviewed 9 days ago

  • 0.5/5

    Temporarily closed when we tried to stay 01/08/23

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful spot right by the river.

    It had been raining when we arrived and the grass areas for parking were soft. Someone had their van stuck. We parked on the gravel drive loop.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 5.0/5

    Awesome place!

    Toilet (long drop) are tidy, and sanitizer are available as well as toilet paper.

    Parkings are level.

    Spark 4G works well.

    Not crowded at all!

    Wild roosters and hens around (never seen that before) but they aren’t annoying at all.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 3.0/5

    Seems like a nice place, but was close when we got there (14th August 2022).

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Great for over night stop.

    Toilets clean and tidy. Road noise ok, you are just off a main road, so what do u expect. We had a nice tea at Mt Sommers hotel, local said there was heavy rain night before we got here. Explains wet areas and parking spot a bit limited, as we don't have a 4 wheel drive camper. Would stay again if I had to.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    It's nice and quiet, apart from the traffic/ road noise.

    It'd be great for these roadside spots to have a noise mound along the road. That said, they've certainly put some work in to make the place nice with a decent long drop and packed gravel roading. If you need anything else, there are options a little way away, both North and South.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Nice wee spot.

    Bit too slippery to get to river edge but still nice. Road noise isn't too bad. Toilet (Throne) not flash but usable.

    Reviewed almost 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Absolutely gorgeous wee spot.

    Stayed here last night right next to the river. Very lucky to be able to have this place as a freedom camp. Picked up a few bits of rubbish. Please make sure you leave it better than you found it 💜

    Reviewed almost 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Great spot, nice view.

    Reviewed about 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    It is a very quiet and green spot with plenty of space and close to the village of Mount Somers.

    There is a drop toilet but no other facilities. To us it wasn't a problem because you can find everything you might need such as public toilets, sink to wash dishes and drinking water in Mount Somers domain.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

    Lua's avatar

    Lua

  • 5.0/5

    Nice easy place to stop for the night.

    A few other vans. Friendly people. The ground was pretty soft in the middle. Could easily get stuck . Stick to the gravel areas if possible.

    Reviewed 9 days ago

  • 4.5/5

    Really great place, toilet very new and clean, nice river location.

    Reviewed 28 days ago

  • 0.5/5

    Temporarily closed when we tried to stay 01/08/23

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful spot right by the river.

    It had been raining when we arrived and the grass areas for parking were soft. Someone had their van stuck. We parked on the gravel drive loop.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 5.0/5

    Awesome place!

    Toilet (long drop) are tidy, and sanitizer are available as well as toilet paper.

    Parkings are level.

    Spark 4G works well.

    Not crowded at all!

    Wild roosters and hens around (never seen that before) but they aren’t annoying at all.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • 3.0/5

    Seems like a nice place, but was close when we got there (14th August 2022).

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Great for over night stop.

    Toilets clean and tidy. Road noise ok, you are just off a main road, so what do u expect. We had a nice tea at Mt Sommers hotel, local said there was heavy rain night before we got here. Explains wet areas and parking spot a bit limited, as we don't have a 4 wheel drive camper. Would stay again if I had to.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    It's nice and quiet, apart from the traffic/ road noise.

    It'd be great for these roadside spots to have a noise mound along the road. That said, they've certainly put some work in to make the place nice with a decent long drop and packed gravel roading. If you need anything else, there are options a little way away, both North and South.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • 0.5/5

    Closed for maintenance when i arrived and no update news at all.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Nice wee spot.

    Bit too slippery to get to river edge but still nice. Road noise isn't too bad. Toilet (Throne) not flash but usable.

    Reviewed almost 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Absolutely gorgeous wee spot.

    Stayed here last night right next to the river. Very lucky to be able to have this place as a freedom camp. Picked up a few bits of rubbish. Please make sure you leave it better than you found it 💜

    Reviewed almost 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Great spot, nice view.

    Reviewed about 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    It is a very quiet and green spot with plenty of space and close to the village of Mount Somers.

    There is a drop toilet but no other facilities. To us it wasn't a problem because you can find everything you might need such as public toilets, sink to wash dishes and drinking water in Mount Somers domain.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

    Lua's avatar

    Lua

  • 3.0/5

    Not a bad stop over spot, but it has limited access for a caravan as the road was in a poor condition when we visited.

    Reviewed almost 5 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Gorgeous little spot, under pretty pines and by a stream.

    Bins and a (smelly) long drop with no sinks. Close to the road but not too noisy. a few other campers when we arrived at 4pm and a few more came but space for everyone. Probably 8 or 9 of us so could have for more. Worth heading past the loos to get a spot by the stream with mountain view. Loved it here.

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Huge space with loads of room for cars.

    Very few flies around which was nice. It's near the road but was really quiet at night and there was only 3 other campers when we stayed. There's no water but there are bins and a ok drop toilet .

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 2.5/5

    This was our first night in New Zealand and we stopped there only because others campsites around didn't have any vacancies...

    Ground was soft on quite a lot of places, close to the road eve if not a lot of traffic.

    Toilets were clean and it's free so it can be convenient for a night !

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Nice spot next to a stream.

    Drop toilet was as expected. Looked fairly new. Lots of puddles after a heavy rain.

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Nice place by the river and with nice views of the mountains.

    Lots of flat grassy area to park large campers as well as some sheltered areas amongst the trees further down to park smaller vans. Ok toilet and a few large bins which is good as they don’t overflow with rubbish like most do.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    We came here in the night at about 9 pm and we were quite happy to find a camping spot.

    Great access and an alright view. Not many facilities but has many nice open spots for campers. Another great factor about the location is that there are many trees and a river near by. Although it is close to the road it is a great place to stop if you are tired or have been driving very late.

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Great spot for overnight stay.

    Drop toilet was fine, view was great! (Snow capped mountains!). Bit of road noise in the early evening and morning but no major dramas.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Free, with Ok longdrop.

    Nice spot next to the river and lots of flat space to park.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Great little spot for an overnight camp.

    With a toilet and a great view over a little creek and the mountains in the background. Near to Rakaia gorge (make sure you check that out as well!! )

    Reviewed about 10 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Great little place to stop, beautiful views of mountains.

    Very good for motor homes. Clean toilet with paper.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

  • 2.5/5

    Good place to stop for free your campervan.

    Was quite windy under the trees. Best if you just need a place to sleep, not very scenic. Good access though and we found a nice flat spot to park.

    Reviewed about 11 years ago