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What a score! This site is right next to the Salt Baths in Motueka, these baths are refilled every high tide and are a great place for a dip. The reserve is very popular and is always full and no wonder really..... it's got showers, toilets, a play ground, picnic tables, designated fire places, large grassy areas and you can easily walk into town via the beachside walkway. What more can I say really? Oh it is also next to a fish factory, so it can be a little smelly at times - not a major.
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Organisation |
Tasman District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Motueka |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
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Overnight Camping Site Cost |
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Overnight Camping Site CostWhat is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? Free Camping It costs nothing to stay overnight. In general this means that you should not expect any facilities. |
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Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Self-contained motorhomes only Overnight stays are only permitted if your vehicle is certified as being 'self-contained'. The vehicle must have either a 'blue warrant' certificate of self-containment, or a 'green warrant' certificate of self-containment. |
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Maximum Stay Duration |
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Maximum Stay DurationHow many consecutive days can you stay overnight at this establishment? 2 nights You may stay up to two nights in a row. |
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Water Supply |
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Water SupplyIs there fresh water available? Water supply available A supply of fresh water is available. |
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Shower |
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ShowerIs there a shower at this location? Shower At least one shower is available (it's unknown if it's hot or cold). Cold showers only - refreshing! |
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Booking Required |
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Booking RequiredIs it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? First Come, First Served Sites are allocated in a first come, first served basis. Get in early for the best spot. |
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Dogs |
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DogsDoes this establishment allow dogs? Dogs allowed The location allows dogs. There may be conditions that may be met eg. dogs must be on a leash. But please keep them on a leash when walking past the nesting birds |
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Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. |
Agree with previous comment.
Matthew
The location is amazing next to the sea.
Benoit Fricaudet
Good spot.
Aurelie Morin
23Apr14, 1 night, $5 per night, 2 of us (50's).
Mike Fricker
Great place, used the bbq, flushing toilets.
rachaelandryan
We got a space as came early.
Public toilets fine. Can’t complain about free site! Salt swimming pool a bonus!
Reviewed 17 days ago
I probably can’t provide a true review as we didn’t actually end up spending our night here due to the fact we did not feel comfortable with the homeless looking people in the area who were quite noisy
and drinking alcohol. So unfortunately, we decided to leave and head up further north and pay for a camp site which was a pity as the actual campsite area itself seemed lovely and right by the water. But it wasn’t worth us having a sleepless night worrying about the neighbours.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
The amenities are good (flushing toilets, outside shower, bbq, free pool).
However, there are quite some drug abusing homeless people on and around the campsite. During the day they were quite noisy but luckily it was silent after 10pm. The factory next to the campsite wasn’t too disruptive, you can expect a soft humming noise day and night. The options for freedom camping are limited in this area, but be prepared when coming here. I have definitely stayed at better sites.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
Nice Spot.
It is next to the Port, so you will always have some light( good and bad). Parking spaces are marked with wooden pieces. wide enough. Not many space for lager vehicle. My Camper was 6m was fine. Flush toilets are nice and clean. There is also a small bbq.
Reviewed 5 months ago
Good overnight spot.
Saltwater baths are great and there’s a shower and flushing toilets. Toad Hall a short walk away for great food and coffee. Gets very busy early.
Reviewed 10 months ago
Right next to the saltwater pool.
Lots of perks : clean flushing toilets, big sinks for dishwashing, BBQ (not free), changing rooms, outdoor shower, picnic tables, rubbish... It gets full by 4pm. Rangers came by to check SC cards and where everyone was parked, also police. Quiet and very chill, considering how many people were there. Got a bit smelly, don't know if it was the tide or the industrial facility next to the parking.
Reviewed 10 months ago
One of the most wanted camps, with only ~20 places.
There are many reasons: great location, saltwater pool, cold shower, flush toilets, grass area to put your table and chairs. It was full, but a ranger came at 6 PM and chased out a couple of NSC vans, so we had the chance to come in with our green sticker.
Reviewed 10 months ago and experienced in December 2024
Great spot for a couple of nights.
Clean toilets, cold showers and plenty of parks and greenspaces to chill out, exercise, yoga etc . Nice walks along the beach front and close enough to town
As others said, get there early as it fills up by 3/4pm. The odd space can open up - you're best to park up outside and walk in to check for a space (and the sign says).
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Parking lot next to the beach but beside a park A great stop for a night with flush toilets Filled up before 4 (we stayed Friday Nov 1) - many disappointed people arrived and had to depart after that
!
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Great spot.
Gets full quickly !
Around 20 spots, some already take by long term stay.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
30Apr24.
2 adults in 7.2m motorhome.
Arrived mid afternoon and got a space. One side is suitable for smaller vans side by side. The other is suitable for longer vans end to end.
Toilets updated since our last visit in 2018, much better now.
Fellow campers nice and quiet. Be aware though that there are industrial units fairly close that seem to be working 24/7 so you may hear them at night.
A bit of a walk into town but that suited us.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
Great location.
Clean toilets & outdoor shower. All spaces had filled up around 4/5pm!
Reviewed over 1 year ago
Great place next to the sea.
Clean toilets and showers. You do have to get there early as it's very popular. Oh, don't be a douche and listen to music all day on your JBL speakers ✌️
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
Cool spot, likewise the comment below.
Good toilets, shower, nice sunrise...
But get here early, spaces are quiet full
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
Really nice spot.
3 flushing toilets and shower outside, great for a free camp. Limited places, we arrived at 10 am and it was half full. Nice walks around and a great sea swimming pool to refresh !
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
We got a space as came early.
Public toilets fine. Can’t complain about free site! Salt swimming pool a bonus!
Reviewed 17 days ago
I probably can’t provide a true review as we didn’t actually end up spending our night here due to the fact we did not feel comfortable with the homeless looking people in the area who were quite noisy
and drinking alcohol. So unfortunately, we decided to leave and head up further north and pay for a camp site which was a pity as the actual campsite area itself seemed lovely and right by the water. But it wasn’t worth us having a sleepless night worrying about the neighbours.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
The amenities are good (flushing toilets, outside shower, bbq, free pool).
However, there are quite some drug abusing homeless people on and around the campsite. During the day they were quite noisy but luckily it was silent after 10pm. The factory next to the campsite wasn’t too disruptive, you can expect a soft humming noise day and night. The options for freedom camping are limited in this area, but be prepared when coming here. I have definitely stayed at better sites.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
Nice Spot.
It is next to the Port, so you will always have some light( good and bad). Parking spaces are marked with wooden pieces. wide enough. Not many space for lager vehicle. My Camper was 6m was fine. Flush toilets are nice and clean. There is also a small bbq.
Reviewed 5 months ago
Good overnight spot.
Saltwater baths are great and there’s a shower and flushing toilets. Toad Hall a short walk away for great food and coffee. Gets very busy early.
Reviewed 10 months ago
One of the most wanted camps, with only ~20 places.
There are many reasons: great location, saltwater pool, cold shower, flush toilets, grass area to put your table and chairs. It was full, but a ranger came at 6 PM and chased out a couple of NSC vans, so we had the chance to come in with our green sticker.
Reviewed 10 months ago and experienced in December 2024
Right next to the saltwater pool.
Lots of perks : clean flushing toilets, big sinks for dishwashing, BBQ (not free), changing rooms, outdoor shower, picnic tables, rubbish... It gets full by 4pm. Rangers came by to check SC cards and where everyone was parked, also police. Quiet and very chill, considering how many people were there. Got a bit smelly, don't know if it was the tide or the industrial facility next to the parking.
Reviewed 10 months ago
Great spot for a couple of nights.
Clean toilets, cold showers and plenty of parks and greenspaces to chill out, exercise, yoga etc . Nice walks along the beach front and close enough to town
As others said, get there early as it fills up by 3/4pm. The odd space can open up - you're best to park up outside and walk in to check for a space (and the sign says).
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Great spot.
Gets full quickly !
Around 20 spots, some already take by long term stay.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Parking lot next to the beach but beside a park A great stop for a night with flush toilets Filled up before 4 (we stayed Friday Nov 1) - many disappointed people arrived and had to depart after that
!
Reviewed about 1 year ago
30Apr24.
2 adults in 7.2m motorhome.
Arrived mid afternoon and got a space. One side is suitable for smaller vans side by side. The other is suitable for longer vans end to end.
Toilets updated since our last visit in 2018, much better now.
Fellow campers nice and quiet. Be aware though that there are industrial units fairly close that seem to be working 24/7 so you may hear them at night.
A bit of a walk into town but that suited us.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
Great location.
Clean toilets & outdoor shower. All spaces had filled up around 4/5pm!
Reviewed over 1 year ago
Great place next to the sea.
Clean toilets and showers. You do have to get there early as it's very popular. Oh, don't be a douche and listen to music all day on your JBL speakers ✌️
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
Cool spot, likewise the comment below.
Good toilets, shower, nice sunrise...
But get here early, spaces are quiet full
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
Really nice spot.
3 flushing toilets and shower outside, great for a free camp. Limited places, we arrived at 10 am and it was half full. Nice walks around and a great sea swimming pool to refresh !
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
On a essayé deux fois de venir sur ce free camp on a jamais eu la chance d’avoir une place, les gens présent restent à la semaine…
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
Great spot but fills up by 4pm so get in quick.
There are approx 20 spots.
3 clean and spacious toilets, cold outdoor shower, right in front of the sea with a walking loop, wood fire, public seating on the foreshore, salt baths (Rockpool) and the camping car park runs alongside a park so plenty of room to spread out and pull out a yoga mat or dining table.
It’s a 20 minute walk to a great cafe called Toad Hall or a 45 minute walk to town with loads of food options.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
