The Pines
The Pines
Lake Pukaki Freedom Camping - Hayman Road
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No facilities. Great views!
Self Contained Vehicles Only.
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Showing 13 reviews of 116.
Patrizia Tosetti
Ranking: 10/10
Magnificent place, quite busy when we were there in April but still managed to find a quiet spot away from the others and enjoy the night and fab views.
Suthep
Ranking: 10/10
If you looking for quite place and slowly life. It’s here. No any accommodations. You must prepared. Good experience for Thai people that we looking somewhere stop the world.
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Katy
Ranking: 9/10
Our favourite spot yet! Absolutely beautiful views of the lake and lovely being nestled in among the pines. There is a whole long stretch after the viewpoint turnoff that you can camp at. We did go explore to see if there was a toilet as one review said there was but we couldn’t see it and we drove all the way up to the power lines. So be prepared to use your self contained toilet! We found a loo the next morning a 5/10 min drive on the south side of the lake at the visitor centre, but too far to use over night without risking loosing your spot. Space wise it was quite busy with campers on a little open lip out onto the lake (which is where Rankers marks the site on the map) but we parked up with some others at about half way between there and the turnoff as we’d heard it could get windy so wanted shelter from the trees. Completely picturesque and so nice and quiet, and seems self contained camping is allowed along that whole stretch though there weren’t any signs. Note: the water from the lake laps quite a lot, from inside our van it sounded like someone walking around our van! So it spooked us at first but it’s just the lovely lake. Stay here if you can.
Brice
Ranking: 10/10
Best place we’ve stayed in NZ so far. This is why you rent a campervan !
We spent two nights there, on our way down to Queenstown and our way back up north. We chose two different spots (you can basically camp wherever you want on the east side of the lake, unless notified so) and both where amazing.
Beautiful view of sunrise and sunset. Incredible stargazing at night !
Only stayed with other campervan/motorhome (no « self-declared » self-contained car...).
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Liz
Ranking: 10/10
Don’t stop at the freedom camp at the bottom of the lake or you’ll be sharing your view with 50 others. Drive 10minutes past to Hayman Rd and then u can camp anywhere along there up to the powerlines where the salmon farm road is. We parked up on some flats south of the powerlines, perfect views and only 2 other campers nearby
Wazza Schulz
Ranking: 3/10
The Pines have all been choped down, logging vehicles and trucks working in Area I've heard that it is to be closed for Camping. there's piles of Branches ready to be Burnt
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Elin
Ranking: 10/10
What an amazing spot! Cannot get over the beautiful views and the color of the lake. Also took a nice swim in the lake which was refreshing.
GavNads
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful views, incredible sunset. Plenty of room for all but the earlier you get there the better your view will be. Water is ice blue and backdrop of Mt Cook makes this place really special.
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Amanda
Ranking: 9/10
Beautiful, quiet spot to enjoy an evening after exploring Mt Cook. Can’t believe more people don’t come down here. Hope it stays that way!
Freya
Ranking: 8/10
If you are lucky enough to have clear skies then this place is stunning with incredible views of snow-capped mountains. Loads of space but very busy so get there early if you want to spot close to the lake. Despite being busy it was a calm atmosphere and quiet all night.
Congratulations The Pines - Lake Pukaki Freedom Camping - Hayman Road
laura hatton
Ranking: 10/10
Best freedom camping site so far on our trip. Very quiet and great views of Mt Cook.
Marcus Andrade
Ranking: 10/10
Magic. The place is incredible. Has a unbelievable view on the shores of Pukaki. In midsummer had only seven more campervans. Absolutely fantastic. Places like this justify the entire road trip.
Mitchell
Ranking: 10/10
Amazing spot to park up! One of our favourites and a great location if going to Mount Cook the next day, fellow campers landed a massive salmon during the day in the canals so good for fishers as well. Was non-self-contained and got away with no issues so can't complain :)
