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Restricted to self contained vehicles, for 4 nights maximum in a single calendar month, between 5 pm and 9 am the following day
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC Nelson/TasmanCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Murchison |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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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. |
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 display the "Responsible Camper" sticker. |
Campsite Managing Organisation |
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Campsite Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this campsite? DOC Managed This campsite is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation. |
Maximum Stay Duration |
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Maximum Stay DurationHow many consecutive days can you stay overnight at this establishment? 4 nights You are permitted to stay at this campsite for up to four nights in a row. Four nights maximum in a single calendar month, between 5 pm and 9 am the following day |
Dump Station |
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Dump StationDump stations allow the safe disposal of sewage and greywater from self-contained vehicles. Does this site have a dump station? No dump station This location has no dump stations for the disposal of waste water from recreational vehicles. |
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. |
Powered Sites |
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Powered SitesDoes this establishment have powered sites? No powered sites This campsite does not offer any powered sites with an electricity supply. |
Large Vehicle Access |
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Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. |
Dogs |
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DogsDoes this establishment allow dogs? No dogs allowed The location does not allow dogs under normal conditions. Their may be be exceptions granted under specific circumstances eg. guide dogs. |
Vehicle Access |
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Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. |
DOC Campsite Category |
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DOC Campsite CategoryWhat category does this Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite fall into? DOC Restricted Freedom Camping Site Department of Conservation Restricted Freedom Camping Sites are for Self Contained Vehicles only with restrictions over length of stay. Some of these locations may have a toilet, but this can't be expected. |
WiFi Internet |
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WiFi InternetWhat type of WiFi internet access is available? No WiFi There is no WiFi access available. |
Campfire Rules |
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Campfire RulesWhat are the rules for open air fires? Fires prohibited There is a total fire ban -no fires are permitted. |
✓ Beautiful waterfall
✓ Great phone signal
✓ Enough space for parking
✓ Drowns out road noise
✓ Free to stay
𐄂 Heaps of sandflies
𐄂 Smelly drop toilet
Ample parking for self/contained vehicles.
Quiet car park, free!
Good place to stay.
Nice spot, next to the Waterfalls.
Sandfly central.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 0 |
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0% |
9/10 | 3 |
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12% |
8/10 | 6 |
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24% |
7/10 | 8 |
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32% |
6/10 | 5 |
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20% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 1 |
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4% |
3/10 | 1 |
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4% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 1 |
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4% |
2.0/5
Good scenic point.
Waterfall is very nice. River too fast paced for a wash in most parts. Drop toilet which smells bad but that's expected. BUT... Sandflies. Loads of them. Might be better if it was a windy day.
Reviewed 9 months ago
3.0/5
Semi-small car park but can still fit a good amount of vehicles, it was full by the evening.
Worst smelling toilet i’ve ever been in & my bar is low. Gag levels. Waterfall is badass though, sightseers will start arriving throughout the day
Phone signal: yes
Sandflies: yes
Reviewed 10 months ago
4.0/5
Nice spot, next to the Waterfalls.
Enough space.
Toilet is just a hole. The street wasn't so loud and the sandflies not to much. We enjoyed it for one night.
Reviewed 10 months ago
3.5/5
Nice place next to waterfall but also a little near to road with wagons passing
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Sandfly central.
It’s a car park next to the road and the waterfall. The waterfall noise drowns out the noises of most vehicles, we could hear most trucks that drove past but there weren’t too many of those. The waterfall is beautiful but cannot swim here as there are dangerous undercurrents and signs posted. There is a toilet but it’s a hole in the ground. Free to stay. Reception for internet is great!
Reviewed about 3 years ago
4.0/5
Great little spot for overnight stay , wicked looking waterfall and even feed the wekas
Reviewed over 4 years ago
3.5/5
Near the street, not very quiet.
The falls are really impressive, at all a good place for an overnight stop.
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
4.5/5
Nice spot for a stop!
Take care if swimming, current is strong. Waterfall is nice. Good toilet. If you’re a kayaker this is a must stop so you can paddle down the falls!
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
4.5/5
Very pleasant place to stay.
5/03/19
You have, off course the sandflies..... you’re still on the west coast.... but we saw a lot of bumble bees! (And that’s very nice.... in Europe the are dying)
Beautiful waterfall, easy walk down
Overnight place is ok, you don’t need to put your wake up time..... at 7 o’clock the traffic and trucks will wake you up!
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
3.5/5
Not as many sandfly's as people say in the previous reviews...
But still right next to high way so it can be noisy. One drop toilet. Beautiful waterfall good for experienced kayaking.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
3.5/5
Good spot for stop over half way between greymouth and abel tasman.
Long drop toilet was nasty, but the short walk to the waterfall was nice. Very noisy even at night.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
2.0/5
Good scenic point.
Waterfall is very nice. River too fast paced for a wash in most parts. Drop toilet which smells bad but that's expected. BUT... Sandflies. Loads of them. Might be better if it was a windy day.
Reviewed 9 months ago
3.0/5
Semi-small car park but can still fit a good amount of vehicles, it was full by the evening.
Worst smelling toilet i’ve ever been in & my bar is low. Gag levels. Waterfall is badass though, sightseers will start arriving throughout the day
Phone signal: yes
Sandflies: yes
Reviewed 10 months ago
4.0/5
Nice spot, next to the Waterfalls.
Enough space.
Toilet is just a hole. The street wasn't so loud and the sandflies not to much. We enjoyed it for one night.
Reviewed 10 months ago
3.5/5
Nice place next to waterfall but also a little near to road with wagons passing
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Sandfly central.
It’s a car park next to the road and the waterfall. The waterfall noise drowns out the noises of most vehicles, we could hear most trucks that drove past but there weren’t too many of those. The waterfall is beautiful but cannot swim here as there are dangerous undercurrents and signs posted. There is a toilet but it’s a hole in the ground. Free to stay. Reception for internet is great!
Reviewed about 3 years ago
1.5/5
Pretty waterfall but wouldnt recommend stopping here for the night, its literally the carpark for the waterfall right by the main road
Reviewed about 4 years ago
4.0/5
Great little spot for overnight stay , wicked looking waterfall and even feed the wekas
Reviewed over 4 years ago
3.5/5
Near the street, not very quiet.
The falls are really impressive, at all a good place for an overnight stop.
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
4.5/5
Nice spot for a stop!
Take care if swimming, current is strong. Waterfall is nice. Good toilet. If you’re a kayaker this is a must stop so you can paddle down the falls!
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
3.0/5
Gravel carpark, single long drop toilet (very stinky).
Lots of road noise, but nice bonus is the sound of the waterfalls. Easy walk to waterfalls (I have ankle injury and made it). Great place to pull over for night on way over to West coast or north to Murchison.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
4.5/5
Very pleasant place to stay.
5/03/19
You have, off course the sandflies..... you’re still on the west coast.... but we saw a lot of bumble bees! (And that’s very nice.... in Europe the are dying)
Beautiful waterfall, easy walk down
Overnight place is ok, you don’t need to put your wake up time..... at 7 o’clock the traffic and trucks will wake you up!
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
3.5/5
Not as many sandfly's as people say in the previous reviews...
But still right next to high way so it can be noisy. One drop toilet. Beautiful waterfall good for experienced kayaking.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
3.5/5
Good spot for stop over half way between greymouth and abel tasman.
Long drop toilet was nasty, but the short walk to the waterfall was nice. Very noisy even at night.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
3.0/5
Very basic place to stay just off main road, only one toilet and that toilet wasn’t very pleasant and full of flies but cleaner came in the morning we think
Reviewed over 6 years ago
4.5/5
Ample parking for self/contained vehicles.
We had no problems with traffic/noise. Watched many friendly, local kayak groups paddle off the falls and enjoyed a sunny evening by the water. Drop loo available. Worth stopping at if you’re on a budget. Beware of the sandflies.
Reviewed over 6 years ago and experienced in March 2018
3.0/5
OK place to stay one night, just because its free.
Right next to the road a bit noisy. Drop toilet was full of flies and mosquitoes. Only for self contained. It does the job for one night on the way north or south.
Reviewed almost 7 years ago
4.0/5
Good place to stay.
It's a bit crowded with vans. Long drop toilet. Nice view. Near the street but till 7 am its quiet. Sometimes a trucker beeps. Good stay for heading South or West (2 hours to Hanmer Springs and coast)
Reviewed about 7 years ago
3.0/5
On side of busy main road, busier due to diversion to Christchurch following earthquake.
Easy walk to the falls. No view but perfectly adequate if you are self contained.
Reviewed about 7 years ago
4.0/5
This spot was really nice for a free overnight stop.
Waterfall close by worth a look. This spot is right by the highway so it can be slightly noisy at night (depending how you sleep). There are long drop toilets there which were not too bad either when we stayed.
Reviewed about 7 years ago
3.5/5
A good location to stop halfway between Nelson and Christchurch.
The place is easy to find, toilets are OK. NOISY! The parking is next to the road which is quit busy during the night, light sleepers - get a pair of earplugs, do yourselves a favour!
Reviewed about 7 years ago
3.5/5
This was a good campsite overall with easy access to the waterfalls in the morning.
The night was relatively quiet which was a surprise because its so close to the main road. We didn't dare venture into the toilets because the door was completely off its hinge.
Reviewed over 7 years ago
3.5/5
Pretty calm spot with a public toilet next to it.
Maruia Falls can be seen with a 5 minute walk. Good enough on our way to West Coast.
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
4.0/5
Good spot for freedom camping for truly self-contained vehicles.
We arrived just after several days of torrential rain and the falls were spectacular. Just off the road and easy to find. Flat gravelled parking area. Long drop loo but ok. For self-contained campervans this is just fine.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
3.5/5
Quiet car park, free!
Lovely waterfall walk just 10 mins return on site. Long drop toilet, unfortunately a haven for flies / wasps. Not for the faint hearted, but did the job for one night.
Reviewed over 9 years ago