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Certified self-contained vehicles only.
Maximum 23 vehicles.
The area designated for camping is indicated by blue line making in the car park.
This car park is right in the middle of the Nelson CBD and are in the Nelson City Council 24 hour liquor ban area.
Tourists have been issued with $250 fines, and in some cases arrests have been made of those who have breached the ban.
It is a breach of the liquor ban, even if it is a quiet wine with dinner.
Carparks are small, a large campervan over 6m will take up 2 spaces.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Nelson City CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Nelson |
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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. |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Maximum Stay Duration |
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Maximum Stay DurationHow many consecutive days can you stay overnight at this establishment? 1 night You are permitted to stay only one night here in a row. |
Maximum Sites Available |
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Maximum Sites AvailableHow many camping or parking sites are available for staying overnight in? More than 20 sites There are more than twenty camping/parking sites available to stay overnight in. |
Shower |
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ShowerIs there a shower at this location? No shower No shower is available. |
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. Buxton Car Park in the Nelson City Centre will be closed to campers on New Years’ Eve (31 December) |
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. |
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. |
Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. |
✓ Clean toilets
✓ Central location
✓ Feels safe
✓ Well-lit area
✓ Convenient for overnight
𐄂 Toilets closed overnight
𐄂 Limited parking spaces
Very cool to sleep for free in town.
A basic car park with toilets in the city.
The good news is it's free.
Easily accessible for a night to sleep.
Clean, well lit, toilets, felt safe.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 1 |
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8% |
9/10 | 2 |
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15% |
8/10 | 2 |
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15% |
7/10 | 1 |
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8% |
6/10 | 2 |
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15% |
5/10 | 1 |
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8% |
4/10 | 2 |
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15% |
3/10 | 1 |
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8% |
2/10 | 1 |
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8% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4.0/5
Clean, well lit, toilets, felt safe.
Convenient to be able to freedom camp in the middle of town. Not busy at all but was Easter weekend. During the day the car park is free for 1 hour then metered but can only stay max 3 hours on weekdays and Saturday mornings
Reviewed 8 months ago
3.0/5
As already noted in the description and in previous reviews this is a public carpark in the centre of town.
There are about 20 spaces available outside of paid parking times ie 6pm til 8am. There are public toilets which seem to be cleaned regularly but they are closed overnight from about 7pm due to issues with vandalism. We were there on. A Sunday night and had no noise issues, probably because most of town was closed. There were a few restaurants and bars open on the main street which suited us as we didn’t want to sit around in the car park. A very practical stop for one night
Reviewed 9 months ago
3.5/5
A basic car park with toilets in the city.
Practical for one night.
Reviewed 10 months ago
2.0/5
You are near The Buxton pub which is a late night venue; karaoke is Thursday night - which would’ve been insufferable if I hadn’t gone & joined it haha (so i’d avoid Friday/Saturdays too).
Parking guy did come by to check how many nights you stay - he was super chill & said as long as you put your plate in for the hour free parking at 8am he didn’t mind you being sat around longer.
The toilet is better than the free ones at Montgomery.
Reviewed 10 months ago
2.0/5
If it’s a Friday or Saturday night, don’t stay here unless you have to.
We are pretty good at sleeping through noise but this was more screaming and full on fighting episodes through the night from those coming from the bars
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
4.5/5
We stayed on a Friday night and it was a bit noisy with the bars and the local kids skateboarding until late, but overall nice convenient location.
Clean facilities and respectful campers.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
4.0/5
Easily accessible for a night to sleep.
Plenty of room for us. Public toilets well lit, reasonably clean. Disabled only at night time we’re open, but fine. Keep in mind it’s in the middle of a shopping centre square. Lots of night noice, but not too bad.
FYI Monday morning 6am the bins get emptied, so don’t plan to be awake past this.
And lastly, we actually noted that someone had wrote on our window “stay away” was a little creepy knowing someone was that close to us at night while we were sleeping.
Fellow Aussie Campers
Cheers
Reviewed about 6 years ago
5.0/5
Many campers ignore the bylaws and pitch tents, leave Rubbish everywhere and wash their dishes in public bathrooms.
Some even take up 2 carparks by placing their chairs in the neighbouring park, preventing residents from parking in their own city. We love visitors and the majority are, I imagine, polite. HOWEVER, many many campers have in recent times exploited our city, and this is why you will feel animosity from many when staying here. Our carparks are full, and there is a liquor ban. PLEASE, if you choose to stay, then do so with respect that residents are PAYING for YOU to have these free facilities........
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
4.5/5
Very cool to sleep for free in town.
We stayed the Saturday night so it was noisy. There is not much shade. We were the attractions, some people took photos and others just walked around us to look at our way of life.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
4.0/5
Clean, well lit, toilets, felt safe.
Convenient to be able to freedom camp in the middle of town. Not busy at all but was Easter weekend. During the day the car park is free for 1 hour then metered but can only stay max 3 hours on weekdays and Saturday mornings
Reviewed 8 months ago
3.0/5
As already noted in the description and in previous reviews this is a public carpark in the centre of town.
There are about 20 spaces available outside of paid parking times ie 6pm til 8am. There are public toilets which seem to be cleaned regularly but they are closed overnight from about 7pm due to issues with vandalism. We were there on. A Sunday night and had no noise issues, probably because most of town was closed. There were a few restaurants and bars open on the main street which suited us as we didn’t want to sit around in the car park. A very practical stop for one night
Reviewed 9 months ago
3.5/5
A basic car park with toilets in the city.
Practical for one night.
Reviewed 10 months ago
2.0/5
You are near The Buxton pub which is a late night venue; karaoke is Thursday night - which would’ve been insufferable if I hadn’t gone & joined it haha (so i’d avoid Friday/Saturdays too).
Parking guy did come by to check how many nights you stay - he was super chill & said as long as you put your plate in for the hour free parking at 8am he didn’t mind you being sat around longer.
The toilet is better than the free ones at Montgomery.
Reviewed 10 months ago
2.0/5
If it’s a Friday or Saturday night, don’t stay here unless you have to.
We are pretty good at sleeping through noise but this was more screaming and full on fighting episodes through the night from those coming from the bars
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
4.5/5
We stayed on a Friday night and it was a bit noisy with the bars and the local kids skateboarding until late, but overall nice convenient location.
Clean facilities and respectful campers.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
4.0/5
Easily accessible for a night to sleep.
Plenty of room for us. Public toilets well lit, reasonably clean. Disabled only at night time we’re open, but fine. Keep in mind it’s in the middle of a shopping centre square. Lots of night noice, but not too bad.
FYI Monday morning 6am the bins get emptied, so don’t plan to be awake past this.
And lastly, we actually noted that someone had wrote on our window “stay away” was a little creepy knowing someone was that close to us at night while we were sleeping.
Fellow Aussie Campers
Cheers
Reviewed about 6 years ago
1.0/5
Extremely crowded, rubbishy and messy campers seem to choose this location.
Should be warned....if your not there to party, don't stay. Close to bars and very loud throughout the evening to sunrise! Awoke many times to German raves in the lot to drunken antics! Perfect for the young camper on the party scene! Not for us :( did make for a good story to tell!
Reviewed over 7 years ago
5.0/5
Many campers ignore the bylaws and pitch tents, leave Rubbish everywhere and wash their dishes in public bathrooms.
Some even take up 2 carparks by placing their chairs in the neighbouring park, preventing residents from parking in their own city. We love visitors and the majority are, I imagine, polite. HOWEVER, many many campers have in recent times exploited our city, and this is why you will feel animosity from many when staying here. Our carparks are full, and there is a liquor ban. PLEASE, if you choose to stay, then do so with respect that residents are PAYING for YOU to have these free facilities........
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
2.5/5
Beware that camping is free over night but you may get a fine after 8am if you do not display a parking ticket.
Reviewed about 8 years ago
3.0/5
Good for location, toilets are clean and left open overnight.
Bins, but I couldn't find the water tap for filling water bottles. Monday-Friday you have to be leaving by 8am, On the weekend it's 9am but you also get a 'free hour ticket' from the machine - not sure if this is the same for Monday-Friday.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
1.5/5
The good news is it's free.
Unfortunately on the night we visited, a group of local youths turned up with a boom box in the boot of their car and played really loud music until 1am. They were also drinking and smoking. Very aggressive with loud expletives and insults when some people asked them to turn the music down. My wife and I were unable to leave as we had been exploring the craft beer scene and were not legal to drive. Felt very unsafe and got little sleep. Weirdly, the police drove through the car park and did absolutely nothing so I can only assume this behaviour is condoned to dissuade more campers from freedom camping. We got a knock from the police at 7:50am to let us know we needed to leave or get a parking ticket though! Cannot recommend unless desperate. Stay out of town.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
4.5/5
Very cool to sleep for free in town.
We stayed the Saturday night so it was noisy. There is not much shade. We were the attractions, some people took photos and others just walked around us to look at our way of life.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago