Andy
South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Akaroa ▷
2.0/5
I visited in January.
The price was $60 for one person for one night in an unpowered site (I did not have a vehicle, I had walked in).
I suppose it was peak holiday season, and the park was very busy, perhaps that was a higher price than usual. All of the facilities were fine, but the park was very busy. I think $60 was too much for what was on offer.
North Island ▷ Manawatu - Wanganui ▷ Palmerston North ▷
4.0/5
Great little place.
I camped for one night in a tent - ground was flat and easy to get pegs in. Nice clean bathroom with unlimited hot showers, well equipped kitchen (kettle, microwave, fridge, oven), and a TV available in the common room. No utensils,pans etc in the kitchen, but some were available for bond, $20 I think. You could hear traffic from the highway at night but nothing too bad. A nice and friendly black cat was on the site too!
North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Paraparaumu ▷
3.5/5
I camped in a tent (cycle touring) for one night, for one person it was $20.
It was very busy due it being the height of summer vacation season. The staff were a little brusque, but perhaps they’d had a long day due to so many people being at the campsite. The facilities were clean and tidy (free hot showers on a 4 minute timer, several kitchens with oven, microwave, fridge and water boiler). I couldn’t find a TV lounge or Wi-Fi (no problem for me). It is very family orientated, with a playground, kids riding around on bikes and so on - a happy place. A stream runs through the site, when I was there you could see eels swimming in it which was nice. Not many bugs from the water either!
North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Stratford ▷
4.0/5
Had a great time here.
Nice hot unlimited showers. Tidy and clean kitchen with fridge, microwave, hob, toaster. Lots of plates and cutlery - amused myself drinking my beer from a mason jar! There’s a swimming pool in the site, though I didn’t use it. The staff were nice and helpful, particularly the overnight caretaker.
North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
4.5/5
I camped here for one night in a tent.
I arrived late and it was rather busy, but the staff were accommodating and found me a spot in an overflow area.
The kitchen had microwaves, hobs, ovens, water boiler, fridge. There were no communal pans, cutlery, crockery though. The bathrooms were spotless (very clean indeed) and had free to use hairdryers.
The price is a little more than other campsites (I can’t remember the exact price for one person to camp, it may have been $28). You get half price entry into the thermal pools ($14 for one adult) if you stay in the park, which are a great experience and well worth it.
It’s also right next to a Marriott hotel with a restaurant and bar, their terrace has a nice view over lake Taupo.
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Greymouth ▷
2.5/5
I camped here in a tent for one night.
It cost $48 which I thought was very expensive for one person in a tent. Perhaps I was charged the same as a camper van. I was given a pitch that was not flat and the ground was very stony, so it was not a good experience in a tent.
The kitchen is well equipped, including a range of crockery and cutlery. The showers and bathrooms are clean and tidy, and there is a hairdryer.
It rained a lot when I was there, I was surprised there was not a drying room or facilities for people with wet equipment.
If you’re walking or cycling, and not in a van, there are probably other places nearby that are cheaper that can give you what you need. It’s probably great if you’re in a campervan, not what I hoped for though.
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Punakaiki ▷
4.5/5
This was a great place to camp, I’d definitely go back.
I’m cycle touring with a tent. The ground (grass) was flat and it was easy to get pegs in.). There weren’t many bugs/insects. Plenty of food water and the toilet is OK - though there wasn’t any soap/hand sanitizer when I was there, which might have been nice!
The surroundings are nice to explore (Pancake Rocks etc are 3 miles up the road too), and you can hear the sea at night, but far enough from the road that traffic noise is not a problem. The owners were very nice and friendly - they even gave me some snacks (clearly I looked like I’d had a hard bike ride that day!).
North Island ▷ Wairarapa ▷ Masterton ▷
4.5/5
I camped here for one night in a tent (cycle touring).
This is a delightful little place, I really enjoyed my time here
There are free hot showers, and the bathroom/toilets are clean. There is a small kitchen with an oven and hob, microwave, kettle and fridge. There is a selection of crockery and cutlery if you don’t have your own with you. And a little first aid kit too!
It cost $8 for one person to camp - a real bargain. The owners were nice and friendly too.
Just down the road is Mt Bruce National Wildlife centre - they have a kiwi enclosure which is a lovely opportunity to see one if you haven’t had a chance.
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
3.5/5
Has a great location right on the beach - the shower block is about 25m from the sand!
I paid $35 to camp in a tent for one night, which seemed relatively expensive. The ground was level and not very stony, so it was a comfortable night.
The kitchen has ovens, hobs, fridges, water boilers. There are no communal crockery or cutlery so you need your own.
You have to pay for showers - they are trying to save water I suppose, at the same time the price to stay is rather high.
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ St Arnaud ▷
2.5/5
It’s OK to stay for a night if you need to stop.
There are a lot of sandflies and bugs. You hear a lot of traffic noise from the road that is next to it. You’ll get a good story at least (and not too many insect bites, hopefully….), and it’s good to support DOC of course.