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V L Nelson
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Akaroa ▷
Akaroa TOP 10 Holiday Park
You know something's off, when a Holiday Park has a boom at the entrance.
We found out later: It's a general attitude that "people are mean" with the result that you should expect skeptical business people and not welcoming, easygoing hosts at such a location:
- they crammed every square metre with a parking or tent space, so it feels always full. There is enough space for every big vehilce, though.
- it's very steep, which might be problematic for some tents, but sites are generally quite flat.
- Everything costs extra, creating the feeling that it's overpriced.
- A wonderful exception was the little herb garden, (overlooked by most) in front of the kitchen
- Toilet and shower facilities were fantastically clean and new, BUT the arrangement of showers opposite the toilets is quite unfortunate. The other toilet/shower block is too far away from all sites.
I understand that Holiday Parks are businesses. But going a little bit out of your way and giving an extra touch does so much for the overall experience (a blowdryer in the bathroom, extra hooks, give DVDs or laundry baskets out against name instead of money). This Holiday Park is a very serious one. But that also means they are serious about cleanliness and state of their facilities. That's good.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Owaka ▷
Hillview Camping Stay
A rare find: private campground along asphalt road, very sunny.
Owner is a very kind family who also provides WiFi (free) and some snacks (against a small price). Very tolerant, but amenities are clean, lawn well maintained. Nice atmosphere with all guests; mostly young crowd. Cleanliness is alright, amenities a bit dated but all functional. Even has (only) one shower - against a small price. Price is more than fair (10$ p.P.) - this is not a holiday park after all. Perfect for tourists in their early twenties who want a good campsite, nice atmosphere, WiFi, but have not high demands and must save their money. And the (hill) view (with grazing cattle) is serene, too!
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Owaka ▷
Purakaunui Bay Campsite
Probably the only campsite we travelled to and left again.
Huge, but still very full. Impressive landscape right at the beach but no shade. And countless redneck families that do not care about cleanliness or nice neighbourhood. Loud, inconsiderate families who seem to have a dislike for tourists. We were told that somw rowdies park and urinate on private farmland but the owner is too scared to do anything about it. Too few toilets which get overused by the day guests. Not clean.
Access is via curvy gravel road. Beware of rash 4x4 drivers.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Timaru ▷
Otaio Gorge Campsite
A really good campsite with everything you need and you expect from DoC: flush toilet, sufficient space, 2 fireplaces, flat ground, maintained grass.
You can swim in the gorge. Beware: popular during (summer) days with locals, so many day guests, especially families; farm vehicles race by, creating dust clouds. The swimming portion of the gorge is tiny. No sandflies or mosquitoes
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North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Tongariro / National Park Village ▷
Whakapapa Holiday Park
We booked a lodge room but would recommend also the powered sites.
In the beginning, we thought of it as a bit run down, as all amenities are a big aged. But the quality is quite high, the location amazing, the staff friendly, there is surprisingly good and stable wifi, a little food truck with very good food, and everything gets cleaned regularly. The atmosphere is very nice. The 2-3 Maori ladies maintaining the park, shop and food truck seem to be doing a good job.
There are shuttles stopping at the Holiday Park for the Tongariro Crossing (separate booking).
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Taupo TOP 10 Holiday Park
This Holiday Park has the profit-thought present everywhere.
Prices are over-the-top for the offered location, size of facilities and extra charges.
We rented the double cabin which turned out to be just a box with a bed. No place to store anything. Not even a hook on the wall to hang a cloak or towel. Even the YHA provides a desk and chair in a room.
- The laundry is 6$ and a rip-off.* That's 50% more than in other (TOP10) parks, so the explanation that the "costs for gas" are responsible is a bad excuse. Oh, detergent is not included, of course. A shoutout to the nice man with his granddaughter that donated a full box of Persil to share.
- For hanging up laundry, you need to provide your own pegs - or BUY (!!) them from the reception.* As "People might steal them"
- Interestingly, a sign in the laundry room says you can get baskets and pegs at the reception "upon request". They also have no baskets at all. Because "People might steal them"*
- Location is okay, but check before you arrive. It's NOT walking distance to the town centre nor the lake itself.
- The facilities are clean. But get heavily crowded on the weekend. The kitchen is ridiculously small and thus always full and noisy. There are a few more showers and toilets closer to the tent sites, however. Would like to write that the facilities were new, but in my shower, the shower head came off.
- Needless to say that the 115$ per night for the sleeping box (double cabin) are entirely overpriced.
- The media room offers Sky and a smart TV. There is also a gas fireplace, which you can use - against a charge.
- The gaming room has an Emulator arcade and billiard which you can use - against a charge.*
- To be fair, there is one special touch that we really liked: Not in line with the other extra services, and clearly overlooked, there is a well-maintained herb garden
- The internet connection (in the cabin) was not good.
* not the case in other holiday parks
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Fox Glacier ▷
Fox Glacier TOP 10 Holiday Park
- Understaffing.
Our first Holiday Park in NZ - but we're writing this review after having been to a number or TOP10 and others:
Pro:
- very friendly staff and atmosphere
- clean amenities
- Laundry price fair, DVD rent free, media room nice
Con:
- A toilet and shower block was closed due to understaffing
Well, certainly not their fault, but with consequences to service (timings)
- no spare equipment in the kitchen
You should expect the entire holiday park to empty during the day because everything in Fox Glacier can only be reached by car or helicopter.
we booked a powered site and were happy with everything.
The entire atmosphere was very friendly (unlike other holiday parks, especially those in cities).
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Te Anau TOP 10 Holiday Park
- Location (next to main road, so only car sounds; sometimes loud pedestrians).
Meh:
But walking distance to town centre
- Small: not much choice of space, but facilities are thus sufficient for everyone.
Pro:
- Friendly staff
- New facilities with great cleanliness
Con:
- They charge extra for many things, which (at that point) surprised us. We later found out that many (TOP10?) Holiday Parks do that - with mean surprises for the guests (see other reviews).