Kathy Hart
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Cascade Creek Campsite
Nearest DOC site to Milford (allow 1 hour drive from here to Milford Sound).
Nice plots to nestle into trees, plus big wide flat areas. Toilets very smelly, so we used our own in the motor home. In a large wide open space, what makes a carload of backpackers park right next to us in car playing very loud music till late (and this was in May)? Ruined the ambiance a bit. Hate to think how busy this place would be in Summer, but very scenic and convenient nonetheless. Did not do any of the walks as it was raining heavily.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch ▷
Amber Kiwi Holiday Park and Motels
2015 May Review - Clean tidy facilities, relatively quiet location, friendly staff.
Close to town. If you are taking Red Bus rebuild tour from the Museum I-site, parking for motorhomes available on Armagh St in North Hagley Park.
2016 May Review - Back again in 2016. Lovely clean facilities, bathrooms have timed warming lights to keep you toasty during your shower. Our go-to place for first/last night stop overs in Christchurch in our motorhome, will definitely stay again.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Banks Peninsula ▷
Pigeon Bay Motor Camp
Loved my night here as was very quiet, slept well.
Has pretty old facilities, but it is low cost after all. Flush toilet and a funky old-school washing wringer over the sink! Run by locals. Many old vans permanently parked up under the trees on waterfront, most likely only used in Summer and on weekends by local fisherman. Cool playground for the kids! Nice drive in.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Albert Town Camping Ground
Big area to choose you plot from, we picked nice spot right by River.
Close to main road, but we didn't hear any traffic noise due to rain on roof! Used own own motorhome toilet so can't comment on the toilets. Not many other low cost options near Wanaka, heard many people arriving into the night late. Suggest you get in early to get best plot.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Geraldine ▷
Geraldine TOP 10 Holiday Park
Located in middle of town, close to all you need.
Clean facilities with timed showers, included in your site fee.
Geraldine is very well catered, with everything just a 2 min walk out the back gate.
Timed showers enable you to assist us to achieve our goal to conserve water, for our environment
Thank you
Kathryn
Kathryn Horrell
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Waikawa ▷
Curio Bay Camping Ground
Great location, but camp facilities very old.
Suspect something political brewing over this property with tourism developers circling like sharks, meaning no money currently being spent on any upgrades. Scariest shower I have ever had in an old water tank with no light, at least the water was hot!
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Te Anau TOP 10 Holiday Park
Friendly staff, clean facilities, central location to town for restaurants, shops etc.
A little bit of traffic noise coming from the nearby road which stopped at night, not a big issue really.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Papatowai ▷
Papatowai Campsite
May 2016 - Very nice area, close to estuary & walks.
Clean flushing toilets. Quiet when we were there in May 2016 in our motorhome. Some of the grassy plots could get a tad boggy though when wet. However, we found nice level, protected gravel plot right beside where you pay your camp fee, near the entrance.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Lindis Pass Historic Hotel Campsite
Set among the ruins of the old Lindus Pass Hotel.
Make sure you camp/park well clear of the hotel ruins. Shingle 6 km road runs parallel to main highway. Drive not too difficult in a motorhome. Drive a short distance further on to see old Miners cottage near ruins of old bridge that used to connect to the main road. Had some fun with night photography here! Didn't feel at all spooky, full of good "spirits" I think (LOL).
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Akaroa ▷
Akaroa Freedom Camping Area
10/10 for convenience.
Free. Walking distance to everything, great restaurants etc. Located on the left just as you come into Akaroa. Room for only 7-8 self contained vehicles only. Fills up fast, so you have to to get there early. We visited in May, nabbed our spot at 3pm, lot was full by 5pm with others still trying to find a spot there well after dark. More town councils should provide self contained parking lots close to their towns like this, as tourists are more likely to spend their $ in the shops and restaurants if they can easily walk to them :)
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Owaka ▷
Hillview Camping Stay
Kevin is one of the friendliest campground hosts we have encountered in many years of travel.
Good on ya Kevin! Keep doing what you do! Nice flat well kept open space for motor homes or tents. Incredibly clean showers/toilets. OK so it is basic but at only $10 per person, it has everything you need, nice hot showers (including a very friendly cat and sheep!) My husband Mike is a mad keen drone videographer, and guess what? So is Kevin, so these two pals bonded quickly with boy chat, swapped drone stories and the like! Great location, close to Nugget Point and main Catlins route. 10/10 plus!
Thank you so much I could have spent all day talking to Mike while picking his brains about his drone he is a very clever person
it was a pleasure talking to you both many thanks kevin
kevin Boam
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Akaroa ▷
Wainui Beach
If you read the signs you will find this nice grassy spot on main road at Wainui which is now the only place on this side of Akaroa Harbour authorised for self contained overnight stays.
CHCH Council has recently tightened the rules for Freedom campers. Suggest you get flyer on Freedom Camping in Christchurch & environs from info booth at Little River on way through. Self contained only.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Oamaru ▷
Harbour Tourist Park Oamaru
2015 Review May - Excellent overnight stop en-route to Dunedin, we were in a Motorhome, temporary facilities were fine.
Heater in kitchen. New facilities planned for 2016. No dump station as yet (2016?). Right on the harbour, you are well primed to catch the sunrise! First in best dressed for site selection, front row is best view. 24hr self check-in pay at cafe in the morning. Just 5 mins walk to the Victorian precinct, the architecture there is a photographers delight!
2016 Review May - visited again in 2016. Still sam old basic facilities, have not been upgraded since last visit, but good location right on Harbour. Walking distance to old Victorian part of town. Perfect for snapping those early morning Harbour sunrise photographs. Main Toilet/shower block is unisex and is a bit run down & drafty.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Tuatapere ▷
Monkey Island, Orepuki
Free spot, quite exposed.
Not too busy when we visited in May. Clean toilet and rubbish bins provided. Difficult to find a level spot though, but it is free. Bit boggy near dunes in rain.
Walk over to and climb to Monkey Island at low tide. Views to Rakiura Island (Stewart) on clear day.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Arrowtown ▷
Hampshire Holiday Park Arrowtown
One of the cleanest, tidy and freshest facilities we have ever encountered in New Zealand.
The bathroom floor was even heated! How good is that?! About 10 mins walk from main centre. Friendly staff. Showers included in overnight price, token operated laundry (wash & dry), tip: remember to get your tokens before Reception closes :) Visited in shoulder season, so fairly quiet.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Motueka ▷
W F Moss Scenic Reserve Picnic Area
Tidy DOC site by stream.
Someone must care for it, as new seedlings had recently been planted, very clean long drop. Recommend you enter Reserve via second signed entry. Just 5 mins drive further is the Riwaka Resurgence natural spring, water comes straight up from underneath limestone rock wall overhang in clear deep pool.
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Outer Marlborough Sounds ▷
Elaine Bay Campsite
$6 per person a sweet bargain.
DOC camp right on bay, near small jetty. Clean long drop, fresh water tap only. Pair of large stingrays cruise underneath at dawn and dusk, clearest water ever. See the most amazing sunrise over the bay from window of your camper! Difficult drive to get here, but worth it. Ten stars!
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Hawarden ▷
Waikari Reserve Camping Ground
$10 per person gets you a powered site, free hot shower, free laundry facilities.
Camp custodian lives on-site takes your payment. Popular with traveling vineyard workers. Quirky but clean. Recommended overnight stop.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
Paturau River Camping Ground
Million dollar view right by ocean beach for free!
Private land, owners permit camping. No toilet or fresh water, need to bring your own! Walk south on low tide for 2-5km to view interesting rock formations along the beach. Beware rising tide. Beautiful when we were there, but probably not good idea in a howling westerly gale!
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South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura ▷
Paparoa Point
Free, scenic, heaps of lazy seals.
Enroute to photograph the sunrise, I almost stood on a sleeping seal, they really DO look like rocks! As with all stops along this coast, you will get trucks and trains rolling by during night, but noise of crashing waves mostly cancels this out.
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Havelock ▷
Havelock Holiday Park
Friendly owners, rang nearby restaurant Slip Inn for us to check menu options.
Pet friendly. Very clean facilities, level powered sites for camper-vans. Short walk to jetty for mail boat trip to sounds.
Many thanks for your review. Hope you enjoyed your meal at the Slip Inn. Regards Murray
Havelock Holiday Park
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Springs Junction ▷
Deer Valley Campsite
Has the smelliest and dirtiest long drop I have ever seen, well overdue for a good clean inside the shed.
Otherwise pleasant spot by river, just off main road.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Amberly ▷
Amberley Beach Camping Ground
Excellent low cost option as a last night stopover prior to departure from Christchurch next day.
Approx 50 km drive to Airport, allow 1 hour to be sure. Just $15 for powered site, no hot water but has clean flush toilets. South side is best, plus dump station located there. Friendly long termers.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ St Arnaud ▷
Kerr Bay Campsite
Near lakefront, but no direct views of Lake from most sites.
Pay at I-site. Visited in early May, all hot water appliances had been removed for winter (therefore no hot water, showers or laundry) but still paid full price for powered site ($18 per person). They should provide a cheaper winter rate to compensate for the lack of these facilities.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Hanmer Springs ▷
Hanmer Field Base and Picnic Area
Free camp site, easy to drive past and miss.
Look out for Pawson Rd on left hand side (park on gravel area next to workshop with wire fence), clean public toilets nearby. Right by stream in forest park.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Hanmer Springs ▷
Lake Tennyson Campsite
Camp under the stars, by pristine lake, no one for miles, stunning mountain views.
Very cold (visited in May) heavy frost. Road in OK for 2 wheel drive vehicles, but gravel and lots of potholes. Bring everything with you, there is a long drop only. Take out what you take in and keep this place beautiful for everyone!
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
Cobb River/ Blue Pool Camping Site
Free, quiet camp right beside the Cobb River, with a long drop toilet.
Check condition of track before driving in off the road, as was a bit rough and boggy in places. Someone forgot their gumboots and socks!
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
Wharariki Beach Holiday Park
If you want to photograph the last rays of sunset over this amazing beach, then camp here, otherwise not much point, as it is expensive for what you get.
Long drop toilets, plus other facilities require extra payment by coins. Make sure you walk to south end of beach at low tide for caves and rock formations, for a perfect view of Archway Islands.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Waitomo ▷
Waitomo TOP 10 Holiday Park
By far the best holiday park we have stayed in.
Exceptionally clean facilities, very friendly staff, well maintained grounds with lovely views over the surrounding countryside.
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Mokau ▷
Seaview Holiday Park
Very friendly owner kindly let us refresh our motorhome at their dump station and use the hot showers for small fee.
We did not overnight here, but it is a lovely location right on the beach with nice level allotments.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Wilderness Motorhomes
We chose Wilderness Motorhomes based on the reviews we found here at Rankers.
We hired a Basejumper2 diesel Fiat Ducato for a 10-day tour of The Coromandel Peninsula in the late Autumn. We chose this model due its ability to freedom camp without need to be connected to the mains power at a commercial motor camp. DOC (Department of Conservation) campsites cost 50% less per person than commercial camping grounds. DOC only have minimal facilities (long drop toilet, usually no showers, water or power), but are in extremely beautiful and remote locations. When freedom camping, the shower/toilet combo was great to have onboard and was very simple to service. NZ has tightened up on Freedom Camping laws so you need to ensure you park where camping is allowed, or you may get hit with a $200 fine! Some towns have allocated free spots for self contained campervans – enquire at local iSite. Bed in BaseJumper2 is surprisingly comfortable. There is plenty of room if you sleep on your side, but as a 6ft tall back sleeper, my toes did touch the side of the van. Loved the way the back doors opened fully out for an unimpeded view. We took our Basejumper2 on some “hairy” shingle roads and it handled well. It was economical to run with Diesel at 60 cents cheaper per litre than Petrol. Kitchen layout is intelligent, with quality utensils, crockery and cookware, and stows well. Roomy, quiet fridge. Tip: take zip lock bags to store food. Gas cooktop & grill did virtually everything we wanted. Great music system, simply plug in your ipod (cable to connect is provided). Diesel heater took edge off the chilly mornings, van nicely insulated to keep us warm. We will be posting a couple of short videos of our trip on the Wilderness website over upcoming weeks, so keep an eye out! In summary, we can highly recommend both the company and the product, however the experience is entirely up to you!
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Coromandel Town ▷
Long Bay Motor Camp
Classic Kiwi motor camp, with stunning waterfront views.
We travelled late Autumn (off peak) so had pick of best waterfront sites, you may need to book these in advance if coming during peak season. Facilities clean and tidy. Friendly staff at office.