Parking here is less “arrive and relax” and more “three-point turn championship in front of an invisible jury.” Big vans?

Come early — some unpowered spots are optimistically sized. Super fun if you like getting lost among your own kind.

Packed, yet oddly private. Nicely arranged overall. You can easily get confused and wander around.

Facilities are limited: one dump station, no fresh water, no rubbish bins.

Discounted hot tub (we didn’t manage it) and WiFi actually works. Plus, an easy walk into the city centre.

7.5/10 urban Tetris vibes. 🚐🐑

Reviewed 9 days ago

Solid West Coast stop.

Good facilities: clean kitchen, clean bathrooms, dump station and fresh water — full van reset mode unlocked. There’s even a playground.

Only catch: with a big van you’re automatically put on a powered site (surprise at reception), and those are pretty tight.

Close-ish to the main road, but fine. The nearest pub sadly isn’t walkable — you’ll need to drive. Tragic.

8/10 practical comfort stop. 🚐🍺

Reviewed 9 days ago

Outstanding campsite right in the middle of Arthur’s Pass, set on a dried-up riverbed — strong “wild expedition” vibes from the start.

Epic mountain views all around and, as a bonus, the train rolls past from time to time, which somehow adds to the scenery instead of ruining it.

There’s loads of space in theory — but naturally everyone drives as far forward as possible, meaning your million-dollar view can quickly turn into “Campervan Rear Window Edition.”

Facilities are minimal: just one toilet.

Evening was fine, but in the morning: lots of sandflies. Like, motivational-to-pack-up-early levels.

8.5/10 dramatic alpine backdrop (with bite). 🏔️🚐

Reviewed 8 days ago

Top-tier for families.

Super friendly welcome and a banana bread muffin that deserves national recognition. Facilities are solid, plus a good kitchen and a lovely outdoor seating area.

You can dump and refill fresh water — big win. Laundry exists… but there’s only one washing machine for the whole campsite. Strategic planning required (ours was also broken, naturally).

Evening glowworm walk + waterfall, animals for kids, and easy access to the Marlborough Sounds and Abel Tasman National Park.

9/10 wholesome farm-core energy. 🐑🚐

Reviewed 14 days ago

Ultra-nice, right by the ocean, where your campervan basically has beachfront property.

You pay online via the website like a civilized human. Two campgrounds sit side by side — just similar enough to keep things interesting. Ours had a sign. It simply skipped the toilet part. Bold concept.

Bins, loads of space, pure sea-and-wind bliss. The sunset was insanely beautiful. 10/10 coastal magic.

Reviewed 27 days ago

Elite spot for stargazing — proper dark-sky vibes, zero light pollution, maximum existential thoughts.

There are loads more spots further back with facilities (we admired from a distance, didn’t fully investigate).

Also saw people casually panning for gold in the river. No idea how profitable that is, but respect the commitment.

Spacious, peaceful, slightly wild. 8/10 cosmic countryside energy.

Reviewed 14 days ago

Friday night with a pub right next door?

Already a win. Super quiet otherwise — we practically had the place to ourselves.

All the essentials covered: dump station, fresh water, rubbish, and even laundry. Facilities are old but functional.

Men’s toilet is hidden around the back — a detail one confused guest repeatedly ignored, happily brushing his teeth in the women’s instead. No drama.

8/10 small-town pub combo. 🍺🚐

Reviewed 14 days ago

Epic location with a few select spots overlooking the gorge — direct access to the hike and water.

Facilities are minimal but clean: 3 showers and 3 toilets per gender. Walls stop at head height, so privacy is… optional. No dump station, no fresh water.

Owner is a legend: cowboy hat, wild accent, guiding you to your spot like a GTA mission.

8/10 scenic outlaw vibes. 🚐🤠

Reviewed 14 days ago

About 200 vans competing for the flattest, straightest spots — you must arrive early to secure a decent one.

Toilets? Four long-drops, ridiculously far away — there’s actually a Komoot-worthy hike just to reach them. Nothing else.

Crowded, festival-like vibes, but snag a spot with a view and Lake Pukaki is stunning — like Tekapo, but with slightly fewer selfie sticks.

5/10 endurance meets epic scenery. 🚐🌄

Reviewed 14 days ago

Basically just a public lakeside car park — about 20 spots — shared with joggers, dog walkers and overnight campers.

The accessible toilet is open all night — technically usable, emotionally demanding.

A few local “entrepreneurs” seem permanently stationed there. Random cars roll in, pick someone up for a very quick drive around the block, then return. Efficient logistics. Everyone’s peaceful though.

Geese, ducks and heroic amounts of droppings. Nice lake views. Social experiment camping. 🚐🦆

Reviewed 24 days ago

Good base for Wellington — if you arrive early enough to secure one of the miniature camper spots.

It’s impressively tight. Rarely parked closer to strangers.

When rugby tournaments are on, the place goes full festival mode. There’s basically one facility block for men and one for women — and they suffer accordingly. Very, very dirty.

Train is quick… unless it’s rail replacement buses. Naturally. 7/10 sporty endurance test.

Reviewed 15 days ago

Loads of space, but no dump station and no fresh water — come prepared.

Facilities are mostly portaloos. The best riverfront spots? Permanently occupied by long-term campers, of course.

You can get rid of rubbish, walk to the supermarket, and hear SH6 traffic just enough to stay grounded. Cool ducks included.

One guy parked very close — turns out he’d just done a triathlon and was sleeping in a tent. Respect.

7/10 sporty roadside vibes. 🚐🦆

Reviewed 13 days ago

Huge campsite with a super nice lake view — honestly better than expected.

Definitely go unpowered; those spots look and feel nicer than the powered rows.

Facilities weren’t amazing — just okay-clean and a bit underwhelming for such a big place (and not that many).

Full van reset available: dump station, fresh water, big kitchen. Easy walk to the village (supermarket, café with the legendary 3pm coffee shutdown, and a pub). There’s also an on-site café that’s supposed to be good, plus a food truck.

Sauna add-on is seriously cool. 8/10 lakeside upgrade. 🚐🔥

Reviewed 11 days ago

Stayed at Coddiwomple Motor Home in Taupo—so good we stayed two nights.

Clean showers with impressively strong water pressure, working washing machine, and Steve always reachable (he even made a fire one evening). Tiny hill to climb, glorious sunset, and a touch of highway nearby for that gentle hum of life passing by. Perfect little escape with everything you need.

Reviewed 29 days ago

A stunning lakeside spot with views that make you forget you can’t swim thanks to blue-green algae.

Toilets suspiciously clean for the wilderness. Only two other campervans — perfect for polite nods at mysterious locals. A long-term camper with two very alert dogs adds character (and mild intimidation). Bonus: this idyllic spot apparently once hosted a body, quietly reminding you that even paradise has its quirks. Peaceful, scenic, unforgettable.

Reviewed 30 days ago

Very friendly, family-run campground.

We arrived late and were still warmly welcomed. They even left us a very clear information letter — which we confidently failed to notice.

Free showers (always a win). Clean throughout, a little on the old side, but well maintained. Potable water right at the site felt unexpectedly luxurious. Calm, easy, and refreshingly unproblematic.

Reviewed about 1 month ago

Only option near Cathedral Cove — and they charge accordingly.

Expensive, underwhelming, very commercial.

Facilities are a mess: some toilets disgusting, showers often unacceptable (at least one mixed shower hosted a full family in a grimy stall), and one set awkwardly next to a fish-cleaning station with endlessly swapping radio.

Bonus: you could borrow a shovel for Hot Water Beach — probably for a fee.

Beach itself is lovely; everything else feels like a theme park for campers. Not for anyone seeking peace.

Reviewed about 1 month ago