Ron Clarke
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Gunns Historical Hollyford Valley Camp
As said by others, if you like quirky, this is your place.
Place has history with humor and absolutely in the wilderness. The mountain river runs right by the site. The mountain views stunning. Mr Gunn's story is all over this place and let's you into what being a frontier Kiwi was/is all about. $15pp no better deal. Non powered ... They run the lights on a generator. So come fully loaded in your Self Contained. Cabins in the site are also quirky with history dripping off them.
Ps shower fired by wood burner...great. 45 minutes to Milford Sound
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Manapouri ▷
Monowai Campsite
Long drive in rewarded with freedom camping at the lake in the trees.
Campfire, walk to point look out. Yes there are sandflys. Seems like some irresponsible campers have caused DOC to block vehicles from the prime sites in the trees. Too bad still we parked on the edge of the car park and it was great.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Waikawa ▷
Waipapa Point Lighthouse
Spectacular, violent beach, see the history of shipwrecks.
My wife was making her way over the bluff to the beach and met a massive sealion coming up the same path. She gave him 20 meters of space and the encounter was great. Be sure to walk both sides of the light house. Stunning sea and breakers over 3 meters when we were there. Don't go down to the surf. Leave that for the suicidals and surfers.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Leith Valley Holiday Park
Nestled in the city beside a fast moving stream.
All amenities clean and functional. Very helpful staff. Great common room. Short walk to glow worms.
Busy spot.
Thank you for your feedback. Its great you rated us so highly and enjoyed our staff and amenities. We hope to see you again in the future.
Leith Valley HP
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Owaka ▷
Purakaunui Bay Campsite
Basic DOC site.
Isolated, fantastic views of cliffs, beach with the added bonus of sea lions on the beach. Super stop for self contained vehicles.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Arrowtown ▷
Hampshire Holiday Park Arrowtown
Sound full utility park.
Setting is in the middle of town so your nature comes from the views. Great place to launder, recharge all systems and tour Arrowtown (great mainstreet and Chinese mining huts to tour as well as key LoTR sites.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Lake Tekapo ▷
Lakes Edge Holiday Park
Great site.
Views on lake. All amenities top notch. Great recharge site.
We did the hot pools (fresh water, not mineral) and sauna for 28$ pp 5 minutes walk from our site. Very clean, fresh facility. Great value on a quiet afternoon.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Drive between Wanaka and Haast
Haast not much there.
But the drive through the mountains to Wanaka is mile after mile of stunning snow topped mountains, towering waterfalls and the Makataura River. We stayed 1 night at the DOC site at Pleasant Flat (great basic DOC with campfire) and then freedom camped right on the river pasted the Haast Pass. Life experience. Self Contained only.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Nomad Safaris
This company is great.
We did Skippers Canyon Land Rover 4 hour tour. Scenery and drive is spectacular (see their website or brochures).
We got a pickup in Arrowtown and a great driver guide (Paul). Great Insights, humor and driving. It isn't cheap $175pp but if you are budgeting for peak experiences do this.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Glenorchy ▷
Glenorchy Walkway
Ok so this is more than the walkway.
Take the drive to Lord of The Rings filming sites around the area and up into Diamond Lake you can imagine Isengard, take the walk to Lake Sylvain through the moss covered Forrest. You will need the LoTR guide. Nothing is signposted. We went on to Greenstone Station over 3 river fords and back Don't worry they are mild. Freedom camped on the lake by 25 mile bridge. This was a "10" day.
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South Island ▷ Central Otago ▷ Cromwell ▷
Roaring Meg Picnic Area
Just us, no one else.
Roaring Meg falls in our ears, a campfire and some friendly sandflys. Self contained only. If you are not a "camper" don't bother. If you are you will be in your element
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Twizel ▷
Lake Pukaki Overnight Campervan Parking
All have said it already.
If I could give a 20 rating I would. As far as location we took a left 4.2 klm past the bridge at the end of the sealed road. Site directly on the lake, emerged in the pines, with fire pit and abundant wood. Well protected from weather.
Views of Cook, the night sky and the serene aqua lake are once in a lifetime. Totally secluded. Some low hanging pine limbs, so not for large campervans. Totally self contained is best.
If you Freedom camp this is the number 1 place we have found in NZ. (We have been touring for 2 months)
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Awesome NZ
You can read all about it anywhere.
We took the morning 2 hour cruise and had a boat that was no more than 10% full...to early for the busses from Queenstown. We went with "Real Adventures". We got a full on sunny day. (Special because it rains here 2 out of 3 days).
Absolutely memorizing. You cannot do the South Island and miss this.
Ps the drive in is spectacular.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Bluff ▷
Bluff Camping Ground
Solid overnight utility stop.
Very clean well run facility.
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Hipapatua / Reid's Farm Recreation Reserve Free Campsite
Amazing, We had been touring the north island for 4 weeks pulled in here after the experience of Huka falls and found a freedom campsite in the trees on the fast river better than anything we experienced
so far.
I have seen the other reviews and rest assured they have built new toilets and all is good.
I understand it gets busy at high season and I can see why. When we were there it was quiet.
If you like trees, rivers and stunning scenery...for free don't miss this one
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Discover NZ Motorhome Rentals
Tony and team are all about customer service.
We did a 90 day rental and covered both north and south islands Oct 14 to Jan 15.
Great set up and send off from Eddy in Auckland. We overnighted at Tony's place (the owner) in Richmond/Nelson.
Great vehicle, great service, great advice.
Ours was a 2 birth Ford Transit van. Got us into some stunning places. Small issue with the stove, solved rapidly by the team.
You can find cheaper and you can find more expensive but you won't find better customer service and the people to back it up. Highly Recommend. Great value.
Hey Ron
It was a pleasure getting to meet you guys and absolutely loved catching up with you both
Glad you enjoyed your generous time here but you probably still have things to see even after 12 weeks looking around as theres so much to explore in a camper holiday in NZ
Cheers Tony and the Team
Tony Terrell
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Dargaville ▷
Waipoua Forest Camping Area
After seeing the giant Kauri, stop here for an overnight.
Nestled beside a mountain stream (tenters only, vans across a lovely meadow away from the stream.
Run by the locals, well kept toilets, showers and kitchen.
Nice to camp in the trees.
Friendly atmosphere with campers and staff alike.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Matamata ▷
Opal Hot Springs Holiday Park
Only choice in Matamata (Hobbiton).
Great staff all services, a little tired and pools in need of a freshening.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Matamata ▷
Rings Scenic Tours
Enchanting.
Well done and the guides are great. Great value
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Waipu ▷
Waipu Cove Cottages
Immaculate small campground.
Showers, toilets, kitchen, barbecue top notch. Owner takes pride. Unique rope powered raft over estuary to dunes and magnificent beach with good surf when we were there.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kaitaia ▷
Kapowairua Campsite
Outstanding DOC basic campground.
Take your time on the drive on gravel road and you will be rewarded. It's all about beach walking and fishing on a monstrous beach. Regulars friendly and advising sharks in the area so pay attention to the locals on this significant riptide Beach. Only for strong swimmers.
Horses grazing on the low mountains and in the valley, great site to wake up to.
Great atmosphere in the camp, friendly. Did not see any staff when we were there.
We will be back.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Warkworth ▷
Pakiri Beach Horse Rides
Outstanding.
Run by a beautiful lady with over 60 years of horse experience
Over 100 horses.
The guides are from all over the world and great. We took the 2 hour ride out onto the ranchs dunes right on the beach and in the surf. My wife had tears in her eyes. Quite an experience. We lingered after and had a great Kiwi burger. Highly recommend if into horses.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Orewa Beach Holiday Park
Efficient full service site.
Short steps to a lovely beach. Some traffic noise as site is close to the main road.
500 meter walk to town and boutique shops and grocery store.
Great place close to Auckland to load up and find more "nature" sites going north. Staff very friendly and helpful.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Kaitaia ▷
Maitai Bay Campsite
Great DOC campground, short walk over dunes to beach.
Toilets clean. Quiet and great view of the night sky. Excellent walk to neighboring beach.
Sites in open with some low level trees.
Very few campers there in October and understand it fills quickly in high season.
Great one night stop.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Tuatapere ▷
Colac Bay / Oraka Township Overnight Campervan Parking
Great freedom stop on the bay.
Plenty of room. Cockles galore at low tide. Unprotected so windy.