Miguel
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Thames ▷
Shag Stream Campsite
Very basic campground and $10 fee for camping.
We stayed there one night because it was late and we had no other choice. There are plenty of better places and paying $10 just for being in the valley seems to me a scam.
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Hipapatua / Reid's Farm Recreation Reserve Free Campsite
Very nice spot near the river Waikato.
It's located conveniently between Taupo town and Huka Falls. There's plenty space to camp or place your car, several toilets and you can even have a bath in the river (beware the current, it can be strong!). It's a pity it was so overcrowded, it's a popular place for teenagers to spend the holidays and it was late summer when we stayed there, so it can be worse. The best is that is a FREE camping ground :)
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Hokitika ▷
Lake Mahinapua Campsite
Very good DOC campsite for a really good price - 6$.
The toilets are clean and in good state. Plenty of space to camp and beautiful lake
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Porirua ▷
Camp Elsdon
Good place to stay near Wellington, friendly staff and a lot of accomodation options.
We stayed 6 people in a cabin the staff opened just for us (we arrived really late), so we had plenty of space and hot showers :). Also there's a kitchen/lunch area (not very clean) and washing machines for everyone to use
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Omarama ▷
Ahuriri Bridge Campsite
A very big campsite near the road.
There's little shelter, only a few trees by the riverside. The ground is rocky so setting up a tent can be difficult. Very basic facilities (one toilet, water from the river), but it's FREE
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Motueka ▷
Kina Beach Reserve Camping Ground
Nice and cheap place to stay close to Abel Tasman National Park.
5$ fee for camping that is collected in the evening by the caretaker. Basic facilities (toilets, water) and several tables. The rocky beach nearby is a really good add-on!
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Putaruru ▷
Little Waipa Reserve
Basic campground near a nice lake, plenty of space to place your tent/car.
There are only a few toilets, but in good condition. It's quite close to Matamata-Hobbiton (in fact I think it's the closest free tent campground to it). It's completely FREE
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Turangi ▷
Kaimanawa Road Campsite
A basic free campground relatively close to Tongariro National Park as you come from the north.
The campground is not very big and is in the middle of the forest, maybe a little wild, but has a toilet. No other facilities there. The path to get to it is a dirt track, so come with a prepared vehicle
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South Island ▷ Central Otago ▷ Ranfurly ▷
St Bathans Campsite
Big camping ground in the middle of nowhere, but it's FREE.
No water, some benches and there's only one toilet. The ground it a little "wavy". I can't grade it better because it was the coldest night we had in New Zealand! In the morning our tents were completely frozen :S
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Cascade Creek Campsite
Nice campsite with a lot of space.
There's a river close to it (no water though), several toilets and also some shelter if you set up the tent under the trees in the forest. It can be quite cold in night even in summer. Usual fee for a basic DOC campsite - 6$. The best of this place is that it's the point where it starts the Lake Gunn Nature Walk
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Gore ▷
Dunsdale Recreation Reserve and camping area
Very basic campsite, some camping tables and two toilets.
Plenty of space in this big meadow, the only shelter is close to the trees that surround it. It's completely FREE :)
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Makarora ▷
Boundary Creek Campsite
Very nice campsite, just on the shore of Lake Wanaka.
Very close to the road and easily accesible. The price is the standard for a DOC campsite - 6$
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Havelock ▷
Brown River Reserve
We didn't find this campsite (at least not the one in the photos).
We camped in the location it's marked in the map, between the river and a cow field. There is a toilet in the path that enters the forest. The cows at night were scary!