Profile
Sarah Gurney
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Banks Peninsula ▷
Little River Campground
This was our favourite campsite of our whole two month trip!
We loved everything about it, the lovely grassy camping spots, the outdoor kitchen, the couches and beanbags, the compost toilets. The woodland walks were lovely with lots of quirky little touches. And whatever you do make sure you go on the swing up in the woods, it's a magical experience.
Hi Sarah,
Wow, thanks for the favourable review. It makes us happy to share our 'little piece of paradise' with travellers who get what we're about. Back to basics but set in a nice little spot, classic kiwi old school camping. You're welcome back anytime and we wish you many more magical holiday experiences.
Marcus Puentener
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Banks Peninsula ▷
Okains Bay Camping Ground
Beautiful campsite nestled in amongst pine trees, close to the beach.
This is a huge site but because of the layout in amongst the trees it didn't feel too busy. The shade from the trees was very welcome as it was hot when we were there and we loved being so close to the beach. The toilet and kitchen were all fine, only two blocks for the whole site so it was a bit of a walk to get to them as the site was so big. Showers were $2 for 4 minutes. There was no checkout time and no set pitches which we liked, it all felt very relaxed.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Lyttelton ▷
Orton Bradley Park Camping
Lovely little spot in a kind of country park.
It's basic - cold shower, washing up shelter, no kitchen, common room etc, but it provided just what we needed after a long drive to the Banks Peninsula. It was quiet when we were there (Friday night, early December). Very friendly ducks! $8pp unpowered.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Hokitika ▷
Cloud 9 Lifestyle Park
This is a nice little site with a slightly strange layout.
The hosts were so friendly! We had a great welcome and they showed us all their animals which our son loved. The facilities were really well kept and had a homely feel to them - fresh flowers in the bathroom etc. The grass area with the pond was also lovely. And we loved the snack cart with fresh eggs and treats! The only thing that we weren't so keen on was the camping spots - we were on a very thin bit of grass next to the railway line. Also no WiFi. But overall it was a great, well kept campsite.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Greymouth ▷
Jacksons Retreat Campervan Holiday Park
Nice site with great facilities that I don't think we got to fully appreciate as we arrived and left in the pouring rain!
Sadly we didn't get to see the lovely view or take advantage of any of the local walks. But they had a lovely big lounge/kitchen area (a wee bit chilly as they'd run out of wood for the burner), immaculate bathrooms and excellent showers that warmed our cold bones. Would return to check it out in better weather :)
Hello Sarah, thank you for taking the time to post your review, it's not fair when the weather isn't playing the holiday game but we look forward to your return and hopefully it will be warmer, dryer and our Park more spectacular for you then. Best Wishes for this Holiday Season and the New Year, Regards Darren and Toni
Maxim Vassiliev
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Hawarden ▷
Waikari Reserve Camping Ground
This was a strange little campsite sandwiched between a sports pitch and the road.
The price was cheap ($5 per person, plus $2 each for a shower and $2 for laundry), however the facilities were all a little bit grubby. Not awful, just in need of a good clean. Every Wednesday there's a big young people's touch rugby game that happens in the evening on the field which gave it a nice community feel. No views to speak of. Overall fine for a quick stopover but nothing special.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Okarito ▷
Okarito Camping Ground
We loved this cute little campsite!
The pitches were on grass, nestled amongst the trees. There were lots of picnic tables and fire pits. The bathrooms were clean, the showers good ($1 for 4 minutes which we didn't mind as the campsite was reasonably priced) and a nice shelter for washing-up and hanging out. The beach was a short walk across a field and stunning, worth checking out for the sunset and views back to the mountain. I'd also recommend the German sour dough bread for sale locally, a visit to the lagoon (we got a great view of a white heron) and the trig walk for amazing views. I just wish we could have stayed longer.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Fox Glacier ▷
Gillespies Beach Campsite
Great small freedom camp next to the beach.
The parking was just in a carpark and it was pretty busy when we were there but the views of the mountains and Fox Glacier are stunning if you get a clear day. The beach is lovely, lots of driftwood and beautiful stones and wild waves. Two longdrop toilets and a sink that uses rainwater. Lovely spot.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Haast ▷
Lake Paringa Campsite
Nice basic DOC campsite next to a beautiful lake.
The camping spots were just in the carpark so it just depended if you managed to get a good spot if you had a lake view or not. It rained pretty heavily when we were there but luckily there was no flooding like the sign warned. The toilets were fine, just standard longdrop toilets. There was a tap but it wasn't drinking water. A handy spot between Wanaka and the glaciers.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Lake Hawea ▷
The Camp
This was a lovely mid-sized holiday park.
The thing that really made it for us was the layout and location by the lake. There were lovely lake views and short walks from the campsite and it was nice camping in amongst the trees after a few days of larger, more regimented sites. The facilities were all a bit old but well kept and totally adequate. The showers were good and hot. Friendly staff.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Arrowtown ▷
Hampshire Holiday Park Arrowtown
Nice holiday park with good facilities - lots of showers and toilets and a big kitchen.
There was no lounge and the immediate view wasn't great (just rows of campervans) but if you looked up you could see beautiful mountains. The best bit about this site for me was the location, it was a short walk to the sights of Arrowtown so very handy and nice to be able to pop to the pub for a drink without one of us having to drink a soft drink so they could drive :)
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Moke Lake Campsite
Beautifully located campsite fairly close to Queenstown but it felt like it was a million miles away from all the hustle and bustle.
The site was quite big with lots of small areas separated by bushes and a bigger field at the back. Facilities were fine, a few clean longdrop toilets and a cooking shelter with sinks. There were signs saying the water should be OK to drink but you might want to boil it but when we got some it was cloudy so we decided not to drink it. The best part about this site was the location, a beautiful glistening lake and stunning mountains. Payment was by an honesty box ($10 per person) and a ranger came to collect in the morning. The only thing I'd day is that we've paid the same elsewhere and had showers included. Overall a great little site.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Mossburn ▷
Mossburn Country Park
Nice little campsite.
Everything was clean, lots of showers so no need to wait in the morning, lots of hot water. No lounge area or recycling facilities. The campervan spots were all in rows in a big field which I think would have felt a bit odd if it was full. However it was reasonably priced ($32 for two with power) and a convenient stop between Milford and Queenstown. Nothing amazing but a pleasant enough stop for the night.
Remember folks, you get to choose your own site so no-one is packed in or need to feel 'odd'. There is also a new lounge area recently built and we do recycle the waste so can't understand that part of the review. Fortunately, we think our place is amazing, but that's because we absolutely love it here.
Stuart and Colleen
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Manapouri ▷
Possum Lodge Motel and Holiday Park
We really liked this place!
It was small and quirky. As other reviewers have said, the facilities are a bit old fashioned but well kept and I liked how they made a feature of things like the old range in the kitchen. Great location, very close to the lake. It cost $32 for 2 people unpowered, hot showers included. There was free WiFi but only around the lounge/kitchen area. This did mean that everyone sat in the lounge like zombies starting at their screens. It was very busy when we were there (mid November) so the kitchen was a bit busy at peak times. Overall a great little campsite.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Brighton Domain
This was a nice enough place to stay.
The field and the playpark were nice and the beaches were really pretty. The toilets (across the sports field, to the side of the rugby club) were pretty grubby though. However around 11pm someone threw a firework at the side of our van which was pretty scary. We phoned the police and there were no further incidents but it was still quite unsettling. Hopefully this was an isolated incident as it spoiled have would have otherwise been a nice night for us.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Owaka ▷
Hillview Camping Stay
Great basic, cheap campsite in a good location, close to Nugget Point.
The owners were lovely and the free internet was a bonus. It was a nice, small grassy site surrounded by pretty farmland. Great value at $10 per person. Showers cost $2 for 5 minutes but we were happy to pay as the site was so cheap. We treated ourselves to the $15 breakfast which was tasty :)
many thanks for taking the time out to put feed back on glad you enjoyed your stay.
kevin Boam
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Tuatapere ▷
Monkey Island, Orepuki
This is a justifiably popular freedom camping area.
We had a nice spot looking into the beach with the snow capped mountains in the distance. There were two clean long drop toilets and a tap fed by spring water. It was pretty busy when we were there but when we were on the beach it felt like we had the place to ourselves.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Owaka ▷
Catlins Newhaven Holiday Park
Nice clean small holiday park.
The owners were lovely and I liked the extra touches like the garden you could help yourself from. The lounge and kitchen were great if not a bit chilly (it was quite a cold day when we were there). The view of the sea was lovely. The main downside for me was that we had to pay $2 for a 5 minute shower. I don't mind this if it's a very cheap campsite but at $16 per person unpowered I think a free 5 minute shower should be included. Apart from that it was a lovely site.
Hi Sarah - thanks for taking the time to review us, and your compliments about Bren & myself. Yes our guests really enjoy being able to help themselves to veges, salads or herbs from the garden.
Guests sure do value having the kitchen/dining area and lounge facilities - especially guests like yourself travelling and either tenting or sleeping in a car. It provides space for people to eat and relax when they are not in a cabin/flat or camper van. Just on your pricing comments - we are exceptionally proud to advise that we have again held our prices at 2010 rates (that's no price increase for the last 5 years) despite of course, all our costs going up each year. We think that this is a grand accomplishment and we are very competitive here in the Catlins. We are on rain water and are trying to do our bit to reduce our carbon footprint, so we think $2 bucks for a hot 40 litre shower is reasonable. Sure is a beautiful spot - great day for a swim today with temps at 24 degrees.
take care, cheers Jude
Grant and Deborah
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park ▷
Milford Sound Lodge – Rainforest Campervan Park
We ended up deciding to stay here at short notice as our son was unwell and we couldn't face the drive to the site were originally planned to stay at.
We were lucky enough to get one of the last two campervan spots and I'm really glad we did. The campervan spots were nothing to write home about - just spaces in a carpark very close together. But the view around the campsite was stunning, towering rock faces with waterfalls pouring down them, beautiful. The facilities were great, particularly the lounge which was really comfy and had a great atmosphere. The kitchen and showers were all fine, busy but clean. The main downside was the price - $50 for two unpowered. But they have the monopoly in the area and are obviously in high demand so I guess they can charge a lot. And it was great to be so close to Milford Sound as it allowed us to go on a 9am cruise without having to get up stupidly early.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Owaka ▷
Waikawa Recreation Reserve
Nice big freedom camping area with the small hamlet of Waikawa on one side and native woodland on the other, as well as partly overlooking the harbour.
The toilets were good (flush, water and a light) and there was a drinking water tap. We enjoyed the short walk through the woodland behind the site. The chip van is currently only open Friday-Sunday (mid November) so we didn't get to try any but it looked good! Nice site, would return.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Oamaru ▷
Campbells Bay
Lovely little freedom camp 20 minutes south of Oamaru.
We camped at the top of the small cliff looking out to sea and a beautiful big empty beach - perfect. The toilet was fine and there was a cold shower outside and a water tap. Nice little spot.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Oamaru ▷
Old Bones Backpackers
This place was great!
The facilities were really what made it. Clean bathrooms, hot showers, brilliant kitchen and the icing on the cake was the lovely lounge area complete with a wood burning stove. It was great to settle down on the sofas for the evening and make use of the free WiFi. The camping spots weren't anything to write home about - our unpowered spot was just in the carpark. But with such lovely facilities it didn't matter!
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Methven ▷
Rakaia Gorge Camping Ground
What a lovely place!
We spent one night there but wished we could have spent longer. The view of the river is stunning and we did a nice short walk down to the river in the evening. The campsite is well run and well kept. The showers were lovely and hot. There isn't a kitchen or laundry but there's an area where you can wash up or cook under cover with a camping stove if you wish. It was also very reasonable prices ($12.50pp). And not having a check out time was nice as well. Recommended.
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South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura ▷
Meatworks Beachfront
Fantastic freedom camping spot!
The snowy mountains on one side, crashing surf on the other. In the morning we saw a seal playing in the waves and dolphins on the horizon. We weren't entirely sure where the freedom camping section was - there were people parked up on the dunes near the graveyard and all the way along. We camped near the toilet along with a few others. The toilet was fine, a clean longdrop. Will definitely return here if we get the opportunity.
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South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura ▷
Kaikoura Peketa Beach Holiday Park
Large campsite that was fine but a bit big for us, it felt a bit soulless.
The facilities were all clean and in good condition. There was only one kitchen block that I don't think would be big enough for the whole campsite if it was busy. It also had no kitchen equipment at all so bring your own. Showers were lovely and hot but you had to press a button outside the cubical to turn it on which was annoying as the water didn't turn on for that long. I'm glad we didn't pay the extra for a 'beachfront' site as the ones we saw weren't directly on the beach as I had expected - we've stayed at places with a much better sea view. Overall totally adequate but not amazing.
Hi, Thanks for your comments. As our holiday park caters to all types of holiday makers ie cabins, campervans, caravans & tents, we do have plenty of space. During the shoulder season, having so much space doesn’t suit everyone. In NZ, it is standard that you bring our own kitchen utensils etc, however, we do have sets available for hire. As our park is spread out, we have a kitchen block located at both ends of the park. On check in we give a map of the park outlining the location of all our facilities in relation to sites. Our showers are timed for 8 mins which is standard.
kaikoura_peketa
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Mapua ▷
Tasman Motor Camp
Cute but slightly down-at-heel campsite with several long-term residents.
The owner was lovely and friendly and the site was leafy green. The facilities were fine and clean, excellent hot shower, everything was just a bit old and worn. It felt like quite a relaxed campsite but there were lots of warning notices and lists of dos and don'ts which didn't seem necessary. They also gave us a code for the WiFi which was nice except we couldn't find anywhere that picked up a strong enough WiFi signal! Overall good but not excellent.
We have a few retired residents only but do support the european seasonal workers, the wifi isnt strong and everyone is told the best place to receive it,We dont like notices either but unjfortunately people need reminding so this is a requirement.
tasman_motor_camp
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
Farewell Gardens Holiday Park
Nice little campsite, good location for viewing Farewell Spit etc.
The facilities were quite dated but totally adequate.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Abel Tasman ▷
Tōtaranui Campground
This campsite was all about the location.
The National Park is stunning and we did some lovely walks and saw some great wildlife. The facilities were understandably basic but clean (toilets, cold shower, no kitchen but there were sinks for washing up). It cost us $15 per person in October which I think was a bit steep considering the facilities, we've paid less and had hot showers etc. The site is huge but it was very quiet when we were there.
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Havelock ▷
Smiths Farm Holiday Park
We spent two wonderful nights at this campsite and it was one of our favorites so far.
The facilities were all great but it was the beautiful setting and the friendly owners that made it for us. The hot muffins on arrival were a lovely welcome and our baby loved feeding the animals and meeting the baby rabbits. The waterfall walk was lovely. Overall a great campsite, would definitely return.
Hi Sarah and family, Thank you so much for your lovely review. We loved having you stay as well and your wee boy is very cute...I'm so pleased that the lawn mower didn't scare him!! The Spring growth on the trees and in the gardens is very pretty right now...we're being blown around by the Southerly wind today but the forecast for the next few days is sunny and beautiful...can't wait! All the very best for the rest of your South Island holiday. Kind Regards, Barbara and Chris
Barbara and Chris Faulls
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Wellington Waterfront Motorhome Park
This site gave us exactly what we wanted - it gave us somewhere to stay right in the centre of Wellington.
It was a bit strange to open the curtains in the morning and see people on their way to work but it was great being on the harbour front, close to Te Papa, Cuba Street etc. The bathrooms were clean, the showers lovely and hot and the guy who checked us in was very friendly. No problems with noise from the road etc. It was expensive but OK for a one night stay.
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North Island ▷ Wairarapa ▷ Masterton ▷
Eketahuna Motor Camp
This is a gem of a campsite.
We stopped here as we wanted to break the drive from Napier to Wellington and I'm really glad we did. It was cheap ($15 for a powered site), the showers were powerful and hot, the kitchen was well stocked, the washing machine was free (free!!) and the site was lovely, lots of space and you could camp up anywhere. The owners were also really friendly. My only minor complaint was the kitchen is a bit small for the size of the campsite - it was a bit of a squeeze for everyone wanting to use it when we were there. But this was only a minor problem. Overall an excellent campsite!
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Owhiro Bay Overnight Campervan Parking
Beautiful freedom camping spot right by the water.
We stayed two nights, the first we thought we would be blown away as it was so windy! The second night was calmer though. The toilets were good and clean, the information centre was interesting. We got a good spot both nights as we arrived around 4pm but by nightfall it was very busy. It was a 20 minute drive from the ferry terminal. A great place to stay in the suburbs of Wellington.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Raglan ▷
Solscape Eco Retreat
Lovely place, really quirky and interesting to walk around because of all the different places to stay.
The facilities were all really clean. I particularly liked the fire in the kitchen/lounge area. However, as some other reviewers have mentioned the campervan spaces are in the car park. Seeing as they'd put so much thought into all the other areas I think it'd be nice to have a nice space for the vans. On the plus side the view over the bay is stunning!
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Whitianga ▷
Seabreeze Holiday Park
Nice campsite, lovely owners, facilities were good and clean.
We were given one token for the shower each day (6 minutes). A bit pricey for what it was ($22 per person) but overall a nice site.