Laksmi C
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ St Arnaud ▷
Lake Angelus
This is an amazing, precious environment...enjoy but please use the toilets or if you can't dig a good hole and make sure you bury your toilet paper and waste deep enough or better still carry a small
, lightweight shovel. It has recently been in the news about toilet paper blowing around up around Lake Angelus...not nice. Protect/Respect the natural beauty well into the future!!
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Motueka ▷
Riwaka Resurgence Track
This is very special (sacred) spot and has a beautiful still, quiet feel to it...the actual resurgence (where the water comes out of the Takaka Hill) is quite eerie and tapu to Maori...so advise swimming
downstream at the crystal pool...it's nicer there anyway...at an invigorating 11deg celcius all year round. The short walk through the bush is lovely. Even further downstream I have heard was a special spot that Maori women used to go to give birth...
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Motueka ▷
Courthouse Flat Campsite
At the start of the very steep track up to Mt Owen...but there are shorter walks you can do from the campsite into the bush around the old gold mining areas...and there are actually old relics of big metal
gold mining equipment that were apparently dragged all the way from Nelson by men who started gold mining there but then abandoned them. There are two or three examples of these right on the track as well as evidence of the stone walls they built as well. The campsite is in a huge grassy area with good swimming holes in summer and mountains all around...but don't forget your insect repellent!
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South Island ▷ Stewart Island ▷ Halfmoon Bay ▷
Port William Campsite
2 mins from Port William Hut, 6 sites on a not-quite flat grassy area with magnetic beach nearby.
The covered kitchen area has sinks and a bench seat, but no table. This was the location for an early settlement on the island but the only signs of this now are the large gum trees.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Abel Tasman ▷
Mutton Cove Campsite
This is such a great spot to base yourself for a few days - at the top of the park so less visitors...my favourite!
A nice walk in from Totaranui (2 hrs). at Anapai Bay look for the "Navigator" rock which looks like a face looking out to sea and guarding the area. Then another hour on to Mutton Cove. You can do day trips to the separation point seal colony (we saw seals sunbathing on rocks on the way a short distance north of the campsite) as well as at the colony itself which is right on a rocky outcrop which divides Golden and Tasman Bays. Stunning views. From here it's another hour or so to the lovely Whariwharangi beach and the historic hut/old homestead there. Even though we stayed at the campsite in January, at the height of the tourist season...the campsite didn't feel crowded, there was plenty of room and right on the beach.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
Gouland Downs Campsite
It's a shortish stroll (1 1/2 hrs from Perry Saddle) to Gouland Downs; which is located in a flattish, clear, tussocky basin with a pleasant campsite.
You might want to go on for a further 1 1/2 hrs to Saxon campsite but if you decide to stop here you might hear a kiwi at night!
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
James Mackay Campsite
This campsite is in a really interesting location; after walking over the flattish downs on the Gouland and Saxon areas, you come out to this spot where you see the West coast for the first time in the
distance way down below. The campsite has 4 sites, a flush toilet with toilet paper and outside sinks and taps to use.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
Perry Saddle Campsite
If walking the Heaphy track from the Golden Bay end, this campsite is in a great spot after doing most of the climbing on day one...it has 5 sites and a shelter with sinks under which you can cook your
dinner and sit at a picnic table. I had an incredibly thrilling experience just before arriving at Perry Saddle one time:...I was dawdling behind in our group, it was later in the day, almost dusk and a kiwi came out on the track in front of me...actually it was quite assertive, vocal and seemed a bit stroppy...maybe I was too close to its nest? I'll never forget it....pure magic.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
Saxon Campsite
This is in an amazing location and you might see or hear kiwi around dusk or at night.
My travelling companion was inspired to get out his art materials and draw the scene here... tussock glimmering in the light, with outcrops of trees and rocks all around. a magic spot. You are not allowed to use the hut facilities, but there are sinks, toilet with toilet paper and wooden camping platforms upon which to pitch your tent. In a tent you are more likely to hear kiwi anyway!
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
Heaphy Campsite
My favourite campsite on the Heaphy!
Stunning location and large, flat grassy area to pitch tent right on the Heaphy river mouth. Lush rata and nikau forest with the ocean just beyond for long, beachy rambles. Totally magic spot...imagine the old explorers Heaphy, Brunner and Kehu travelling down the coastline from the north to arrive at this place in 1846...an incredibly hard trip with dangerous cliff faces ...only a few people have done this since then!
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Glenorchy ▷
Lake Mackenzie Campsite
Campsite has 9 sites, is located in the bush a short distance from the hut and lake, with great views of the Routeburn Valley surrounded by mountains.
There is a big covered cooking and seating area with sinks, toilet etc and the sites have been levelled off and have artificial grass! You can see the lake trough the trees.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Glenorchy ▷
Routeburn Flats Campsite
Right on the river for a splash in the summer, just 1 1/2 hrs walk from the road end...lovely spot in the valley surrounded by mountains.
Kitchen shelter has benches, sink, and picnic tables...tap is off the rainwater tank. Long drop toilet. Plenty of sites to pitch tent on the river flats. Quite close to Queenstown. This is part of a Great Walk so need to book in summer...price $18, (after 30th April price is $5 and no need to book).