Geoff Steele
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Lake Tekapo ▷
Lakes Edge Holiday Park
This was the most expensive powered site we stayed at in NZ.
On a positive the location is sensational, directly on the lakefront with snowcapped peaks reflected from the far side. At night, if you walk a few hundred metres along the lakefront away from the camp lights, after the moon sets the sky is incredible and everything you'd hope for from one of the best dark skies. But, even with the camp only partially full there were queues at the unisex showers, and while the facilities are modern they are insufficient. The laundry was being redeveloped while we were here, so we had to share the motel laundry which had a single demestic grade drier and two washers completely inferior to the workload. Despite throwing lots of coins at this laundry we departed with wet clothes. Most motorhome powered sites are parked up next to each other in rows without decent separation, though there are some that have views of the lake most do not. You don't get what you pay for here, but the location is unique with limited alternatives.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Timaru ▷
Timaru TOP 10 Holiday Park
Another great Top 10 park.
Located in suburban streets, walking distance to supermarkets and fast food. Very large powered sites had good separation from other motorhomes and campers. Clean and modern facilities with a large TV lounge, clean and large kitchen with a herb garden. Playground has a giant jumping pillow. Management are friendly and helpful, and do a great $2.50 coffee for club members.
Thank you for the review Geoff, great to see you enjoyed your stay.
timaru_top_10
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Waikawa ▷
Curio Bay Camping Ground
We stayed for one night in September, which was in the first week of the new management.
New facilities block combines a large kitchen, laundry and clean/modern showers and requires a PIN for access. Shower requires a token to operate that you can buy from the office. Looks like this was a large run down camp on the headland and that area is being allowed to regrow/recover. Sites are large with a gravel area to park the motorhome, with up to 2 or 3 sites in groups with flax growing for privacy and wind protection. Large motorhome access is not a problem. At time of staying there's not much here, with cafe under construction and main office yet to be setup. No wifi. But the location is amazing with views over the bay and along the rocks from several spots on the headland. I could have sat and watched the huge waves crashing in on the rocks all day. Petrified forest is an easy walk starting 200m down the road.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Hokitika ▷
252 Beachside Motels & Holiday Park
Located a short walk from the beach, and an amazing gloworm dell.
This is primarily a motel with a courtyard area for motorhome visitors. Facilities were clean and laundry had commercial grade machines. Supermarket and other shops is around 800m walk away. Manager was extremely helpful.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei ▷
Blue Heron Holiday Park
Brilliant location.
Every campsite here is absolute waterfront. At high tide water laps the bottom of the sea wall, at low tide a rocky coastline is exposed. Two camp kitchens have uninterrupted water views. Managers were incredibly helpful, and actually explained the benefits of the Rankers app to us so we signed up after staying here! Camp is on its own small peninsula with those sites under shady trees that were full of birds in the morning. Location is a short scenic drive along the river out of Whangarei town centre. One kitchen has TV/video facilities. Only downside is the 50c showers. We visited in September and there were only a few others. Facilities otherwise clean and we'd come back here for sure.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ St Arnaud ▷
Kerr Bay Campsite
Our favourite DoC campsite from our NZ visit.
This was a surprise find, so near the town of St Arnaud. Flat campsites, with power. Kitchen with a great lake view. Clean modern toilets. We visited in September and found the showers locked, and a laundry with no machines but the DoC ranger explained these are available in high season. Some easy walks start from the camp, including one that leads back to the town. Shine a torch from the jetty in the lake after dark to bring out the long finned eels. Crystal clear water you can see the trout! Lots of birdsong in the morning, and an owl at night. While it didn't snow while we were here there was a good cover on the mountains that surround the lake, and clouds rolled in after dark that made the whole scene surreal. Check out the displays at the DoC office - lots of info there on walks, wildlife, history and the management plan for the area. The DoC ranger was incredibly helpful. We were fortunate enough to find a water taxi active on the day we arrived, and took a tour up to see Whiskey falls and the head of the lake which we recommend.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Te Anau Tasman Holiday Parks
We stayed here 4 nights in September.
It's a Top 10 park so we had high expectations, but these were exceeded. This is the best of the best. The staff and management were incredibly helpful. The powered sites for motorhomes are spaced with a picnic table between each, with two sets of clean modern facilities (with music!), a large kitchen and commercial grade machines in the laundry. There are two kids playgrounds, including the signature bouncy jumping pillow and a pirate ship. They also had a pair of lambs with regular feeding times. The park is located right across from the lake, a very short walk to cafes and the ferry for the glowworm cave tour, and a small yacht club marina with sunset reflections. Tours of Milford and Doubtful Sounds have shuttle bus services so this is the perfect base for Fiordland. And all the tours can be booked at the front office.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Orewa Beach Holiday Park
Waterfront sites under shady trees.
We stayed here for our first night in the motorhome after picking it up at the airport. Not too far out of town so made a useful first stop to get acquainted with the RV. Very helpful lady on the counter explained benefits of Top 10 membership. Top 10 were not the cheapest, but we found a high standard of facilities so membership discount helped. Lots of permanent vans in this park so expect it will be busy in NZ holiday times but was just great when we visited in September. Nothing between the sites and the sandy beach but a bike path and a narrow strip of grass and low bush.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Haast ▷
Haast River Motels and Holiday Park
Powered motorhome sites are hardened separated by rock gardens, with a playground.
Large dome building contains enormous camp kitchen with spacious, modern facilities block. Everything appears modern and clean. Management were helpful and friendly.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Makarora ▷
Boundary Creek Campsite
Lovely tree lined sites along the lakeshore, adjacent to Boundary Creek.
We and others sheltered here during a stormy night in September. Many sites tucked in amongst trees and bushes provided some protection from the wind. Access for large motorhome no problem. Two flushing toilets were clean, had paper and soap. There's a kitchen shelter and several picnic tables. There's no doubt this would be devine with good weather.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Cron street ▷
Rainforest Retreat
Beautiful location, surprisingly close to the heart of town.
Campsites are embedded in thick bushland, but they are arranged as pairs so we were very close to one other. I'd have scored 10/10 if only one motorhome per bay. Facilities are new and clean. There's a restaurant/bar onsite and meals were sensational. We'd return here for sure.
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Paihia ▷
Waitangi Holiday Park
We stayed for 4 nights in September and it was one of the highlights of our month in NZ.
Powered sites in rows under trees with scattered shared picnic tables. Facilities are modern and clean. Large kitchen, laundry has commercial grade machines and there's a clothes line out back if you have good weather and don't want to pay for the drier. TV lounge has comfy furniture. Located about half an hour walk to Paihia cafes/shops/ferry. Shuttle bus services come here for the tours to hole-in-the-rock and Cape Rienga. Park management were very helpful and friendly. Sunrises are sensational after a short walk to the bridge, or over to the yacht club. Would come back for sure.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Tuatapere ▷
Monkey Island, Orepuki
There is quite a lot of space along behind the dunes adjacent to the beach, and also mown spots along the access road which are surrounded by flax plants for some privacy.
We stayed in September for one night. The weather changed from sunshine one day to gusty winds which the dunes offered some protection from, but not completely. The motorhome being so tall still caught the wind gusts over the dunes, and in the morning sea foam was being blown about the camp. Two drop toilets centrally located are clean and provide paper, and there's the remains of a shelter shed that has a water tap with a sign that says it needs boiling for drinking. There is a ramp for vehicle beach access here, and it was very popular with 4x4's on the day we arrived.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Cosy Cottage Thermal Holiday Park
We stayed for 2 nights in September.
Great location with a short private walking path to the lake and their own hot beach when the water level is right. The camp has a boiling mud pool of its own with a hangi oven for use by campers. The rear boundary of the park is a hot stream also, and the unpowered sites along that boundary are "heated". Despite this there's no sulphur smell that we detected. Facilities are clean, with the hottest showers we had in NZ. The only downside is the sites were a bit cramped together but there's a hedge in between each to give a little privacy. It's walking distance also to Kuirau Park which has geothermal pools and gardens for free viewing, and that sulphur smell if you're chasing that full experience! Half way to the park are a few shops for takeaway food also. Management was friendly and helpful, and offered advice and loan cooking gear for our attempt at a hangi dinner.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Doubtful Sound ▷
Doubtful Sound Day Cruise
Beautiful part of NZ.
Both bus drivers over the pass were great, and extra marks for Ian our bus driver from Te Anau as he returned my camera I left on the bus to our camp before we even noticed it was gone! Only downside was not enough seating inside the cabin on the at the Doubtful Sound end when the weather is poor.
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North Island ▷ Manawatu - Wanganui ▷ Palmerston North ▷
Timona Park
Amazing large flat sites between soccer fields and the river, under trees and separated by bushes.
A block of clean and modern unisex toilets is walking distance across the field. There's a kid's playground at one end. Parkland extends along the river and is used for rugby, dog obedience, pony club, and a riding club but when we arrived only a few joggers and dog owners were there. By the morning there were a dozen motorhomes there, but there's plenty of space.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park ▷
Milford Sound Day Cruises
We chose the morning nature tour and are glad we did as it didn't have as many people on it as the scenic cruise.
Cabin had big windows so you have a good view even if the weather turns bad, and there is plenty of deck space for an uninterrupted view. There's a guide walks around the deck pointing out seals, penguins and features of the landscape during the tour. Milford is a must-see in Fiordland and this was a great way to see it.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Portobello ▷
Portobello Village Tourist Park
We stayed 3 nights here in September and found it a great base for exploring the peninsula.
Powered sites include an individual dump station and fresh water tap. Camp kitchen was large, facilities are clean and there's also a laundry with commercial grade machines. The showers have a quirky instant electric heater that means you need to reduce the pressure to increase the temperature - they weren't great as a consequence, but otherwise good. Lady's facilities weren't cleaned the whole time we were there. Internet access is timed but umlimited data - first night 1hr, 2nd night 2hrs and 3rd night 4hrs per guest. Management were friendly and helpful. There was no shuttle bus service further on the peninsula out to the penguins, albatross etc so you do need to break camp to go out to those however there is a regular scheduled service to the city from the end of the street. There's a large kid's playground within 10mins walk, along with various cafes and a pub.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Westport ▷
Carters Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park
Top 10 parks are not the cheapest, but the standards are high and this one is no exception.
The park is a large open area with a sealed parking area for powered motorhome sites - which we appreciated granted the rain. This layout does mean there's no privacy between but there was plenty of room. Facilities are clean and modern. There were two sets of toilets, one being family bathrooms with toilet/shower which was a nice touch. Walking distance to the beach and a cafe up the road that had a brilliant breakfast, and has a Top 10 discount also. Management were friendly and helpful, suggesting best time to see the seals the following morning (dodging the worst of the weather, and she was right!). It's a drive to the seals or Westport from here. A flushing stainless steel dump station was the final surprise as we departed.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Omarama ▷
Omarama TOP 10 Holiday Park
This camp is lovely, located on the main road near lots of eating alternatives, and adjacent to a fast flowing tree-lined stream.
The manager was friendly and helpful. Facilities are clean. Laundry had a large number of commercial grade machines. Campsites are large and grassy with picnic tables, and there's a playground. We walked to the local pub for dinner. This was a very enjoyable stay.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
VIP Milford
We took this tour in September, while staying at Te Anau.
Initially we just wanted to leave our motorhome behind, without breaking camp and avoid finding parking at the far end. David our driver though made it much more. He's a local semi-retired farmer who added background to much of the area we travelled through. We stopped at all the sights along the road to Milford Sound, and the small group means it wasn't rushed at all. On our tour they had two 18-seat Mercedes buses which were modern and comfortable.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Nelson ▷
Rotoiti Water Taxis
Thoroughly enjoyed our tour of Lake Rotoiti, stopping off at Whiskey Falls before visiting the hut at the head of the lake.
Hamish really knows the area, and stopped to point out places of interest and to tell us stories of the area along the way. The lake is stunning and this is a great way to see it. Completely recommended.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Porirua ▷
Ngāti Toa
Free sites along a waterfront road.
To the left toward the marina, to the right ends in a carpark with access to the beach. Behind the sites are playing fields with clean toilets, ruin of a historic building, a playground and a train station within a short walk. Every facility you need including groceries, cafes and laundry are a short drive away. Staying here we caught the sunset with a quiet glass of wine, and had a restful night before catching the early interislander the next morning. Locals were lovely. When we woke motorhomes and campervans were lined up close to each other and it seems many of us were waiting for the Interislander also.