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Raphaele
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Hokitika ▷
Hans Bay
Very spacious, secluded camping ground.
Only three other vehicles were there with us but because of the smart layout of the place it really felt like we were the only ones there. The toilets are located by the lake and are very clean, flush, and are equipped with soap and light. The views are stunning both from the camping area and the lake. Picnic tables in camping area and by the lake.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park ▷
Milford Sound Lodge – Rainforest Campervan Park
If you want to get the most out of your trip to Milford you should stay here.
Campground was busy on a weekend in December but clean and beautiful. Contrary to other reviews we didn't have to queue for kitchen space or showers.
Plan a whole day for the drive to Milford and stop often along the way. Get to the camp site in the late afternoon and explore Milford Sound after all the day tourists have left then do the first cruise of the day the next morning.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Queenstown Holiday Park Creeksyde
The location makes this campsite (and the price tag).
Easy walking distance from town center, groceries right around the corner. Well maintained and clean bathroom and kitchen facilities, cute layout, nice staff, lots of inspiration for activities and hikes in the area and overall friendly vibe. Most expensive site we stayed at but also the most convenient one in terms of location and facilities so the price seemed fair to us.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Kidds Bush Reserve Campsite
Simply the best, best, BEST!
Feels like the middle of nowhere, right next to the lake, a perfect place to unwind and relax. Great views all around and plenty of space (we were there on a Sunday in December along with only a handful of other campers). Clean flush toilets that looked pretty new. Sheltered sink to do the dishes. Campsites like this one are what made us fall in love with NZ.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Twelve Mile Delta Campsite
Quite a big camp site but is layout in a way that you can still feel secluded.
Toilets are basic but reasonably clean. The sand roads aren't optimal for the super windy conditions you can get there - a lot of sand ended up in our van and our food. $13pp seemed a little pricey in comparison to similar campsites we've been to. The site is only a few meters away from the lake shore where you can spend a beautiful and quiet evening.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Okarito ▷
Okarito Camping Ground
Loved our stay here.
Friendly caretaker and lots to do in the immediate area (trails, kiwi tour, kayaking on the lagoon, beach). Showers were with $2 for 4 Minutes the priciest of our trip. Overall the facilities were clean and did the job.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Springfield ▷
Kowai Pass Domain Camping Ground
This camp site didn't seem like much at first sight however, the hosts are very friendly and their passion for the place shows in the state of the facilities.
Kitchen and lounge area are very cozy and well equipped ( the only thing missing is an actual stove/cooking spot but if you can cook in your camper you're golden). Bathrooms are on the older site but we'll maintained and very clean. They even have a washer. It is very close to the highway and railroad but noises weren't a problem inside our van.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Fox Glacier ▷
Fox Glacier TOP 10 Holiday Park
Hot showers, laundry, kitchen - it gets the job done, however the park is lacking in atmosphere and scenery.
The sites are pitched together so close, they feel more like a premium parking spot. Bathrooms were reasonably clean. Kitchen was clean as well but very packed and didn't even provide bins or tea towels. We found $50 a steep price for two people in an unpowered site quite close to the road.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Twizel ▷
Lake Pukaki Overnight Campervan Parking
One of our favorite spots on the south island.
Close to the highway but very sheltered from the road. Overlooking the lake and My. Cook, a perfect place for a scenic and refreshing swim. Brilliant night sky. Coming early for a good spot is a must as it gets overcrowded towards the late afternoon. 4 new long drops which were very clean but of course began to smell in the evening as so many people were using them.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Okarito ▷
Okarito Kiwi Tours
The Kiwi tour was an unexpected highlight of our NZ trip.
Be aware that this tour doesn't cater to the tourist masses but requires patience and stamina as you have to stay absolutely still and alert for several hours at night. However, seeing a Kiwi in its natural habitat was an incredibly powerful experience and well worth the wait. Mike was a great guide, friendly and knowledgeable and clearly loves what he's doing.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Arthur's Pass ▷
Castle Hill
Well worth a stop eben if you aren't into bouldering/rock climbing.
Exploring the unique landscape was great fun. The big boulders are only 5 min from the parking lot but you can easily spend an hour walking around and through them.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Mount Cook ▷
Sealy Tarns Track
This a stepped track all the way up to the sealy tarns.
The track is very demanding especially when it's hot - the sun is just brutal and there's almost no shade along the way. We did the track between 11 am and 2 pm which in hindsight was very bad timing. The views were still worth it but next time I would start early in the morning.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park ▷
Lake Gunn Nature Walk
One of the best stops along the war to Milford.
The walk through the rainforest is easy, beautiful and not overcrowded with tourists. Beautiful and tranquil view of Lake Gunn.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Omarama ▷
Lake Benmore Holiday Park
Perfect spot after a long, hot day of hiking at Mt.
Cook. The individual bathroom cabins are the obvious highlight but even without them this place would be a gem: Sites are separated by bushes and trees for privacy, the laundry is good and there's a lot of space to air dry clothes, kitchen was clean and very well equipped. Overall a very cute layout. The only let down was the close proximity to the road but even that wasn't so bad.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Mount Cook ▷
Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier Walks
The Tasman glacier lake looks so surreal, almost like from another planet - I'm really glad we made this spontaneous stop.
It's only a few minutes walk up to the viewpoint, so it's doable even after a long day in the Mt. Cook area.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Ben Lomond Track
Beautiful hike.
Go up early to avoid the crowds. Great view over the Queenstown area and lake on one side and southern alpes on the other side. The way up is demanding for sure but not overly hard.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Omarama ▷
Omarama Clay Cliffs
Really different from most NZ scenery, quite impressive in its own way and less crowded than other places.
You have to pay an entrance fee which I is pretty fair, considering the site is on private land.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Rangitoto Summit Track
Best thing to do in Auckland, impressive landscape and great views.
I'd recommend taking the coastal walkway and make your way back via summit road, lava caves and the summit (in that order) to avoid most of the crowds.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park ▷
The Chasm
Easy walk.
However, it is very busy with tourists and based on the praise the site received in brochures and stuff I expected a lot more from it. Still a nice opportunity to stretch your legs and observe the impressive fjordland nature.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park ▷
Mirror Lakes Walk
This stop was a big let down.
The "walk" is only two minutes long. The lakes are right next to the road, not very peaceful and we've seen a handful of lakes with way more impressive reflections than this one throughout our NZ trip.