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Thomas Burns Street car park will be closed to freedom campers from 6pm, Friday 9 February until 11:30pm, Saturday 10 February 2024 for Chinese New Year celebrations.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Dunedin City CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Overnight Camping Site Cost |
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Overnight Camping Site CostWhat is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? Free Camping It costs nothing to stay overnight. In general this means that you should not expect any facilities. |
Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Self-contained motorhomes only Overnight stays are only permitted if your vehicle is certified as being 'self-contained'. The vehicle must display the "Responsible Camper" sticker. Non self contained camping allowed from 1 November and April 30 each year |
Campsite Managing Organisation |
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Campsite Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this campsite? Local Council This experience is managed by a local council. |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Maximum Stay Duration |
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Maximum Stay DurationHow many consecutive days can you stay overnight at this establishment? 2 nights You may stay up to two nights in a row. |
Maximum Sites Available |
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Maximum Sites AvailableHow many camping or parking sites are available for staying overnight in? More than 20 sites There are more than twenty camping/parking sites available to stay overnight in. |
Water Supply |
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Water SupplyIs there fresh water available? Water supply available A supply of fresh water is available. |
Shower |
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ShowerIs there a shower at this location? No shower No shower is available. |
Dump Station |
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Dump StationDump stations allow the safe disposal of sewage and greywater from self-contained vehicles. Does this site have a dump station? No dump station This location has no dump stations for the disposal of waste water from recreational vehicles. |
Booking Required |
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Booking RequiredIs it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? First Come, First Served Sites are allocated in a first come, first served basis. Get in early for the best spot. |
Powered Sites |
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Powered SitesDoes this establishment have powered sites? No powered sites This campsite does not offer any powered sites with an electricity supply. |
Vehicle Access |
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Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. |
Campfire Rules |
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Campfire RulesWhat are the rules for open air fires? Fires prohibited There is a total fire ban -no fires are permitted. |
Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. Porta Loo |
✓ Central location
✓ Free parking after 6 PM
✓ Close to shops and attractions
✓ Feels safe with other campers
✓ Rubbish bins available
𐄂 Noisy from trains and traffic
𐄂 No water available
Awesome location, and lots of room.
Close to main shopping.
Just to confirm, there's no water :)
Free spot in the city centre!
Great location.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 2 |
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7% |
9/10 | 1 |
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3% |
8/10 | 8 |
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28% |
7/10 | 7 |
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24% |
6/10 | 2 |
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7% |
5/10 | 2 |
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7% |
4/10 | 4 |
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14% |
3/10 | 1 |
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3% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 2 |
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7% |
3.0/5
Good location and did the job for a single night stay.
There was some noise of trains during the night and it was well lit so could disturb sleep. Thankfully we were so tired it didn't bother us. There were a few other campers in the car park which was good as I probably wouldn't have felt safe there alone. The campervan parking area was clearly marked, bins provided and public toilets across the rail bridge but we just used our own during the night
Reviewed 3 months ago
3.0/5
Good central location, but it’s also located next to an active rail station.
Got woken up 3 or so times by trains in the middle of the night and didn’t get much sleep. It’s also very exposed and hard to hide from the wind there too. Free parking after 6 PM and until 8 or 9 the next morning. 8$ to park for the day at the lot.
Reviewed 12 months ago
4.0/5
Basic as it says, car park with clearly marked camper bays.
Was 3 others there when we arrived. Didnt hear much from the trains until the morning.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Close to main shopping.
Toilet is located over the walk bridge near the train station. Rubbish bins to use. No water
Reviewed about 1 year ago
3.5/5
Awesome location, and lots of room.
Is just a parking lot sandwiched between a main road and train tracks, and yes can be noisy, but the location more than makes up for it. Easy walk across the bridge to decent flushing toilets and many Dunedin attractions- the old railway station and settlers museum were great! There were always other campers there, so felt safe as a solo traveller.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
3.5/5
Great location.
Nice and close to city. Very noisy with both cars and trains 7am to about midnight. I wore earplugs.
Reviewed about 2 years ago
4.0/5
Stayed near St Clairs Beach following DCC freedom camping map and was very handy place for the night
Reviewed about 2 years ago
4.5/5
Great spot, 5 min away from the CBD.
Little bit noisy, specially with the train, 30 mts from the railroads. Nice bathrooms and a place to do the dishes and tap of water.
Doc personal checking daily, lots of places to park, more than 20. Nice to cook outside if the wind/rain allows that or just go and grab something in town. No sandflies, jan 2021. Parking prices: whole day $5, from 8 to 18, night is FREE (if you arrive after 18pm) per hour is $2.
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
5.0/5
Good spot extremely close to the city!
There was even a sink and drinking water. A lovely woman from DOC came and informed us that self contained vehicles are allowed to stay ANYWHERE in the city that is council land (not on grass). There was a few small areas she pointed out as not allowed, but we stayed at the Vauxhall yacht club last night which has toilets and a beautiful view across the water at the city. Worth heading into the iSite and asking them for more information :)
Reviewed about 4 years ago
3.5/5
Free spot in the city centre!
A bit noisy but I slept good. Public toilets at 100m crossing the rails using the bridge. Just make sure you park at the campervan designated area and bare in mind that from 8am it’s a day parking and you’ll have to pay.
Reviewed over 4 years ago
5.0/5
Literally just in a car park right next to a railway line, so it’s quite noisy until late.
Only portaloos. Fine for one night.
Reviewed about 4 years ago and experienced in February 2020
3.0/5
Good location and did the job for a single night stay.
There was some noise of trains during the night and it was well lit so could disturb sleep. Thankfully we were so tired it didn't bother us. There were a few other campers in the car park which was good as I probably wouldn't have felt safe there alone. The campervan parking area was clearly marked, bins provided and public toilets across the rail bridge but we just used our own during the night
Reviewed 3 months ago
3.0/5
Good central location, but it’s also located next to an active rail station.
Got woken up 3 or so times by trains in the middle of the night and didn’t get much sleep. It’s also very exposed and hard to hide from the wind there too. Free parking after 6 PM and until 8 or 9 the next morning. 8$ to park for the day at the lot.
Reviewed 12 months ago
4.0/5
Basic as it says, car park with clearly marked camper bays.
Was 3 others there when we arrived. Didnt hear much from the trains until the morning.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Close to main shopping.
Toilet is located over the walk bridge near the train station. Rubbish bins to use. No water
Reviewed about 1 year ago
3.5/5
Awesome location, and lots of room.
Is just a parking lot sandwiched between a main road and train tracks, and yes can be noisy, but the location more than makes up for it. Easy walk across the bridge to decent flushing toilets and many Dunedin attractions- the old railway station and settlers museum were great! There were always other campers there, so felt safe as a solo traveller.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
3.5/5
Great location.
Nice and close to city. Very noisy with both cars and trains 7am to about midnight. I wore earplugs.
Reviewed about 2 years ago
4.0/5
Stayed near St Clairs Beach following DCC freedom camping map and was very handy place for the night
Reviewed about 2 years ago
0.5/5
I didn't see toilets or water and the place is between a busy road and the trains..
Impossible to sleep I o but nice parking spot.
Reviewed over 3 years ago
2.0/5
Great location if that's important, but not for sleeping.
Busy, loud road so be prepared. I'd recommended the extra 20 min drive to Brighton Freedom spot. Had spent a couple of nights there, fantastic spot and great for beach walks.
Reviewed over 3 years ago
2.0/5
Good location but found the traffic too noisy.
If you want a good sleep don’t stay here otherwise alright for 1 night.
Reviewed over 3 years ago
2.0/5
It’s quite noisy, the trains are sounding like construction sites.
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
4.5/5
Great spot, 5 min away from the CBD.
Little bit noisy, specially with the train, 30 mts from the railroads. Nice bathrooms and a place to do the dishes and tap of water.
Doc personal checking daily, lots of places to park, more than 20. Nice to cook outside if the wind/rain allows that or just go and grab something in town. No sandflies, jan 2021. Parking prices: whole day $5, from 8 to 18, night is FREE (if you arrive after 18pm) per hour is $2.
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
5.0/5
Good spot extremely close to the city!
There was even a sink and drinking water. A lovely woman from DOC came and informed us that self contained vehicles are allowed to stay ANYWHERE in the city that is council land (not on grass). There was a few small areas she pointed out as not allowed, but we stayed at the Vauxhall yacht club last night which has toilets and a beautiful view across the water at the city. Worth heading into the iSite and asking them for more information :)
Reviewed about 4 years ago
5.0/5
Literally just in a car park right next to a railway line, so it’s quite noisy until late.
Only portaloos. Fine for one night.
Reviewed about 4 years ago and experienced in February 2020
3.5/5
Free spot in the city centre!
A bit noisy but I slept good. Public toilets at 100m crossing the rails using the bridge. Just make sure you park at the campervan designated area and bare in mind that from 8am it’s a day parking and you’ll have to pay.
Reviewed over 4 years ago
2.5/5
No toilets or water when I visited in July.
Quite noisy being next to the train tracks but can't complain for a free site in the city. There's a public toilet over the railway bridge.
Reviewed over 4 years ago
0.5/5
I would have to disagree with the some of the previous comments...
Don't stay here unless you don't want to sleep. The train runs all night and the busy road is noisy with trucks until late and starting early morning... We were stoked to find somewhere central for free so we could get out into town for a few drinks, but realise it's a total slap in the face, nothing like the free parking area by the water at home in Whangarei. Thanks Dunedin...
Reviewed over 4 years ago
4.0/5
It's was the first time for us that we stay on a car park.
The place are okay but it is busy and you stand to each other. But... You are nearly in the beautiful center of Dunedin. Toilets are okay and it's a little bit noisy from the way next the car park. We liked it and a tip to do in Dunedin,
Look for the street art in the place, it was great!
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
3.5/5
Perfect central location for one night.
Free! Limited spots but we got there early and were travelling in the shoulder season. Small amount of traffic noise but it didn’t worry us. Toilets across the rail bridge but we didn’t need them. Felt safe. Went to a lovely farmers market the next morning just over the bridge!
Reviewed about 5 years ago
4.0/5
Located on car park between main road and rails.
But hey you should know that before.
Was clean, toilets and sink available.
Good spot for exploring the city.
Close to most Touristik spots.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
4.0/5
good place close to city Center, but not realy for free (you have to pay 5$ if you arrive before 6pm).
special atmosphere and not as loud as you think.
Reviewed over 5 years ago and experienced in January 2019
3.5/5
Other reviews pretty spot on: a car park so clearly cars side by side and yes near the train station but with good ear plugs and a grin you can’t complain!
Toilets fine , bins, and area to wash up with drinking water. Fantastic central location. You have to start paying from 8am but it’s cheap-$5 dollars I think for the day
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
2.5/5
Between road and railway station; drop toilets (but clean public toilets on the other site of the railway station via stairs/bridge) - so camping only okay if it's too late for driving to another campsite
outside of the city.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
4.0/5
Now there are four toilets (portaloos) and an outside tap for water.
The carpark location is perfect exploring the city because it is just behind the railway station. You have to pay fee until 6 p.m. do that because the space is patrolled, after 6 p.m it gets busy and hard to find a free spot. I did not find it too noisy. Two trains before 10 p.m. and the traffic will start in the morning 5 a.m. So overall I would recommend it, you get what you „pay for“.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
3.5/5
Really well located in the city centre, plenty of spaces for non self contained as well.
Toilets are fine (chemical ones) and there is water. And it's for free, so it's pretty good! Some noiso, yes, but nothing unbearable.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
4.0/5
It's just a carpark next to a train station but there were loads of other campers so it felt quite safe.
We stayed between Christmas and new year and there was only 1 train passing around 6am. There are portable toilets and a sink, and some people from council came around to tell us the rules and show us other free campsites nearby. All in all a great place to stay for free and a 5 min walk from the centre of town.
Note that for any day other than Sunday it becomes a paid carpark at 8am so you'll need to either be on the road or start paying for parking then.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
2.0/5
Good things: -really close to center -2 toilets and sink with running water BUT it’s beween the street and the railwaystation Ear plugs will do for the noise but the whole campervan is vibrating
everytime a train passes...
Reviewed almost 6 years ago