46 Rankers Reviews
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Save 10%- Certified Self Contained vehicles only
- Toilet - non flush
- Picnic table
- 3 night maximum stay
- No fires
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
MacKenzie District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Lake Tekapo |
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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. |
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? 3 nights You can only stay at this campsite for up to 3 nights in a row. |
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. |
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. Non flush toilet available |
Welcome to New Zealand's most comprehensive database of freely available camping information. This is the only travel map of its kind in NZ.
✓ Free campsite
✓ Close to Lake Tekapo
✓ Clean toilet facilities
✓ Plenty of space
✓ Great stargazing
𐄂 Close to main road
𐄂 No water available
Lovely spot for stargazing!
A good free place to stay close to Lake Tekapo.
Easy to find by the road.
A great free camping spot.
Perfect spot to spend the night.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 5 |
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11% |
9/10 | 9 |
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20% |
8/10 | 17 |
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37% |
7/10 | 11 |
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24% |
6/10 | 4 |
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9% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3.0/5
Good campsite on the way to Takapo.
Right off the main road, so a bit of noise but got to sleep no trouble. No thrills campsite, gets busier as night goes on. Only one toilet so a poo queue forms in the morning, nice clean toilet though.
Reviewed 12 days ago
5.0/5
the holiday campground fully booked.
One of the larger capacity free campgrounds we were surprised
to find space at 8pm in a busy expensive town with
Plus a nice wide open view to the sunset.
Reviewed 23 days ago
4.0/5
A good free place to stay close to Lake Tekapo.
It represents a gravel parking next to the main road with a lot of space for campers and vans. There is one drop toilet and no water.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
4.0/5
Petit camping sympa facile à trouver car c’est sur la route de Tekapo Village, à 7 minutes précisément en voiture.
Au bord de la route avec des toilettes sèches. Les personnes arrivent vers 18h à peu près.
Reviewed 3 months ago
3.5/5
A lot of spots near Lake Tekapo (5 min driving).
2 long drop toilets. No shower. Picnic tables
It's ok for one or two nights
Reviewed 4 months ago
3.5/5
This was ok for a night, got a bit windy.
Toilet was clean. Just what you expect from a freedom campsite.
Reviewed 4 months ago
4.5/5
Stellplatz direkt an der Autobahn und trotzdem relativ ruhig.
Man ist innerhalb von 10 min am Lake takepo.
Reviewed 4 months ago
3.5/5
Nice little spot, only 1 drop toilet which was clean but smelt a bit, had toilet paper but no wash basin, beautiful views and plenty of room
Reviewed 5 months ago
4.0/5
A pretty little spot not too far from the lake.
It filled up very quickly on dusk.
Reviewed 5 months ago
4.0/5
Good, free spot near Tekapo and Roundhill ski field.
Quite a few vans staying. Lots of space. Roundhill was once again amazing.
Reviewed 5 months ago
3.0/5
Good location near to Tekapo.
Close to the road but not too noisy
Reviewed about 1 year ago and experienced in November 2023
3.0/5
Good campsite on the way to Takapo.
Right off the main road, so a bit of noise but got to sleep no trouble. No thrills campsite, gets busier as night goes on. Only one toilet so a poo queue forms in the morning, nice clean toilet though.
Reviewed 12 days ago
5.0/5
the holiday campground fully booked.
One of the larger capacity free campgrounds we were surprised
to find space at 8pm in a busy expensive town with
Plus a nice wide open view to the sunset.
Reviewed 23 days ago
4.0/5
A good free place to stay close to Lake Tekapo.
It represents a gravel parking next to the main road with a lot of space for campers and vans. There is one drop toilet and no water.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
4.0/5
Petit camping sympa facile à trouver car c’est sur la route de Tekapo Village, à 7 minutes précisément en voiture.
Au bord de la route avec des toilettes sèches. Les personnes arrivent vers 18h à peu près.
Reviewed 3 months ago
3.5/5
A lot of spots near Lake Tekapo (5 min driving).
2 long drop toilets. No shower. Picnic tables
It's ok for one or two nights
Reviewed 4 months ago
3.5/5
This was ok for a night, got a bit windy.
Toilet was clean. Just what you expect from a freedom campsite.
Reviewed 4 months ago
4.5/5
Stellplatz direkt an der Autobahn und trotzdem relativ ruhig.
Man ist innerhalb von 10 min am Lake takepo.
Reviewed 4 months ago
4.0/5
Good, free spot near Tekapo and Roundhill ski field.
Quite a few vans staying. Lots of space. Roundhill was once again amazing.
Reviewed 5 months ago
3.5/5
Nice little spot, only 1 drop toilet which was clean but smelt a bit, had toilet paper but no wash basin, beautiful views and plenty of room
Reviewed 5 months ago
4.0/5
A pretty little spot not too far from the lake.
It filled up very quickly on dusk.
Reviewed 5 months ago
4.0/5
Great basic freedom camping site, close to Tekapo.
Long drop toilet was clean, with plenty of toilet paper and hand sanitiser. Bring a head torch as there are no lights
Reviewed 10 months ago
4.0/5
Easy to find by the road.
Clean dry-toilets. No water. Pretty quiet and nice views but a little windy.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
3.5/5
Pretty basic but does the job, and nice and close to Lake Tekapo so you can get there early morning before all the tour buses arrive.
Toilet is a long drop with some hand sanitiser, and there’s a bench, and that’s about it for facilities. Inspector came round in the morning but as long as you’re self contained it’s not a problem. Some road noise but bearable
Reviewed about 1 year ago
3.0/5
Good location near to Tekapo.
Close to the road but not too noisy
Reviewed about 1 year ago and experienced in November 2023
4.0/5
Difficile de trouver un emplacement pratique à notre arrivée Toilettes proches et propres
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.5/5
Plenty of space, just off the main road so occasional traffic noise but not a big issue.
The toilet was fine. We say an inspector there in the morning but if your self contained it’s not a problem. No walkable activities from this site so best for a stop over I’d say.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.5/5
Nice spot that's just a few mins down the road from Lake Tekapo.
Toilets were fine and there's a good amount of space for a dozen or so campervans. Despite being right off the main road, it wasn't too loud, although I did get there very late and leave early in the morning. And since this is a little outside the town but still within the dark sky reserve, it's brilliant for stargazing!
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
4.0/5
Nice flat spot just a 5 minute drive outside of Tekapo.
Incredible view of the stars on a clear night. Only facilities were a long drop toilet, which were clean. Decent amount of space when we visited in late March. Fairly close to the road but noise didn’t disturb at any point.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
4.0/5
A great free camping spot.
Only a short drive to the town in Lake Tekapo. It is just off the main road but we didn’t find noise to be a problem. The stars on a clear night are absolutely incredible.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
3.0/5
Convenient for overnight campervans...
Beside the road, not to noisy.. not somewhere to hang out.
Free, has 1 toilet, no water.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
5.0/5
Perfect spot to spend the night.
Has a little bathroom. Clean and well maintained!
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
4.5/5
It was really good and very close to Lake Tekapo.
The only thing we could complain is that it is an exposed area and the wind was very strong that night. Otherwise it was great and the toilet was good!
Reviewed almost 2 years ago and experienced in September 2022
4.0/5
Lovely spot for stargazing!
It is close to the road, so you can hear the traffic driving by. We didn't bother though and slept well. The toilet is a drop-toilet, but is very clean. When we were there, it was very windy. We don't know if it's always like that. Would recommend it, especially if you want to see the lovely stars.
Reviewed about 2 years ago
4.0/5
A bit out of town, right next to main road.
Lots of room. Quiet once the local farmer stopped working and driving his tractors in the paddock.
Reviewed about 2 years ago
4.0/5
Nice free campsite!!!
The toilet is very clean and when you are going to stand on the left (behind some trees), there is not much wind. We went to campsite Gregory and Alexandra as well, but this one is way better (and free!). It also has one sheltered spot (a picknickbench with a hut).
Reviewed over 2 years ago
4.5/5
We were here late April and it was extremely cold even with a gas heater.
However the sunset was stunning as were the mountain views and the surrounding trees had autumn colours. So if you are geared up for colder weather well worth it.
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
5.0/5
Awesome spot.
Clean long drop toilet. Heaps of space. Nice views opposite the road. Next to a little creek. Was a couple of overnighters with us. Have to take rubbish with you but all in all a great experience. You get the odd truck rolling by at night but didn’t bother us at all. Would come back again.
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
3.5/5
Wanted to check out Tekapo the next day otherwise would probably have skipped this spot and headed for the much more scenic Lake Pukaki.
There was plenty of space and a good toilet however a bit short on ambience and shelter. Camping 'ambassador' drove around in the evening obviously checking compliance.
Reviewed about 3 years ago
4.0/5
Good size spot, close to Lake Tekapo (6min drive).
Nice scenery surrounded by mountains. Clean toilet (long drop). Two picnic tables, one with covering. Close to the road so expect road noise.
Reviewed over 3 years ago