South End Railway Station Carpark, Kaikoura
Overnight Campervan Parking
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South End Railway Station Carpark, Kaikoura
- Camping for free in a certified self-contained vehicle is allowed for a maximum of 1 night in
any four week period.
- Vehicles must park within defined spaces.
- One vehicle per space.
- All personal effects must be kept within the vehicle.
- Marked spaces only.
- Maximum 6 vehicles.
- Maximum vehicle length 5 metres.
- Normal parking rules apply 8.30am – 5.30pm.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Kaikoura District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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4.5/5
Lovely beautiful spot!
Right in front of the beach. Toilets are around 2-3min away. They do check if you comply with Kaikōuras camping rules (which are different than the rest of NZ) but the guy checking was very nice and lovely. The place is very close to the centre of town as well. Definitely recommend.
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4.5/5
Stayed for one night (which is the max).
There are 6 bays and you must park between the signs. The sign also states that you must have a self-contained certificate and the rules are different in Kaikoura.
Car park is right on the beach. The town is small and the car park is one end of it, West End car park is the other end. The toilets are located on the in the West End car park - about a 5 min walk along the beach path to get to the toilets - pretty sure they are 24 hr. Clean enough. South End Railway car park is definitely a better place to camp because you park right up to the beach and good views for sunrise. West end car park does not have a view but closer to the toilets.
Town has a few bars and restaurants, convenient place to camp. Had fish and chips on the beach.
We parked there about 5pm and there was one other space. Later, about 9pm, a car left a space and it freed up another spot. So you may get lucky if arriving later on.
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3.0/5
Beautiful spot right on the beach, however it fills up quickly and they are quite strict with the rules here.
An officer came to check self-contained certificates and toilets (must be easily accessible at all times, even when the bed is made and offer enough head and legroom to actually sit on the toilet 😅).
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0.5/5
Nice spot but you don't feel welcome at all : toilet must be out of the van for some reason.
They say they can wake you up during the night to check (not in the morning because you must be out at 7am, again God knows why), and one night maximum. Why would you put park spaces for campers if you don't want them at all in your city?
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4.0/5
Only 6 parks so need to get early.
We turned up at 730pm in June and got the last spot and quite a few people turned up after us. Need to be gone by 7am. It’s next to train tracks and we had two trains go through during the night but quiet otherwise.
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4.0/5
Beautiful spot right on the beach.
Toilets about 3-5min walk. Must be out by 7am (just in time to catch sunrise).
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5.0/5
Lovely little freedom camping spot right on the seaside!
No privacy but that's expected for something like this (it's literally just a carpark). Town centre with some nice restaurants, shops, and clean public toilets is just a couple mins walk away. And the views in all directions are spectacular! Make sure you wake up at least half an hour before sunrise for the best experience.
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4.0/5
A lively spot, level parking right by the beach, on the right as you drive into the car park.
Walking distance to town centre and very close to the whale watching trip centre. Quiet at night. 1 night only, up and gone early.
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4.5/5
Amazing spot!
You park in front of the sea and the mountains. 6 spaces are available. A walk of ~3-5min to go to clean public toilets. You can wake up with the sounds of the waves and watch the sunrise!
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5.0/5
Stayed here the night, absolutely gorgeous spot right on the beach.
Only a short ~3 minute walk to public toilets/town. Super peaceful, sign posted says you are to leave by 7am. We left at 8:30 and ran into no trouble (maybe because it isn’t peak season)
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5.0/5
Great place to stay overnight.
Only 6 spots and have to vacate by 7am. All spots overlook the beach so you can enjoy the beautiful sunrises!!
Would 100% recommend!!
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4.5/5
Great spot with a spectacular view.
Toilets are a short walk away.
2 minute walk into town.
You have to be out by 7 but free parking in town until 8:30 so gives you a bit of grace to get sorted for the day.
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4.5/5
Lovely beautiful spot!
Right in front of the beach. Toilets are around 2-3min away. They do check if you comply with Kaikōuras camping rules (which are different than the rest of NZ) but the guy checking was very nice and lovely. The place is very close to the centre of town as well. Definitely recommend.
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4.5/5
Stayed for one night (which is the max).
There are 6 bays and you must park between the signs. The sign also states that you must have a self-contained certificate and the rules are different in Kaikoura.
Car park is right on the beach. The town is small and the car park is one end of it, West End car park is the other end. The toilets are located on the in the West End car park - about a 5 min walk along the beach path to get to the toilets - pretty sure they are 24 hr. Clean enough. South End Railway car park is definitely a better place to camp because you park right up to the beach and good views for sunrise. West end car park does not have a view but closer to the toilets.
Town has a few bars and restaurants, convenient place to camp. Had fish and chips on the beach.
We parked there about 5pm and there was one other space. Later, about 9pm, a car left a space and it freed up another spot. So you may get lucky if arriving later on.
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3.0/5
Beautiful spot right on the beach, however it fills up quickly and they are quite strict with the rules here.
An officer came to check self-contained certificates and toilets (must be easily accessible at all times, even when the bed is made and offer enough head and legroom to actually sit on the toilet 😅).
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0.5/5
Nice spot but you don't feel welcome at all : toilet must be out of the van for some reason.
They say they can wake you up during the night to check (not in the morning because you must be out at 7am, again God knows why), and one night maximum. Why would you put park spaces for campers if you don't want them at all in your city?
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4.0/5
Only 6 parks so need to get early.
We turned up at 730pm in June and got the last spot and quite a few people turned up after us. Need to be gone by 7am. It’s next to train tracks and we had two trains go through during the night but quiet otherwise.
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4.0/5
Beautiful spot right on the beach.
Toilets about 3-5min walk. Must be out by 7am (just in time to catch sunrise).
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5.0/5
Lovely little freedom camping spot right on the seaside!
No privacy but that's expected for something like this (it's literally just a carpark). Town centre with some nice restaurants, shops, and clean public toilets is just a couple mins walk away. And the views in all directions are spectacular! Make sure you wake up at least half an hour before sunrise for the best experience.
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4.0/5
A lively spot, level parking right by the beach, on the right as you drive into the car park.
Walking distance to town centre and very close to the whale watching trip centre. Quiet at night. 1 night only, up and gone early.
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4.5/5
Amazing spot!
You park in front of the sea and the mountains. 6 spaces are available. A walk of ~3-5min to go to clean public toilets. You can wake up with the sounds of the waves and watch the sunrise!
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5.0/5
Stayed here the night, absolutely gorgeous spot right on the beach.
Only a short ~3 minute walk to public toilets/town. Super peaceful, sign posted says you are to leave by 7am. We left at 8:30 and ran into no trouble (maybe because it isn’t peak season)
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5.0/5
Great place to stay overnight.
Only 6 spots and have to vacate by 7am. All spots overlook the beach so you can enjoy the beautiful sunrises!!
Would 100% recommend!!
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4.5/5
Great spot with a spectacular view.
Toilets are a short walk away.
2 minute walk into town.
You have to be out by 7 but free parking in town until 8:30 so gives you a bit of grace to get sorted for the day.
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4.5/5
Great little spot - what all the other reviewers say is true: big views, toilets a short walk away and fills up quickly!!
When we arrived we had a council lady come round and give us the Freedom Camping info - super friendly. Only downside is you must vacate your spot by 7am!
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4.5/5
Really amazing spot right on the beach and so close to all the shops/restaurants in the centre of the town.
The toilet is a bit of a walk but the view is worth it. You have to move by 7am which I do think is a bit short sighted as nothing opens until gone 9am so not really an opportunity to support local businesses unless you want to wait around a few hours for things to open.
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5.0/5
Park your campervan right in Front of the beach with a beautiful view.
Not much space, so make sure you arrive no later than 5pm. You need to leave before 7am next day or the officer knocks on your door.
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5.0/5
Great spot right on the beach.
Little bit of a walk to the bathroom but a small price to pay for waking up to a sea view.
Credit the the local council for making this available.
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5.0/5
One of our favourite freedom camping spots in the South Island.
Right by the pebble beach with wonderful views of sea, mountains and sunset. It was only a few minutes walk to the public toilets (at the other carpark) and the town shops. There was a bit of noise from the trains in the morning but overall a very good spot
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5.0/5
We set our camper on the edge of a pebble beach with gorgeous views of the mountains.
Watched the sun set behind the mountains and woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the water. By far the best spot in this area! Would highly recommended!