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With over two hectares available, guests can choose a spacious site with bay and/or native forest views.
With over two hectares available, guests can choose a spacious site Many sites are quite private in a bush setting while some sites are elevated with sea views.
Stand alone cabins complete with decks offer a double and single bed with all bedding together with a small fridge and tea and coffee making facilities.
Our quality New Zealand made canvas tipi overlooks Orongo Bay. The height and space when you are inside the tipi is quite an experience – more substantial and spacious than a traditional tent!
Our spacious Lodge rooms with kitchens accommodate up to four guests and are excellent value.
Lodge rooms without kitchens accommodate up to six guests. All rooms contain a fridge and a table and chairs.
Stand alone and self contained with indoor/outdoor living in a private bush setting with loads of birdlife.
Stand alone, private and self contained. Good sized deck with views over Orongo Bay and private courtyard with BBQ and enclosed by low gates – ideal for small children.
A stand alone timber building with a large deck and BBQ overlooking Orongo Bay in a private setting – ideal for couples.
Sleeps 4. Enjoy our relaxed and picturesque holiday park without needing to bring your tent and bedding.
Sleeps up to 7. Three bedrooms, open plan living with a good sized deck with BBQ and outdoor seating to enjoy wide Bay views.
Sleeps 3. If you love the restorative feeling from communing with nature and making the most of starry nights, try hassle free camping in a ready assembled tent overlooking the Bay.
Sleeps 2. If you love the restorative feeling from communing with nature and making the most of starry nights, try hassle free camping in a ready assembled tent overlooking the Bay.
Located within the Lodge this self contained Tourist Flat offers open plan living for a group of friends or large family.
Welcome to New Zealand's most comprehensive database of freely available camping information. This is the only travel map of its kind in NZ.
When you stay with us, you’ll be immersed in a natural playground, see rare North Island weka and pateke roam free around the park and you may even have the chance to see brown kiwi in the surrounding native bush.
Wake up to the sound of native birds, hear the call of the kiwi at night as you gaze at the star filled sky or sit around the camp fire. It’s the perfect setting to make memories as nature intended!
You’ll have the best of both worlds when you stay with us. We’re set amongst 14 acres of native New Zealand bush and only minutes away from the centre of Russell and Oneroa Bay one of the many gorgeous beaches.
We are the perfect location for families, large groups or couples to have a relaxing and fun filled holiday with affordable accommodation to suit any budget.
We have a range of self-contained options including a cottage, holiday house, bungalows and bay view cabins, ranging from studio up to 3 bedroom. Many with their own private deck to relax and watch the wildlife go by or the magical sunsets over Orongo Bay. The tipi and sites for tents, caravans and campervans are all set amongst our gorgeous native bush setting. Our cabins are a great budget option making use of the shared facilities. The lodge is fully equipped to accommodate large groups of over 60 people with purpose built kitchen, dining and lounge areas.
We have everything you need for a hassle-free holiday including a swimming pool, wood fired pizza oven, campfire and our very own kiwi trail through native bush - if you’re lucky you may even see a kiwi! And there is complimentary parking for all guests.
Take the short 5min drive to discover the stories, history and heritage of Russell, a romantic and charming town and the first capital of New Zealand.
There are so many fantastic things to see and do in the area including cycling, fishing, walking, dining, golden beaches and historic sites, all only a few minutes drive from the park. Our location provides a central base to explore the stunning Bay of Islands. Make the most of our complimentary tours and activities booking service onsite with our friendly, knowledgeable staff.
Book with us and a portion of what you pay will support our efforts to save endangered wildlife and ecosystems within our predator free holiday park.
When you are here you can’t help but take in the sights and sounds of nature and the abundant wildlife making a stay with us a truly unique experience.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
RussellCommercial organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Russell |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
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Websites |
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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? Medium Cost Camping Standard facilities of powered sites and hot showers can be expected. Price is per person per night, based on a powered site for two people. Non Powered Sites from $36 per night for 2 people, Powered sites from $40 per night for 2 people. |
Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Camping and any vehicle You are permitted to stay overnight and camp (with a tent) or in any vehicle. |
Campsite Managing Organisation |
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Campsite Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this campsite? Owner Operated Campsite This campground is independently operated by the owner. |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Paid access/participation The experience costs money to access or take part in. |
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? Dump station available There is a dump station available at this location for the safe emptying and 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. It is always better to book to ensure availability and booking is required throughout December-February |
Powered Sites |
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Powered SitesDoes this establishment have powered sites? Powered sites available This campsite offers powered sites to hook into an electricity supply. |
Large Vehicle Access |
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Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. |
Cabins |
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CabinsDoes this holiday park have a cabin (no kitchen or en suite)? Cabins available This location offers cabins for rental accommodation. |
Cabin with Kitchen |
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Cabin with KitchenDoes this holiday park have cabins with a kitchen? Cabins with kitchen available This location offers cabins with a kitchen for rental accommodation. |
En Suite Units |
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En Suite UnitsDoes this holiday park have units with an en suite? En-suite units available This location offers en-suite units for rental accommodation. |
Self Contained Units |
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Self Contained UnitsDoes this holiday park have self contained units? Self-contained units available This location offers self-contained units for rental accommodation. |
On Site Caravans |
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On Site CaravansDoes this holiday park offer on-site caravans as accommodation? No on-site caravans This location does not offer on-site caravans for rental accommodation. But we offer a traditional styled Tipi |
Non-powered Sites |
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Non-powered SitesDoes this holiday park offer non-powered sites? Non-powered sites available This site offers non-powered camp sites. |
Dogs |
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DogsDoes this establishment allow dogs? Dogs allowed The location allows dogs. There may be conditions that may be met eg. dogs must be on a leash. Pets welcome by prior arrangement. |
Conference Facilities |
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Conference FacilitiesDoes this establishment offer conference facilities? No conference facilities This establishment does not offer conference facilities. |
Vehicle Access |
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Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. |
WiFi Internet |
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WiFi InternetWhat type of WiFi internet access is available? Paid WiFi There is WiFi internet access available but it costs money to use. |
Campfire Rules |
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Campfire RulesWhat are the rules for open air fires? Fires permitted (in designated sites) Open air fires are allowed only in the provided fireplaces. Open air fires are not allowed if a total fire ban is currently in place. We have a designated camp fire area with wood provided, bush kitchen and seating. |
Local Ownership |
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Local OwnershipHow locally owned and operated is this business? Locally owned and operated A small company with one (or maybe a few) places of business. |
Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Customer toilet There are toilet facilities available to the paying customers only. |
Rubbish Disposal |
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Rubbish DisposalWhat facilities are provided for the disposal of household rubbish? Trash (large bags) This location provides the facility to dispose of large bags of household rubbish. Mixed Recycling (plastic, cans, glass) This location provides the facility to dispose of recyclable household items. Generally this includes small plastic, glass and metal items. Glass Recycling This location provides the facility to dispose of recyclable glass items. Paper Recycling (paper, card) This location provides the facility to dispose of recyclable paper and cardboard items. Compost (organic waste) This location provides the facility to dispose of biodegradable household rubbish so that it can be composted and recycled as organic compost. Generally this includes kitchen scraps such as vegetables, fruits and meats. |
✓ Friendly and welcoming staff
✓ Opportunity to hear kiwis
✓ Fire pit adds charm
✓ Proximity to nature
✓ Family-friendly environment
𐄂 Poorly maintained facilities
𐄂 Unreliable hot showers
Lovely stay.
Nice campsite, close to Russell.
Classic campground, quiet when we were there.
Very nice place.
A pleasant park.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 29 |
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45% |
9/10 | 17 |
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27% |
8/10 | 10 |
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16% |
7/10 | 1 |
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2% |
6/10 | 1 |
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2% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 2 |
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3% |
3/10 | 1 |
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2% |
2/10 | 1 |
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2% |
1/10 | 2 |
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3% |
2.0/5
Not worth the money - best avoided!
We stayed here to treat ourselves to a little bit of (relative!) luxury as we travel in our camper - hot shower, wifi and to do some washing was our aim. And I’m sad to say it was far from it! Arrived to hear from reception that pool wasn’t working (no mention of this when we booked the night before!) and that washing machines only took $2 coins, of which there were none on the site so it meant a trip back into Russell to find change. Maybe this was our oversight but surely campsite tokens would solve this. Facilities are very basic and you only get a small amount of wifi before you have to pay, a real shame. And then to top it all off, when I went to have a shower I put my $2 coin in to find that there was no hot water and I’d just paid for a cold shower. Overall not what we’d hoped, and maybe $48 a night might seem like good value but when you add on all the extra costs, this was a big spend for us to leave disappointed. The only silver lining was that were able to hear kiwis in the night.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Customer
5.0/5
Lovely stay.
We had the great fortune of meeting James (the owner) who was on site staying directly across from us, and he and his family made us feel very welcome. The fire pit was awesome - we scavenged for wood in the forrest and enjoyed a few beers by the fire. And then fell asleep to the beautiful sound of kiwis. Will definitely come back again.
Reviewed over 2 years ago
Customer
0.5/5
Warm reception but poorly maintained campsite.
BBQ's not suitable for use, shower drains blocked, just an overall poor experience after camping at a DOC site.
Reviewed 10 months ago
Customer
1.5/5
Having stayed in Paihia many times we decided to try Russell for an overnight stop on Queens birthday weekend.
Although a friendly and helpful welcome was received the rest of the site was a huge let down at $61! The facilites are tired and poorly maintained with the womens showers alternating between low pressure cold and high pressure scalding hot meaning a quick dash in and out of the water while the shower curtain wrapped itself around your legs. The grass sites became very muddy during rain with no nearby pathways connecting to the facility blocks. Overall compared to Paihia Top 10 at $40 a night, this was very disappointing.
Reviewed over 2 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
It was so welcoming and such am awesome place for kids and families.
Staff were on point except it says coffee and that was suppose to be available but wasn't, that is my only complaint.
Reviewed about 4 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
I would highly recommend this campsite and cannot wait to return!
Had the best time here and was actually sad to leave. The owners James and Tori are the loveliest couple you will ever meet with a beautiful family! Great swimming pool to relax in and the facilities are spot on! Great kitchen full of utensils and even has a pizza oven and fish smokery. The showers were good strength and hot. Thanks for the great stay!
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
$19pp for unpowered site in May.
Friendly staff - amazing location.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
Customer
4.5/5
The staff were very friendly and helpful.
Clean showers and bathrooms and the kitchens had everything we needed. We were lucky to be there during the kiwi mating season so they were very active. You could go out around midnight and take a stroll in their territory.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Nothing to complain.
Great area, great KIWI WALKS, many birds, good facilities.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
Customer
4.0/5
Nice campsite, close to Russell.
Facilities are somewhat older, but the showers are nice and hot. Lovely owners who helpt us a great deal when we need to go to the hospital!
Reviewed over 5 years ago and experienced in November 2018
Customer
0.5/5
Warm reception but poorly maintained campsite.
BBQ's not suitable for use, shower drains blocked, just an overall poor experience after camping at a DOC site.
Reviewed 10 months ago
Customer
2.0/5
Not worth the money - best avoided!
We stayed here to treat ourselves to a little bit of (relative!) luxury as we travel in our camper - hot shower, wifi and to do some washing was our aim. And I’m sad to say it was far from it! Arrived to hear from reception that pool wasn’t working (no mention of this when we booked the night before!) and that washing machines only took $2 coins, of which there were none on the site so it meant a trip back into Russell to find change. Maybe this was our oversight but surely campsite tokens would solve this. Facilities are very basic and you only get a small amount of wifi before you have to pay, a real shame. And then to top it all off, when I went to have a shower I put my $2 coin in to find that there was no hot water and I’d just paid for a cold shower. Overall not what we’d hoped, and maybe $48 a night might seem like good value but when you add on all the extra costs, this was a big spend for us to leave disappointed. The only silver lining was that were able to hear kiwis in the night.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
Customer
1.5/5
Having stayed in Paihia many times we decided to try Russell for an overnight stop on Queens birthday weekend.
Although a friendly and helpful welcome was received the rest of the site was a huge let down at $61! The facilites are tired and poorly maintained with the womens showers alternating between low pressure cold and high pressure scalding hot meaning a quick dash in and out of the water while the shower curtain wrapped itself around your legs. The grass sites became very muddy during rain with no nearby pathways connecting to the facility blocks. Overall compared to Paihia Top 10 at $40 a night, this was very disappointing.
Reviewed over 2 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Lovely stay.
We had the great fortune of meeting James (the owner) who was on site staying directly across from us, and he and his family made us feel very welcome. The fire pit was awesome - we scavenged for wood in the forrest and enjoyed a few beers by the fire. And then fell asleep to the beautiful sound of kiwis. Will definitely come back again.
Reviewed over 2 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
It was so welcoming and such am awesome place for kids and families.
Staff were on point except it says coffee and that was suppose to be available but wasn't, that is my only complaint.
Reviewed about 4 years ago
Customer
1.0/5
52 for one person - and not even a cold shower is included.
Definitely the worst camping I did so far. And not worth the money at all.
Reviewed over 4 years ago
Customer
Hi Jennifer, we do have single person special pricing available so we apologise if you were charged for 2 people - booking online automatically does this. If you had raised it during your stay we would have been more than happy to refund you to a single person rate. We are sorry you didn't enjoy your stay. We have nice hot showers but we do limit water take by charging for shower times at peak periods as we are on tank water that is naturally sourced from a waterfall and we are subject to council water take limits so we want to make sure there is enough hot water to go around. Off peak times we offer free hot showers wherever possible. We wish you all the best.
Tori Burns
Representative
5.0/5
I would highly recommend this campsite and cannot wait to return!
Had the best time here and was actually sad to leave. The owners James and Tori are the loveliest couple you will ever meet with a beautiful family! Great swimming pool to relax in and the facilities are spot on! Great kitchen full of utensils and even has a pizza oven and fish smokery. The showers were good strength and hot. Thanks for the great stay!
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
$19pp for unpowered site in May.
Friendly staff - amazing location.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
Customer
4.5/5
The staff were very friendly and helpful.
Clean showers and bathrooms and the kitchens had everything we needed. We were lucky to be there during the kiwi mating season so they were very active. You could go out around midnight and take a stroll in their territory.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
Customer
4.0/5
Nice campsite, close to Russell.
Facilities are somewhat older, but the showers are nice and hot. Lovely owners who helpt us a great deal when we need to go to the hospital!
Reviewed over 5 years ago and experienced in November 2018
Customer
2.0/5
It would be a nice place, but way to expensive.
If i have to pay 55$ for a site with power and then an extra 2$ for shower and extra for wifi that's to much.
Wouldn't come again.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Nothing to complain.
Great area, great KIWI WALKS, many birds, good facilities.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Our Playcentre was in need of a family friendly getaway.
We all booked accommodation to best suit our individual needs and enjoyed meeting at the communal spots throughout our 3 day visit. We did campfires complete with Maori songs, stories, and of course marshmellow roasting, we built a whare, went for a kiwi walk, playground, swimming and the kids explored bush making huts of their own. We had such a lot of fun, this is now to become an annual tradition! See you next year Orongo Bay!!
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Stayed at Orongo a few weekends back, the new owners are lovely and friendly, and the cabin I stayed in was warm and cmfortable.
The setting is lovely and is perfect for families. A few minutes from town and they are also eco friendly, recycling and composting facilities available! Will be back
Reviewed over 6 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Beautiful campsite, including pool, BBQ area and good, very clean facilities.
Staff are welcoming and friendly! Also they will tell you about good spots for possible kiwi and Weka encounters. Very close driving distance to Russell. So no problem if you are booked on an early boat trip from Russell. All in all great holiday park- we would definitely stay here once again.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
Customer
4.0/5
Classic campground, quiet when we were there.
Older facilities but free hot showers. Friendly office staff too. Very close to Russell, 5min drive. Can hear kiwis on a clear night if you’re nearer the back of the campground.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
Customer
4.0/5
Nice camping but a bit expensive for the winter season ($40,- powered campsite, two adults).
Part of the toilets and showers were closed due to the season. No free wifi. Kitchen is very basic.
Reviewed about 7 years ago
Customer
Thanks for your review Leonie, we hope you enjoyed your time in Russell and the Bay of Islands. We are competitively priced and pride ourselves on being the best value Holiday Park in Russell. During winter months we close one of our amenity blocks in order to reduce water usage and waste and manage energy efficiency which minimises our impact on the environment. Whilst we don't offer free WiFi it is available from as little as $2 per day. The kitchen has fridge-freezers, oven, microwave, toasters and kettles. Kitchenware is available to hire for a small charge. We appreciate your feedback and taking the time to review. Kind Regards, The Team, Russell-Orongo Bay Holiday Park
Tori Burns
Representative
5.0/5
My family and I stayed here for a few days and it was a welcome change to the more manufactured parks such as top 10.
Great space and wonderful amenities in a lovely location. What's more you got the feeling that the owners actually cared about the place and their guests - pure NZ!
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
Customer
Thank you for your review. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay at our unique and special Park. We offer spacious sites, a wood fired pizza oven and camp fire, native bush walks and the opportunity to interact with rare bird life, including kiwi and North Island weka, in their natural environment, so we agree that we are not your average Holiday Park! We hope to see you again soon Mike! Kind Regards, The Team, Russell-Orongo Bay Holiday Park
Tori Burns
Representative
5.0/5
The name 'holiday park' at first put us off but after reading the reviews decided to try it as freedom camping in the area is not easy.
Well what an amazing site, quiet and relaxed, well OK apart from bird noise. Great site, nice pitches when we stayed it was just after the bank holiday and the place was empty. Great location ideal for sea kayaking, Russell has a bar with live music.
Reviewed over 7 years ago
Customer
Thank you for the great feedback Andy. We're glad that you enjoyed the quiet and restorative setting and hope you left us feeling rested and revived. Over 55 species of birds make the Park their home and we agree the Park can come alive with their calls! It's great to see that you made the most of your time here, we are a great base for exploring all that is on offer in the Bay of Islands. Kind Regards, The Team at Russell- Orongo Bay Holiday Park
Tori Burns
Representative
4.5/5
I love staying in places where the owners are passionate about what they're doing, and about looking after the landscape that surrounds them.
That is exactly what Russell-Orongo Bay Holiday Park is. Travelling through New Zealand as a sole female traveller, the owner, Angela, couldn't have made me feel more welcome or looked after. Aside from being a fountain of local knowledge, Angela was extremely kind and gentle, and made you feel so much more than just "another customer". The personal feel of the place was what I loved about my stay above all. Apart from that, the Holiday Park is on the fringes of some extremely beautiful bays and drives, a five minute drive from the stunning town of Russell, there are hikes to go on just off the site, and the facilities are simple, but clean and eco-friendly. Perfect. I stayed in one of the glamping tents and I would really recommend the Holiday Park as a place to stay for anyone. Thank you so much to Angela for such a lovely stay!
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
Very nice place.
Well kept and friendly. I liked very much the 'environmentally aware' attitude of the owners. The kids loved the pool which was very clean and a great size.
We had a great time. :)
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
We totally loved our stay - the highlights would be the pizza oven, the bird calls, seeing the stars when star gazing with the kids...
Never mind the laid back, peaceful atmosphere and gorgeous scenery. The facilities are clean, tidy and just what we needed - flat campervan parks too which is always a bonus! We'll totally be back.
Reviewed about 8 years ago
Customer
3.5/5
A pleasant park.
5 minutes drive to Russell. Nice outdoor BBQ areas (summer). Was a bit muddy when we visited in winter.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
Customer
4.5/5
The campsite is lovely and in a good location near Russell.
The facilities are very good and it's a nice and quiet place, except the chicken and weka's :-). We tried to spot some Kiwi at night but the best place to spot them was a fireplace with noisy people. So the Kiwi stayed away. Overall highly recommended.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
Customer
4.0/5
A relaxed holiday park that is surrounded with native birds.
Hearing kiwi all night and day was wonderful. Unfortunately we didn't manage to see any this time, although the bush track is neat to do for the whole family.
Wonderful to have a swimming pool available. Very refreshing in the hot summer sun, more shade/cover would mean the area would get more use.
Excellent free range eggs for sale and book exchange available. A lot of foreign tourists/backpackers are staying so lots of great conversations had.
The pizza oven was a huge hit and a great place to meet everyone.
I hear they will be planting a herb garden near it so those pizzas will taste even better.
The staff are wiling to listen and welcome suggestions. A hot water zip, non slip mats in the kitchen, a herb garden, and lemon trees are planned for 2016!
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
One of the best camps!
Very nice and helpful owners, clean facilities, big kitchen and TV room, free hot showers. We stayed for 3 nights and really enjoyed it.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
Customer
4.0/5
Stayed there for two nights at the end of November - $25 per person (powered).
It's a really nice and quiet place with a lot of nature and wild birds around. At night you can go for a walk to see some kiwis. Good and clean facilities. The owners are very friendly. You can even buy some very fresh eggs from the chicken running around.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
A lovely place with everything you need to relax.
Pretty good quality of equipment, maintained carefully.
Nice free range chickens (eggs are sold!), many birds, plenty of space (at least in November).
Distance to the city of Russell (which is lovely as well, not so busy as most other touristic places) is approx 2 km.
Very recommendable!
Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in January 2015
Customer
4.5/5
Lovely campsite just outside of Russell.
It was very quiet when we visited (October) and when we arrived we were greeted by chickens which made our son's day :) the trampoline was also a big hit. The powered pitches were on grass. We walked into Russell which took about 45 minutes each way. It cost $42 for two of us and the baby which was a bit pricey but overall very nice.
Reviewed about 9 years ago
Customer
4.5/5
Good value (16$/d/p).
A very big and very nice place to stay in the Bay of Islands. The campground is huge, with big open places - and very nice hidden and shaded tent sites also if you like it better. Facilities are a bit old but well maintained, just as the lawn - so comfortable if you're intent! Full of wildlife here, we even spotted up to eight colorful native parrots that we had never seen before in two months travelling NZ. The owner is very friendly and knows what's worth doing around).
Reviewed over 9 years ago
Customer