Otto/MacDonalds Campsite
Franz Josef
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Otto/MacDonalds Campsite
An easily accessible campsite. You can boat, fish for trout or swim in Lake Mapourika.
An easily accessible campsite on the northern end of Lake Mapourika. Great for picnics, fishing and cooking your catch on the open fires.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Otto/MacDonalds Campsite is categorised as a DOC Standard Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing. Prices vary for some campsites and may include seasonal pricing. Visit the DOC website for exact pricing.
DOC Standard Campsite
Standard campsites have a more limited range of facilities and services than Serviced campsites. These campsites have toilets, a water supply that could be treated or untreated tap water, or from a stream or lake, and vehicle or boat access. Bring your own soap for washing hands. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Wood BBQs and fireplaces, cold showers, picnic tables, a cooking shelter and rubbish bins may be provided; this will vary from site to site.
| Feature | Value | Value |
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| Unpowered Site | Adult | $10.00 to $15.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Child | $5.00 to $7.50 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Infant | $0.00 per night |
Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC West CoastCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Cron street |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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4.5/5
Gorgeous area, had initially head into Franz Josef town but found that very busy and crowded.
Would recommend Otto's Corner for stunning lake views on a clear afternoon! Like other comments, prepare for sandflies but trousers and DEET makes them manageable. $15pp per night, clean toilets.
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4.5/5
Lovely little spot.
Some sites closer to the road than others but there were plenty to choose from. Flushing toilets were clean, plenty of taps for water (boil it first though).
A few sandflies but a good repellent works well. Lots of birds, beware of kea damage to your vehicle overnight. They didn't bother us during daylight hours but the wipers did get chewed overnight.
A bit more $ than other DOC sites, was $15/adult for us.
Would stay again in a heartbeat.
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4.5/5
Situation incroyable avec vue sur les glaciers depuis le lac au matin et même la nuit de pleine lune !
Les keas sont en forme ils sont très nombreux et nous ont réveillés à 5h du matin en se posant sur le toit et essayaient de picorer notre réchaud laissé dehors. Les voisins n'ont pas pu dormir en tente car ils se faisaient embêter. Mais ils sont trop beaux et se laissent bien approcher
Toilettes et éviers, pas de douches
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5.0/5
Sandflies as usual on the West Coast.
Lake was surprisingly warm and a perfect spot for a swim. Toilets were clean. Otto side was less crowded and right by the lake. Would have stayed an extra night if time allowed.
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4.5/5
Camp is directly next to the street, but still quiet.
Clean facilities and a good cooking area. Very close to the lake. The spot was really big. Loved it😊
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5.0/5
Super cute little doc site right by the lake and super close by to Franz Joseph and yet feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere.
Basic facilities but still a flushing toilet (bonus) and everything was lovely and clean.
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4.0/5
For a doc site this is totally recommended ,very clean and well kept with heaps of room.Recommend pre pay ( pass) for any doc site ,you get no hassle.
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4.0/5
Awesome spot (the McDonald’s side rather than the ottos side - there are two different sites you can camp at).
Heaps of spots. Very quiet. Bit pricey for a DOC camp, had to pay cash on site. Very clean toilets (no light so dark in the night)
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5.0/5
Large flat well maintained DOC site.
Good views to the mountains and lake around. Excellent self contained camping spot. Facilities clean. Was very quiet here in September. One other camper when we stayed.
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4.5/5
Location: to separate camping grounds in a quite area along the river and lake.
Price: $15,00 p.p for one night
It's beautiful and peaceful
Insects: a few sand flies and several flying insects but not to much
Wc’s: nice and clean flush toilets and by MacDonalds the are new
Douche: no shower but you can jump in the lake.
The camp ranger is very helpful, friendly and give you good information. It's makes that we feel more save to meet him
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3.0/5
Good views for tents, only alright for camper-vans.
Facilities were excellent and DOC volunteers were friendly. Only a few spots for camper-vans with alright views the rest get stuck behind.
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4.5/5
Gorgeous area, had initially head into Franz Josef town but found that very busy and crowded.
Would recommend Otto's Corner for stunning lake views on a clear afternoon! Like other comments, prepare for sandflies but trousers and DEET makes them manageable. $15pp per night, clean toilets.
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4.5/5
Lovely little spot.
Some sites closer to the road than others but there were plenty to choose from. Flushing toilets were clean, plenty of taps for water (boil it first though).
A few sandflies but a good repellent works well. Lots of birds, beware of kea damage to your vehicle overnight. They didn't bother us during daylight hours but the wipers did get chewed overnight.
A bit more $ than other DOC sites, was $15/adult for us.
Would stay again in a heartbeat.
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4.5/5
Situation incroyable avec vue sur les glaciers depuis le lac au matin et même la nuit de pleine lune !
Les keas sont en forme ils sont très nombreux et nous ont réveillés à 5h du matin en se posant sur le toit et essayaient de picorer notre réchaud laissé dehors. Les voisins n'ont pas pu dormir en tente car ils se faisaient embêter. Mais ils sont trop beaux et se laissent bien approcher
Toilettes et éviers, pas de douches
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5.0/5
Sandflies as usual on the West Coast.
Lake was surprisingly warm and a perfect spot for a swim. Toilets were clean. Otto side was less crowded and right by the lake. Would have stayed an extra night if time allowed.
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4.5/5
Camp is directly next to the street, but still quiet.
Clean facilities and a good cooking area. Very close to the lake. The spot was really big. Loved it😊
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5.0/5
Super cute little doc site right by the lake and super close by to Franz Joseph and yet feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere.
Basic facilities but still a flushing toilet (bonus) and everything was lovely and clean.
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4.0/5
For a doc site this is totally recommended ,very clean and well kept with heaps of room.Recommend pre pay ( pass) for any doc site ,you get no hassle.
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4.0/5
Awesome spot (the McDonald’s side rather than the ottos side - there are two different sites you can camp at).
Heaps of spots. Very quiet. Bit pricey for a DOC camp, had to pay cash on site. Very clean toilets (no light so dark in the night)
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5.0/5
Large flat well maintained DOC site.
Good views to the mountains and lake around. Excellent self contained camping spot. Facilities clean. Was very quiet here in September. One other camper when we stayed.
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4.5/5
Location: to separate camping grounds in a quite area along the river and lake.
Price: $15,00 p.p for one night
It's beautiful and peaceful
Insects: a few sand flies and several flying insects but not to much
Wc’s: nice and clean flush toilets and by MacDonalds the are new
Douche: no shower but you can jump in the lake.
The camp ranger is very helpful, friendly and give you good information. It's makes that we feel more save to meet him
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5.0/5
Lovely site next to a lake.
There are two campsites right next to each other (one is a larger and more suited to very large campervans). A few common shelters and ok toilets as usual, but the beautiful view of the lake (just a minute walk from the site) sets this site above many others!
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4.5/5
We stayed on the Otto's side, with nice clean bathrooms and a large sink and washing up area.
Large undercover areas with tables. The lake was beautiful.
We stayed in June, and there was still frost on the ground at 3:00pm. DOC campsite with flat gravel sites. Would recommend.
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3.5/5
Stayed at Otto site.
Nice place. Close to the lake. Few sites, there are more at McDonalds. Toilets and sink available. Sandflies.
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4.0/5
10 min into Franz Joseph.
Definitely worth camping on the Ottos side if u want to use the toilets, the long drop needed a clean when we were there. Nice path between the campsites with sinks and a shelter. Great value for the area
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3.5/5
Nice spot, plenty of room with tables and a shed.
A short 2 min walk to the Otto ground for flushing toilets. Camp host was a legend. Only negative was the thousands of sand flies.
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4.0/5
We stayed on the MacDonalds part which is just perfect.
Lot of space and well organised, shed with tables and sinks. A short walk through the forest to go to the toilets on the Otto part.
DOC ranger was lovely.
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5.0/5
Perfect place to stay outside of Franz Josef.
About a 15-20 min drive into town. We stayed 3 nights and it was included in the DOC conservation camping pass. You can camp on either side as you drive into the area, I would recommend going towards the right because there are brand new sinks, river and lake access, and fewer people!
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4.5/5
Great spot next to the lake.
We arrived about 10pm. The morning was calm before the afternoon storm arrived. Site was quiet and bathrooms were clean.
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4.0/5
Clean, tidy site with bays marked clearly.
Clean flush toilets. Handy for a stay in this area for 13$pp where there are no free camp spots.
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4.5/5
A great spot for an overnight stay.
Basic DOC camping, nice flat and gravel parking spots. Basic toilet and basins, which didn’t work at the time we stayed, there was a problem with water supply. This didn’t bother us with the motorhome. The lake is just magic, if you are lucky and there are no clouds and wind the reflected view of the mountains on the lake is just majestic(al) :)
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4.5/5
Ottos especially worth parking at.
Beautiful view of the lake and surrounded by bush. A surprise to have a flushing toilet. Easy access of the main road.
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4.0/5
Very beautiful lake nearby camp, go and experience the view!
Smaller area, although nothing to compalin about, safe and quiet. Bugs aren't fun, and you are surrounded by other campers, water isn't treated.
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4.5/5
Very nice for a DOC spot.
We stayed in Ottos. As of this post the toilets felt quite new and were very clean (and flush!) there are even two covered outdoor sinks for washing dishes and a covered picnic area. Great Lake access a stones throw from the center of the camp. Surprisingly few sandflies while we were there (although I’m sure that varies)
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3.5/5
$13/person DOC site which may be a bit expensive but did have flush toilets and outdoor sink area for washing dishes.
Cooking shelter area and footpath down to waterfront. Sandflies of course :).
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4.5/5
We arrived in the evening and chose Otto as it's a bigger campsite and toilets were closer.
Clean and flush toilets, picnic area. Stunning view of lake and mountains during sunset. Nice and peaceful lake to swim in.
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5.0/5
Great facilities super clean!
The camp host was really friendly, if you don’t have the right change just go to see him and he will help you out! We sought the side on the left when you come off the road (I think it was Otto) was better than the other one.
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3.5/5
Large ground, clean, well maintained.
Not many options for freedom camping in glacier country. A little over priced ($26 for 2).
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3.0/5
Good views for tents, only alright for camper-vans.
Facilities were excellent and DOC volunteers were friendly. Only a few spots for camper-vans with alright views the rest get stuck behind.
