Gillespies Beach Campsite
Gillespies Beach
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Gillespies Beach Campsite
Camp near an old gold mining settlement and a seal colony. Tracks lead to historic suction and bucket dredges, and Galway Beach.
A primo spot next to the beach. The campsite is quite small and is very popular so getting a good spot may be a bit challenging, there is a good sized carpark though if you have a car or van to sleep in.
On a clear day you can catch glimpses of Mt Cook poking up from behind the bush. The beach itself is also amazing, it seems to go on forever with massive piles of driftwood to congregate around.
There are a couple of short walks around the area to a seal colony and an old gold mining bits and pieces.
Access to this site is windy and narrow and is not suitable for large vehicles.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Gillespies Beach 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 ▷ Fox Glacier |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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4.0/5
Wunderschöner Standplatz am Meer mit Blick auf den Gletscher und die alpen.
Die letzten 12 km ist nur Schotter aber gut zu fahren sehr schöne Landschaft.
Minuspunkt die ganzen sandfliegen!
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2.5/5
The location is beautiful.
Beach is beautiful, view on the mountains is absolutely spectacular. Facilities are super super basic.
The sandflies are an absolute nightmare here. We stayed on the 4th of October and we were attacked by them as soon as we get out of the vehicle.
Gravel road is doable, but just drive slowly and with much attention to the road.
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4.0/5
If you dare to get through the 12km gravel road you‘ll be rewarded with a beautiful camping place with toilets, sink for the dishes, a stunning beach for the sunset and great views on the mountains.
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3.0/5
The place is very beautiful and you are right next to the sea.
However, i think this should be a free camping because the only service available are two toilets; no potable water, no shower, no signal at all.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t enjoy it because all the flies that were eating us alive, despite wearing clothes or repellent all the time… they were all round you all the time.
Nice sunset and sunrise.
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4.0/5
Nice place next to the Beach.
A Lot of Sandflies though (compared to the north, ir gets worse going South)
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5.0/5
Big site, lots of spaces.
Good, clean toilets. Relatively easy drive, few small potholes from rain. Nice to wake up near the beach.
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4.0/5
Parking juste derrière la dune après une bonne dizaine de km de route en gravier.
Quelques tables de pique nique. Venté et bercé par le bruit des vagues. Deux toilettes fonctionnels. Un robinet d’eau marron.
Calme. Je recommande… d’autant qu’il y a très peu de sandflies.
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4.5/5
Cheap and very nice area right beside the beach.
Little drive from town and a not great gravel road but not a big deal
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5.0/5
Super remote spot on glorious beach.
Down good gravel track. Despite the signs, we easily managed it in a 7m camper van. Clean toilet. Well worth getting up early to walk around lake Matheson to catch the reflection.
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4.5/5
Despite the road warnings our 6 meter Fiat Ducato camper handled it fine tho road can be narrow in places.
If you want to experience some West Coast isolation this could be it (we were there July 2020). Flush toilets w/paper. Bring your own water; pack out rubbish. Learning the history of the area made it even more interesting ... visit the old graveyard nearby.
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5.0/5
The dirt road shouldn't put anyone off.
It is in good condition and no extra steep sections. We took a medium sized camper (Mercedes sprinter) down there no problems. Beach was pretty amazing just the power of the surf and the sun position. But warmer here than inland areas if camping in the shoulder season or winter. Windy. Flush toilets. No cell reception.
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5.0/5
Really good spot.
Nice toilets/dishwashing facility. Short walk to the beach, and you get amazing views of the Glacier. Stop at lake Mathison on the way
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4.0/5
Wunderschöner Standplatz am Meer mit Blick auf den Gletscher und die alpen.
Die letzten 12 km ist nur Schotter aber gut zu fahren sehr schöne Landschaft.
Minuspunkt die ganzen sandfliegen!
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2.5/5
The location is beautiful.
Beach is beautiful, view on the mountains is absolutely spectacular. Facilities are super super basic.
The sandflies are an absolute nightmare here. We stayed on the 4th of October and we were attacked by them as soon as we get out of the vehicle.
Gravel road is doable, but just drive slowly and with much attention to the road.
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4.0/5
If you dare to get through the 12km gravel road you‘ll be rewarded with a beautiful camping place with toilets, sink for the dishes, a stunning beach for the sunset and great views on the mountains.
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3.0/5
The place is very beautiful and you are right next to the sea.
However, i think this should be a free camping because the only service available are two toilets; no potable water, no shower, no signal at all.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t enjoy it because all the flies that were eating us alive, despite wearing clothes or repellent all the time… they were all round you all the time.
Nice sunset and sunrise.
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4.0/5
Nice place next to the Beach.
A Lot of Sandflies though (compared to the north, ir gets worse going South)
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5.0/5
Big site, lots of spaces.
Good, clean toilets. Relatively easy drive, few small potholes from rain. Nice to wake up near the beach.
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4.0/5
Parking juste derrière la dune après une bonne dizaine de km de route en gravier.
Quelques tables de pique nique. Venté et bercé par le bruit des vagues. Deux toilettes fonctionnels. Un robinet d’eau marron.
Calme. Je recommande… d’autant qu’il y a très peu de sandflies.
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4.5/5
Cheap and very nice area right beside the beach.
Little drive from town and a not great gravel road but not a big deal
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5.0/5
Super remote spot on glorious beach.
Down good gravel track. Despite the signs, we easily managed it in a 7m camper van. Clean toilet. Well worth getting up early to walk around lake Matheson to catch the reflection.
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5.0/5
Really good spot.
Nice toilets/dishwashing facility. Short walk to the beach, and you get amazing views of the Glacier. Stop at lake Mathison on the way
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4.5/5
Despite the road warnings our 6 meter Fiat Ducato camper handled it fine tho road can be narrow in places.
If you want to experience some West Coast isolation this could be it (we were there July 2020). Flush toilets w/paper. Bring your own water; pack out rubbish. Learning the history of the area made it even more interesting ... visit the old graveyard nearby.
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5.0/5
The dirt road shouldn't put anyone off.
It is in good condition and no extra steep sections. We took a medium sized camper (Mercedes sprinter) down there no problems. Beach was pretty amazing just the power of the surf and the sun position. But warmer here than inland areas if camping in the shoulder season or winter. Windy. Flush toilets. No cell reception.
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4.5/5
Gravel road through dense rainforest is very scenic and suitable for big vans if you drive slowly.
It is a parking lot with toilet facilities and some sinks. Fire pit and short walk to the beach. Great for a sunset. The driftwood makes the beach very special. Nice walks starts from DOC camping. We have seen 3 hector dolphins in the morning.
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5.0/5
After picking up our 6 berth campervan from Queenstown our first stop was Gillespie's Beach, naturally I wanted to go there because I'm also a Gillespie, arrived about 10.30pm that night, grabbed a bite
to eat and got the kids into bed, was about midnight that my partner and I decided to go stretch our legs down to the stony beach, the moon was up and the stony beach was glistening in the moonlight, the air was fresh due to the snowy mountains of mount cook standing directly behind us, it was an absolutely an amazing site to know that one side we had the ocean and the other were the mountains.the sunrise also made a spectacular view, found the doc camping ground really clean and tidy, even the flushing toilets were in good order, would of been great to have a walk around and learn the history of the site, but we sadly had to leave this part of paradise to continue our journey north. We will be back to stay a few more nights and to explore the rich history of Gillespie's beach. Golden rule always have a can of insect repellent handy... the sandflies come in there 100s. But definitely a spot to come back to.
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4.0/5
Nice quiet camp, close enough to beach so you can hear as you fall asleep but far enough so your sheltered from the sea breeze.
Beautiful sunset, sandflies are present so take your repellent. Clean flushing toilets with basic wash basin. Take your own drinking water. Great walks down the beach. Secure your stuff, Kia’s were there in the morning and relocated out footwear and wrecked another campers shoes. Shoutout to Bridget and Brett from Australia for the good yarns.
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5.0/5
The place is lovely.
starting point of great walks along the beach to the lagoon. Way to seal colony still closed. Facilities okay for doc camp site. Payed 8$ per person. Wonderful views over the mountains...
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4.0/5
Great little place...
Beware the crazy sand flies though! Also the bridge to the seal colony was closed so the main walk was not possible.
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4.5/5
Drive on dirt road was fine.
Few sandflies. Beach access right off the parking lot. Clean facilities.
Recommend getting there before 5pm for some choice of a spot. Seems popular and the lot isn't really that big.
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5.0/5
Great campsite, very tidy.
Sleeping with the sounds of the ocean was nice, and we were visited by several kea in the evening.
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4.5/5
Great location 25 min drive from Fox Clacier.
A lot of Spaces for Campers. We drove there with our 7m van and the street was no problem, only dusty.
The stony beach with high waves is absolutely amazing.
You dont have a view of the beach from the parking lot or the campsites, therefore you have to cross the dunes.
Lots of wood at the beach, do easy to light a fire.
The only big minus: Sandflies everyehere. We git in our van quite early. Othereise it would have been perfect.
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5.0/5
Loved this camping spot.
There were a few sandflies around, but not too many (and I hate them with a passion, so that I wasn't annoyed says something). Nice walks from the campsite to the lagoon and over the beach. Due to a storm last February the bridge to the seal colony is destroyed and closed still.
Sunset from the pebble beach is amazing. Two toilets and two sinks available. $8 pp a night.
Drive carefully on the gravel road!! It's up and down and bendy roads.
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4.0/5
Right next to a nice beach where we saw the most beautiful sunset.
Many walks start there. Clean flush toilets, water supply and a sink for doing the dishes. Roofed picnic area, no service, long gravel road, 20min away from town
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3.5/5
Lovely car park with a toilet.
As with all DOC sites, gets busy but people respectful. Close to beach and mountain views. Not exactly freedom camping but what is in this country?
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3.5/5
Nice spot not far away from mirror lakes and fox glacier.
You sleep on a little parking space. We had rain for days and the gravel road was full of water. There's a nice little roof with tables for cooking. And water supply which may be treated. 2 toilets available. Walks on Gillespie's beach are just starting from that spot and the beach is only 2 minutes away.
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4.5/5
Great location!
Totally worth the long unpaved road. Great beach and amazing view to Aoraki! Honesty box, clean drop toilet, not drinking water supply. Couple of nice treks around the area. Maybe in high season will get full early, around 20-30 spaces.
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4.5/5
12km gravel drive but worth it even though we were here on a wet and windy night.
Can't see beach but you can hear it! Beach full on driftwood and pebbles, lots of walks can be done from here but can be quite difficult walking on pebbles when the tide is in. Good flushing toilets.
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3.5/5
A carpark with a short walk to the beach.
Filled up quickly. Drinking water available, good facilities.
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4.0/5
A great place to camp on the West Coast.
Pays to get there early as only a small car park. The drive there is on a gravel road through bush, which is fine if you are not in a rush. Well worth a visit.
