Tawanui Campsite
Catlins Coast
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Tawanui Campsite
This is a standard campsite in the Coastal Otago area. This isolated campsite is in a clearing beside the river. Day walk the Catlins River Track through silver beech forest.
This is a standard campsite in the Coastal Otago area. This isolated campsite is in a clearing beside the river. Day walk the Catlins River Track through silver beech forest.
Getting there:
Turn off SH1 at Balclutha and drive South to Owaka.
Follow Papatowai Highway for approximately 7 km,
Turn right onto Catlins Valley Rd,
Right onto Morris Saddle Rd,
Then left at cattle-stop (sign indicating campsite).
Narrow gravel road.
Notices
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Predator control for Beresford Range in Catlins Conservation Park
A predator control operation using toxic bait containing 1080 was completed on Thursday 13 March 2025.
The Beresford Range in Catlins Conservation Park will is open to the public with warning signs in place at key entrances.
There may be toxic carcasses and bait (green coloured pellets) in the area. It’s not safe to hunt for food and/or have your dog in this area for up to 9 months. Warning signs and this web alert will be removed when the area is safe again.
1080 is deadly to dogs. How to keep dogs safe around 1080.
This operation is part of DOC's National Predator Control Programme to protect native species.
First published on 14 October 2024. Last reviewed on 18 March 2025.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Tawanui 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 OtagoCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Owaka |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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5.0/5
Great spot, beautiful stargazing at night and nice walks that start & end there.
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5.0/5
Lovely spot in the forest, lots of private spaces to park, heaps of room.
Quiet when I was there. Great place for your dog to go too. Good facilities. Only sounds are the beautiful native birds.
A![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(51,224,32)" /><path d="m 150 713 Q 163 137 -413 150 Q 163 163 150 -413 Q 137 163 713 150 Q 137 137 150 713 z" fill="rgb(178,151,58)" /><path d="m 150 438 Q 207 93 -138 150 Q 207 207 150 -138 Q 93 207 438 150 Q 93 93 150 438 z" fill="rgb(77,104,197)" /><path d="m 150 341 Q 153 147 -41 150 Q 153 153 150 -41 Q 147 153 341 150 Q 147 147 150 341 z" fill="rgb(204,31,223)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
If you’re looking for a quiet site well out of the way you’ll love this spot like we did.
We checked out some of the nearby DOC beach sites and found them beautiful but overcrowded. Tawanui has tons of room, flush toilets with TP, and sinks with running water. It’s a series of several open fields segregated by trees and surrounded by farmlands full of cows and sheep. We stayed two nights and no more than six other vehicles were there in a facility that could accommodate fifty.
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5.0/5
Fantastic spot, virtually had Otto ourselves, setup on the side of the river, clean flushing toilets
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4.5/5
Quite green DOC campground surrounded by a beautiful forrest and the Catlin River.
Close by is only farmland, you can hear cows and sheep and lots of birds (spotted a tui) - no traffic noise. 2x2 flush toilet, water from the tap (boil it before drinking). No showers, or electricity - self check-in (8$ per person per night). Best to take drinking water with you.
M![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(146,121,139)" /><path d="m 150 731 Q 130 170 -431 150 Q 130 130 150 -431 Q 170 130 731 150 Q 170 170 150 731 z" fill="rgb(0,169,167)" /><path d="m 150 351 Q 299 1 -51 150 Q 299 299 150 -51 Q 1 299 351 150 Q 1 1 150 351 z" fill="rgb(255,86,88)" /><path d="m 150 326 Q 211 89 -26 150 Q 211 211 150 -26 Q 89 211 326 150 Q 89 89 150 326 z" fill="rgb(109,134,116)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
No overcrowding as plenty of room - lots of trees birds and relaxing.
You may be lucky to hear a Morepork bird at night. Approx 15-20 mins to Owaka for supplies and great Coffee stops. Campers have access to 2 x 2 flushing toilets. Water tap avail - must be boiled to drink. The Catlins River Walk is said to be awesome. A great place to unwind.
C![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(171,144,13)" /><path d="m 150 515 Q 228 72 -215 150 Q 228 228 150 -215 Q 72 228 515 150 Q 72 72 150 515 z" fill="rgb(11,14,197)" /><path d="m 150 462 Q 268 32 -162 150 Q 268 268 150 -162 Q 32 268 462 150 Q 32 32 150 462 z" fill="rgb(244,241,58)" /><path d="m 150 345 Q 115 185 -45 150 Q 115 115 150 -45 Q 185 115 345 150 Q 185 185 150 345 z" fill="rgb(84,111,242)" /></svg>)
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3.5/5
Massive open spaces with a ton of room to find a quiet secluded camp site.
Has two toilet blocks with non treated water. Catlins River Walk was beautiful and begins beyond the south west corner of the campsite and travels north west along the river.
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4.0/5
Amazing quiet place, currently no toilets so at the moment self contained price was $8 per person, honesty box.
Big place. We were alone it was idyllic.
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5.0/5
Fabulous DOC campground on the banks of the Catlin River and at the beginning of the Catlins River Walk.
Large grassed areas to camp, if you are self contained drive down the gravel track to smaller more intimates area right beside the river. Quiet & peaceful.
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(111,30,136)" /><path d="m 150 624 Q 58 242 -324 150 Q 58 58 150 -324 Q 242 58 624 150 Q 242 242 150 624 z" fill="rgb(81,68,253)" /><path d="m 150 470 Q 53 247 -170 150 Q 53 53 150 -170 Q 247 53 470 150 Q 247 247 150 470 z" fill="rgb(174,187,2)" /><path d="m 150 163 Q 290 10 137 150 Q 290 290 150 137 Q 10 290 163 150 Q 10 10 150 163 z" fill="rgb(144,225,119)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Great spot, beautiful stargazing at night and nice walks that start & end there.
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5.0/5
Lovely spot in the forest, lots of private spaces to park, heaps of room.
Quiet when I was there. Great place for your dog to go too. Good facilities. Only sounds are the beautiful native birds.
A -
5.0/5
If you’re looking for a quiet site well out of the way you’ll love this spot like we did.
We checked out some of the nearby DOC beach sites and found them beautiful but overcrowded. Tawanui has tons of room, flush toilets with TP, and sinks with running water. It’s a series of several open fields segregated by trees and surrounded by farmlands full of cows and sheep. We stayed two nights and no more than six other vehicles were there in a facility that could accommodate fifty.
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5.0/5
Fantastic spot, virtually had Otto ourselves, setup on the side of the river, clean flushing toilets
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4.5/5
Quite green DOC campground surrounded by a beautiful forrest and the Catlin River.
Close by is only farmland, you can hear cows and sheep and lots of birds (spotted a tui) - no traffic noise. 2x2 flush toilet, water from the tap (boil it before drinking). No showers, or electricity - self check-in (8$ per person per night). Best to take drinking water with you.
M -
4.5/5
No overcrowding as plenty of room - lots of trees birds and relaxing.
You may be lucky to hear a Morepork bird at night. Approx 15-20 mins to Owaka for supplies and great Coffee stops. Campers have access to 2 x 2 flushing toilets. Water tap avail - must be boiled to drink. The Catlins River Walk is said to be awesome. A great place to unwind.
C -
3.5/5
Massive open spaces with a ton of room to find a quiet secluded camp site.
Has two toilet blocks with non treated water. Catlins River Walk was beautiful and begins beyond the south west corner of the campsite and travels north west along the river.
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0.5/5
Flush toilet with no water...
Not maintained at all. It's a shame to pay for this... 7km of gravel road to access.
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4.0/5
Amazing quiet place, currently no toilets so at the moment self contained price was $8 per person, honesty box.
Big place. We were alone it was idyllic.
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3.0/5
Nice grassy areas next to the river to park up on.
However, basic toilets and no drinking water. River walk was very underwhelming.
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5.0/5
Fabulous DOC campground on the banks of the Catlin River and at the beginning of the Catlins River Walk.
Large grassed areas to camp, if you are self contained drive down the gravel track to smaller more intimates area right beside the river. Quiet & peaceful.
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