Cameron Flat Campsite

Cameron Flat Campsite

Makarora

58 Rankers Reviews

8 Makarora

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Cameron Flat

Information

Cameron Flat Campsite

This is a standard campsite in the Wanaka/Makarora area. Camp near the Makarora River. Plenty of great activities are available nearby, such as hunting, tramping or fishing.

The large campsite is located near the Makarora River, just 15 mins north of Makarora Township.

The campsite is quite exposed on a fairly high plateau, you want to get here early to set yourself up to sit back and relish the spectacular view of the surrounding mountains. There are heaps of activities in the area including hunting, fishing, walking and scenic flights.

Notices

  • Predator control for Mt Aspiring National Park

    We plan to distribute non-toxic cereal bait pellets in November or December 2025, depending on the weather.

    The operation area includes Mt Aspiring National Park and small parts of Hawea Conservation Area adjacent to the national park. 

    Mt Aspiring National Park will remain open although some restrictions may be in place. If you are visiting in November or December, check this web page or contact the visitor centre for more information the day before your trip. 

    DOC will distribute toxic bait containing 1080 within a month of applying the non-toxic bait.

    This operation is part of DOC's National Predator Control Programme to protect native species.

    First published on 16 September 2025. Last reviewed on 28 November 2025.

DOC Campsite Pricing

Cameron Flat 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

Organisation

DOC Otago

Central government organisation

Location

South IslandWanaka RegionMakarora

Categories

  • Activity__basic_facility_campingBasic Camping

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-44.16096671

169.2871333

Latitude
-44.16096671
Longitude
169.2871333

Websites

Reviews

    • Icon__tickStunning views

    • Icon__tickPlenty of space

    • Icon__tickClose to Blue Pools

    • Icon__tickClean toilets

    • Icon__crossInsane sandflies

    • Icon__crossRats at night

    • Icon__crossDirty toilets

    • Beautiful view, lots of sandflies.

      Icon__personRob Cadmus

    • Awesome vistas of the mountains.

      Icon__personDebbie Lesurf

    • Too many sandflies.

      Icon__personUdo Wagner

    • Nice and quiet place.

      Icon__personJakub

    • Small site, not much room for tents.

      Icon__personDave Reynolds

    4.1 58 Reviews Analysis
  • Nice and quiet place.

    Nice view. Toilets a bit dirty and can't be locked. Possibility to use the sink for dishes. Good phone signal. Lots of space, but it fills up quickly.

    Reviewed 19 days ago

  • Nice campsite, plenty of space to park - though most spots aren’t level.

    Easy access from the roadside. Very short walk towards the (temporarily closed) Blue pools. Nice wind shelter to cook and clean dishes in. Flies were at a minimum but still annoying. Issues - 4G tower (new?) is very very loud at night when the generator kicks in. Park accordingly.

    Reviewed 7 months ago

    jo's avatar

    jo

  • Good place to stay before and after hiking, for example, Brewster trail.

    Clean toilets, nice place under roof for cooking and dish washing. Bit noisy at night, still ok for the price

    Reviewed 7 months ago

  • Beautiful morning views, sandflies were not so bad.

    And saw no rats, nice walk to blue pools, yes under construction but nice walk still. Beautiful clean water, we filled up a jug to drink

    Reviewed 8 months ago

  • Blue pools closed.

    Too many sandflies.

    But a great view!

    Reviewed 9 months ago

  • Nice views, not too busy (we arrived around 19:00 and had ample place to choose from).

    Views are great. But the sandflies, oh man. Most I’ve experienced so far. The toilets were clean but the smells from the drip were quite intense compared to other long drops.

    Would recommend if not for the sheer amount of sandflies..

    Reviewed 11 months ago

  • I’ve never seen so many sand flies In all of NewZealand.

    Views 10/10

    Toilet 7/10

    Sand flies 0/10

    Ruined our experience. Nice quiet place with okay toilets

    Reviewed 12 months ago

  • Parkplatz etwas höher gelegen.mit toller Sicht auf den Fluss.

    Leider hatte es auch hier viele sandfliegen wie überall in der Region.

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

    Lea's avatar

    Lea

  • Would not recommend this site in the near future…there are great views yes, but problems.

    As soon as it got dark, the rats came out. I saw rats running around the bushes and around the site. They were running near my car and running away when I moved my foot. I moved my car twice to get away from the bushes, but still ended up with mice in my car. Rats and mice have infested this site.

    I called the DOC and apparently there was a poison drop, but has not worked yet.

    Camp with caution…

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • Stayed for one night on the way to Wanaka.

    Was wet and windy but would have been amazing if not! Blue pool bridge was shut. Ideal spot when open and if weather is great! Toilets standard holes with paper. $10 an adult $5 child.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • Million dollar views!

    This is an epic campsite with views across river in the valley. It is directly opposite the blue pools which are well worth a visit/swim. The bridge was closed but you can just cross the river. The campsite filled up late at night with people parking everywhere. We got blocked in and had to ask people to move so we could get our caravan out. Apparently the online booking said it was full but people were still rolling in and I am sure not paying. Lots of sand flies! It cost us $55 for 2 adults and 3 kids which is pretty expensive for what was provided.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • Stayed here for one night, it’s a nice campsite but the toilets were filled with dead bugs - they covered the floor.

    It’s incredibly close to the blue pools and a peaceful spot. We had a 30-day DOC pass so cost wasn’t a factor.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • Pros: + Amazing view of the valley + Lots of parking and grass spaces for tents + Bathrooms are permanent portos + Water is tap + Across the road from the Blue Pools (must do little hike) + Great

    spot for the price

    Cons:

    - The sand flies are insane here

    - No grey water dump station

    - Very popular camp site, get here early for a good spot

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • Great little site with clean toilets and shelter from rain and wind to cook.

    So many vans pulling in all night though

    Sandflies are horrendous so cover up and bring insect repellent as well as something to put on your bites

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • Great campsite and very few sandflies considering the reviews.

    It was a hot January day with lots of sun so don’t know if that makes a difference. Possibly the nicest view from a campsite we have had except mount cook site. Lovely walk to the blue pools to cool down, clean toilets and a nice shelter to sit under.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • Stunning surroundings.

    Would be quite exposed if weather is bad. Lots of parking spaces. Drop toilet available but very smelly.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • Fairly scenic.

    Well located opposite the blue pools. Clean toilet.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2021

  • Great campsite with well maintained toilets and a cooking shelter.

    It was raining the whole time we were here so we didn't see much but the occasional glimpses of the surrounding mountains was cool, I bet it'd be amazing when it's clear and dry. Right across the road from the Blue Pools walk.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2020

  • Nice and quiet place.

    Nice view. Toilets a bit dirty and can't be locked. Possibility to use the sink for dishes. Good phone signal. Lots of space, but it fills up quickly.

    Reviewed 19 days ago

  • Good place to stay before and after hiking, for example, Brewster trail.

    Clean toilets, nice place under roof for cooking and dish washing. Bit noisy at night, still ok for the price

    Reviewed 7 months ago

  • Nice campsite, plenty of space to park - though most spots aren’t level.

    Easy access from the roadside. Very short walk towards the (temporarily closed) Blue pools. Nice wind shelter to cook and clean dishes in. Flies were at a minimum but still annoying. Issues - 4G tower (new?) is very very loud at night when the generator kicks in. Park accordingly.

    Reviewed 7 months ago

    jo's avatar

    jo

  • Beautiful morning views, sandflies were not so bad.

    And saw no rats, nice walk to blue pools, yes under construction but nice walk still. Beautiful clean water, we filled up a jug to drink

    Reviewed 8 months ago

  • Blue pools closed.

    Too many sandflies.

    But a great view!

    Reviewed 9 months ago

  • Nice views, not too busy (we arrived around 19:00 and had ample place to choose from).

    Views are great. But the sandflies, oh man. Most I’ve experienced so far. The toilets were clean but the smells from the drip were quite intense compared to other long drops.

    Would recommend if not for the sheer amount of sandflies..

    Reviewed 11 months ago

  • I’ve never seen so many sand flies In all of NewZealand.

    Views 10/10

    Toilet 7/10

    Sand flies 0/10

    Ruined our experience. Nice quiet place with okay toilets

    Reviewed 12 months ago

  • Parkplatz etwas höher gelegen.mit toller Sicht auf den Fluss.

    Leider hatte es auch hier viele sandfliegen wie überall in der Region.

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

    Lea's avatar

    Lea

  • Would not recommend this site in the near future…there are great views yes, but problems.

    As soon as it got dark, the rats came out. I saw rats running around the bushes and around the site. They were running near my car and running away when I moved my foot. I moved my car twice to get away from the bushes, but still ended up with mice in my car. Rats and mice have infested this site.

    I called the DOC and apparently there was a poison drop, but has not worked yet.

    Camp with caution…

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • Stayed for one night on the way to Wanaka.

    Was wet and windy but would have been amazing if not! Blue pool bridge was shut. Ideal spot when open and if weather is great! Toilets standard holes with paper. $10 an adult $5 child.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • Million dollar views!

    This is an epic campsite with views across river in the valley. It is directly opposite the blue pools which are well worth a visit/swim. The bridge was closed but you can just cross the river. The campsite filled up late at night with people parking everywhere. We got blocked in and had to ask people to move so we could get our caravan out. Apparently the online booking said it was full but people were still rolling in and I am sure not paying. Lots of sand flies! It cost us $55 for 2 adults and 3 kids which is pretty expensive for what was provided.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • Stayed here for one night, it’s a nice campsite but the toilets were filled with dead bugs - they covered the floor.

    It’s incredibly close to the blue pools and a peaceful spot. We had a 30-day DOC pass so cost wasn’t a factor.

    Reviewed over 2 years ago

  • Pros: + Amazing view of the valley + Lots of parking and grass spaces for tents + Bathrooms are permanent portos + Water is tap + Across the road from the Blue Pools (must do little hike) + Great

    spot for the price

    Cons:

    - The sand flies are insane here

    - No grey water dump station

    - Very popular camp site, get here early for a good spot

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • Great little site with clean toilets and shelter from rain and wind to cook.

    So many vans pulling in all night though

    Sandflies are horrendous so cover up and bring insect repellent as well as something to put on your bites

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • Great campsite and very few sandflies considering the reviews.

    It was a hot January day with lots of sun so don’t know if that makes a difference. Possibly the nicest view from a campsite we have had except mount cook site. Lovely walk to the blue pools to cool down, clean toilets and a nice shelter to sit under.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • Stunning surroundings.

    Would be quite exposed if weather is bad. Lots of parking spaces. Drop toilet available but very smelly.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago

  • Fairly scenic.

    Well located opposite the blue pools. Clean toilet.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2021

  • Great campsite with well maintained toilets and a cooking shelter.

    It was raining the whole time we were here so we didn't see much but the occasional glimpses of the surrounding mountains was cool, I bet it'd be amazing when it's clear and dry. Right across the road from the Blue Pools walk.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2020

  • No shadow, some sandflies but beautiful surroundings especially at night to watch the stars, milkyway.

    Nearby easy walk to blue pools. Toilets get cleaned very well every day. Sink for washing your dishes.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2020

  • Great view and location but lots of sandflies, couldnt sit outside.Be sure to bring lots of drinking water or means to boil before use of the tap water provided.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2020