Kidds Bush Reserve Campsite
Lake Hawea
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Kidds Bush Reserve Campsite
Camp alongside Lake Hāwea in a large, grassy area with good shade from mountain beech trees. Walk around the lake, go fishing or swimming.
The Kidds Bush Reserve Camping Ground is super busy during the holidays an awesome spot with plenty of space to join on in with the locals.
Its away from the main road so it feels like you are in quite an isolated spot. The campsite is alongside the lake in a large grassy area, with lots of shade from beech trees. Walking track nearby. This place gets extremely cold in the winter, so cold that the water pipes all freeze up! Well out of the sandfly zone - wicked.
There is a shelter and a boat ramp here.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Kidds Bush Reserve 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 OtagoCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township |
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Basic Camping
Dump Station
Reviews
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5.0/5
This has got to be one of the most amazing sites for scenery, swimming, fishing.
If you want off the beaten track quiet and wonderful then this is it. The camp is basic the toilets well, they have been used all season and could do with being emptied. How ever if your self contained it’s great. It’s NZ scenery at its best I think. But I’m a back to basic live nature no fuss person. P.s the track is 6 km of track, it’s ok slow and easy.
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4.5/5
Wide open campsite with tons of space to spread out and RIGHT on the lake for unmatched access!
Parking spots both in a covered forested area as well as on the beach. Only negatives: pretty crowded and only porta potties for restrooms (which were closed), but at least they were nice and plenty of them!
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5.0/5
My favourite DOC site.
So ideallic and the lake is so refreshing. Gravel Road is fine
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3.5/5
Beautiful scenery but crowded with families during the holidays and the portable toilets were full - ugh!
Some sandflies. The 6 km unsealed road to get here was not too bad.
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4.5/5
My husband and I stayed here and it was amazing !
Sandflies were no issue. Only downside is the loos but the rest of the place makes up for it. Lake is beautiful!
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4.5/5
Very scenic and peaceful.
You can park right by the water and access the lake. Grass was freshly cut. Main toilets still out of order but plenty of portaloos that were clean enough.
The gravel road wasn’t as bad as I was expecting even in our large motorhome.
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2.5/5
The road to the campsite is terrible, it's washed out by water with a lot of deep holes, and plenty of cattle stops on the way.
There were sandflies. Facilities are closed and the only toilets were mostly very full, portable plastic ones like in festivals. Untreated water on the site, picnic area with sinks of which some have broken drain.
View is nice, distance from main road made it a quiet place with a lot of space for parking or camping. Nevertheless if not on the campsite pass, I wouldn't say it's worth it.
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5.0/5
Great campsite right on the lake and about 45 min from Wanaka.
Trail to hike just from camp. Cooking area and water which does need to be boiled. Some wind with less protection than ideal. Plenty of private spots for a tent camper which is essential for a good campground.
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4.5/5
Good place for a night.
You can park on the beach or under the trees. Many people swam, but I found 20-ish still not warm enough, especially when the wind kicked up. The hike around the back was nice for families. 30-40 min and not too much elevation change. This was my 1st camping experience in NZ. I can’t say it’s quite as good as I’m used to (campfires, dense mountain forest, less bugs), but I still had a nice, relaxing time.
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4.5/5
Beautiful setting.
Basic amenities but for me a swim in the lake made it worthwhile. Lake not as clean and clear as others in the area. Couple of water taps available (not drinking water).
I wouldn't want to drive here after dark as the road is rough and the cows are all over it and not that keen to move. I also worried about vehicles at night driving near people in tents- not very safe.
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5.0/5
What a beautiful site.
Right on the lake with mountains sinking in. Great hiking and birdsong.
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4.5/5
Beautiful campground.
One of our favourite ones - unfortunately just portable toilets which minimize the experience a bit
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3.0/5
It’s an interesting unsaved road into this campsite but fine for our escapecampervan.
We’d been warned of some cows but didn’t come across any. The beach is perfect for skimming stones. We only did the short forest walk and not the steep climb to the tree lines. A few bugs, some persistent bees.
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5.0/5
Amazing view and scenerie.
The spot is perfect and has a lot of space for campers.
Portable toilettes are clean.
Almost no sandflies.
Site is easily accessible for campervans via gravel road.
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5.0/5
Absolutely loved the view here, and swimming in the lake was wonderful.
Was only there one night - pretty windy on the afternoon I arrived, but calmed down before dusk. Some plum trees on the edge of the campground near the lake (about to fruit when I was there). Toilets were clean but getting fairly full. No issues with sandflies.
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4.5/5
Le meilleur spot DOC de tout notre periple.
Vue sur le lac incroyable, il y a des spots pour se garer juste au bord et avoir la sensation d'être seuls au monde sans pour autant gêner la vie des autres campeurs plus hauts sur la pelouse.
Baignades savoureuses.
Seul "hic", les toilettes portables un peu pleins avant vidange. Mais pas impossible pour autant. Sinon j'aurais mis un 10. Je recommande ce spot sans aucune hésitation.
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5.0/5
Love it!
So peaceful, quiet and the view is stunning.
One of the nicest Campground I've ever been!
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4.0/5
So sunny and calm here!
Good cell service, toilets aren’t open atm but portaloos available. Bring your bug spray and a camp chair :)
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5.0/5
This has got to be one of the most amazing sites for scenery, swimming, fishing.
If you want off the beaten track quiet and wonderful then this is it. The camp is basic the toilets well, they have been used all season and could do with being emptied. How ever if your self contained it’s great. It’s NZ scenery at its best I think. But I’m a back to basic live nature no fuss person. P.s the track is 6 km of track, it’s ok slow and easy.
-
4.5/5
Wide open campsite with tons of space to spread out and RIGHT on the lake for unmatched access!
Parking spots both in a covered forested area as well as on the beach. Only negatives: pretty crowded and only porta potties for restrooms (which were closed), but at least they were nice and plenty of them!
-
5.0/5
My favourite DOC site.
So ideallic and the lake is so refreshing. Gravel Road is fine
-
3.5/5
Beautiful scenery but crowded with families during the holidays and the portable toilets were full - ugh!
Some sandflies. The 6 km unsealed road to get here was not too bad.
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4.5/5
My husband and I stayed here and it was amazing !
Sandflies were no issue. Only downside is the loos but the rest of the place makes up for it. Lake is beautiful!
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4.5/5
Very scenic and peaceful.
You can park right by the water and access the lake. Grass was freshly cut. Main toilets still out of order but plenty of portaloos that were clean enough.
The gravel road wasn’t as bad as I was expecting even in our large motorhome.
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2.5/5
The road to the campsite is terrible, it's washed out by water with a lot of deep holes, and plenty of cattle stops on the way.
There were sandflies. Facilities are closed and the only toilets were mostly very full, portable plastic ones like in festivals. Untreated water on the site, picnic area with sinks of which some have broken drain.
View is nice, distance from main road made it a quiet place with a lot of space for parking or camping. Nevertheless if not on the campsite pass, I wouldn't say it's worth it.
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5.0/5
Great campsite right on the lake and about 45 min from Wanaka.
Trail to hike just from camp. Cooking area and water which does need to be boiled. Some wind with less protection than ideal. Plenty of private spots for a tent camper which is essential for a good campground.
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4.5/5
Good place for a night.
You can park on the beach or under the trees. Many people swam, but I found 20-ish still not warm enough, especially when the wind kicked up. The hike around the back was nice for families. 30-40 min and not too much elevation change. This was my 1st camping experience in NZ. I can’t say it’s quite as good as I’m used to (campfires, dense mountain forest, less bugs), but I still had a nice, relaxing time.
-
4.5/5
Beautiful setting.
Basic amenities but for me a swim in the lake made it worthwhile. Lake not as clean and clear as others in the area. Couple of water taps available (not drinking water).
I wouldn't want to drive here after dark as the road is rough and the cows are all over it and not that keen to move. I also worried about vehicles at night driving near people in tents- not very safe.
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5.0/5
What a beautiful site.
Right on the lake with mountains sinking in. Great hiking and birdsong.
-
4.5/5
Beautiful campground.
One of our favourite ones - unfortunately just portable toilets which minimize the experience a bit
-
3.0/5
It’s an interesting unsaved road into this campsite but fine for our escapecampervan.
We’d been warned of some cows but didn’t come across any. The beach is perfect for skimming stones. We only did the short forest walk and not the steep climb to the tree lines. A few bugs, some persistent bees.
-
5.0/5
Amazing view and scenerie.
The spot is perfect and has a lot of space for campers.
Portable toilettes are clean.
Almost no sandflies.
Site is easily accessible for campervans via gravel road.
-
5.0/5
Absolutely loved the view here, and swimming in the lake was wonderful.
Was only there one night - pretty windy on the afternoon I arrived, but calmed down before dusk. Some plum trees on the edge of the campground near the lake (about to fruit when I was there). Toilets were clean but getting fairly full. No issues with sandflies.
-
4.5/5
Le meilleur spot DOC de tout notre periple.
Vue sur le lac incroyable, il y a des spots pour se garer juste au bord et avoir la sensation d'être seuls au monde sans pour autant gêner la vie des autres campeurs plus hauts sur la pelouse.
Baignades savoureuses.
Seul "hic", les toilettes portables un peu pleins avant vidange. Mais pas impossible pour autant. Sinon j'aurais mis un 10. Je recommande ce spot sans aucune hésitation.
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3.0/5
Great location, thought it’s a 6km drive down an unsealed road so you may want to bear that in mind.
Views from the lakeshore are fantastic though the toilets weren’t working when we visited and were replaced with portaloos. Sandflies not as bad as other campsites but still present in greater numbers than you’d like. It’s also very popular which detracts from the charm slightly - try to visit when it’s not rammed.
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5.0/5
Love it!
So peaceful, quiet and the view is stunning.
One of the nicest Campground I've ever been!
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4.0/5
So sunny and calm here!
Good cell service, toilets aren’t open atm but portaloos available. Bring your bug spray and a camp chair :)
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5.0/5
It was awesome.
Serene location. Mountain views. Lake views. Walking tracks. Portable toilets operate fine. Just be wary of the sandflies and that’s the only negative. It’s about 25 minutes out from the hawea township.