Monowai Campsite
Lake Monowai
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Monowai Campsite
Enjoy this peaceful campsite beside Lake Monowai. Explore the tracks to Rodger Inlet and Green Lake huts, or go fishing or boating.
Monowai Camping Ground is a free DOC campsite beside a beautiful lake. There is a huge gravel parking area next to the boat ramp for large vehicles. For smaller vans, cruise up the hill or nestle next to the trees right next to the lake. There is little turning space in the trees and it can get quite boggy in wet weather. Very sheltered area and well worth the fairly long drive to get into it.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Monowai Campsite is categorised as a DOC Basic Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing.
DOC Basic Campsite
Basic campsites have very limited facilities so you need to be fully self-sufficient. There are basic toilets and water may be from a water tank that is untreated, stream or lake. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Access may be by road or boat.
| Feature | Value | Value |
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| Unpowered Site | Adult | $0.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Child | $0.00 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 FiordlandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Manapouri |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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3.5/5
Beautiful free camping spot, heaps of spaces for vehicles & lots of camp fire spaces too!
Found at the end of a gravel road (about 14kms). Stunning lake and surrounding nature!! Lots of sandflies & mosquitoes so bring ur repellent, toilets are definitely not the cleanest either !!
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0.5/5
Horrible !
Camping dans la forêt, limite flippant
Aucune pancarte on ne sait même pas où est vraiment le camping, on ne sait même pas si on a le droit de rester.
Beaucoup trop de sandfly, en cinq minutes on avait déjà une dizaine de piqures.
Si vous n’avez pas de moyen de cuisiner à l’intérieur n’y allez pas c’est impossible.
Nous n’avons pas pu rester à cause des sandfly…
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3.0/5
It's 14km off the main road & 8 of that is gravel.
Positioned right above the beautiful lake, there's lot's of space for smaller vans/cars, but not after a heavy rain (very soft ground). I'd like to point out that there's LOADS of mice, mosquitoes & sandflies. When sandflies go to sleep, mosquitoes wake up so there's not a single minute of peace if you're not well prepared (we had mozzie sticks & spray repellent but it didn't help for more than a few minutes). We also got a few mice in the van, even on the bed. Oh and the toilet... Smelly, buzzy, one of the absolute worst we've come across. But the scenery is fantastic, there's a few walks near-by and the beech forest makes you feel like you're in a fairytail (if you keep on moving so the flies don't catch you - haha).
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3.5/5
if you love sandflies than this place will be perfect.
but we had good conversations to other travellers and a campfire so it es quite ok for this expensive region. far away from the highway and gravel all the way
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3.0/5
Well of the beaten track, stayed here on our way down to bluff.
Toilets not maintained at all, heaps of sand flies, not a big place to park up.
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4.0/5
Nice spot tucked out of the way not a huge area for campers but smaller vehicles could tuck under the trees.
Gravel road to reach the site and quite a few sand flies even in September.
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5.0/5
Worth the long drive for the clean air & sheltered camp in the trees.
We tucked our van into the trees, & were careful to stay out of the mud.
There is a simple toilet.
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4.0/5
We arrived late, it was dark, was kinda hard to tell where to park.
We saw a few cars parked amongst the trees. Ended up getting our 2wd van stuck and took a few of us and a lot of bad words to get it back up onto the road. Don’t go down between the trees unless it’s dry and it’s flat as it slopes down in most places and there’s lots of roots which make it hard to turn and get out again! Ended up following the road up a bit to a larger gravel parking area with lots of vans around, so that’s probably a safer option... toilets are decent and nice location as long as it doesn’t get too crowded but you should always be able to find a spot either way.
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5.0/5
10/10 mint spot for a fish, have a couple of cold ones and meet great people!
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3.5/5
Enjoyed this site very much.
Stayed 4 nights in January and every night the quantity of campers well exceeded the recommended number so to be expected that the loos weren't fantastic. They are serviced regularly and luxury as far as no-flush loos go, unfortunately many campers opting for their own spot in the bush so recommend children play in open spaces only. The views are gorgeous even from dam face, nearby bush walks are easy tracks for a relaxing outing.
Would give this a 10 were it not so heavily populated overnight.
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5.0/5
AMAZING!
A bit of a long drive to get here but absolutely worth it. The view and whole atmosphere of the place is wonderful. The facilities are beyond horrendous, so better if you are self-contained, but even still, one of the greatest free (or paying!!) campsites we have stayed in.
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3.5/5
Beautiful free camping spot, heaps of spaces for vehicles & lots of camp fire spaces too!
Found at the end of a gravel road (about 14kms). Stunning lake and surrounding nature!! Lots of sandflies & mosquitoes so bring ur repellent, toilets are definitely not the cleanest either !!
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0.5/5
Horrible !
Camping dans la forêt, limite flippant
Aucune pancarte on ne sait même pas où est vraiment le camping, on ne sait même pas si on a le droit de rester.
Beaucoup trop de sandfly, en cinq minutes on avait déjà une dizaine de piqures.
Si vous n’avez pas de moyen de cuisiner à l’intérieur n’y allez pas c’est impossible.
Nous n’avons pas pu rester à cause des sandfly…
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3.0/5
It's 14km off the main road & 8 of that is gravel.
Positioned right above the beautiful lake, there's lot's of space for smaller vans/cars, but not after a heavy rain (very soft ground). I'd like to point out that there's LOADS of mice, mosquitoes & sandflies. When sandflies go to sleep, mosquitoes wake up so there's not a single minute of peace if you're not well prepared (we had mozzie sticks & spray repellent but it didn't help for more than a few minutes). We also got a few mice in the van, even on the bed. Oh and the toilet... Smelly, buzzy, one of the absolute worst we've come across. But the scenery is fantastic, there's a few walks near-by and the beech forest makes you feel like you're in a fairytail (if you keep on moving so the flies don't catch you - haha).
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3.5/5
if you love sandflies than this place will be perfect.
but we had good conversations to other travellers and a campfire so it es quite ok for this expensive region. far away from the highway and gravel all the way
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3.0/5
Well of the beaten track, stayed here on our way down to bluff.
Toilets not maintained at all, heaps of sand flies, not a big place to park up.
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1.5/5
Long drop toilets weren't clean and full of sandflies and mosquitos.
Pack your insect repellent! Directly at a lake
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4.0/5
Nice spot tucked out of the way not a huge area for campers but smaller vehicles could tuck under the trees.
Gravel road to reach the site and quite a few sand flies even in September.
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5.0/5
Worth the long drive for the clean air & sheltered camp in the trees.
We tucked our van into the trees, & were careful to stay out of the mud.
There is a simple toilet.
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4.0/5
We arrived late, it was dark, was kinda hard to tell where to park.
We saw a few cars parked amongst the trees. Ended up getting our 2wd van stuck and took a few of us and a lot of bad words to get it back up onto the road. Don’t go down between the trees unless it’s dry and it’s flat as it slopes down in most places and there’s lots of roots which make it hard to turn and get out again! Ended up following the road up a bit to a larger gravel parking area with lots of vans around, so that’s probably a safer option... toilets are decent and nice location as long as it doesn’t get too crowded but you should always be able to find a spot either way.
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5.0/5
10/10 mint spot for a fish, have a couple of cold ones and meet great people!
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3.5/5
Enjoyed this site very much.
Stayed 4 nights in January and every night the quantity of campers well exceeded the recommended number so to be expected that the loos weren't fantastic. They are serviced regularly and luxury as far as no-flush loos go, unfortunately many campers opting for their own spot in the bush so recommend children play in open spaces only. The views are gorgeous even from dam face, nearby bush walks are easy tracks for a relaxing outing.
Would give this a 10 were it not so heavily populated overnight.
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5.0/5
AMAZING!
A bit of a long drive to get here but absolutely worth it. The view and whole atmosphere of the place is wonderful. The facilities are beyond horrendous, so better if you are self-contained, but even still, one of the greatest free (or paying!!) campsites we have stayed in.
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3.5/5
Not a bad spot.
A little far in but lovely trees. Better for tents then campers though. Long drop toilet was filthy and horribly smelly. Good walking trails around.
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3.0/5
Was very wet when we went there making the tree area unusable.
Appeared to be very pretty but lots of sand flies and mosquitos even in mid April. Lots of other folks coming thru making it crowded for the small area. But is a good place for transitioning from Catlins to Te Anau.
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4.0/5
Hell bent on spending a night off the grid in the New Zealand wilderness we came here in a 6 berth motor home.
No trouble accessing the area. We drove through the boat ramp carpark and up to the higher gravel area to park so views were not to be had but we got a nice level ground in the middle. Quite busy with smaller groups by nightfall. Walk to the lookout offers a stunning view. We built a small fire which the kids loved. Toilet even ok for a long drop. One of our most favourite nights on this trip.
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2.5/5
Located nicely in the forest by the lake, but the millions of sandflies and mosquitoes were eating us alive, not even deterred by plenty of "Off".
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5.0/5
What an amazing location!
Beautiful location among lichen covered trees on the edge of a magnificent lake. We parked our van on a flat spot off the road and made a campfire. It was out of a storybook. We took a walk in the morning to the lookout which was spectacular. One of our favourite nights in NZ.
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4.0/5
Nice and sheltered, if you drive up the hill.
Situated in a beautiful forest next to the lake, short and longer walks nearby. Spent new years eve here, very quiet.
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4.0/5
Remote free camping spot near a nice lake.
Great starting point for multi day hikes into Fiordland. Cabin huts are free if you reach them after hiking. Two toilets.
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2.0/5
Not many spaces with views of lake one or two in car park.
Could be a great location if more open areas were provided. Most parking areas for camping are surrounded by trees so no views from this site. Some picnic areas but very limited view of the lake. There is a short walk to look out however no views of lake in till you get to the look out at the end but very over grown here. Very sheltered site. Two toilets available on this site. Donation site. Main car park area taken up with boat trailers and cars but some parking for motor homes might be available with better views in this car park area for one or two. In late December when visited very few flying friends were present but some repellent would be recommended. Very quite here not many campers. 6km gravel road to reach very flat drive into this site. Not got good views from camping areas.
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4.5/5
Long drive in rewarded with freedom camping at the lake in the trees.
Campfire, walk to point look out. Yes there are sandflys. Seems like some irresponsible campers have caused DOC to block vehicles from the prime sites in the trees. Too bad still we parked on the edge of the car park and it was great.
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3.0/5
Not much more to say than phil & laura.
Depending on which season you get to this campground, do NOT forget the repellant!
2 long drop toilets 100m away from the place where you park but no water tap.
As usually, the free doc campground are far way from everything, but the location worths the distance.
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3.5/5
Basic DOC campsite.
Lovely location. Quite a few campers there when we arrived but it was tranquil. Nice short walk away from the campsite along the lakeside offering the chance of secluded swimming. First contact with sandflies, so repellant necessary, plus insect killer if they get into the van. Set into a wooded area, most vans were parked on raised ground away from the lakeside. There was some construction work underway on the river, but it did not disturb us. Loos were a bit below par here.
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