This was our first overnight stay after picking a van up in QT.

It is a fair drive off the main roads but is worth it, in good weather we can imagine the views would be very special. Large area available for camping with interspersed basic long drops around the sites. Opportunity to have sites sheltered in/under trees or near water's edge. There are some basic facilities to help small camp fires/BBQ during set periods.

Reviewed about 4 years ago

Location: It is magic!

Price: $9,00 p.p for one night

If you can, go here!

Insects: There are a little bit sand flies and mouses

Wc’s: Long drop toilets, but the are clean

Douche: no douche, you have water where you can swim in

The road is 40 km of a grind way, but... When you arrive drive to a place you like. It is a peaceful place, a rough pearl!

Reviewed over 4 years ago

Tough one to review.

10/10 for the beautiful surroundings, no doubt about that. However, the activity there is a big setback, although you should be clear if you camp further south. It is a shame that there is an offroad track right beside the lake, i.e lots of bikes, ATVs, and 4x4s making noise and creating clouds of dust. Lots of boaters as well. Someone also decided to use their chainsaw at around 10 pm to create an even bigger bonfire. The huge clouds of smoke did cover the smell from the toilets, if I should look on the bright side. One of the prettiest campsites we’ve been to, nonetheless, with few good walks (if you don’t mind engine noise). The 8 dollars pp gave us mixed feelings. On one hand we want to help with the upkeep of the environment, on the other it feels like we paid for a motor show.

Reviewed almost 5 years ago

The best place I stayed in, in our adventure in NZ.

We had a campervan and went out of our way a little bit (30 mins) to get to this campsite. I’m a LOTR fan myself and actually felt the most ‘LOTR vibe’ being here - even more than Rohan or Gondor ‘areas’! You could actually believe yourself in hearing Sam say ‘MR FRODO! ... & I’m coming with you!’.

We have a particularly special experience with this campsite as it started snowing overnight and we woke up to a winter wonderland in the morning. A truely magical experience (in November!). Campervan was fine driving back on snow-y roads as well.

10/10 recommend. I don’t know about toilets etc because we were self contained - but I think I saw one :)

Reviewed almost 6 years ago

Iconic campsite!

Amazing views being nestled in alpine lake valley. Huge area to camp, numerous firespots, good toilet availability. Excellent walks, recommend one from north to south lake across suspension bridges. We went on busy New years weekend and still found serenity. Be aware vehicle track at very end of campsite leading up mountain can get busy and noisey with 4wds and motor bikes. Sandflies seemed to

More of an issue in amongst trees. Highly recommend!

Reviewed almost 8 years ago

This is a very beautiful spot.

The lakes are lovely and DOC have provided great campsites with picnic tables and fire boxes. However, it appears to be frequented by people (mostly Kiwis) who are not really there to appreciate the peace, beauty and wildlife, but instead have arrived with trail bikes, power boats and crates of beer. Instead of using the long drop toilets, many of them prefer to shit in the woods. Yuck. Not worth the 35km gravel road.

Reviewed almost 9 years ago

This was our first overnight stay after picking a van up in QT.

It is a fair drive off the main roads but is worth it, in good weather we can imagine the views would be very special. Large area available for camping with interspersed basic long drops around the sites. Opportunity to have sites sheltered in/under trees or near water's edge. There are some basic facilities to help small camp fires/BBQ during set periods.

Reviewed about 4 years ago

Location: It is magic!

Price: $9,00 p.p for one night

If you can, go here!

Insects: There are a little bit sand flies and mouses

Wc’s: Long drop toilets, but the are clean

Douche: no douche, you have water where you can swim in

The road is 40 km of a grind way, but... When you arrive drive to a place you like. It is a peaceful place, a rough pearl!

Reviewed over 4 years ago

Tough one to review.

10/10 for the beautiful surroundings, no doubt about that. However, the activity there is a big setback, although you should be clear if you camp further south. It is a shame that there is an offroad track right beside the lake, i.e lots of bikes, ATVs, and 4x4s making noise and creating clouds of dust. Lots of boaters as well. Someone also decided to use their chainsaw at around 10 pm to create an even bigger bonfire. The huge clouds of smoke did cover the smell from the toilets, if I should look on the bright side. One of the prettiest campsites we’ve been to, nonetheless, with few good walks (if you don’t mind engine noise). The 8 dollars pp gave us mixed feelings. On one hand we want to help with the upkeep of the environment, on the other it feels like we paid for a motor show.

Reviewed almost 5 years ago

The best place I stayed in, in our adventure in NZ.

We had a campervan and went out of our way a little bit (30 mins) to get to this campsite. I’m a LOTR fan myself and actually felt the most ‘LOTR vibe’ being here - even more than Rohan or Gondor ‘areas’! You could actually believe yourself in hearing Sam say ‘MR FRODO! ... & I’m coming with you!’.

We have a particularly special experience with this campsite as it started snowing overnight and we woke up to a winter wonderland in the morning. A truely magical experience (in November!). Campervan was fine driving back on snow-y roads as well.

10/10 recommend. I don’t know about toilets etc because we were self contained - but I think I saw one :)

Reviewed almost 6 years ago

Iconic campsite!

Amazing views being nestled in alpine lake valley. Huge area to camp, numerous firespots, good toilet availability. Excellent walks, recommend one from north to south lake across suspension bridges. We went on busy New years weekend and still found serenity. Be aware vehicle track at very end of campsite leading up mountain can get busy and noisey with 4wds and motor bikes. Sandflies seemed to

More of an issue in amongst trees. Highly recommend!

Reviewed almost 8 years ago

This is a very beautiful spot.

The lakes are lovely and DOC have provided great campsites with picnic tables and fire boxes. However, it appears to be frequented by people (mostly Kiwis) who are not really there to appreciate the peace, beauty and wildlife, but instead have arrived with trail bikes, power boats and crates of beer. Instead of using the long drop toilets, many of them prefer to shit in the woods. Yuck. Not worth the 35km gravel road.

Reviewed almost 9 years ago

Quite a long gravel road to reach it (37km) but worth it!

Great sceneries with the lakes, mountains and the filming locations of Lotr. Just 6$ each but toilets could be better.

Reviewed over 10 years ago

Great environment, absolutley quiet and beautiful.

Warm showers probably would be against the concept.

Reviewed over 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011