Mavora Lakes Campsite

Mavora Lakes Campsite - Mavora Lakes Conservation Park

Mavora Lakes Campsite

Mavora Lakes Conservation Park

20 Rankers Reviews

6 Face-to-Face

Check Availability

Accommodation

Maps

FREE Header

Camping NZ NEW

Welcome to New Zealand's most comprehensive database of freely available camping information. This is the only travel map of its kind in NZ.

Photos

The serenity....
Not much more needs to be said!
Mavora Lakes Camping Ground
looking across the lake to the campsite
breath taking

Information

Mavora Lakes Campsite

Mavora Lakes Campsite has two main (standard) camping areas: one alongside South Mavora Lake, and the other between South Mavora Lake and North Mavora Lake.

A beautiful place to stay with views of mountains and the lake. There is some great biking in the area as well as heaps of walks and fishing.

This is a popular camping spot with BBQ's, picnic areas and designated fire spots. There is a boat ramp here, please note though that motor boats are only allowed on the North Mavora Lake. The access to this camp site is over 30kms of gravel road.

You can find more details of activities at Mavora Lakes Park on the DOC website.

DOC Campsite Pricing

Mavora Lakes 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 Southland

Central government organisation

Location

South IslandFiordlandTe Anau

Categories

  • Activity__basic_facility_campingBasic Camping

Operating Season And Hours

This campsite cannot be booked, sites are on a first come basis.

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-45.27424819

168.1729942

Latitude
-45.27424819
Longitude
168.1729942

Websites

Reviews

    • Iconic campsite!
    • This is a very beautiful spot.
    • Very remote but beautiful place.
    • Tough one to review.
    • Beautiful area to camp.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 8
    40%
    9/10 6
    30%
    8/10 3
    15%
    7/10 1
    5%
    6/10 2
    10%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 3.5/5

    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

  • 4.0/5

    Great DOC-run site with picnic tables, fireplaces and drop toilets scattered throughout the spacious campground area.

    Note the sandflies are thick so be prepared...

    There are a few shorter walks that you can do around the lakes or longer hikes to huts if you are adequately equipped.

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    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

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful area to camp.

    You’ll be lucky if you get a decent spot by tables and a bbq though. We found a quiet spot by the lake though and had a great night. We planned to stay for 2 nights however a truck with a large family arrived at about 9am the next morning and started unloading a quad bike, dirt bike, speakers, crates of beer and playing heavy metal early in the morning. Not our scene and they parked literally 15ft away from us when there was so much other space. Moral of the story is don’t go on a weekend in summer and pay for one night at a time in case you want to move on.

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    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

  • 5.0/5

    Fantastic area with multiple areas to camp.

    If in a 4wd access to extra areas including huts also available

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    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

  • 4.5/5

    Stunning views.

    Lots of camp sites, fire places, toilets and untreated tap water. Strongly recommend! But lots of sandflies.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    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

  • 5.0/5

    Very lovely camping spots in the forest near the lake with lots of space in between them.

    Some fire places and tables provided - a picture book camping experience!

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    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

  • 4.0/5

    Very remote but beautiful place.

    Quite a drive, so only worth of it if you stay for a few days and you want to explore the area

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in November 2014

  • 3.5/5

    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

  • 4.0/5

    Great DOC-run site with picnic tables, fireplaces and drop toilets scattered throughout the spacious campground area.

    Note the sandflies are thick so be prepared...

    There are a few shorter walks that you can do around the lakes or longer hikes to huts if you are adequately equipped.

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    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

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful area to camp.

    You’ll be lucky if you get a decent spot by tables and a bbq though. We found a quiet spot by the lake though and had a great night. We planned to stay for 2 nights however a truck with a large family arrived at about 9am the next morning and started unloading a quad bike, dirt bike, speakers, crates of beer and playing heavy metal early in the morning. Not our scene and they parked literally 15ft away from us when there was so much other space. Moral of the story is don’t go on a weekend in summer and pay for one night at a time in case you want to move on.

    Reviewed over 4 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    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

  • 5.0/5

    Fantastic area with multiple areas to camp.

    If in a 4wd access to extra areas including huts also available

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    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

  • 4.5/5

    Stunning views.

    Lots of camp sites, fire places, toilets and untreated tap water. Strongly recommend! But lots of sandflies.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    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

  • 5.0/5

    Very lovely camping spots in the forest near the lake with lots of space in between them.

    Some fire places and tables provided - a picture book camping experience!

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    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

  • 4.0/5

    Very remote but beautiful place.

    Quite a drive, so only worth of it if you stay for a few days and you want to explore the area

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in November 2014

  • 4.5/5

    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

  • 4.0/5

    Beautiful surroundings in the middle of nowhere.

    Prepare for basic facilities (no shower, no kitchen) and sandflies and you'll have a great time.

    Reviewed almost 11 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    The DOC guy was so nice to us, everything was really clean.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013

  • 5.0/5

    Excellent fishing location and very well maintained.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Great environment, absolutley quiet and beautiful.

    Warm showers probably would be against the concept.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011

    AUSTRIA
    Max's avatar

    Max

  • 5.0/5

    Fantastic.

    Beautiful nature and great fishing.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago