Totara Campsite
Milford Rd
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Totara Campsite
This campsite is suitable for larger vehicles with sites sheltered by lush beech forest
A large sheltered campsite just off the main road and right next tor the river with easy access for large vehicles. It is nestled in amongst large trees and grassy areas, with picnic tables and BBQ's scattered throughout the site.
Location
53 km north of Te Anau, south of Mirror Lakes.
Notices
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Predator control for Eglinton Valley
A predator control operation using toxic bait containing 1080 was completed on 11 February 2024.
Eglinton Valley is open to the public with warning signs in place at key entrances.
There may be toxic carcasses and bait (green coloured pellets) in the area. It’s not safe to hunt for food or have your dog in this area for up to 8 months. Dogs are not allowed at any time. Warning signs and this web alert will be removed when the area is safe again.
This operation is part of DOC's National Predator Control Programme to protect native species.
First published on 18 December 2023. Last reviewed on 6 November 2024.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Totara 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 FiordlandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau |
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Operating Season And Hours |
This campsite cannot be booked, sites are on a first come basis. |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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5.0/5
We just spent about four nights here, was great!
We were able to get right next to the short, big-rigs may need to park further at the entrance, small turning circle. Beautifully peaceful. Beautiful views and hardly any sandflies. We had limited phone signal On Vodafone, Starlink worked well though. Mostly the only folks here! Lots of bird life. DOC popped in once or twice. DOC campsite pass valid. @tasmantravels
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5.0/5
Totara campsite was my first encounter with DOC sites and it didn't disappoint.
Set up tent between rains so that was a bonus. Also had a thunder and lightening show around midnight! Very cool the way the sound rumbles through the Maunga (mountain).
Arrived fairly late in the evening and departed early to get to Milford sound in the morning. If traveling to Milford the next day I would add an extra 30 mins on to your time as you have to find parking, slow vehicles and the walk from the car park is about 5-10 mins depending on ability (we had to run for our boat).
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4.5/5
This campsite was sweet!
Amazing view, forest between you and the road, near the river. Minimal facilities as expected.
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3.5/5
Nice stop to break up our drive to Milford.
Nice campsite other than the many sandflies. Raining so couldn't use the fire pit provided. Far enough away from the road so very little traffic noise.
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4.5/5
Quite a good site.
Sandflys are abundant so be prepared. Two toilets. Couldn’t find any running water but a nice stream nearby. Good place to minimise cost and time to travel to Milford the following morning. Keep up the good work DOC
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5.0/5
We stayed here on our way to Milford Sounds.
What a beautiful spot to stop, well off the road and a short walk to the river and you can have a fire:) we met some really lovely travellers and had a great night star gazing. We were self contained so didn’t need to use the drop toilets, but everyone who did came out alive.
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4.0/5
Peaceful place for a tent despite being close to the road.
Facilities extremely basic, water supply is directly from the river. For what it offers is a little bit overpriced.
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5.0/5
One of the best camping experiences in NZ even though sandflies were plentiful.
But the location and the landscapes, and the river flowing next to campsite made it all good. Fire permitted, bring your own firewood. Clean drop toilet. Lots of space. Some tables around for cooking.
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3.5/5
Standard DOC campsite with drop toilet.
Took us about an hour and a quarter (give or take) to get to Milford Sound in the morning. Fires permitted in firepits. Plenty of room.
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5.0/5
It has been months since I've got to cook a sausage over a fire, makes me so happy; also had the whole place to ourselves.
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4.0/5
Nice spot full of sandflies and mosquitoes.
$6 pp. Basic hole in the ground toilet.
Fire place with picnic tables. Close to the river. Good walks around the area.
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3.5/5
Great stop on the way to Milford.
Can have fires here, but was raining so couldn't make one. Sand flies were bad but considering where you are you'll find them everywhere. Cleanest toilet I've ever seen. Cheap stay at $6pp.
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5.0/5
We just spent about four nights here, was great!
We were able to get right next to the short, big-rigs may need to park further at the entrance, small turning circle. Beautifully peaceful. Beautiful views and hardly any sandflies. We had limited phone signal On Vodafone, Starlink worked well though. Mostly the only folks here! Lots of bird life. DOC popped in once or twice. DOC campsite pass valid. @tasmantravels
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5.0/5
Totara campsite was my first encounter with DOC sites and it didn't disappoint.
Set up tent between rains so that was a bonus. Also had a thunder and lightening show around midnight! Very cool the way the sound rumbles through the Maunga (mountain).
Arrived fairly late in the evening and departed early to get to Milford sound in the morning. If traveling to Milford the next day I would add an extra 30 mins on to your time as you have to find parking, slow vehicles and the walk from the car park is about 5-10 mins depending on ability (we had to run for our boat).
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4.5/5
This campsite was sweet!
Amazing view, forest between you and the road, near the river. Minimal facilities as expected.
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3.5/5
Nice stop to break up our drive to Milford.
Nice campsite other than the many sandflies. Raining so couldn't use the fire pit provided. Far enough away from the road so very little traffic noise.
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0.5/5
Wauw, we expected way more of this campsite!
It was by far the worst campsite we had in the whole of our 2 mnths in NZ. We came here in the afternoon and for the next 4 hours it was a coming an going of tourists driving up and off the place. Everybody stopped only to go to the toilets or take pictures of the flowerfields and then drove off with a more then nescessary speed. The toilets were almost completly filled by the time we needed them, horrible. Also, the place was crowded with sandflies. You can't cook or sit outsite, we were forced to stay in our car in the heat. Long story short, this was a disaster.
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4.5/5
Quite a good site.
Sandflys are abundant so be prepared. Two toilets. Couldn’t find any running water but a nice stream nearby. Good place to minimise cost and time to travel to Milford the following morning. Keep up the good work DOC
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5.0/5
We stayed here on our way to Milford Sounds.
What a beautiful spot to stop, well off the road and a short walk to the river and you can have a fire:) we met some really lovely travellers and had a great night star gazing. We were self contained so didn’t need to use the drop toilets, but everyone who did came out alive.
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4.0/5
Peaceful place for a tent despite being close to the road.
Facilities extremely basic, water supply is directly from the river. For what it offers is a little bit overpriced.
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5.0/5
One of the best camping experiences in NZ even though sandflies were plentiful.
But the location and the landscapes, and the river flowing next to campsite made it all good. Fire permitted, bring your own firewood. Clean drop toilet. Lots of space. Some tables around for cooking.
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3.5/5
Standard DOC campsite with drop toilet.
Took us about an hour and a quarter (give or take) to get to Milford Sound in the morning. Fires permitted in firepits. Plenty of room.
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5.0/5
It has been months since I've got to cook a sausage over a fire, makes me so happy; also had the whole place to ourselves.
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4.0/5
Nice spot full of sandflies and mosquitoes.
$6 pp. Basic hole in the ground toilet.
Fire place with picnic tables. Close to the river. Good walks around the area.
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3.5/5
Great stop on the way to Milford.
Can have fires here, but was raining so couldn't make one. Sand flies were bad but considering where you are you'll find them everywhere. Cleanest toilet I've ever seen. Cheap stay at $6pp.
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4.5/5
Big site so lots of space, very peaceful, beautiful views.
Near river, loads of lupins. Clean toilets. Handy stop on way to or from Milford.
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4.0/5
$6pp.
Large site on the way to Milford. Basic and clean long drop toilets. Next to river to use water for whatever (it's very cold on your head if you shower with it!). Only place that allows fires I believe, but bring your own wood! We were able to get a little fire going with some if the deadfall, but it was quite damp and made it difficult.
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3.5/5
Nice place, close to the river, $6 per night, fire place, toilets available.
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4.0/5
Simple DOC campsite with spectacular view of mountains and right by the river.
Cleanest pit toilets I have ever seen!! Cannot beat the price - $5 per person.
