(Clive Ski Reserve)
Evers-Swindell Reserve
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Evers-Swindell Reserve
Evers-Swindell Reserve (previously Clive Ski Reserve) on the Clive River is a designated free-camping area for certified self-contained motorhomes and campervans.
Named after retired Hawke’s Bay Olympic rowers Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, this popular one hectare reserve is in Clive, on the shores of the Clive River, between Napier and Hastings. It has a playground, which includes swings, balance beams and stepping logs, and picnic tables. It sits alongside the cycle path between Napier and Hastings.
You'll need to have your certification on display, and are allowed to stay up to two nights at the Reserve.
Basic free-camping etiquette applies, pack it in, pack it out and use designated dumpstations for your waste and greywater.
Cheers to the Hastings District Council and local community for the free-camping goodness!
Details
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Organisation |
Hastings District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Hawkes Bay ▷ Hastings |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
Nice place without any charge.
Beautiful view. We liked it there, so we came back for a second night after discovering Napier.
Clean toilets. Picknick tables available as well as a playground.
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3.0/5
Not somewhere I would want to stop as a solo female camper, but is okay if you have someone else with you.
Flat hard standing. Beautiful views and peaceful during the daytime, but turns into a bit of a different place once the sun sets. Loud cars playing music at full volume and people arguing, and the toilets are a dark trek past an aggressive dog behind a fence that about frighten the daylights out of you. Wish we’d moved on once the sun set but that’s hindsight for you.
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4.0/5
Beautiful stay.
Calm and safe. Clean toilets and nice view to wake up to. Definitely recommend this spot.
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4.0/5
Actually called “Evers-Swindell Reserve” and is on Main Road, Clive.
Not Clive Ski Reserve
Great place next to river.
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5.0/5
A beautiful place to camp.
Walking/cycle pathways, through protected estuary where many water birds abound, is one of my favourite walks. Very friendly locals.
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5.0/5
Beautiful peaceful site right beside the river.
Room for over 20 vans. Small shops in village 5 mins walk away.
Signs warn that it can flood at high tide after heavy rains. It had been raining on and off all day so we had some concern. In the event the river rose to about 10cm of the bank and looked reasonably placid. Nevertheless, some care needed.
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4.5/5
Nice spot.
Can be a bit noisy due to traffic on the bridge. Near shops. Very clean toilet!
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4.0/5
Nice spot by the river only for self-contained campervans; only one unisex toilet available.
Swings to entertain young ones. Lots of dog walkers, didn't bother us at all.
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0.5/5
Do NOT try to stay there if you're not in a certified vehicle.
The council inspects every night and threaten you with a $700 fine if you don't leave immediately. They are totally humorless and inflexible - my van is self-contained but has no certification sticker. They're even worse than the Tauranga camping Nazis.
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5.0/5
Nice place without any charge.
Beautiful view. We liked it there, so we came back for a second night after discovering Napier.
Clean toilets. Picknick tables available as well as a playground.
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3.0/5
Not somewhere I would want to stop as a solo female camper, but is okay if you have someone else with you.
Flat hard standing. Beautiful views and peaceful during the daytime, but turns into a bit of a different place once the sun sets. Loud cars playing music at full volume and people arguing, and the toilets are a dark trek past an aggressive dog behind a fence that about frighten the daylights out of you. Wish we’d moved on once the sun set but that’s hindsight for you.
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4.0/5
Beautiful stay.
Calm and safe. Clean toilets and nice view to wake up to. Definitely recommend this spot.
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4.0/5
Actually called “Evers-Swindell Reserve” and is on Main Road, Clive.
Not Clive Ski Reserve
Great place next to river.
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5.0/5
A beautiful place to camp.
Walking/cycle pathways, through protected estuary where many water birds abound, is one of my favourite walks. Very friendly locals.
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5.0/5
Beautiful peaceful site right beside the river.
Room for over 20 vans. Small shops in village 5 mins walk away.
Signs warn that it can flood at high tide after heavy rains. It had been raining on and off all day so we had some concern. In the event the river rose to about 10cm of the bank and looked reasonably placid. Nevertheless, some care needed.
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4.5/5
Nice spot.
Can be a bit noisy due to traffic on the bridge. Near shops. Very clean toilet!
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4.0/5
Nice spot by the river only for self-contained campervans; only one unisex toilet available.
Swings to entertain young ones. Lots of dog walkers, didn't bother us at all.
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0.5/5
Do NOT try to stay there if you're not in a certified vehicle.
The council inspects every night and threaten you with a $700 fine if you don't leave immediately. They are totally humorless and inflexible - my van is self-contained but has no certification sticker. They're even worse than the Tauranga camping Nazis.
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3.5/5
Nicely located freedom camping spot being next to the Clive River.
Water is apparently not suitable for use but good spot none the less. Flush toilet at entrance.
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3.5/5
Awesome location for motorhome park.
Short walk for cafe/restaurant. Toilets. 10 minutes from either Napier or Hastings. Free.
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4.0/5
Nice camp site (car park) by the river, not pitch black (some light from the road/houses).
Not noisy, only set back is the toilet is a little walk from where you have to park.
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4.5/5
We got a little lost trying to find the entrance, as we drove straight past it.
We had an awesome view of the river. Nicely set out free parking area.
