Waikawa Recreation Reserve
Overnight Campervan Parking
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Waikawa Recreation Reserve
Waikawa Recreation Reserve is A-OK for overnight free-camping
Self-contained campers are welcome to overnight at the Recreation Reserve in Waikawa township.
Bordering the Catlins and close to Curio Bay, Waikawa also boasts a popular fish and chip (chup) wagon. Nice!
Standard camping etiquette applies: clean up after yourself, respect thy neighbour and other users of the area, and protect the environment around you. And enjoy!
There are primo public toilets about 200m away from the campsite - keep it real.
Overnight camping permitted only in any 30 day period.
Must be self-contained.
Camping is now prohibited on the grass area next to the water.
All overnight camping is now in a very well graded area next to the toilet block.
This area is very well graded and level.
Toilets are good and well lit at night.
This is a council designated campsite.
http://www.southlanddc.govt.nz/my-southland/freedom-camping/
Details
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Organisation |
Southland District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Owaka |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Google Maps
Nearby
Reviews
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Clean toilets -
Nice location by the water
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Good for self-contained campers
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Levels parking area
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No drinking water -
No showers
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Limited parking space
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A free park with no facilities.
Jochem Snyders -
Camping area is now next to the toilet block.
Phil -
Ideal free spot before/after visiting Curio Bay.
Sophie Skinner -
Definitely not a bad place to stay by any means.
Kelsey Fisher -
Really solid spot!
missingzuinNZ
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Camping area is now next to the toilet block.
Camping on the grassed area next to the water is prohibited.
Capacity of up to 20 campers depending on size.
Area next to the toilet block is very well graded and level. Toilet block is well lit at night.
There are no showers, dump stations or fresh water top ups here.
Still a great place to stay in a nice area.
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Parking lot (level) camping but clean flush toilets with room for 15-20 units depending how well people park A good stop
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Really solid spot!
Lots of space when we got there at 7 pm, although it did fill up by the end of the night. Only downside is no potable water, but the bathrooms are nice and clean!
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Good free spot to park for the night if you are self contained.
Has flushing toilets and lots of rubbish bins. Only a few minutes to Curo Bay which is amazing. Just a carpark but has a large reserve right beside it for the kids to play.
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Terrain assez cabossé mais fait le job pour une nuit Toilettes propres et proches des emplacements
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Handy car park for a night.
Toilets clean. No drinking water source but a great location to stop after a day looking for penguins at Curio Bay.
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Definitely not a bad place to stay by any means.
They have flush toilets, which is a nice bonus. There was also a wonderful, short walk through the woods adjacent to the parking lot which was nice. Only downside is there isn't a lot of space, so you need to show up early.
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Beautiful location on the water, near the Catlins.
Clean bathrooms, quiet, nice nature walk nearby. The local town museum across the street was pretty cool. Only downside was nowhere to wash dishes or get drinking water.
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This is a good spot.
Had it all to ourselves. A must is the George Atkin Bush walk that starts just down at waters edge. Short walk filled with bird sounds and native Bush. Toilets are clean.
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Nice place in Waikawa, near the museum and the harbour, nice views!
Bathrooms and rubbish bins, a little bit muddy if its raining.
Jan 2021, cold and no sandflies.
Sandflies level: 2
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Quiet spot in a carpark next to a small field and close to the water.
Flush toilets nearby, and a nice nature walk. Enough space for about 20 vehicles
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Site has moved and is no longer on the grass overlooking the water.
My guess is that it became too muddy. Now it is in the car park behind the loos. Not far from the water, but not the nice view the pictures portray.
Level spot and pretty big site, enough space for many vehicles to fit comfortably. Toilets at the site too.
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Ok, field with opportunities to park.
Tricky to find a flat spot. It got very crowded. Good location though and a nice view.
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Great spot in the Catlins!
We had the most amazing sunrise there, beautiful pink skies. Toilets are great.
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Came here because the last place was too windy.
That was a mistake. The wind picked up at sunset and howled all night. It was not a restful night. The site is grass and mud but mostly mud in the rain. There is a slight pitch to most of the spots down to the water. The view is nice. The bathrooms were ok but not great. I'd pass on this if the weather is iffy.
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Get in early for a good level space!
See map by toilets, the whole area is not for freedom camping! Toilets & rubbish bins. We had lovely view over water (first there) by late evening we were 12!! Fish & chip van just by info/museum.
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Toilet block, water available, close to houses, pretty views over the bay, some flat spots for parking, grass area, better than some sites we have seen.
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Camping area is now next to the toilet block.
Camping on the grassed area next to the water is prohibited.
Capacity of up to 20 campers depending on size.
Area next to the toilet block is very well graded and level. Toilet block is well lit at night.
There are no showers, dump stations or fresh water top ups here.
Still a great place to stay in a nice area.
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Parking lot (level) camping but clean flush toilets with room for 15-20 units depending how well people park A good stop
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Really solid spot!
Lots of space when we got there at 7 pm, although it did fill up by the end of the night. Only downside is no potable water, but the bathrooms are nice and clean!
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Good free spot to park for the night if you are self contained.
Has flushing toilets and lots of rubbish bins. Only a few minutes to Curo Bay which is amazing. Just a carpark but has a large reserve right beside it for the kids to play.
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Terrain assez cabossé mais fait le job pour une nuit Toilettes propres et proches des emplacements
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Handy car park for a night.
Toilets clean. No drinking water source but a great location to stop after a day looking for penguins at Curio Bay.
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Definitely not a bad place to stay by any means.
They have flush toilets, which is a nice bonus. There was also a wonderful, short walk through the woods adjacent to the parking lot which was nice. Only downside is there isn't a lot of space, so you need to show up early.
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Beautiful location on the water, near the Catlins.
Clean bathrooms, quiet, nice nature walk nearby. The local town museum across the street was pretty cool. Only downside was nowhere to wash dishes or get drinking water.
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This is a good spot.
Had it all to ourselves. A must is the George Atkin Bush walk that starts just down at waters edge. Short walk filled with bird sounds and native Bush. Toilets are clean.
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Nice place in Waikawa, near the museum and the harbour, nice views!
Bathrooms and rubbish bins, a little bit muddy if its raining.
Jan 2021, cold and no sandflies.
Sandflies level: 2
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Quiet spot in a carpark next to a small field and close to the water.
Flush toilets nearby, and a nice nature walk. Enough space for about 20 vehicles
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Site has moved and is no longer on the grass overlooking the water.
My guess is that it became too muddy. Now it is in the car park behind the loos. Not far from the water, but not the nice view the pictures portray.
Level spot and pretty big site, enough space for many vehicles to fit comfortably. Toilets at the site too.
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Ok, field with opportunities to park.
Tricky to find a flat spot. It got very crowded. Good location though and a nice view.
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Great spot in the Catlins!
We had the most amazing sunrise there, beautiful pink skies. Toilets are great.
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Cozy area beside the bay tucked up against the forest.
Fairly flat with a few mud puddles. 20 vans by the end made a full house, some lined up along the entrance road. Everyone was respectful but we were all parked close enough to hear several conversations. Nice flush toilets and potable water (rainwater) available behind the hall. Highly recommend exploring the forest path that starts just behind the fence separating the parking area from the field, there are informational signs about various native tree species and the short loop (if you take your first left after a bit) is very nice to stretch your legs after a day of driving. The bay is mostly mud at low tide but fills up nicely at high tide. Not many options for food or fuel nearby so take care of that on your way over (we recommend The Whistling Frog up by McLean Falls). The spot can get windy, which you should hope for because otherwise the sandflies are unbearable.
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Ideal free spot before/after visiting Curio Bay.
Toilets are a 1min walk back to the road, site small ish and grassy. Flat enough. What you’d expect for a free site.
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Great site overlooking Porpoise Bay.
A short drive round from Curio Bay, where freedom camping is prohibited.
There is some hard road, but otherwise muddy grass; no problem as we were the only van.
Rubbish can be left here.