Waikawa Recreation Reserve
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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.
This is a council designated campsite.
http://www.southlanddc.govt.nz/my-southland/freedom-camping/
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Southland District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Owaka |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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4.0/5
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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3.5/5
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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4.0/5
Terrain assez cabossé mais fait le job pour une nuit Toilettes propres et proches des emplacements
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4.0/5
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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4.0/5
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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4.5/5
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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5.0/5
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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3.5/5
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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3.5/5
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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4.0/5
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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3.0/5
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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3.0/5
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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4.0/5
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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3.5/5
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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4.0/5
Terrain assez cabossé mais fait le job pour une nuit Toilettes propres et proches des emplacements
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4.0/5
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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4.0/5
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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4.5/5
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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5.0/5
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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3.5/5
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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3.5/5
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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4.0/5
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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3.5/5
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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4.0/5
Great place but a bit muddy.
Very clean toilets nearby. A nice museum across the street!
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4.5/5
Great spot in the Catlins!
We had the most amazing sunrise there, beautiful pink skies. Toilets are great.
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4.5/5
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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4.0/5
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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5.0/5
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.
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3.5/5
Nice free camp site.
Toilets up near road 5 minutes walk. Site is grass so be careful not to get stuck, especially if it rains. It did get very gusty during the night. And the rain was horizontal. Make sure you batten down the hatches.
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3.0/5
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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4.5/5
Nice location with great views, and close to Curio Bay, tricky to find a flat site to park.
Nice walk through the forest nearby.
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4.0/5
Hey! Buy a small basin to wash your dishes !
Stop doing dishes in bathroom sinks! Aside from using the handicapped toilets for your dishwashing, you leave food bits in the sinks for others to deal with. It’s not all about you!
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4.0/5
Great little site - perfectly adequate toilets, and a nice view over the adjacent inlet.
Note that the permitted camping area is now only the part by the water, not the large adjacent field. There were probably about 20 vans by the end, so it got a bit crowded - don’t leave it too late if you want a decent outlook. Great fish and chip van at the end of the road.
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4.5/5
Beautiful and peaceful place for overnight!
Very quiet if no wind. It got super windy for us the next morning and lots of sand flies. Not so much space so come early. Super clean toilets just 200m walk from the parking area.
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3.5/5
Fish and chip shop was closed when we stopped.
Good view of the bay. Bathrooms are clean.
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4.0/5
Perfect for a night's stop after Curio bay.
Toilets are clean with flush, sinks, lights and a hand dryer! Drinking water is available from a tap behind the hall. Rubbish facilities too. Check the map next to the toilets carefully to make sure you set up camp in the right place. You can shelter from the wind by the hedge but be careful not to get bogged!
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3.0/5
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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4.5/5
Great little overnight stop.
There are public flushing toilets with lights that are clean and well maintained. Only a few spots get water views but the whole site is covered in thick lovely grass. Would recommend to a friend!
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4.5/5
Nice big freedom camping area with the small hamlet of Waikawa on one side and native woodland on the other, as well as partly overlooking the harbour.
The toilets were good (flush, water and a light) and there was a drinking water tap. We enjoyed the short walk through the woodland behind the site. The chip van is currently only open Friday-Sunday (mid November) so we didn't get to try any but it looked good! Nice site, would return.
