Welcome to New Zealand's most comprehensive database of freely available camping information. This is the only travel map of its kind in NZ.
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/
Feature | Value | Info |
---|---|---|
Organisation |
Southland District CouncilCouncil organisation |
|
Location |
South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Owaka |
|
Categories |
|
|
Directions To Coordinates |
||
Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
---|---|---|
Overnight Camping Site Cost |
|
Overnight Camping Site CostWhat is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? ![]() Free Camping It costs nothing to stay overnight. In general this means that you should not expect any facilities. |
Overnight Stay Rules |
|
Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? ![]() Self-contained motorhomes only Overnight stays are only permitted if your vehicle is certified as being 'self-contained'. The vehicle must display the "Responsible Camper" sticker. |
Payment Requirement |
|
Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? ![]() Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Maximum Stay Duration |
|
Maximum Stay DurationHow many consecutive days can you stay overnight at this establishment? 1 night You are permitted to stay only one night here in a row. |
Maximum Sites Available |
|
Maximum Sites AvailableHow many camping or parking sites are available for staying overnight in? Up to 5 sites There are only between one and five camping/parking sites available. |
Booking Required |
|
Booking RequiredIs it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? First Come, First Served Sites are allocated in a first come, first served basis. Get in early for the best spot. |
Large Vehicle Access |
|
Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. |
Dogs |
|
DogsDoes this establishment allow dogs? ![]() Dogs allowed The location allows dogs. There may be conditions that may be met eg. dogs must be on a leash. |
Vehicle Access |
|
Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. |
Campfire Rules |
|
Campfire RulesWhat are the rules for open air fires? Fires prohibited There is a total fire ban -no fires are permitted. |
Toilet |
|
ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. A 5 minute walk up the road |
✓ Clean flush toilets
✓ Beautiful location near Catlins
✓ Quiet and peaceful
✓ Lots of space available
✓ Nature walk nearby
𐄂 No potable water
𐄂 Limited parking space
This is a good spot.
Came here because the last place was too windy.
Handy car park for a night.
Lovely little spot!
Great site overlooking Porpoise Bay.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
---|---|---|---|
10/10 | 6 |
|
13% |
9/10 | 13 |
|
28% |
8/10 | 14 |
|
30% |
7/10 | 9 |
|
20% |
6/10 | 2 |
|
4% |
5/10 | 1 |
|
2% |
4/10 | 1 |
|
2% |
3/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
2/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
1/10 | 0 |
|
0% |
4.0/5
Parking lot (level) camping but clean flush toilets with room for 15-20 units depending how well people park A good stop
Reviewed 5 months ago
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!
Reviewed about 1 year ago
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.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Terrain assez cabossé mais fait le job pour une nuit Toilettes propres et proches des emplacements
Reviewed over 1 year ago
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.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
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.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago and experienced in March 2023
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.
Reviewed over 2 years ago
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in August 2021
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
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2021
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
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2021
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2020
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2020
4.0/5
Great place but a bit muddy.
Very clean toilets nearby. A nice museum across the street!
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in November 2019
4.5/5
Great spot in the Catlins!
We had the most amazing sunrise there, beautiful pink skies. Toilets are great.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2019
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2019
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2018
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2017
2.5/5
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2014
4.0/5
Parking lot (level) camping but clean flush toilets with room for 15-20 units depending how well people park A good stop
Reviewed 5 months ago
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!
Reviewed about 1 year ago
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.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Terrain assez cabossé mais fait le job pour une nuit Toilettes propres et proches des emplacements
Reviewed over 1 year ago
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.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
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.
Reviewed almost 2 years ago and experienced in March 2023
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.
Reviewed over 2 years ago
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in August 2021
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
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2021
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
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2021
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2020
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2020
4.0/5
Great place but a bit muddy.
Very clean toilets nearby. A nice museum across the street!
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in November 2019
4.5/5
Great spot in the Catlins!
We had the most amazing sunrise there, beautiful pink skies. Toilets are great.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2019
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2019
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2018
4.0/5
This was beautiful but a bit crowded...it wasn’t our favorite but it was quiet.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2018
5.0/5
Lovely little spot!
Public toilets very clean. Beautiful view. Very cute little town.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2018
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in July 2018
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.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2018