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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 |
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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 |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Overnight Camping Site Cost |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. |
Campfire Rules |
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Campfire RulesWhat are the rules for open air fires? Fires prohibited There is a total fire ban -no fires are permitted. |
Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. A 5 minute walk up the road |
✓ Clean toilets
✓ Close to Curio Bay
✓ Peaceful and quiet
✓ Great nature walk nearby
✓ Free overnight parking
𐄂 No drinking water
𐄂 Limited space
Really solid spot!
Ideal free spot before/after visiting Curio Bay.
Ok, field with opportunities to park.
Great place but a bit muddy.
Great site overlooking Porpoise Bay.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 6 |
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13% |
9/10 | 13 |
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28% |
8/10 | 14 |
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30% |
7/10 | 9 |
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20% |
6/10 | 2 |
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4% |
5/10 | 1 |
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2% |
4/10 | 1 |
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2% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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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 18 days 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 9 months 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 11 months ago
4.0/5
Terrain assez cabossé mais fait le job pour une nuit Toilettes propres et proches des emplacements
Reviewed about 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 over 1 year 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 about 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
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 almost 4 years ago
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 almost 4 years ago
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 6 years ago
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 almost 8 years ago
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 18 days 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 9 months 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 11 months ago
4.0/5
Terrain assez cabossé mais fait le job pour une nuit Toilettes propres et proches des emplacements
Reviewed about 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 over 1 year 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 about 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
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 almost 4 years ago
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 almost 4 years ago
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 almost 4 years ago
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 almost 5 years ago
4.0/5
Great place but a bit muddy.
Very clean toilets nearby. A nice museum across the street!
Reviewed about 5 years ago
4.5/5
Great spot in the Catlins!
We had the most amazing sunrise there, beautiful pink skies. Toilets are great.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
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 almost 6 years ago
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 about 6 years ago
4.0/5
This was beautiful but a bit crowded...it wasn’t our favorite but it was quiet.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
5.0/5
Lovely little spot!
Public toilets very clean. Beautiful view. Very cute little town.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
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 6 years ago
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 6 years ago
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 6 years ago
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.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
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!
Reviewed over 6 years ago
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.
Reviewed almost 7 years ago
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.
Reviewed almost 7 years ago
3.5/5
Fish and chip shop was closed when we stopped.
Good view of the bay. Bathrooms are clean.
Reviewed about 7 years ago
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!
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
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 almost 8 years ago
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!
Reviewed over 8 years ago
4.5/5
Beautiful location right on the grass at the water's edge.
Toilets and water nearby.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago