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This is a small peaceful grassy campsite with basic facilities close to Kaikoura. There is a short bushwalk to help stretch the legs. Please don't light fires or bring pets along.
To get here, turn inland up Puhi Puhi Rd off SH1 on the north side of the Hapuku River bridge, 9km north of Kaikoura. The campsite is 6km along the road.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC MarlboroughCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura |
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Categories |
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Operating Season And Hours |
All year |
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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? Low Cost Camping You can expect very basic facilities only and often a beautiful location. A nominal fee is charged. |
Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Camping and any vehicle You are permitted to stay overnight and camp (with a tent) or in any vehicle. |
Campsite Managing Organisation |
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Campsite Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this campsite? DOC Managed This campsite is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation. |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Paid access/participation The experience costs money to access or take part in. |
Maximum Sites Available |
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Maximum Sites AvailableHow many camping or parking sites are available for staying overnight in? 6 to 10 sites There are between six and ten sites available to stay overnight in. 6 sites |
Water Supply |
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Water SupplyIs there fresh water available? Water supply available A supply of fresh water is available. Water from stream. You may wish to boil or treat before drinking. |
Shower |
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ShowerIs there a shower at this location? No shower No shower is available. |
Dump Station |
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Dump StationDump stations allow the safe disposal of sewage and greywater from self-contained vehicles. Does this site have a dump station? No dump station This location has no dump stations for the disposal of waste water from recreational vehicles. |
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. |
Powered Sites |
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Powered SitesDoes this establishment have powered sites? No powered sites This campsite does not offer any powered sites with an electricity supply. |
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? No dogs allowed The location does not allow dogs under normal conditions. Their may be be exceptions granted under specific circumstances eg. guide dogs. |
Vehicle Access |
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Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. |
DOC Campsite Category |
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DOC Campsite CategoryWhat category does this Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite fall into? DOC Basic Campsite Department of Conservation Basic Campsites have very limited facilities so you need to be fully self-sufficient. There are basic toilets and water from a tank, stream or lake. Access may be by road or boat. Basic Campsites generally can not be booked. |
WiFi Internet |
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WiFi InternetWhat type of WiFi internet access is available? No WiFi There is no WiFi access available. |
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. Long drop only |
✓ Reasonably priced
✓ Good location
✓ No sandflies
✓ Great campsite overall
✓ Nearby short track
𐄂 Bad access road
𐄂 Dirty toilets
Full, tiny campground, overcrowded in summer.
Hey fellow travelers.
Basic grade, did what it said - FREE.
Same like Robin Hood Bay.
Basic DOC site.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 4 |
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11% |
9/10 | 5 |
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14% |
8/10 | 12 |
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33% |
7/10 | 6 |
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17% |
6/10 | 3 |
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8% |
5/10 | 1 |
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3% |
4/10 | 1 |
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3% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 1 |
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3% |
1/10 | 3 |
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8% |
4.5/5
Chose this place as blue SC stickers are not allowed in Kaikōura (only green ones).
Beautiful setting, good gravel road in, only few tiny potholes. Toilet is stinky, did not see tap water. No mobile reception, some picnic tables around. Campsite pass accepted, otherwise $10.
Reviewed 3 months ago
5.0/5
Beautiful and secluded.
River is awesome to hang out at and theres a swimming hole further up the road near the new bridge
Reviewed 4 months ago
1.0/5
Bad access road after rains, branches fallen on the road.
The place itself is ok. The toilets were really dirty, excrements spread everywhere.
Reviewed 8 months ago
4.0/5
Very basic, but reasonable for the price ($10pp) and location.
Campsite is 6km off the highway on a mostly unsealed road riddled with potholes — give yourself time to drive it! (maybe 15-20 minutes)
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Place is great!
Not alot of spots to set up tents but if you do manage to get a spot then your sorted. Short 10min track nearby and only a river as a water source. Would advise getting their before the evening to get a spot
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
4.0/5
Great campsite, quite small so was almost full when we arrived at about 4pm during busy season.
One toilet, no taps - short walk to stream down below. No sandflies and overall a great stop for the night.
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
4.0/5
Was quiet, just two other campers.
Long drop really smelt! Walk was in adjacent bush but no good views of river and/or Bridge.
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
0.5/5
Hey fellow travelers.
My partner and I experienced a very scary thing last night while camping at the Puhi Puhi DOC campsite outside of Kaikoura and wanted to warn people about this. We were asleep in our tent and around midnight my boyfriend was woken up by a couple of men in a truck blaring rock music, honking, flashing their lights, and screaming curse words while speeding past the campsite. I'm a pretty deep sleeper so I didn't wake up. Then a little while later, the truck returned, put their lights on our tent and someone got out and jumped on our tent right next to our heads, which woke me up. I thought something had crashed into us. It was terrifying. Then the truck sped off. Some people may say that this was a joke, but there was no laughter. No noise. Just a blantant attack to scare the crap out of us. We had no idea what to do. We got in our car, locked the doors, tried calling 111 but there was no service and the main road was about 15 minutes away from the campsite. We made the decision to stay in the car and not leave since we had no idea who we were dealing with and it was better to stay at a site with a couple other campers then be by ourselves. We have been camping all over the South Island for over a month and never has anything like this happened before. It was traumatizing to feel that vunerable. It wasn't funny. It was completely out of order and whoever did this should honestly reevaluate their mental health. Please avoid this campsite cause who knows if they do this all the time. Stay safe and careful everybody! ❤️
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
3.5/5
Good little spot in the woods, only one outhouse and water from the stream but great spot for a night
Reviewed over 4 years ago
5.0/5
Julia’s review below is for a different camp ground.
Loved this site. Gorgeous setting and very tranquil
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
5.0/5
I believe some of the ratings are actually for other campsite.
This is not a doc site. It's commercial. You have to get the permission from Goose Bay Camping which is 1km south of this campsite. The site it not to big and its only unpowered sites BUT its right next to the beach. You can sea seal while you eat dinner and if you are lucky spot some dolphins. There are 3 toilets on the ground which are super clean! Yes the highway is next to it, but you can't have it all. It's 13Dollar per person and you can use the facilities of the Goose Bay campground (showers!!!) yes you have to drive there but I believe this site is far better than most Doc Scenic sites and it's the same price. So totally awesome for a stay close to Kaikoura.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
3.5/5
Nice and quiet place to stay, away from everything.
The one toilet is ok and you can get water from the river down the camp.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
4.5/5
Chose this place as blue SC stickers are not allowed in Kaikōura (only green ones).
Beautiful setting, good gravel road in, only few tiny potholes. Toilet is stinky, did not see tap water. No mobile reception, some picnic tables around. Campsite pass accepted, otherwise $10.
Reviewed 3 months ago
5.0/5
Beautiful and secluded.
River is awesome to hang out at and theres a swimming hole further up the road near the new bridge
Reviewed 4 months ago
1.0/5
Bad access road after rains, branches fallen on the road.
The place itself is ok. The toilets were really dirty, excrements spread everywhere.
Reviewed 8 months ago
4.0/5
Very basic, but reasonable for the price ($10pp) and location.
Campsite is 6km off the highway on a mostly unsealed road riddled with potholes — give yourself time to drive it! (maybe 15-20 minutes)
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Great campsite, quite small so was almost full when we arrived at about 4pm during busy season.
One toilet, no taps - short walk to stream down below. No sandflies and overall a great stop for the night.
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
4.0/5
Place is great!
Not alot of spots to set up tents but if you do manage to get a spot then your sorted. Short 10min track nearby and only a river as a water source. Would advise getting their before the evening to get a spot
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
4.0/5
Was quiet, just two other campers.
Long drop really smelt! Walk was in adjacent bush but no good views of river and/or Bridge.
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
0.5/5
Hey fellow travelers.
My partner and I experienced a very scary thing last night while camping at the Puhi Puhi DOC campsite outside of Kaikoura and wanted to warn people about this. We were asleep in our tent and around midnight my boyfriend was woken up by a couple of men in a truck blaring rock music, honking, flashing their lights, and screaming curse words while speeding past the campsite. I'm a pretty deep sleeper so I didn't wake up. Then a little while later, the truck returned, put their lights on our tent and someone got out and jumped on our tent right next to our heads, which woke me up. I thought something had crashed into us. It was terrifying. Then the truck sped off. Some people may say that this was a joke, but there was no laughter. No noise. Just a blantant attack to scare the crap out of us. We had no idea what to do. We got in our car, locked the doors, tried calling 111 but there was no service and the main road was about 15 minutes away from the campsite. We made the decision to stay in the car and not leave since we had no idea who we were dealing with and it was better to stay at a site with a couple other campers then be by ourselves. We have been camping all over the South Island for over a month and never has anything like this happened before. It was traumatizing to feel that vunerable. It wasn't funny. It was completely out of order and whoever did this should honestly reevaluate their mental health. Please avoid this campsite cause who knows if they do this all the time. Stay safe and careful everybody! ❤️
Reviewed almost 4 years ago
3.5/5
Good little spot in the woods, only one outhouse and water from the stream but great spot for a night
Reviewed over 4 years ago
5.0/5
Julia’s review below is for a different camp ground.
Loved this site. Gorgeous setting and very tranquil
Reviewed almost 5 years ago
5.0/5
I believe some of the ratings are actually for other campsite.
This is not a doc site. It's commercial. You have to get the permission from Goose Bay Camping which is 1km south of this campsite. The site it not to big and its only unpowered sites BUT its right next to the beach. You can sea seal while you eat dinner and if you are lucky spot some dolphins. There are 3 toilets on the ground which are super clean! Yes the highway is next to it, but you can't have it all. It's 13Dollar per person and you can use the facilities of the Goose Bay campground (showers!!!) yes you have to drive there but I believe this site is far better than most Doc Scenic sites and it's the same price. So totally awesome for a stay close to Kaikoura.
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
3.5/5
Nice and quiet place to stay, away from everything.
The one toilet is ok and you can get water from the river down the camp.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
3.0/5
Smallish site right off a little used gravel road next to a river that you use as a water source.
Very quiet with the soft sound of the river in the background. The pit toilet was clean, but the ammonia vapors inside were noxious and unhealthy. It literally made my eyes water and nose run. It is very close to Kaikoura, and probably because of that there were about 12 cars in a place designed for 6.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
0.5/5
First, the picture on the Rankers app seems to be of a different campsite.
This site is described as “grassy” both here and on the DOC website, but really it is just a gravel car park with a couple of patches of grass around it. There isn’t much of a view, and I really don’t think it’s worth driving up the gravel track for.
We stayed in late March. All of the other campsites we’d been at had been half empty, but this one was packed - people arriving late were turning round and leaving because there was no more space.
Overall, I don’t see any reason to pay the 8 dollars per adult to stay here.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
4.0/5
There is a beautiful 15 minute loop through podcarp forest, worth walking down to the river to have a play.
Road is mostly gravel but scenic.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
4.0/5
Enjoyed my stay here, had a very peaceful afternoon with the place to myself.
Enjoyed the walk through the bush, and the river, where I had a swim. Place was very busy by nightfall, 10-15 lots of campers, and was still quiet; everyone very respectful. Would recommend. And suggest you take water for drinking as the water available is from the creek; fine for cooking and cleaning.
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
4.5/5
Gorgeous campsite down a 7km gravel road, nestled in the hills where cows and sheep abound.
Right near a beautiful river, ample room and friendly campers. Downside is there is no water.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
3.5/5
Basic DOC site.
$6pp. No water supply. Toilet was fine. Very pretty river nearby with low water level at the time. Relatively condensed site had 6ish vehicles that night. Bugs were almost non-existent. Perfectly pleasant but nothing special.
Reviewed over 9 years ago
3.5/5
Great location, next to an enchanting forest and river.
Access is by gravel road but we found it ok to negotiate with a medium sized campervan. Site is only small so if you're relying on staying there, arrive early! The place was fully occupied on the night we camped so it was busy but still peaceful.
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in January 2015
4.5/5
Really nice, close to a beautiful river, rats in the toilet!
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in April 2014
4.5/5
Was free.
Had a river where I could wash myself and a friendly guy who worked there to jump start my car.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in April 2014
0.5/5
Full, tiny campground, overcrowded in summer.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2013
4.5/5
Great little DOC camp, 8kms or so up a narrow gravel road but plenty big enough for our 14metre rig.
Site is quite small but enough room for about 10 or so vans. The walk through the bush needed a lookout over the river. Plenty of bird life.
Reviewed almost 11 years ago
3.5/5
Same like Robin Hood Bay.
A little bit too small, maybe problems if there are more campers.
Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013
4.0/5
Nice scenery and a second toilet would be great.
Reviewed almost 12 years ago and experienced in December 2012
3.0/5
Nice location although camp site can get very cramped due to it being quite small.
This ruined it a bit for us. No showers which was a shame seen as we still had to pay 12 dollars and the toilet wasnt very clean.
Reviewed about 12 years ago
4.0/5
Free DOC campsite 20 minutes north of Kaikoura - short bush walk next to stream, toilet there.
Has '6' sites but fits a lot more. Quiet!
Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in March 2012
4.0/5
There had been a big dump of rain so it was a bit wet on the ground.
Nice site, clean toilets, love the sound of the river all night. Be considerate & don't arrive late and wake everyone up!
Reviewed over 12 years ago
5.0/5
Great location in the beautiful mountains near Kaikoura.
Free of charge and so great.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
3.5/5
Basic grade, did what it said - FREE.
Reviewed almost 13 years ago and experienced in November 2011