Port Motueka Beach Reserve

Port Motueka Beach Reserve

Overnight Campervan Parking

103 Rankers Reviews

13 Motueka

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Photos

Go Mot!!
The line up
BBQ areas
The Salt Baths

Information

Port Motueka Beach Reserve

What a score! This site is right next to the Salt Baths in Motueka, these baths are refilled every high tide and are a great place for a dip. The reserve is very popular and is always full and no wonder really..... it's got showers, toilets, a play ground, picnic tables, designated fire places, large grassy areas and you can easily walk into town via the beachside walkway. What more can I say really? Oh it is also next to a fish factory, so it can be a little smelly at times - not a major.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Tasman District Council

Council organisation

Location

South IslandNelson RegionMotueka

Categories

  • Activity__freedom_campingFreedom Camping

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-41.13483991

173.0234261

Latitude
-41.13483991
Longitude
173.0234261

Nearby

Reviews

    • Agree with previous comment.

      Icon__personMatthew

    • The location is amazing next to the sea.

      Icon__personBenoit Fricaudet

    • Good spot.

      Icon__personAurelie Morin

    • 23Apr14, 1 night, $5 per night, 2 of us (50's).

      Icon__personMike Fricker

    • Great place, used the bbq, flushing toilets.

      Icon__personrachaelandryan

    4.4 103 Reviews Analysis
  • We got a space as came early.

    Public toilets fine. Can’t complain about free site! Salt swimming pool a bonus!

    Reviewed 17 days ago

  • I probably can’t provide a true review as we didn’t actually end up spending our night here due to the fact we did not feel comfortable with the homeless looking people in the area who were quite noisy

    and drinking alcohol. So unfortunately, we decided to leave and head up further north and pay for a camp site which was a pity as the actual campsite area itself seemed lovely and right by the water. But it wasn’t worth us having a sleepless night worrying about the neighbours.

    Reviewed about 1 month ago

  • The amenities are good (flushing toilets, outside shower, bbq, free pool).

    However, there are quite some drug abusing homeless people on and around the campsite. During the day they were quite noisy but luckily it was silent after 10pm. The factory next to the campsite wasn’t too disruptive, you can expect a soft humming noise day and night. The options for freedom camping are limited in this area, but be prepared when coming here. I have definitely stayed at better sites.

    Reviewed about 1 month ago

  • Nice Spot.

    It is next to the Port, so you will always have some light( good and bad). Parking spaces are marked with wooden pieces. wide enough. Not many space for lager vehicle. My Camper was 6m was fine. Flush toilets are nice and clean. There is also a small bbq.

    Reviewed 5 months ago

  • Now restricted to self contained only.

    Sign at entry.

    Reviewed 9 months ago

    Jas's avatar

    Jas

  • Good overnight spot.

    Saltwater baths are great and there’s a shower and flushing toilets. Toad Hall a short walk away for great food and coffee. Gets very busy early.

    Reviewed 10 months ago

  • Right next to the saltwater pool.

    Lots of perks : clean flushing toilets, big sinks for dishwashing, BBQ (not free), changing rooms, outdoor shower, picnic tables, rubbish... It gets full by 4pm. Rangers came by to check SC cards and where everyone was parked, also police. Quiet and very chill, considering how many people were there. Got a bit smelly, don't know if it was the tide or the industrial facility next to the parking.

    Reviewed 10 months ago

  • One of the most wanted camps, with only ~20 places.

    There are many reasons: great location, saltwater pool, cold shower, flush toilets, grass area to put your table and chairs. It was full, but a ranger came at 6 PM and chased out a couple of NSC vans, so we had the chance to come in with our green sticker.

    Reviewed 10 months ago and experienced in December 2024

  • Such a nice spot.

    Awesome little beach, nice trees to chill under.

    Reviewed 11 months ago

  • Great spot for a couple of nights.

    Clean toilets, cold showers and plenty of parks and greenspaces to chill out, exercise, yoga etc . Nice walks along the beach front and close enough to town

    As others said, get there early as it fills up by 3/4pm. The odd space can open up - you're best to park up outside and walk in to check for a space (and the sign says).

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • Parking lot next to the beach but beside a park A great stop for a night with flush toilets Filled up before 4 (we stayed Friday Nov 1) - many disappointed people arrived and had to depart after that

    !

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • Great spot.

    Gets full quickly !

    Around 20 spots, some already take by long term stay.

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • 30Apr24.

    2 adults in 7.2m motorhome.

    Arrived mid afternoon and got a space. One side is suitable for smaller vans side by side. The other is suitable for longer vans end to end.

    Toilets updated since our last visit in 2018, much better now.

    Fellow campers nice and quiet. Be aware though that there are industrial units fairly close that seem to be working 24/7 so you may hear them at night.

    A bit of a walk into town but that suited us.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • Great location.

    Clean toilets & outdoor shower. All spaces had filled up around 4/5pm!

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • Great place next to the sea.

    Clean toilets and showers. You do have to get there early as it's very popular. Oh, don't be a douche and listen to music all day on your JBL speakers ✌️

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • Beautiful spot, but fully packed at 2 pm

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • Cool spot, likewise the comment below.

    Good toilets, shower, nice sunrise...

    But get here early, spaces are quiet full

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

    Ann's avatar

    Ann

  • Really nice spot.

    3 flushing toilets and shower outside, great for a free camp. Limited places, we arrived at 10 am and it was half full. Nice walks around and a great sea swimming pool to refresh !

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • We got a space as came early.

    Public toilets fine. Can’t complain about free site! Salt swimming pool a bonus!

    Reviewed 17 days ago

  • I probably can’t provide a true review as we didn’t actually end up spending our night here due to the fact we did not feel comfortable with the homeless looking people in the area who were quite noisy

    and drinking alcohol. So unfortunately, we decided to leave and head up further north and pay for a camp site which was a pity as the actual campsite area itself seemed lovely and right by the water. But it wasn’t worth us having a sleepless night worrying about the neighbours.

    Reviewed about 1 month ago

  • The amenities are good (flushing toilets, outside shower, bbq, free pool).

    However, there are quite some drug abusing homeless people on and around the campsite. During the day they were quite noisy but luckily it was silent after 10pm. The factory next to the campsite wasn’t too disruptive, you can expect a soft humming noise day and night. The options for freedom camping are limited in this area, but be prepared when coming here. I have definitely stayed at better sites.

    Reviewed about 1 month ago

  • Nice Spot.

    It is next to the Port, so you will always have some light( good and bad). Parking spaces are marked with wooden pieces. wide enough. Not many space for lager vehicle. My Camper was 6m was fine. Flush toilets are nice and clean. There is also a small bbq.

    Reviewed 5 months ago

  • Now restricted to self contained only.

    Sign at entry.

    Reviewed 9 months ago

    Jas's avatar

    Jas

  • Good overnight spot.

    Saltwater baths are great and there’s a shower and flushing toilets. Toad Hall a short walk away for great food and coffee. Gets very busy early.

    Reviewed 10 months ago

  • One of the most wanted camps, with only ~20 places.

    There are many reasons: great location, saltwater pool, cold shower, flush toilets, grass area to put your table and chairs. It was full, but a ranger came at 6 PM and chased out a couple of NSC vans, so we had the chance to come in with our green sticker.

    Reviewed 10 months ago and experienced in December 2024

  • Right next to the saltwater pool.

    Lots of perks : clean flushing toilets, big sinks for dishwashing, BBQ (not free), changing rooms, outdoor shower, picnic tables, rubbish... It gets full by 4pm. Rangers came by to check SC cards and where everyone was parked, also police. Quiet and very chill, considering how many people were there. Got a bit smelly, don't know if it was the tide or the industrial facility next to the parking.

    Reviewed 10 months ago

  • Such a nice spot.

    Awesome little beach, nice trees to chill under.

    Reviewed 11 months ago

  • Great spot for a couple of nights.

    Clean toilets, cold showers and plenty of parks and greenspaces to chill out, exercise, yoga etc . Nice walks along the beach front and close enough to town

    As others said, get there early as it fills up by 3/4pm. The odd space can open up - you're best to park up outside and walk in to check for a space (and the sign says).

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • Great spot.

    Gets full quickly !

    Around 20 spots, some already take by long term stay.

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • Parking lot next to the beach but beside a park A great stop for a night with flush toilets Filled up before 4 (we stayed Friday Nov 1) - many disappointed people arrived and had to depart after that

    !

    Reviewed about 1 year ago

  • 30Apr24.

    2 adults in 7.2m motorhome.

    Arrived mid afternoon and got a space. One side is suitable for smaller vans side by side. The other is suitable for longer vans end to end.

    Toilets updated since our last visit in 2018, much better now.

    Fellow campers nice and quiet. Be aware though that there are industrial units fairly close that seem to be working 24/7 so you may hear them at night.

    A bit of a walk into town but that suited us.

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • Great location.

    Clean toilets & outdoor shower. All spaces had filled up around 4/5pm!

    Reviewed over 1 year ago

  • Great place next to the sea.

    Clean toilets and showers. You do have to get there early as it's very popular. Oh, don't be a douche and listen to music all day on your JBL speakers ✌️

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • Beautiful spot, but fully packed at 2 pm

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • Cool spot, likewise the comment below.

    Good toilets, shower, nice sunrise...

    But get here early, spaces are quiet full

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

    Ann's avatar

    Ann

  • Really nice spot.

    3 flushing toilets and shower outside, great for a free camp. Limited places, we arrived at 10 am and it was half full. Nice walks around and a great sea swimming pool to refresh !

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

  • On a essayé deux fois de venir sur ce free camp on a jamais eu la chance d’avoir une place, les gens présent restent à la semaine…

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago

    Eva's avatar

    Eva

  • Great spot but fills up by 4pm so get in quick.

    There are approx 20 spots.

    3 clean and spacious toilets, cold outdoor shower, right in front of the sea with a walking loop, wood fire, public seating on the foreshore, salt baths (Rockpool) and the camping car park runs alongside a park so plenty of room to spread out and pull out a yoga mat or dining table.

    It’s a 20 minute walk to a great cafe called Toad Hall or a 45 minute walk to town with loads of food options.

    Reviewed almost 2 years ago