Port Motueka Beach Reserve
Overnight Campervan Parking
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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
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Organisation |
Tasman District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Motueka |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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4.0/5
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.
J![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(233,250,231)" /><path d="m 150 595 Q 287 13 -295 150 Q 287 287 150 -295 Q 13 287 595 150 Q 13 13 150 595 z" fill="rgb(241,47,19)" /><path d="m 150 321 Q 59 241 -21 150 Q 59 59 150 -21 Q 241 59 321 150 Q 241 241 150 321 z" fill="rgb(14,208,236)" /><path d="m 150 237 Q 233 67 63 150 Q 233 233 150 63 Q 67 233 237 150 Q 67 67 150 237 z" fill="rgb(22,5,24)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
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.
M![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(217,197,3)" /><path d="m 150 691 Q 293 7 -391 150 Q 293 293 150 -391 Q 7 293 691 150 Q 7 7 150 691 z" fill="rgb(252,176,211)" /><path d="m 150 380 Q 175 125 -80 150 Q 175 175 150 -80 Q 125 175 380 150 Q 125 125 150 380 z" fill="rgb(3,79,44)" /><path d="m 150 197 Q 253 47 103 150 Q 253 253 150 103 Q 47 253 197 150 Q 47 47 150 197 z" fill="rgb(38,58,252)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
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.
MS![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(184,0,124)" /><path d="m 150 625 Q 65 235 -325 150 Q 65 65 150 -325 Q 235 65 625 150 Q 235 235 150 625 z" fill="rgb(152,126,105)" /><path d="m 150 513 Q 198 102 -213 150 Q 198 198 150 -213 Q 102 198 513 150 Q 102 102 150 513 z" fill="rgb(103,129,150)" /><path d="m 150 322 Q 273 27 -22 150 Q 273 273 150 -22 Q 27 273 322 150 Q 27 27 150 322 z" fill="rgb(71,255,131)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
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).
E![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(153,143,171)" /><path d="m 150 672 Q 142 158 -372 150 Q 142 142 150 -372 Q 158 142 672 150 Q 158 158 150 672 z" fill="rgb(11,69,42)" /><path d="m 150 468 Q 240 60 -168 150 Q 240 240 150 -168 Q 60 240 468 150 Q 60 60 150 468 z" fill="rgb(244,186,213)" /><path d="m 150 275 Q 250 50 25 150 Q 250 250 150 25 Q 50 250 275 150 Q 50 50 150 275 z" fill="rgb(102,112,84)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
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
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4.5/5
Great spot.
Gets full quickly !
Around 20 spots, some already take by long term stay.
M![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(4,181,111)" /><path d="m 150 521 Q 267 33 -221 150 Q 267 267 150 -221 Q 33 267 521 150 Q 33 33 150 521 z" fill="rgb(109,133,10)" /><path d="m 150 365 Q 76 224 -65 150 Q 76 76 150 -65 Q 224 76 365 150 Q 224 224 150 365 z" fill="rgb(146,122,245)" /><path d="m 150 115 Q 208 92 185 150 Q 208 208 150 185 Q 92 208 115 150 Q 92 92 150 115 z" fill="rgb(251,74,144)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
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.
MF![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(95,55,203)" /><path d="m 150 733 Q 149 151 -433 150 Q 149 149 150 -433 Q 151 149 733 150 Q 151 151 150 733 z" fill="rgb(241,212,123)" /><path d="m 150 530 Q 255 45 -230 150 Q 255 255 150 -230 Q 45 255 530 150 Q 45 45 150 530 z" fill="rgb(14,43,132)" /><path d="m 150 207 Q 244 56 93 150 Q 244 244 150 93 Q 56 244 207 150 Q 56 56 150 207 z" fill="rgb(160,200,52)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Great location.
Clean toilets & outdoor shower. All spaces had filled up around 4/5pm!
SK![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(1,108,229)" /><path d="m 150 528 Q 134 166 -228 150 Q 134 134 150 -228 Q 166 134 528 150 Q 166 166 150 528 z" fill="rgb(24,114,99)" /><path d="m 150 532 Q 213 87 -232 150 Q 213 213 150 -232 Q 87 213 532 150 Q 87 87 150 532 z" fill="rgb(231,141,156)" /><path d="m 150 294 Q 295 5 6 150 Q 295 295 150 6 Q 5 295 294 150 Q 5 5 150 294 z" fill="rgb(254,147,26)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
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 ✌️
J![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(40,244,7)" /><path d="m 150 659 Q 113 187 -359 150 Q 113 113 150 -359 Q 187 113 659 150 Q 187 187 150 659 z" fill="rgb(72,206,125)" /><path d="m 150 473 Q 286 14 -173 150 Q 286 286 150 -173 Q 14 286 473 150 Q 14 14 150 473 z" fill="rgb(183,49,130)" /><path d="m 150 255 Q 93 207 45 150 Q 93 93 150 45 Q 207 93 255 150 Q 207 207 150 255 z" fill="rgb(215,11,248)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Cool spot, likewise the comment below.
Good toilets, shower, nice sunrise...
But get here early, spaces are quiet full
A![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(117,126,94)" /><path d="m 150 579 Q 109 191 -279 150 Q 109 109 150 -279 Q 191 109 579 150 Q 191 191 150 579 z" fill="rgb(114,231,227)" /><path d="m 150 344 Q 271 29 -44 150 Q 271 271 150 -44 Q 29 271 344 150 Q 29 29 150 344 z" fill="rgb(141,24,28)" /><path d="m 150 306 Q 251 49 -6 150 Q 251 251 150 -6 Q 49 251 306 150 Q 49 49 150 306 z" fill="rgb(138,129,161)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
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 !
P![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(76,77,69)" /><path d="m 150 514 Q 110 190 -214 150 Q 110 110 150 -214 Q 190 110 514 150 Q 190 190 150 514 z" fill="rgb(55,116,38)" /><path d="m 150 371 Q 258 42 -71 150 Q 258 258 150 -71 Q 42 258 371 150 Q 42 42 150 371 z" fill="rgb(200,139,217)" /><path d="m 150 262 Q 255 45 38 150 Q 255 255 150 38 Q 45 255 262 150 Q 45 45 150 262 z" fill="rgb(179,178,186)" /></svg>)
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0.5/5
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…
E![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(84,234,228)" /><path d="m 150 601 Q 185 115 -301 150 Q 185 185 150 -301 Q 115 185 601 150 Q 115 115 150 601 z" fill="rgb(215,134,9)" /><path d="m 150 427 Q 290 10 -127 150 Q 290 290 150 -127 Q 10 290 427 150 Q 10 10 150 427 z" fill="rgb(40,121,246)" /><path d="m 150 147 Q 224 76 153 150 Q 224 224 150 153 Q 76 224 147 150 Q 76 76 150 147 z" fill="rgb(171,21,27)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
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.
SH![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(47,191,199)" /><path d="m 150 734 Q 151 149 -434 150 Q 151 151 150 -434 Q 149 151 734 150 Q 149 149 150 734 z" fill="rgb(228,254,2)" /><path d="m 150 400 Q 60 240 -100 150 Q 60 60 150 -100 Q 240 60 400 150 Q 240 240 150 400 z" fill="rgb(27,1,253)" /><path d="m 150 149 Q 143 157 151 150 Q 143 143 150 151 Q 157 143 149 150 Q 157 157 150 149 z" fill="rgb(208,64,56)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Perfect spot for hammocks and walks by the sea.
Limited spots available. Great bathrooms with flush water and shower (cold water). Loved the spot!
N![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(238,31,181)" /><path d="m 150 663 Q 226 74 -363 150 Q 226 226 150 -363 Q 74 226 663 150 Q 74 74 150 663 z" fill="rgb(211,155,212)" /><path d="m 150 425 Q 152 148 -125 150 Q 152 152 150 -125 Q 148 152 425 150 Q 148 148 150 425 z" fill="rgb(44,100,43)" /><path d="m 150 281 Q 205 95 19 150 Q 205 205 150 19 Q 95 205 281 150 Q 95 95 150 281 z" fill="rgb(17,224,74)" /></svg>)
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3.0/5
The spaces quickly full before 7pm (least 22 spaces) The new toilets still in building (there have temp box plastic toilets nearby) Saltwater bath not clean But nice spot
H![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(34,25,126)" /><path d="m 150 694 Q 289 11 -394 150 Q 289 289 150 -394 Q 11 289 694 150 Q 11 11 150 694 z" fill="rgb(39,78,155)" /><path d="m 150 308 Q 125 175 -8 150 Q 125 125 150 -8 Q 175 125 308 150 Q 175 175 150 308 z" fill="rgb(216,177,100)" /><path d="m 150 161 Q 254 46 139 150 Q 254 254 150 139 Q 46 254 161 150 Q 46 46 150 161 z" fill="rgb(221,230,129)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(175,228,120)" /><path d="m 150 560 Q 226 74 -260 150 Q 226 226 150 -260 Q 74 226 560 150 Q 74 74 150 560 z" fill="rgb(78,91,65)" /><path d="m 150 533 Q 109 191 -233 150 Q 109 109 150 -233 Q 191 109 533 150 Q 191 191 150 533 z" fill="rgb(177,164,190)" /><path d="m 150 240 Q 200 100 60 150 Q 200 200 150 60 Q 100 200 240 150 Q 100 100 150 240 z" fill="rgb(80,27,135)" /></svg>)
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(157,203,113)" /><path d="m 150 524 Q 86 214 -224 150 Q 86 86 150 -224 Q 214 86 524 150 Q 214 214 150 524 z" fill="rgb(33,185,201)" /><path d="m 150 469 Q 64 236 -169 150 Q 64 64 150 -169 Q 236 64 469 150 Q 236 236 150 469 z" fill="rgb(222,70,54)" /><path d="m 150 263 Q 247 53 37 150 Q 247 247 150 37 Q 53 247 263 150 Q 53 53 150 263 z" fill="rgb(98,52,142)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(185,168,155)" /><path d="m 150 531 Q 233 67 -231 150 Q 233 233 150 -231 Q 67 233 531 150 Q 67 67 150 531 z" fill="rgb(254,116,38)" /><path d="m 150 554 Q 173 127 -254 150 Q 173 173 150 -254 Q 127 173 554 150 Q 127 127 150 554 z" fill="rgb(1,139,217)" /><path d="m 150 134 Q 245 55 166 150 Q 245 245 150 166 Q 55 245 134 150 Q 55 55 150 134 z" fill="rgb(70,87,100)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
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.
J -
5.0/5
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.
MS -
4.5/5
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.
M -
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4.5/5
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).
E -
4.5/5
Great spot.
Gets full quickly !
Around 20 spots, some already take by long term stay.
M -
4.0/5
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
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5.0/5
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.
MF -
5.0/5
Great location.
Clean toilets & outdoor shower. All spaces had filled up around 4/5pm!
SK -
4.5/5
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 ✌️
J -
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5.0/5
Cool spot, likewise the comment below.
Good toilets, shower, nice sunrise...
But get here early, spaces are quiet full
A -
5.0/5
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 !
P -
0.5/5
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…
E -
5.0/5
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.
SH -
5.0/5
Perfect spot for hammocks and walks by the sea.
Limited spots available. Great bathrooms with flush water and shower (cold water). Loved the spot!
N -
4.5/5
Fairly busy, get here early.
Clean flushing toilets. Cold outdoor shower. Easy walk to town and good spot for an early start to explore Abel Tasman.
C![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(71,25,181)" /><path d="m 150 706 Q 196 104 -406 150 Q 196 196 150 -406 Q 104 196 706 150 Q 104 104 150 706 z" fill="rgb(33,231,21)" /><path d="m 150 343 Q 124 176 -43 150 Q 124 124 150 -43 Q 176 124 343 150 Q 176 176 150 343 z" fill="rgb(222,24,234)" /><path d="m 150 286 Q 118 182 14 150 Q 118 118 150 14 Q 182 118 286 150 Q 182 182 150 286 z" fill="rgb(184,230,74)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Emplacement proche de la mer et des bains d'eau salée Toilettes propres et proches des emplacements Le freecamp était rapidement plein quand nous y sommes allés
MP![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(119,196,102)" /><path d="m 150 570 Q 120 180 -270 150 Q 120 120 150 -270 Q 180 120 570 150 Q 180 180 150 570 z" fill="rgb(122,240,25)" /><path d="m 150 549 Q 140 160 -249 150 Q 140 140 150 -249 Q 160 140 549 150 Q 160 160 150 549 z" fill="rgb(133,15,230)" /><path d="m 150 140 Q 64 236 160 150 Q 64 64 150 160 Q 236 64 140 150 Q 236 236 150 140 z" fill="rgb(136,59,153)" /></svg>)
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3.5/5
Nice to have a free spot by the sea.
The salt water baths are clean but very cold in August. It’s a long walk to the town centre but there is plenty of grassy space to lounge away the afternoon at this site. The dairy hums all night (even on a Sunday night) so could keep you up but didn’t bother us at all. Very popular site!
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