Lake Poaka Campsite
Lake Poaka Conservation Area - Overnight Campervan Parking
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Lake Poaka Campsite
Use this campsite as a base for recreational activities around the Twizel area or as an overnight stay in a picturesque setting.
Wildlife reserve full of birds on the side of the Pukaki canal. Camp right alongside the lake.
Use this campsite as a base for recreational activities around the Twizel area or as an overnight stay in a picturesque setting.
Turn off SH6 onto the Pukaki Canal Road (take care, this is a gravel road). The access road to the lake is signposted.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Lake Poaka Campsite is categorised as a DOC Basic Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing.
DOC Basic Campsite
Basic campsites have very limited facilities so you need to be fully self-sufficient. There are basic toilets and water may be from a water tank that is untreated, stream or lake. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Access may be by road or boat.
| Feature | Value | Value |
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| Unpowered Site | Adult | $0.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Child | $0.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Infant | $0.00 per night |
Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC CanterburyCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Twizel |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Freedom Camping
Reviews
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5.0/5
Awesome spot although don't swim in lake go to canal above as heaps of ducks and geese trout aplenty huge camp area
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4.5/5
As mentioned in other reviews, gravel road to get to this site, and then the site itself is a bit potholed, but no major issues if you take it steady.
Couple of long drop toilets, nice view over the lake, and with an impressive mountain backdrop. Plenty of space for heaps of campers, and a short drive from Twizel if you need any supplies or fuel. One of our favourites
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4.0/5
Great spot - one of our favourites on this trip.
Stayed 1 night. Very peaceful. Lots of room and lots of bird life on the lake. Looked popular with fishermen and people on holiday. Didn’t use the toilets but there were short queues sometimes.
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4.0/5
Very crowded although it was just after Christmas.
Lots of spots but be aware if you are next to the river someone might come and set up right next to you when it's busy. One toilet was clean and the other one was very smelly and dirty. Close to Twizel for supplies.
Bonus is one of the most used viewpoints for Lake Pukaki is just around the corner so if you are staying a couple of nights you can go back when it's quiet and have those million dollar views to yourself.
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4.0/5
Good campsite but it’s a fairly long gravel road to it.
Doesn’t have fresh water though
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4.0/5
Gorgeous location with beautiful views and sunset.
Big so no issue with space. 2 drop loos. Smelly but fairly clean
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5.0/5
Parfait, Un peu éloigné des autres campings donc il n’y a pas grand monde, belle vue sur le lac c’est chouette Pas de réseau mais à part ça, parfait pour un camping gratuit
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3.5/5
Lake view and entry are amazing and available.
Not too crowded, due to the 2km gravel drive to the campground. Stargazing in the evening is very cool. Two long drop toilets available, nothing else. No water, except the lake.
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4.0/5
Great little spot.
Toilet was well used as the other one out of order. Climb up the little bank next to the canal to take in the sunset. Stunning. Ducks a bit friendly! Tried to eat the burger out of my boyfriends hand!
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5.0/5
So far on our two week tour of campsites this is our favourite.
Ignore the pictures as it’s so much nicer in person. There is an easy to get to track down to it. The first track down is the pothole one as a previous review mentioned but just drive a tiny bit further and there are another 3/4 routes down to the lake or just park on the higher ground.
Hardly any sandfly’s or mosquitos which was amazing, no rubbish and two toilets that were clean and had loo roll!!!
We loved it so much we are staying there again tonight to see the beautiful dark sky and the Milky Way, no need for an expensive stargazing experience. We felt sorry for all the others parked back at the salmon farm or other campsites eaten alive by mosquitoes.
There is a huge amount of space so everyone gets a lovely spot too.
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1.0/5
I would not bring my tiny caravan back here.
I came down the second entrance which worked well but as I was facing back towards the road drove out the the first entrance and only JUST made it, I skidded so badly getting up the very awfully and deeply pitted long bumpy gravel road 💩
The roads were shocking, the view was ok. Trees were nice.
I will not come back 🥺
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5.0/5
Awesome spot although don't swim in lake go to canal above as heaps of ducks and geese trout aplenty huge camp area
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4.5/5
As mentioned in other reviews, gravel road to get to this site, and then the site itself is a bit potholed, but no major issues if you take it steady.
Couple of long drop toilets, nice view over the lake, and with an impressive mountain backdrop. Plenty of space for heaps of campers, and a short drive from Twizel if you need any supplies or fuel. One of our favourites
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4.0/5
Very crowded although it was just after Christmas.
Lots of spots but be aware if you are next to the river someone might come and set up right next to you when it's busy. One toilet was clean and the other one was very smelly and dirty. Close to Twizel for supplies.
Bonus is one of the most used viewpoints for Lake Pukaki is just around the corner so if you are staying a couple of nights you can go back when it's quiet and have those million dollar views to yourself.
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4.0/5
Great spot - one of our favourites on this trip.
Stayed 1 night. Very peaceful. Lots of room and lots of bird life on the lake. Looked popular with fishermen and people on holiday. Didn’t use the toilets but there were short queues sometimes.
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4.0/5
Good campsite but it’s a fairly long gravel road to it.
Doesn’t have fresh water though
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4.0/5
Gorgeous location with beautiful views and sunset.
Big so no issue with space. 2 drop loos. Smelly but fairly clean
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5.0/5
Parfait, Un peu éloigné des autres campings donc il n’y a pas grand monde, belle vue sur le lac c’est chouette Pas de réseau mais à part ça, parfait pour un camping gratuit
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3.5/5
Lake view and entry are amazing and available.
Not too crowded, due to the 2km gravel drive to the campground. Stargazing in the evening is very cool. Two long drop toilets available, nothing else. No water, except the lake.
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4.0/5
Great little spot.
Toilet was well used as the other one out of order. Climb up the little bank next to the canal to take in the sunset. Stunning. Ducks a bit friendly! Tried to eat the burger out of my boyfriends hand!
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5.0/5
So far on our two week tour of campsites this is our favourite.
Ignore the pictures as it’s so much nicer in person. There is an easy to get to track down to it. The first track down is the pothole one as a previous review mentioned but just drive a tiny bit further and there are another 3/4 routes down to the lake or just park on the higher ground.
Hardly any sandfly’s or mosquitos which was amazing, no rubbish and two toilets that were clean and had loo roll!!!
We loved it so much we are staying there again tonight to see the beautiful dark sky and the Milky Way, no need for an expensive stargazing experience. We felt sorry for all the others parked back at the salmon farm or other campsites eaten alive by mosquitoes.
There is a huge amount of space so everyone gets a lovely spot too.
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1.0/5
I would not bring my tiny caravan back here.
I came down the second entrance which worked well but as I was facing back towards the road drove out the the first entrance and only JUST made it, I skidded so badly getting up the very awfully and deeply pitted long bumpy gravel road 💩
The roads were shocking, the view was ok. Trees were nice.
I will not come back 🥺
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5.0/5
Great spot!
Good accessible. Great views. Perfect location for visiting mt Cook or lake tekapo / lake pukaki. Stayed 2 nights with tent.
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4.5/5
Beautiful site, can’t believe it’s free!
Loads of space, a few toilets so you can camp as near or far away as you like. No issues with noise etc, lots of people coming and going very late at night and in the morning but not much of an issue
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4.0/5
Lake Poaka is a fantastic camp spot and a favorite of ours yes it's free but we always leave a donation in the box which goes towards the upkeep of the toilets.
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4.0/5
Close to the main road but far enough away to not hear it, and free!
A couple of long drop toilets, nice spot next to the canal. Easy.
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5.0/5
Great free campsite in a gorgeous location!
Bathrooms were clean and the campsite was very quiet so we felt like we had it to ourselves. Only thing is to make sure you have fresh drinking water as there was none on site.
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4.5/5
Beautiful spot down long gravel road.
Lots of spots for campers under the trees. We parked up nice and close to the water for great views. Awesome sunset from the canal. Clean long drop toilets.
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3.5/5
Nice for a free campsite, one of the long drops is much nicer than the other.
Lake is beautiful and no sandflies but lots of curious birds. No other amenities.
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4.5/5
Great free campsite with plenty of lakeside spots.
Far better than expected - a very scenic spot. Toilets were a bit full but no complaints as it's free! About 5 min drive off main road down a gravel road
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5.0/5
Absolutely beautiful spot.
The lake is teaming with trout, too! Can only catch legally on fly gear. Toilet was fine and the lakeside campsites are perfect. Don’t drive past this one .. it’s well worth the stay
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5.0/5
Beautiful camping site with plenty of space, two toilets placed far from each other.
We spent two nights (family with a 7 years old boy) and the toilet was very clean, however, at the end of the third day paper toilet and hand sanitizer had finished (is not a issue with you have yours). If you like fishing is a great spot to catch trouts - first, check fish and game booklets, they have some restrictions. No sand fly during the stay 🙌
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4.0/5
Down quite a long and bumpy gravel road (make sure you drive down the right side of the Pukaki canal!) but a quiet and pleasant camp site.
Great views of the mountains and we had a lovely sunset. Long drops available.
Cost (2p, non-powered): $0
Location: Very pretty. Lots of bird life.
Facilities: Long drops only
Value: 10/10
Sandflies: A few
X-Factor: Not quite
Other:
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4.0/5
Really no complaints here...quiet and safe place to sleep.
Toilet is OK. Be sure to bring water!
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4.0/5
Absolutely beautiful spot!
Set up with the trees so it protects you from the wind. Awesome little river inlets everywhere and just so peaceful. You wouldn't even know you're only 1-2km off the highway! Bring insect reppelent and you're good to go!
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4.0/5
Stayed two nights here.
Lots of room. Some picnic tables. Beautiful view of the stars of a clear night. One night was cloudy, the other was clear. Good view of the mountains. Lake looked nice. Road along the canal was rough to get to the site. but other than that it was good.
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4.0/5
Nice free campsite with stunning views of the mountains beside a lake.
Drop toilets were the cleanest we have come across but make sure you bring your own water. If pitching a tent, stay away from the bank of the lake, if it rains the grass bank is prone to getting a bit wet! We set up on the upper section by some trees to act as a wind break, which worked a treat.