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Blue X marks potable water and dumping station
zoomSpace for non-self-contained camping
There are spaces for non-self-contained camping on either side of the train platform, between the signposted arrows on site. Up to 7 nights in any 30 day period. There are no other spaces for non-self-contained campers in the town and there is an enforcement service in place if camping occurs outside of the identified non-self-contained area.
There is also a commercial camping facility available at the northern end of the Lumsden township if the non-self-contained area is full. Another option up the road at the Lodge and Holiday Park in Athol.
Self-contained camping is permitted in the town in any public carpark, and the toilet car park is recommended. Up to 3 nights in any 30 day period for self-contained.
Any person found to be camping in a tent, car or non-self-contained vehicle outside the designated parking area is liable to receive a $200 infringement fee, so all visitors are encouraged to ensure that they camp in the designated parks
The Northern Southland Community Pool may be open, get current information from the Four Square. Clean showers plus a place to charge your mobile phone, a lovely community pool :)
This is a great place for a swim and shower in Lumsden.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Southland District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Lumsden |
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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? ![]() Only in a vehicle Overnight stays are only permitted within a vehicle. Camping in a tent or out in the open is not allowed. |
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? 3 nights You can only stay at this campsite for up to 3 nights in a row. Non-self-contained (between the arrows at the Railway Station) – up to 7 nights in any 30 day period. Self-contained - up to 3 nights in any 30 day period. |
Water Supply |
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Water SupplyIs there fresh water available? Water supply available A supply of fresh water 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? Dump station available There is a dump station available at this location for the safe emptying and 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. |
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. |
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. |
✓ Clean toilets and facilities
✓ Free camping site
✓ Close to shops and amenities
✓ Good playground for kids
✓ Friendly, welcoming community
𐄂 Traffic noise at night
𐄂 Limited non-powered sites
Literally just a car park but toilets are nice.
Best campsite during our trip.
Great with kids
Nice place good phone signal.
For a free campsite, couldn’t ask for more.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
---|---|---|---|
10/10 | 83 |
|
65% |
9/10 | 26 |
|
20% |
8/10 | 9 |
|
7% |
7/10 | 6 |
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5% |
6/10 | 1 |
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1% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 2 |
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2% |
5.0/5
We stayed here on the way through towards Queenstown.
Lots of space for campers, and felt very safe. Very well organised thanks to the community of Lumsden.
Make sure to use the bins provided, and not the coffee shop’s bins at the back of their shop - they get fined if rubbish isn’t sorted properly!
Reviewed 15 days ago
4.5/5
Excellent place for an overnight.
Great coffee shop next door.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
5.0/5
Great free stopover provided by the local community.We visited the local pub and were welcome.
Honestly box by the station which I urge others to make a donation so this can continue
Great example of good community spirit
Reviewed 3 months ago
5.0/5
Amazing place in the center of the town.
Good flush toilets, an outside sink for washing dishes, a library with free wifi, a supermarket, a tasty coffee, and a chinese takeaway - everything is right next to you. The swimming pool with hot showers is a 10 min walk. Milford sound is a 3h drive
Reviewed 3 months ago and experienced in December 2024
5.0/5
Clean toilets, drinking water, a laundromat close by - very convenient spot for the night.
If you wanna have a shower, you need to pick up the key for the community pool at the supermarket across the street. You pay a 20 Dollar deposit (which you get back as soon as u bring the key card back) and 10 dollars for 1 - 2 ppl for the shower. 5 Dollars additional for every other person.
The supermarket opens from 7am - 7pm, so you have to pick up the key during that time. It needs to be brought back the latest the next day before 9am.
There is an explanation sheet right by the dish washing station in the railway station.
Reviewed 5 months ago
4.5/5
Amazing little spot with clean toilets and a supermarket and a cafe across the street - and 5$ for a swim in the pool+showers!
Really amazing tbh
Reviewed 5 months ago
5.0/5
This was a lovely spot to set up for the night.
Toilets were clean and well lit, the dishwashing station was much appreciated and overall I felt very welcome as the community has clearly put some thought and care into this place.
Check the information booth sign as you come in for information about where you are allowed to set up- there are different spots for self contained vs not, and basically the whole carpark area is free game, including behind the trains and in the carpark on the far side of the toilets. Note some parks are reserved for staff. The sign is just outside the craft shop.
Finally, I highly recommend getting a coffee from Roasted and Toasted just next door- one of the best coffees I had in NZ!
Reviewed 7 months ago
5.0/5
When we stayed there (early July) there were much more as the 2 free spots announced, at least 15 were marked as ok.
Best free campsite ever 😃
Not sure if this seasonal?
Many clean flush toilets nearby, amazing playground, washbasin with even the dishwashing liquid available…. Cute handmade shop in the old train station and old trains to see for free (closed at night but open in the morning).
A bit loud at night because of the trafic, but not annoying.
Donations are welcome for the community and they are well deserved!
Reviewed 10 months ago
5.0/5
For a free campsite, couldn’t ask for more.
Toilets are clean and flush, with loo roll and lights and locks. It’s a car park so no uneven ground and has basic facilities like sink and tables to prepare food. Has a laundry service 50m away too and dump and refil stations. Best free site we have been. Great for if you’re on your way or returning from Milford sound
Reviewed 12 months ago
5.0/5
Best campsite we’ve visited so far and it was free!
It had clean toilets, good facilities, lots of space for parking and also the benfit of being an interesting and pretty place with trains and a play area! We enjoyed a quick seesaw before bed where we slept well
Reviewed 12 months ago
5.0/5
Plenty of spaces in this car park.
Clean toilets which are open all night. Also has dish washing sink, dump station and water. Super coffee shop right next to the car park. A great stop for a night.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.5/5
L’emplacement ne paye pas de mine mais honnêtement tout est parfait et bien penser.
Ancien hall de gare aménagé avec toutes les commodités (évier vaisselle, machine à laver juste à côté, vidange, fontaine à eau). Commerces et cafés juste à côté, WC sûrement les plus propres qu’on ait vu… Étape parfaite avant les Fjords
Reviewed about 1 year ago
5.0/5
Great free campground with clean toilets and even a place to wash your dishes!
Feeling very welcome in Lumsden.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
5.0/5
Great historic place, with a playground next to it, clean toilets and even a place to wash your dishes with potable water.
Couldn’t ask for more in a free camp!
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
lovely spot, lovely town.
bathrooms are clean and the coffee shop around the corner is awesome
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
Best freedom campsite...
Nice playground, picknick tables, ....
Reviewed over 1 year ago
0.5/5
Awful.
We thought we would try it out but regretted it. Noisy people camping here, next to a busy road, it's just a carpark and other campers there didn't care about their noise levels late at night. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2019
5.0/5
We stayed here on the way through towards Queenstown.
Lots of space for campers, and felt very safe. Very well organised thanks to the community of Lumsden.
Make sure to use the bins provided, and not the coffee shop’s bins at the back of their shop - they get fined if rubbish isn’t sorted properly!
Reviewed 15 days ago
4.5/5
Excellent place for an overnight.
Great coffee shop next door.
Reviewed about 1 month ago
5.0/5
Amazing place in the center of the town.
Good flush toilets, an outside sink for washing dishes, a library with free wifi, a supermarket, a tasty coffee, and a chinese takeaway - everything is right next to you. The swimming pool with hot showers is a 10 min walk. Milford sound is a 3h drive
Reviewed 3 months ago and experienced in December 2024
5.0/5
Great free stopover provided by the local community.We visited the local pub and were welcome.
Honestly box by the station which I urge others to make a donation so this can continue
Great example of good community spirit
Reviewed 3 months ago
5.0/5
Clean toilets, drinking water, a laundromat close by - very convenient spot for the night.
If you wanna have a shower, you need to pick up the key for the community pool at the supermarket across the street. You pay a 20 Dollar deposit (which you get back as soon as u bring the key card back) and 10 dollars for 1 - 2 ppl for the shower. 5 Dollars additional for every other person.
The supermarket opens from 7am - 7pm, so you have to pick up the key during that time. It needs to be brought back the latest the next day before 9am.
There is an explanation sheet right by the dish washing station in the railway station.
Reviewed 5 months ago
4.5/5
Amazing little spot with clean toilets and a supermarket and a cafe across the street - and 5$ for a swim in the pool+showers!
Really amazing tbh
Reviewed 5 months ago
5.0/5
This was a lovely spot to set up for the night.
Toilets were clean and well lit, the dishwashing station was much appreciated and overall I felt very welcome as the community has clearly put some thought and care into this place.
Check the information booth sign as you come in for information about where you are allowed to set up- there are different spots for self contained vs not, and basically the whole carpark area is free game, including behind the trains and in the carpark on the far side of the toilets. Note some parks are reserved for staff. The sign is just outside the craft shop.
Finally, I highly recommend getting a coffee from Roasted and Toasted just next door- one of the best coffees I had in NZ!
Reviewed 7 months ago
5.0/5
When we stayed there (early July) there were much more as the 2 free spots announced, at least 15 were marked as ok.
Best free campsite ever 😃
Not sure if this seasonal?
Many clean flush toilets nearby, amazing playground, washbasin with even the dishwashing liquid available…. Cute handmade shop in the old train station and old trains to see for free (closed at night but open in the morning).
A bit loud at night because of the trafic, but not annoying.
Donations are welcome for the community and they are well deserved!
Reviewed 10 months ago
5.0/5
For a free campsite, couldn’t ask for more.
Toilets are clean and flush, with loo roll and lights and locks. It’s a car park so no uneven ground and has basic facilities like sink and tables to prepare food. Has a laundry service 50m away too and dump and refil stations. Best free site we have been. Great for if you’re on your way or returning from Milford sound
Reviewed 12 months ago
5.0/5
Best campsite we’ve visited so far and it was free!
It had clean toilets, good facilities, lots of space for parking and also the benfit of being an interesting and pretty place with trains and a play area! We enjoyed a quick seesaw before bed where we slept well
Reviewed 12 months ago
5.0/5
Plenty of spaces in this car park.
Clean toilets which are open all night. Also has dish washing sink, dump station and water. Super coffee shop right next to the car park. A great stop for a night.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.5/5
L’emplacement ne paye pas de mine mais honnêtement tout est parfait et bien penser.
Ancien hall de gare aménagé avec toutes les commodités (évier vaisselle, machine à laver juste à côté, vidange, fontaine à eau). Commerces et cafés juste à côté, WC sûrement les plus propres qu’on ait vu… Étape parfaite avant les Fjords
Reviewed about 1 year ago
5.0/5
Great free campground with clean toilets and even a place to wash your dishes!
Feeling very welcome in Lumsden.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
5.0/5
Great historic place, with a playground next to it, clean toilets and even a place to wash your dishes with potable water.
Couldn’t ask for more in a free camp!
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
lovely spot, lovely town.
bathrooms are clean and the coffee shop around the corner is awesome
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
Best freedom campsite...
Nice playground, picknick tables, ....
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
Best campsite during our trip.
Grocery store across the street, great bathrooms with running water, access to public swimming pool with hot showers for 10 NZD for 2 people. Sink for washing dishes. No mosquitos!
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
Nice place good phone signal.
Lots of space but does fill up. Dump station and portable water on site. Nice toilets in the park. Great spot for a stop over
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.5/5
Welcoming feel - free food, washing up liquid & books by the sinks.
Clean toilets, good coffee shop next door. Can get hot showers at the community pool - have to go to the 4 square opposite for a key.
Reviewed over 1 year ago