I had to call the police as there were multiple guys riding around the car park on their bikes at 2am blaring music near all the vans.

Pros- toilets, water, wifi, laundry, lots of parks, close to stores, picnic tables, free apples at the community house

Cons- creepy men who watch you and try to talk to you, loud music sometimes, beside playground so screaming kids (sometimes all throughout the night), kids/people knocking on your door, kids OPENING your doors

The same night, kids went around opening peoples doors. I was also approached by a guy AT 5AM who was asking weird questions and telling me I shouldn’t leave my car boot open as “people steal things”. He watched me the entire morning till I left.

Overall, some nights are fine and most are terrible. Especially weekends. I’d try the motueka beach camp first and if there’s nothing else then try here.

I say this because as a solo female traveller it’s important to be safe and take precautions. I know it could be worse but always keep your doors locked and be aware of your surroundings.

Reviewed 8 days ago

Many spaces, clean toilets with light in the night!

Washing machine and dryer available, right in the middle of town. A little parc is located next to it.

Reviewed 10 months ago

Oh, if only all free car parks could be stacked like this - SUPER clean toilets, washing up area, outside shower (with changing room!), and lots of bins.

Only downside is it’s not walking distance from town. Getting there after 4pm will be tough to have a spot though!

Reviewed about 1 year ago

Honestly surpassed my expectations.

Had toilets and running water to brush teeth/wash face. My favorite part were the laundry services! This parking lot has a vending machine washer and dryer that takes credit cards! Win!!!! However, be prepared to leave by 6am on Sunday morning or the Sunday Morning farmers market people will do it for ya haha

Reviewed almost 2 years ago

Lots of spaces, clean bathrooms open 24/7, great walking around town.

Also this car park is next to a park for some extra space to hang out and relax comfortably.

Reviewed over 4 years ago

I had to call the police as there were multiple guys riding around the car park on their bikes at 2am blaring music near all the vans.

Pros- toilets, water, wifi, laundry, lots of parks, close to stores, picnic tables, free apples at the community house

Cons- creepy men who watch you and try to talk to you, loud music sometimes, beside playground so screaming kids (sometimes all throughout the night), kids/people knocking on your door, kids OPENING your doors

The same night, kids went around opening peoples doors. I was also approached by a guy AT 5AM who was asking weird questions and telling me I shouldn’t leave my car boot open as “people steal things”. He watched me the entire morning till I left.

Overall, some nights are fine and most are terrible. Especially weekends. I’d try the motueka beach camp first and if there’s nothing else then try here.

I say this because as a solo female traveller it’s important to be safe and take precautions. I know it could be worse but always keep your doors locked and be aware of your surroundings.

Reviewed 8 days ago

Many spaces, clean toilets with light in the night!

Washing machine and dryer available, right in the middle of town. A little parc is located next to it.

Reviewed 10 months ago

Oh, if only all free car parks could be stacked like this - SUPER clean toilets, washing up area, outside shower (with changing room!), and lots of bins.

Only downside is it’s not walking distance from town. Getting there after 4pm will be tough to have a spot though!

Reviewed about 1 year ago

Honestly surpassed my expectations.

Had toilets and running water to brush teeth/wash face. My favorite part were the laundry services! This parking lot has a vending machine washer and dryer that takes credit cards! Win!!!! However, be prepared to leave by 6am on Sunday morning or the Sunday Morning farmers market people will do it for ya haha

Reviewed almost 2 years ago

Lots of spaces, clean bathrooms open 24/7, great walking around town.

Also this car park is next to a park for some extra space to hang out and relax comfortably.

Reviewed over 4 years ago

We arrived quite late but there were still a few spaces.

Wasn't too noisy or busy whilst we were there. Toilets close by. It's a carpark, what more can you say?

Cost (2p, non-powered): $0

Location: It's a car park so nothing special but at least there is some grass

Facilities: Toilets close by

Value: 10/10 (free!)

Sandflies: None

X-Factor: nahh - functional place to stay only

Other: There's another free campsite close by (Motueka Beach Reserve) but it was full when we checked

Reviewed almost 5 years ago

Site and facilities absoulety fine.

Overseas campers do need to be reminded of camping etiquette in here NZ, as NZ strive for clean, quiet and safe places to stay which makes stay and experience appreciated 😊

Reviewed over 5 years ago

Car park in centre of town.

Very busy with MPVs with mattresses in the back. Quiet evening, despite being busy.

Managed to get a spot around 10pm, but only as someone kindly moved their van across one space so we had a double spot to reverse into - it's not great for larger vehicles being a car park designed for cars.

Have to be away by 7am, there was a security guy knocking in windows of people still asleep.

Overall a functional place to stay.

Reviewed almost 6 years ago

Good site directly in Town so close to the city markets.

Everything it’s in the Description => First come = first served !

Nice place with clean toilets.

Thanks NZ for this campsite ! We love you !

Reviewed almost 6 years ago

Stayed here a couple of separate nights.

Good location in town and right by a park with clean toilets however be mindful if the farmers market is on the next morning as you will be woken up by the locals asking you to move!

Reviewed almost 6 years ago

Okay campsite.

(Long review, but much needed)

The reason I gave 7/10 is because the town was lovely and the location was convenient. Approx 15 non-self contained spots and 30 self contained spots in a town parking lot. Showed up at 6:30pm and no spots left - arrive earlier I guess? We took the risk ($200 fine) and stayed in a restricted area and it turned out okay, but most ppl just left. We did this because canpervans took up extra parking spaces to cook food in and beside their vehicles.

By the morning they ask you to leave by 7am because the locals begin using the parking lot. Students catch the bus there and use the car park to store their car for the day and locals use the toilets en route to work etc. We left at about 7:30am and over half of the people were still sleeping in their cars/campers. We left feeling bad for the people in this town having to deal with the daily mess and things that come with backpacker and freedom camping mentality/vibes. As a backpacker, staying at this campsite made me realize why locals disapprove of freedom camping in NZ. I would too if I lived in a place that had this happen daily.

Pros:

-clean toilets (until freedom campers littered and dirtied bathrooms)

-nice picnic tables and park area

-convenient location (walking distance to everything in town)

-police drove through a few times possibly as a routine check which was comforting

Cons:

-way too busy, people cooking everywhere and in a confined space

-over stuffed garbage bins and people disrespectfully left trash bags outside once bins were full

- people didn’t clear out by 7am and locals tried to use facilities but freedom campers occupied them

-locals also came by around 9/9:30pm and honked waking people up (and rightly so, as a local I’d do the same after staying at this campsite)

Overall - okay place to stay to crash for one night, but I would recommend going somewhere else not only for your own sake, but the towns.

Reviewed over 6 years ago

Not a lot of people know about this place so it's easy to find a spot even if you're arriving late.

Nice toilets and a few bins, but still just a car park. The only real downside is the requirement of leaving early in the morning.

Reviewed almost 7 years ago