We had one of the cabins which is actually just a bed in a shed (well, there's a tv and a radiator too).

Communal facilities are only open 7am - 10pm and as we arrived after 10pm and left before 7am I cannot comment on these!

Showers/toilets are good/clean

As with the other Picton accommodation I feel they charge a bit more for proximity to the ferry.

Cost (2p, cabin): $90

Location: Essentially a car park

Facilities: Free showers, toilets, communal facilities open 7am-10pm

Value: 5/10

Sandflies: None

X-Factor: Nahh, just a handy place to stop before/after the ferry

Reviewed almost 5 years ago

Facilities: Excellent - kitchen facilities include hobs, ovens, fridges, freezers, there's a big dining area.

Beautiful views of the lake, excellent facilities

Cost (2p, non-powered): $38

Location: Fantastic views over the lake and mountains

Good showers ($1/6 mins). Also washing/drying facilities (didn't use) and a playground. Powered sites available. Petrol too - I think cheaper than in Wanaka itself.

Value: 9/10

Sandflies: Not many, especially for a lake

X-Factor: Yes

Other: Only 10 mins drive from the start of the Roy's Peak walk.

Reviewed almost 5 years ago

One of our favourite camps in the whole of our trip.

We had planned to stay in the free camping area in Akaroa but it was full and I'm so glad it was as this is a real gem.

As a working farm, there are animals all around (especially some very friendly chickens!)

Free showers, flush toilets, shelter for cooking and eating with a fridge and burners, free wifi. When we were there, someone was making and selling pizzas for $20 which looked good although we didn't try them. Staff were very friendly.

Cost (2p, non-powered): $30

Location: Spectacular views over Akaroa

Facilities: Free showers, flush toilets, cooking facilities, free wifi, walks available

Value: 9/10

Sandflies: None

X-Factor: Yes!

Other: It's up quite a steep road (but then all the best places are in NZ!)

Reviewed almost 5 years ago

Beautiful campsite with incredibly interesting owner who has converted his land into a conservation area.

For $5/person he will take you on a little glow worm tour which is well worth doing! His knowledge of the local flora and fauna is fantastic

Cost (2p, non-powered): $20

Location: Great, quiet, surrounded by trees

Facilities: Currently only a long drop (very new and clean) and picnic tables but a kitchen area is being built

Value: 10/10

Sandflies: A few

X-Factor: Absolutely!

Other: Lots of wildlife (Weka, frogs) and great night skies

Reviewed almost 5 years ago

Our first camp site on our road trip - what a find!

Absolutely stunning views over Lake Rotoiti. The sunset was unbelievable. (n.b. you can't camp right next to the lake but you can park up and eat dinner there then drive up to the parking bays to sleep)

Only downside is the number of sandflies - we had to abandon breakfast by the lake and retreat back to the camp in the morning.

Cost (2p, non-powered): $30

Location: Incredible

Facilities: Flush toilets, cold showers (didn't use), shelter for cooking with sinks (but no equipment). All very new/well-maintained.

Value: 8/10

Sandflies: LOTS

X-Factor: Absolutely!

Other: There's a petrol station nearby in St Arnaud but petrol is pretty pricey ($2.50 as of Dec '19). If you need hot showers or cooking facilities, Kerr Bay camp site is very close by.

Reviewed almost 5 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

After getting several quotes this was one of the cheapest for a sleepervan.

$1800 for 16 days including: $0 excess, transfer from airport to pick up location, kitchen equipment (inc. camping stove, table, chairs, crockery, cutlery, pans), bedding, roadside assistance, unlimited km, 2 drivers, GST.

The van had a few aesthetic blemishes but ran very well. It had done approx 150,000km (in comparison, our friends van had done over 400,000!). It had plenty of oomph to get up all the hills we could throw at it. In over 3,500km of driving we only had one slight concern with vibration coming through the steering wheel but popped into a garage who said it was likely from some slightly worn brake discs and that there wasn't a safety issue. Elements were very good in responding to our concerns and gave us the option of getting them replaced or keeping an eye on it - we chose the latter but got the impression doing the former would have been straightforward to arrange.

The conversion is fairly basic with plywood and a couple of large plastic containers forming the sink supply and drain for the self-certification sticker. Generally we left the bed up the whole time and sat outside or in the front seats. In the day we'd put our bags on top of the bed, at night in the front seats.

n.b. A general note about sleepervans (not specific to Elements) but worth bearing in mind; neither my partner or I are tall (5' 7") but the bed was slightly too short. This was easily overcome by sticking our feet through the gap between the driver/passenger seats but may be slightly more of an issue for the taller person!

Elements were very easy to communicate with over email although every time I tried ringing them once in NZ their line was busy.

Overall we had a fantastic time and really enjoyed the flexibility of having a self-contained sleepervan (rather than a larger camper). A bit more crockery/cutlery and better availability on the phone and this would be a perfect 10/10. Recommended.

Reviewed almost 5 years ago

We camped here on quite a wet evening but the camp itself was very pleasant.

Very good toilet facilities and a shelter to cook in out of the rain. Very cheap. Lots of space.

It's down quite a long gravel road and when we drove it there were quite a few enormous cows and bulls in the road that we drove past v e r y s l o w l y ! (n.b. there are cattle grids to keep the cows out of the campsite)

Cost (2p, non-powered): $16

Location: Pretty, would be incredible in the sunshine. Bit out of the way.

Facilities: Flush toilets and shelter

Value: 9/10

Sandflies: A few

X-Factor: Probably in the sunshine...

Other: Beware the cows!

Reviewed almost 5 years ago