This was one of our favourite spots especially when the weather is right for a million dollar view up the lake to Mt Cook .This time spoiled by the over use of illegal campers and inconsiderate parking

.The very new toilet block couldn’t cope with the overuse.

Reviewed 8 months ago

Our best spot prior to or post ferry .

Peaceful area but 10 spots fill fast. Sad to see the large caravans taking up two spaces just to park their car. I felt sorry when there was no room for a late comer . Lovely walks around and 5 km from Blenheim . 10/10 toilets !!

Reviewed 8 months ago

Our new favourite!

Stunning views, peaceful and not far from Twizel. Great bike rides and walks! No toilets so not so many illegal campers. Area very tidy . Downside the freedom camping area sign by the council is very vague and poorly marked . I challenge anyone to decipher it !!

Reviewed 8 months ago

Not a bad spot to stop considering there is not much choice on this part of the West Coast.

Very popular with non certified freedom campers . Clean and tidy but no space between each vehicle.

Reviewed 8 months ago

A smallish area by the river, quite popular.

Clean flush toilets and dump station close at the entrance. A great area for walking and bikers. A very friendly welcoming town. The car park at the Reefton hotel across the road will take an overflow of campervans in return for a meal and a drink. I will add that the meals are large and generous. Highly recommended.

Reviewed 8 months ago

Just the best place to be when there is a red heavy rain warning .

A great friendly little town. A great spot by the river. Although the Reefton pub welcomed us to their carpark in case of flooding in return we had an evening meal there, but no pressure. Exceptionally clean toilets . Dump station. An awesome little heated public pool 5 mins walk away with hot showers to finish.We stayed 4 nights , longer than planned due to the weather and enjoyed what the town had to offer. Information centre a great spot to spend time with documentary’s of the area playing.

We felt safe and welcomed

Thank you Reefton !

Reviewed almost 3 years ago

A lovely peaceful overnight spot .

Clean toilets, plenty of room to park in a large field by the lakes edge.

Not busy. Boat ramp if needed. Nice lake with mountains backdrop.

Reviewed almost 3 years ago

Absolutely one of the best freedom camp sites if the weather is fine.

Good toilet facilities. The pines have a been chopped down some replanting being done . Plenty of spots to choose from . We were lucky enough to have 34 deg blue sky and 24 hours clear views of Mt Cook. We biked along the Pukaki cycle track to Hayman Rd about 5 km. If you want a little more secluded camping go a bit further to Hayman Rd, there a notices where you can camp along there, no facilities but nice spots .

Reviewed almost 3 years ago

We were very pleased to spend the night here after feeling quite unwanted at unfriendly Te Anau.

Lumsdon is a small town that does not have a lot to offer but has done a lot to make travellers welcome. The large carpark for freedom campers is organised clean and offers clean public toilets ,water, a place to wash dishes,children’s playground and dump station. A notice board with information on local facilities ie a little laundry down the road, the local swimming pool to swim and shower etc .Four Square shop across the road and great takeaways just past the laundry. This area was the train station and the theme is preserved.

Well done Lumsdon and thank you for a great stay .

Reviewed almost 4 years ago

Not a bad place to stop off, a large grassy area with pine trees for shelter or more open at the end.

A little scruffy in parts and toilets poorly maintained. Close to the river and beach, views of the mountains.

Reviewed almost 4 years ago

We preferred Kerr Bay out of the two.

However, a nice bush setting with clean toilets and small simple kitchen area for washing dishes. Not so close to the lake and quieter than Kerr Bay.

Still a lovely area.

Reviewed almost 4 years ago

Not sure if Cowshed bay and Picnic bay are one?

But it is a great spot in a lovely bay, camping on both sides of the road bush or beach. This is the first place we found to camp up the Kenepuru Sound .Other areas are closed now.Toilets clean , water and basic sink for dishes. Very quiet and beautiful views.

Reviewed almost 4 years ago

A lovely lake with the back drop of the mountains.The camp site is back a little from the lake a large grassy area with plenty of choice where to park.

Clean and tidy toilets, solar shower and shelter for kitchen area.

Reviewed almost 4 years ago

A fairly sheltered gravel car park beside the river across the road from the beach.

Excellent toilets and free wifi. Nice walks up the river or along the beach. A great nights stay.

Reviewed almost 4 years ago

A lovely large grassy spot by the lake edge by trees if shelter is needed.

Good toilets. Boat ramp used by locals.nice walks around the lake.

At the time we visited the water at lake Opuha had

potentially toxic algal blooms ( cyanobacteria) and warnings to stay out. Maybe shortlived

A peaceful spot .

Reviewed almost 4 years ago

This is a beautiful campsite with all the trimmings, powered sites, new toilets,laundry,kitchen area with hot water , hot showers ($1)and dump station.we stayed the long weekend so had to book on line

and got the last space. A beautiful lake with walks or bike tracks to choose from.

Only problem was the sandflies and masses of bumblebees! Take plenty of insect repellent!

Reviewed almost 4 years ago

On the shores of Lake Wakatipu, views up the lake, magnificent.

Large area with plenty of spots to choose from. Sheltered with trees. Good clean toilets.

Reviewed almost 3 years ago and experienced in February 2021

A new spot apparently.

Campervan parking spots allocated on the edge of a grassed area against the fence. New toilets. Pretty location by the river visited locals by day but gone by the evening. Nice easy 5 km bike into Hamner Springs. Or a nice walk by the river. We did both and then picked blackberries in the sunshine. Highly recommended .

Reviewed almost 4 years ago

A large strip of grass on the edge of the river, plenty of parking.

Toilets ok, water available. Information boards on the areas history .Cafe not far down the road. If the weather is good a great spot but little shelter from the wind. We did a bike ride up to the cliffs and then to Waipahu Point then next day. Nice walk along the beach by the camp.

Reviewed almost 4 years ago

This is very hard to find, the entrance did not match the map, it is more south, there is a sign but go slow and don’t blink!

It was our first night of freedom camping and it was a bit creepy, no one around, little inlets into the bush past the cemetery. No ph service.All rather vague about where to go. We ended up at the first area by the stream. A peaceful night but probably would look elsewhere next time.

Reviewed almost 4 years ago