Evan
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South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura ▷
Molesworth Cob Cottage Campsite
5.0/5
Simply incredible.
Watch out for the overly friendly horses in the field above, which offers a nice sunset view.
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South Island ▷ Central Otago ▷ Cromwell ▷
Bannockburn Domain Camping Ground
2.5/5
Average at best.
It's a bit of a weird place, but the vibe isn't as weird as the initial look. $20pp is a bit steep for no wifi. Showers are decent but a little uneven. Kitchen is small but serviceable. There is no store and only 2 intermittent restaurants in Bannockburn, so come with supplies. The staff is not overly nice. Winery fans will wake you up before dawn on cooler nights.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Te Anau Tasman Holiday Parks
5.0/5
Now run by Tasman holiday parks, and very well run at that.
It has everything you need, including a very comfy lounge room. The staff was super nice, and the facilities were spotless. $35 per tent worked out well for 2 people but less well for solo travelers.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Haast ▷
Lake Paringa Campsite
3.0/5
Decent enough, but $15pp is rich for the (lack of) services.
No picnic tables or shelter at all. Bathrooms are nice. Water from the stream is...fine? It's pretty disorganized, with people parking every which way. Bonus: plenty of sandflies.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Murchison ▷
Riverside Holiday Park
5.0/5
It's still excellent, and one of the better places we stayed in NZ.
The staff are incredible.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Murchison ▷
Lake Rotoroa Campsite
3.0/5
It's just a basic patch of grass, but there are 2 picnic tables.
Bathrooms are indeed a bit of a walk from the camping are. $10pp is a bit steep but that's DOC's new plan, I guess. Sandflies live up to the reputation.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Wanaka Hampshire Holiday Park
4.0/5
Super well organized.
Great showers, great laundry, kitchen very spartan but clean. The WiFi is VERY slow late in the day when many people are using it, but fine in the morning. $23pp for a tent site seems fair considering the location.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Hanmer Springs ▷
Hanmer Field Base and Picnic Area
3.5/5
Solid free spot.
Our night was marred by the midnight arrival of some idiots running a vehicle with no muffler blasting Eminem while they setup in their tent and argued about it. Bummer, but not the fault of the site, just a hazard of camping in general, especially when it's free.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Westport ▷
Mokihinui Domain Camping Ground
4.5/5
It's still a great place.
We only tented, but the field is huge and there are many flat spots. Showers are fantastic and hot. Price is now $15 for one and $10 each additional adult for non-powered. The kitchen is large and well equipped, but has the now-common "non-potable" water signs, so water status is unclear.
Burgers at the pub were good, but the service is indeed... indifferent. It was efficient though.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Punakaiki ▷
Fox River Freedom Camping Area
5.0/5
Just excellent, and a real gem.
Bathrooms are great, parking is abundant, and tenting is allowed.