Rob J
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Lake Tekapo ▷
Lakes Edge Holiday Park
4.0/5
We spent one night at Lake's Edge Holiday Park.
This is a big park and it was packed, but peaceful. There's only one dump station and you may have to wait on other vehicles to finish so consider visiting the dump station on arrival rather than departure. Our powered site didn't have a water source and we had to scout around to find one at an unoccupied site. Considering the large number of campers it was surprising to find only three toilets and three showers in our area and they were usually occupied when we went to use them. The showers are hot and have excellent water pressure. We were given a wifi password but the signal was too weak in our corner of the park to connect reliably. Town is just a short drive away and I suppose you could walk if you're not in a hurry. If you have any thoughts of eating at the Greedy Cow get there before they open because everyone else in town wants to eat there too.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Manapouri ▷
Possum Lodge Motel and Holiday Park
5.0/5
Henry has to be one of the best hosts in the entire country.
I was worried we would have problems because we couldn't make it to Possum Lodge before their 9pm closing time and our phones were not working to call NZ numbers. When we got there I found Henry almost immediately and he guided us to the last remaining powered site. He was friendly, laid-back and incredibly helpful at every step. We were doing the kayak tour the next day and he showed us the walking trail to the meeting point. We were able to leave our van at the park for no extra charge. Possum Lodge has everything you need for an enjoyable stay. It doesn't have its own dump station but Henry let me know that the nearby fire station has one.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Omarama ▷
Lake Benmore Holiday Park
4.5/5
We stayed one night at the Lake Benmore Holiday Park.
This place is incredibly popular and packed with campers for the holidays and it did feel a bit crowded. Since it was so full we did not score a site with the dedicated shower and toilet. The way the timer is set up for the showers could be improved. The shower is set to last only five minutes and there's a ten minute delay for the next user. I walked into a shower and got undressed only to discover that it had apparently just been used so I could only stand around and wait until the timer reset. IMO the community bathroom should ideally be about twice as big for the number of people it was accommodating. The park has most of the amenities you'd expect minus a dump station, but there is one not far up the road in town. Mary was a gracious and helpful hostess. The office has wifi if you need it but it does not extend to the whole park. Despite the number of campers the park had a very family-friendly feel to it. No one stayed up late and it was very quiet at night. The view of the stars late at night is amazing. In the morning we walked across the road and went for a stroll down the path along the lake. This park was a good alternative to the parks in Twizel that require a minimum stay of more than one night.
We did not notice any road noise at all from inside our van site which was well removed from the road. Perhaps some tent and van sites need to be swapped to give the tent campers relief.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Mossburn ▷
Mossburn Country Park
4.5/5
We stayed one night at Mossburn Country Park in December.
The camping area is just one large grassy area so it's practical but not so aesthetically pleasing. On the plus side if you're here on a clear night the unobstructed view of the stars is incredible! The rest of the park is pretty nice with lots of flowers and even some sculptures, and of course the enclosures with cows, goats, sheep, and alpacas. The office gives out small bags of feed that you can give to the animals. There's no shortage of toilets and showers at this park. There's a little walking path that's enjoyable for stretching your legs. There are even two mini cabin reading rooms full of magazines.
Note that if you're continuing towards Queenstown there isn't a petrol station until you reach Kingston, about 45 minutes away.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Invercargill ▷
Winton Golf Course and Camp
4.0/5
I'm grateful to whomever decided to install power outlets and invite campers to stay at this golf course.
We arrived in the evening and were the only campers on site. There were instructions and envelopes to put cash in for self-check in. Be sure to drop the envelope in the right slot! I enjoyed a hot shower for $2. On the way out we filled up our water with the hose at the farthest corner of the gravel
lot. There is no dump station. Be warned there are a lot of mosquitoes here so keep your doors and windows closed. In all the camp site is an excellent value and just what we needed to get us a little closer to Te Anau from Bluff.