You are near The Buxton pub which is a late night venue; karaoke is Thursday night - which would’ve been insufferable if I hadn’t gone & joined it haha (so i’d avoid Friday/Saturdays too).

Parking guy did come by to check how many nights you stay - he was super chill & said as long as you put your plate in for the hour free parking at 8am he didn’t mind you being sat around longer.

The toilet is better than the free ones at Montgomery.

Reviewed 7 months ago

huge space with clean toilets over to one side, quite a trek to them if you want to park on the side with the views but very satisfying to pop open my boot and look out on to Aoraki Yes to phone signal

too

Reviewed 7 months ago

Probably as good as you can get for being free in a city.

Plenty of room & the car park next to it closes overnight so other cars stop coming by at 10pm but the construction work does start up at 7am - imagine it’ll be a decent spot once that’s complete

Reviewed 7 months ago

There is a limit of spots but I arrived very late & was outside the lines & was undisturbed.

It’s a quaint little lake town so not high demand for space. The toilet block was undergoing some construction but still functional, shows it’s a well maintained area.

Phone signal: yes

Sandflies: yes

Reviewed 7 months ago

Fab spot with loads of room & super quiet, the lake seems modest after looking at Tekapo & Pukaki but still cool to camp lakeside.

Immense amount of bugs at nightfall, close your doors - but i was able to tolerate sitting outside with a citronella candle

Phone signal: yes

Sandflies: yes

Reviewed 7 months ago

Fabulous & reasonable spot, the hosts were very nice & accommodating to seven of us showing up on the day.

$19pp which is great considering Collingwood was $35 😵 Being right on the beach is fab too, fell asleep to the sound of waves

Reviewed 11 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 11 months ago

Great FREE spot btw but I highly recommend going into the Inn & buying a pint as compensation - might look scary but it’s family run & the daughter was very kind to me, even offered me a shower in her

own home (: Public toilets round the corner and very well kept considering it’s a bit remote! The highway is just over the ways but not loud in the slightest

Reviewed 11 months ago

Very pretty to sleep next to a lake - beautiful sunset spot.

You get mobile data out there too! Public toilets are a fair walk away & share the space with local fishers, dog walkers etc so expect millers about

Reviewed over 1 year ago

It’s mainly a car park - lots of spaces at least.

Can hear noise from the road and plenty of people arriving in the morning for general car park use. Toilet okay, door a bit janky. Didn’t use the cold shower but I like that it’s an option.

Reviewed over 1 year ago

Decent price, usual campsite facilities, self check in so can arrive whenever, town is walkable (40 mins but nice along the beach) (otherwise, short drive), quiet guests are encouraged

Reviewed over 1 year ago

Pretty spot, always nice next to water.

Toilet was completely boarded up though? So basically just a spot with bins at that point. & kinda far from the city (10 miles) but close to Rainbow Mountain & Waiotapu. You get 3G at least. Was quiet for me personally but who’s to say in summer. Would’ve been even nicer on a none cloudy day to look over the lake but can’t control the weather haha

Reviewed over 1 year ago