Excellent freedom camping right on a wild West Coast beach, can be windy and a lot of seaspray if the sea is rough.

Self-contained vehicles ONLY- do not be tempted, you must have a CSC sticker- the council do a check every morning around 5am. Two sleeper vans got $200 tickets this morning, one yesterday and 3 on the weekend! 3 Night maximum stay.

Reviewed over 9 years ago

Small DOC camp with fabulous views, ideal spot to stay if driving to French Pass.

Watch if its windy though, the wind can come from all quarters. Don't know what Ann from Germany was expecting, it's a DOC camp for goodness sake, it's about getting back to basics. At least there is a toilet(and it was clean), saves people in their happy crappers fouling our beautiful countryside.

Reviewed about 10 years ago

The real McCoy kiwi camping ground- $5 a head, toilets and wash basins.

Park in a paddock surrounded by sheep & weka. Fabulous white sand beautiful beach in the outer Sounds. A very long drive in to site along Kenepuru Sound Road and a very steep drop down a winding road to camp site. Not suitable for large motorhomes. Magnificent outer Sound views.

Reviewed about 10 years ago

DOC campground at the end of the road in the busy(sometimes) settlement of French Pass.

Right on a lovely sand beach. Good facilities but a little regimented for my liking. Sites marked out.

Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in October 2014

Fantastic walk, may sure you go at low tide and do the round trip (approx 2hrs) otherwise you can't walk the whole beach or see the Archway Islands in their full glory.

Plus huge sea caves and beautiful white sand dunes. Make sure a fine day too and no wind(sea spray) for best NZ photo opportunies.

Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in September 2014

Typical Top 10 Campground, large & busy during the high season, in a great position on the beach although sites have bushes between the campsites and the beach.

Clean facilities.

Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in September 2014

A very interesting walk and well worth the effort especially the steep and uneven climb up to the walkway from the carpark.

Amazing feat of engineering and a thrill to walk the narrow walkway attached to the side of the cliff. Look out for freshwater crayfish (Koura) in the channel.

Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in August 2014

We have been travelling the South Island for the last 5 months and the Manapouri Motorhome & Caravan Park is one of the best we have visited on our travels, Selwyn & Gloria are very helpful & run a great

ship, everything is spic 'n span and the grounds are very well maintained. There's plenty of space on the grass sites, or gravel if you prefer, and various options available depending on whether you're wanting power or not. The amenities block is fabulous, large lounge & kitchen, nicely appointed toilet & shower ensuites & near new washing machines & dryers. Everything is spacious, the clothes lines are fantastic and have their own large hedge enclosed lawn, water is available on most sites & the dump station is easily accessible from small to very large vehicles. Highly recommended. And only a 15 minute drive from Te Anau, why would you want to park up with the multitudes in close little sites?

Reviewed almost 11 years ago

Excellent walk, well worth it.

Beautiful scenery. Be aware that this is a 10 hour return tramp if you walk to the Wisp. Better to walk to the first swing bridge (Franks Stream) if you don't have a whole lot of time, it's a 5hr return walk. Be aware that there are many tree roots and climbing up & down steps. It is a quite strenuous walk if you are not fit. But it's well worth it if you have the time. Read my blog here;

http://tikitouringnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/02/catlins-river-walk.html

Reviewed almost 11 years ago

Excellent site, 10kms out of town surrounded by native bush (lots of bush walks) with large grassed areas & great childrens playground.

Camping sites have good access to toilets(public) and kitchen block. Shower available, power available if required. No cellphone reception.

Reviewed almost 11 years ago

Excellent walk to the lighthouse, make sure you take binoculars to see the seals on the rocks & beach far below.

Seals are also on top of the Nuggets if you look carefully.

Reviewed almost 11 years ago

Fabulous DOC campground on the banks of the Catlin River and at the beginning of the Catlins River Walk.

Large grassed areas to camp, if you are self contained drive down the gravel track to smaller more intimates area right beside the river. Quiet & peaceful.

Reviewed almost 11 years ago

Beautiful walk through stunning native bush to beautiful double falls.

Well worth the 40 minute walk.

Reviewed almost 11 years ago

Nice little site tucked into suburbia but with plenty of space & large trees for shade, very close to town.

Great amenities but as with all city camp grounds, shower is on a timer & gate closes at 8pm although code gets you in and out. Very well looked after, nice grounds, friendly hosts.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

Great camp ground right on a beautiful near deserted beach.

Lots of sites on two levels, this is how NZ camp sites used to be. Very friendly hosts. Basic but adequate facilities. Peaceful & quiet.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

The best spot to see yellow eyed penguins, give the hide a miss and walk the track out to the point(if the gate isn't locked) Be careful you don't trip over seals in the grass and watch for the penguins

thay can climb high up through the grass. What an experience!

Reviewed about 11 years ago

Can't get better than this for coastal camping in NZ, fabulous campsite will new clean amenity block.

Could be exposed to wind if your site isn't tucked behind scrub. Well worth a walk to Mussel Point & further on to Cape Campbell Lighthouse. Allow plenty of time, must walk at low tide.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

Fan-bloody-tastic experience!!!!

If you only do one attraction this year do this one. Excellent amazing display. Allow plenty of time, you'll still want more.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

Great little DOC camp, 8kms or so up a narrow gravel road but plenty big enough for our 14metre rig.

Site is quite small but enough room for about 10 or so vans. The walk through the bush needed a lookout over the river. Plenty of bird life.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

Fantastic camp ground with well equipped amenities.

Close to river & Mt Peel walks. Not suitable for large rigs as there's a glen of low height trees to pass through to the powered sites.

Reviewed about 11 years ago

A DOC (Department of Conservation) compact campground (12 sites only although tents can be pitched on the grass) right on the lake front.

A little too regimented for us with camp sites lined up side by side on hard clay/lime ground with gentle slope for rain runoff. Has toilet facilities. And a large covered area with BBQ tables for communal meeting. Would be very busy during summer so arrive early to get a site.

Reviewed over 11 years ago

Perfect position to experience all the Mount has to offer.

Try for a beach front site in the off season & watch the passing parade of people on the boardwalk.

Reviewed over 11 years ago

Not much choice in the upper Coromandel for accommodation but Colville Farm is an excellent place to stop.

Huge house paddock to park in if you're in a van or motorhome, internet, powered sites & facilities available if required. Plus cottages & rooms available. Excellent price too. very down to earth friendly farming family, farm activities available if you want to join in. Glow-worms & gold mine to explore, keep an eye out for the cave wetas. And be warned it's quite a steep hike to the mine.

Reviewed over 11 years ago

Short walk with not too many remnants of the gold mining days.

Nice enough bush walk all the same, good wide level paths.

Reviewed over 11 years ago

Very reasonably priced $5 per night per van parking in the front paddock right on the beach, very welcoming hosts who have been doing this for eons.

For self contained vehicles only. Very popular during holiday season & long weekends.

Reviewed over 11 years ago

Well laid out spacious & family orientated camping ground.

Excellent, clean facilities, only 4 years old. Lots of space for everyone, fish 'n chips available from small on site restaurant, 10/10 for them, very tasty. Handy to HWBeach (obviously)

Reviewed over 11 years ago

Worth it if you're in the area but be prepared for the walk, take water, it's two & half kms even though it doesn't look like it from the carpark lookout & it's quite a strenuous walk with a steep climb

out of the cove on the way back. Do not wear high heels or pantyhose or carry your handbag like I saw many people doing. the track isn't smooth in a lot of places, be careful where you place your feet. A blue sky also helps with photos and 2 hours either side of low tide allows good access through the "arch"

Reviewed over 11 years ago

Well maintained excellent DOC camping ground with basic facilities(long drop toilets & taps).

Very private with lots of sites in amongst native bush. Runs along side the Tairua River which is very picturesque too. Some excellent walks in the area. Be careful to get road name correct as there is another road into Broken Hills with the same name just missing the "valley" out of it. Bird life is fantastic.

Reviewed over 11 years ago

Iconic kiwi camping ground, just like they used to be, small & compact.

Excellent location with clean stream & swimming hole beside camp ground, very peaceful & relaxing. Hosts very welcoming. Great facilities although kitchen may not be every ones cup of tea. Great BBQ & pizza oven area. Great place to meet other traverllers

Reviewed over 11 years ago

Excellent location and very welcoming hosts but facilities are a little tired.

Very handy to town & some great short walks.

Reviewed over 11 years ago

Great holiday park with plenty of interesting sites amongst mature trees & shrubs to choose from.

Good facilities and a fabulous hot pool complex within the grounds (along with the public hotpools next door) One negative was the entry gate being locked at 8pm. We had to hurry back from watching the shorebirds arrive on the shell banks & see the sun set.

Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013