Rawiri johnston
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park ▷
Milford Sound Lodge – Rainforest Campervan Park
5.0/5
We've stayed at this site over the past few years in its various different guises (the last time we stayed it was more a backpackers which was good too).
Its always been fairly pricey but given the view and location - worth it. Well - it just got a whole lot better.
The lodge is now a combination of private swept up cabins by the river - and a whole bunch of powered sites. There's a new campsite facility with kitchen, tv room, showers - all heated for winter, sparkling clean and no timer on the showers! The main building has a bar, restaurant, and cafe accessible to everyone staying there (they even deliver to your campervan)!! The staff are super friendly and helpful -this was the nicest campsite we stayed in during our whole south island trip - thanks Andrea and crew for a great time.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Arthur's Pass ▷
Hawdon Shelter Campsite
4.0/5
In 2015 we parked up at the DOC camping site in Arthurs pass itself opposite the DOC centre.
Great location, flush loos, no power but ok. About the only problem was the constant rumble of trains going right past the camp site up till about mid night and slightly beyond - so not the best nights sleep. This time we stayed at the Hawdon camping ground which is only about 10 minutes prior to Arthurs Pass. So - no shortage of places to park (we had two vans - and the only other vehicles were some mad people who were doing the trek up the river to the hut). Take your pick as to where you want to park - the place is huge. No flush loos (just a couple of long drops) - but clean enough. Be warned - if you are there in mid winter the temperature will go sub zero (it was minus 4.5 the night we stayed) - so you'll need gas heating in your van, and extra blankets for the bed. I would not recommend the site for the smaller hi-top or people mover type vans in winter they have no insulation and its just too cold). Even the larger vans will struggle with the gas on high to be honest (unless its a wilderness or iconic van).
Also - if its that cold then don't expect the water in your camper van to be running the next morning. Best part though - absolutely silent. Next time - we might try a slightly better insulated camper van but I would have no hesitation staying there again.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Oamaru ▷
Harbour Tourist Park Oamaru
4.0/5
We've stayed here a couple of times and just love the location.
First off - across from the harbour so if you're in the right spot - a sea view plus its next door to the Victorian/ steam punk quarter of town (with some great pubs, craft shops, and a particularly fine whiskey distillery). Secondly they have penguins! How many camp sites in NZ have penguins living on the grounds (as I write this - there's one having an argument with something over by the kitchen block). That scores extra brownie points all on its own. Thirdly, its ridiculously close to the town (and there's a café, childrens play ground, and a brewery next door - the only thing missing is a sports ground with a live rugby game going on). In summer they have their own café with ice cream and espresso coffee (its closed during winter).
Yes - its compact, and the kitchen and toilet block could do with a make over (one of the toilets is currently closed while being upgraded). In summer if the park were packed - it could be a little bit too much. The wifi is a bit iffy, but there are plans afoot to upgrade it as well. Added to all this the owners (scott and dee) are super nice. So - it will only get better but as it stands now, it has character, sea views, location, penguins, a brewery next door, and a cafe with espresso coffee 15 meters down the road. If none of that makes you happy - stay home!
Great stuff Rawiri thank's for your feedback! We have now got all the new facilities in place and we also thank you for your valuable information re the wifi! Hope to see you all again!!
Cheers Scott and Dee
Tracy Kirk
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Cheapa Campa
3.0/5
ok so the good bits.
We rented two vans and couldn't be happier with the price - the rates really were very good (we booked a winter special which meant a great discount on top of some very inexpensive rates to begin with). Both vehicles have run like clock work. The hi-top van has been great, very economical and very easy to drive. The 6 berth van has absolutely purred, and had no trouble starting even during some very cold mornings. Also the range and fuel economy is great (hokitika to Wanaka plus side trips on one tank - pretty much the entire west coast)!
The not so good bits. The sinks in both vehicles were blocked from day one (cleaned out the trap in the 6 berth and it was full of rice). Haven't bothered with the hi-top as you can see its blocked from the sink hole. Looks like both vehicle only got a quick clean before being sent out again. Went to use the snow chains on the larger vehicle - wrong size and they were broken (missing a hook). Luckily we weren't anywhere that required chains to carry on (we simply turned back). The 6 berth has 4 vents under the seats so you might be thinking - "great - four heating vents". Nah - 3 of them are fake - there's only one gas heating vent for the whole 6 berth van. During winter - you really need to take the extra electrical heating fan and stay at powered sites.
Added to the above - the "no liability" insurance option is actually not so. As it was explained to us you're still liable for damage to the roof and the underside which isn't covered by any of the insurance options listed on the website. In addition, none of the insurance options cover damage to tyres or windscreen (that's extra at the time of collection for $7 per day). The exclusion is in the terms and conditions - but its not up front on the web site. So - there's a reason why the rates are so good. Overall good vehicles, decent enough service, somethings not checked before vehicles are released, and a healthy does of buyer beware!
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Wanaka TOP 10 Holiday Park
4.5/5
Brilliant campsite.
It is out of town - but that would be too perfect! Great facilities (bathroom, showers, kitchen, etc) and all very clean. Price wise - very reasonable (not queenstown or arrowtown type prices). Best parts - lots of hot water in the showers, great pressure, no timers - there's two spa pools (only one was working when we were there - but hey, still a hot pool), and the wifi is free and the fastest we've found in the south island. Added to that - the staff at the front desk were super nice.
Add all those added touches together - just brilliant.
Hi Rawiri, Awesome review, thanks.
Safe travels.
Justin and Andrea Kendrick
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Arthur's Pass ▷
Avalanche Creek Shelter Campsite
3.5/5
Can't argue with the convenience of this site.
Plenty of places to park up. Be warned - the trains are frequent and noisy so if yur looking for an early night then think again. Also, while the picnic site next to the shelter looks good, its also under the fire service siren (i.e, the siren used to call the volunteers to the station). Could make for a very unexpected surprise if that went off over yur head while fast asleep.
On the plus side there are 2x flush toilets, the shelter inside is huge, and its barely 2 minutes to the general store the next morning to buy an espresso!
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Cron street ▷
Rainforest Retreat
4.0/5
Stayed for a couple of nights at this place.
The powered sites were in their own individual bush cave which was a new experience. Staff were super friendly (thanks Georgie - you're a star) and the price was ok ($37 per couple). Its located one street back from the main road so not far to walk if you need a coffee or a meal. There's a spa on site, or you can walk down the road to the flash hot pool complex.
Bath rooms were clean enough, with plenty of hot water, great pressure, and no timer. Looks like some of the temporary repairs have become permanent, and the ladies bathroom had mould in it - so could do with a bit of TLC. Lastly - there's an onsite pub and restaurant so not far to go for a meal or a beer!
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Dunedin Holiday Park
4.0/5
A colourful camping ground with a great location.
We were a bit hesitant as the reviews here were mixed, but the place has character and the owners have gone to great lengths to make it family friendly. The facilities are fine, plenty of hot water, and the park staff are all over the place taking care of the grounds and cleaning the facilities.
Its the most conveniently located for getting to town - the bus costs $2.70 to get in to town, or a cab is less than $20. You can also walk to town (which we did - takes about 35-40 minutes). St Kilda's beach is a 5 minute walk - lovely long sandy beach with rolling surf. I can imagine in summer it would be crowded - but now in winter there's barely half a dozen campervans so plenty of space. Overall - its great.
Dear Rawiri,
Thank you for staying with us on your trip. We do try our very best to offer that home away from home feel with the focus on family and pet friendly. It is getting crowded now since it's summer. Hope you will be back this time round. Cheers.
Dunedin Holiday Park
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Toitu Otago Settlers Museum
5.0/5
Didn't know what to expect with this place - but came away thoroughly impressed.
Didn't know what to expect with this place - but came away thoroughly impressed. Good mixture of exhibits that gave a brilliant overview of the regions history - and I very much liked the mixture of tactile and interactive displays. Its the kind of place the encourages you to touch, read, get involved, etc (at one end of the museum there's an area for kids to dress up in 60s clothing)! Probably one of the best regional museums visited so far - and they have a great cafe as well!
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Milford Road Scenic Drive
4.5/5
A great drive - whether you're going in for the day or staying a night or two, getting to milford sound is half the fun.
The drive starts off easily enough but by the time you get to the hommer tunnel you're thinking "what am I in for" and then the descent on the other side leaves you thinking " eek"! You do wonder how you're going to get your large campervan round some of the cornes down (or up) the steeper gradients - but then you remember loads of large buses do the same route every day - not to mention the delivery trucks that supply the lodge, tours, and pub at milford itself - so if they can do it you must be able to.
Be warned - in winter the road is slippery (frost on top of frost and black ice as well). The road maintenance crew keep it all in order and the hazards are well sign posted with grit laid down on the worst areas. Still - take it easy as you get closer to the tunnel - plus its a better way to take in the view.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Invercargill ▷
Riverton Longwood Holiday Park and Camping Ground
3.5/5
Ok....so not the most modern camp out there (some of the kit in the kitchen is certified "classic" and i've not seen since visiting the grandparents).
The bathrooms aren't heated and if the camp were full it would be cosy. On the good side, the showeres are hot with enough pressure to blast your face off. Hot water is plentiful and there is no timer. If the camp is empty, which it is for us, you can park anywhere and have a view of the wide expanse that is fouveaus strait. The lady running the place is lovely also. 5 star it is not, but if your camper has all the mod cons and all u need is power and a hot shower then its fine.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Speights Brewery Heritage Centre
5.0/5
Just spent half the day at the brewery.
We went for the 12pm tour and as it turned out - its was just us and the guide (lovely lady by the name of Lara). So we got our own personalised tour which was great - didn't realised how " old school" the brewery was (was still brewing in the old copper kettles up until October of last year).
So following the tour we ended up in the bar sampling beers for what seemed a lot longer than 30 minutes! The only reason for leaving was that we had also booked the lunch (which was delicious), and Lara had another tour to do. A real Dunedin experience with southern hospitality to boot!
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
Wilderness Motorhomes
5.0/5
We like to travel in winter.
The scenery is just as good (more spectacular when the mountains are covered in snow), and there are no crowds to contend with. Not unusual to turn up at a camp ground and be the only ones there ( our visit to milford and sail out onto the fjord involved a dozen people on a boat designed for 100?) Great stuff. The down side of travelling in winter is that its freezing (to be expected if your objective is skiing - but cold never the less).
We had an escape 2 and the combination gas/electric heating is brilliant. There's even a vent into the comparment under the bed so that the bed gets heated! There's also a vent into the bathroom so that it doubles as a drying room. Added to that - the camper van is far better insulated than anything else on the road (on a couple of occasions we've been too hot). The long and short of it is that minus what ever it was in milford with frost on top of frost - we were cozy.
The rest of the van is great too - it drives really well (the italian auto trans is a bit of a dagg, and finding the bonnet switch was like an episode of "where's wally"), we're getting 12 litres per 100k so its very frugal, all the equiment works really well, tons of hot water onboard when we need it, lots of storage space, and the bed is very comfortable.
We did have a couple of problems (the sink tap developed a leak at the base and bits of glass and electrical wire kept rolling out from under one compartment) but nothing a tea towel and a new broom from a local hardware shop couldn'the solve!
We chose Wilderness because of its rating here on rankers, and also the plain english explanation re services and insurance that doesn't require a law degree to work out if you're covered. Together with the friendly staff and warm welcome on arrival what more do you need? We'll definitely be back.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park ▷
Milford Sound Lodge – Rainforest Campervan Park
3.5/5
So during winter they close down one bath room and make the other one unisex.
Can get a bit crowded as a result! On the plus side there is always lots of hot water and you can't argue with a view that has you looking straight up a vertical mountain face of goodnees knows how many thousand feet. Friendly wildlife too (the weka were fine whereas the kea just wanted to eat the camper). It is pricey for what it is, but there is no where else to hook up to a powered site, and its worth it just too stay in the sound and have time to be there and not just rush in and out in a day. If you want somewhere to eat - try the blue duck (aka - the pub). The meals are delicious and plentiful. Be warned, in june it is freezing and if it isnt snowing then in some place the frost is permanent.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Omarama ▷
Omarama TOP 10 Holiday Park
3.5/5
Nice camp ground.
Good facilities - clean, and plenty of hot water. Just a short walk across the road to any number of places to eat (we recommend the local pub on the corrner - not flash, more the kind of place the local shepards might eat at but hot pub food and lots of it for a very reasonable price).
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park ▷
Southern Discoveries
5.0/5
Great cruise.
There were barely 10 of us on the first cruise of the morning (and it was the smaller boat of the 2 they had there) - so if felt like a personal tour at times. Got to talk to the guide (waiata) quite a bit and the commentary was great. Saw dolphins, seals - and with a sunny cloudless sky we had a brilliant tour of the sound (got up and close with the waterfalls - on the way back - thank goodness for the extra coats). Good experience with friendly staff.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Omarama ▷
Hot Tubs Omarama
3.5/5
Its pricey - no doubt about that (hence the reason its not a 10).
At the same time - the facilities are fantastic and the owners have put alot of effort into it. The tubs are huge (could easily fit 6-8 people and still have space) - and the water is piping hot.
The night we were there we had the place to ourselves. Very private, clear night sky, but being June it was maybe 0 or minus 1 outside). The water is heated by a fire under the tub - so if you want more heat - then open a vent and get the fire roaring - and to cool it you add more cold water. Couldn't be simpler.