23May24.

A good walk from the Kerikeri Basin at the end of the Landing Road.

Not sure the time and distances actually match what is on this app or the info boards at the start of the walk but not too far out.

2 waterfalls. Both good in their own right but Rainbow Falls the higher, noisier and generated more mist.

Kiwi country but we didn’t see any.

Reviewed 10 months ago

12May24.

2 adults in motorhome $33 powered site.

Very good value for money at that price.

Grass pitches. Not a huge park. Right on SH3 but not overly noisy.

My only gripe is the gents shower cubicles had a door, clothes hooks and the shower only, no curtain, partition, seating or mat.

Oh, the gents lock handle goes clockwise…

Reviewed 11 months ago

8thMay24.

A stop for lunch. The park is good with walks around the lake and the wider park.

Facilities are good and plenty of space. We didn’t stay overnight but would have been happy to if it fitted our itinerary.

Reviewed 11 months ago

Well, that hasn’t happened to me before, 2 consecutive reviews 5 years apart.

Still a great place to visit. Disappointed with the dancing sands as we didn’t see it but perhaps they had an off day.

What I like about places like this is there is no entry fee unlike so many places in my country.

Reviewed 11 months ago

20May24.

2 adults on powered site for motorhome. $40. Very nice lady in reception.

Key fob entry and exit.

A big park. All grass, as far as I could see, pitches but they held up well considering the rainfall.

Free WiFi. 10gb for 5 devices over 7 days.

Good toilets and showers. Showers on 5 min timers with 100 seconds delay before more hot water. No delay on cold!

Good kitchen. Didn’t try the laundry or other facilities.

Play equipment for youngsters.

Very close to beach, the ocean was evident all night where we were.

Clearly a very good family holiday park.

Reviewed 10 months ago

22May24.

2 adults in motorhome on powered site. $45.

Level sites close to toilets and showers. As in previous reviews there are 2 toilets and 2 showers in new-ish units. They are under cover too. A pity one of the showers was out of order.

Close to the highway so some road noise but not so bad.

A good park and friendly host.

Reviewed 10 months ago

8thMay24.

2 adults in motorhome.

Good location and good facilities as described by others.

As well as being close to the road there is also a railway line the other side of the road. Lots of rail line crossings so bells and train noises sometimes.

A shortish walk to the Sea Life Centre. That’s worth a visit, a cafe and decent toilets!

Dump station and fresh water too, all for nothing.

Would have been a 10 if further away from the road.

Reviewed 11 months ago

2 adults in motorhome $150.96.

9and10 May24

I agree with the positive comments below that it is a great place for kids. Adults too. The entertainment facilities are brilliant.

Why not a 10? This was the most expensive park we have stayed in. My gripe is they don’t have curtains and plastic duck mats in the showers. A lot of cheaper parks do.

In some cubicles the coat pegs are on the opposite side to the shower head and there is only a narrow divider. The water flow is high so splashes are inevitable. The floor gets wet so getting dressed and drying feet is not easy.

Its a great park for families but if you don’t want all the bells and whistles there are cheaper options.

We did enjoy the beer whilst in the pool!

Reviewed 11 months ago

10 based on a short stay for lunch only.

Very large area with plenty of space and good facilities.

Plenty of campers there but loads more space available.

A very small hedgehog close to us too. Bonus!

Reviewed 11 months ago

28Apr24.

Since the earthquake spoiled the situation by destroying the previous walk up to the seal pups pool, the roadside facility has been hugely improved.

Good parking area with a 300m walkway looking over where the pups play in the sheltered water or sunbathe on the rocks.

Not to be missed

Reviewed 11 months ago

23May24.

2 adults on powered site with motorhome. $40 +$5 for WiFi.

Very good facilities and friendly hosts.

My only disappointment was the laundry room. 2 washers and 1 dryer. I think there really must be equal numbers. When we were there the dryer was out of action and the sign taped to it was not visible when loading the washing machine. Consequently we had a load of wet washing and the weather was showery so not a viable option to dry it. A motorhome filled with wet clothing is not so good.

That apart very good.

Reviewed 10 months ago

15May24.

Expecting a rainy morning we decided to try it out. Very glad we did. It is one of, if not the, best museums we have visited. Lots of interesting and varied stuff there. We spent a few hours there and could have stayed longer.

Some of the interactive stuff is very entertaining, especially the musically orientated ones.

And it is totally free!

Reviewed 11 months ago

24May24.

A special place. Nice walk. Good facilities. Spend some time and enjoy the sights.

Note - some of the walks are currently closed. Check with DoC beforehand.

Reviewed 10 months ago

30Apr24.

I think the app has been updated since the last review.

A good set of walks there. We combined a couple to suit our schedule.

Good walks and a good looking campsite.

Very good toilets by the parking area too. We didn’t try the cafe.

Reviewed 11 months ago

16May24.

2 adults on powered site for 1 night. Motorhome $64.

A very good site spoiled for me by the showers. Curtain and mat but push button for 10 minutes. Trouble was it was difficult to see what was the button and whether it worked. Water seems to be getting warmer but didn’t. Tried another cubicle. Difficult to see if button worked. Water did get hot eventually but then the flow dropped off.

That apart a very good site only 500m from the caves

Reviewed 10 months ago

2May24.

Sunny but a cool breeze.

This time there were maps available, quite a few. The maps actually detail some of the more interesting rock formations not the toys!

It also made it easier not to spend too much time trying to find your way out.

Good fun when you misread the map and get lost though.

The rock formations are quite extraordinary. The map and guide give details of how it all came about.

Reviewed 11 months ago

11May24.

2 adults. $40 powered site.

Office closed so we set up for the night. Eventually found someone to pay the following morning.

The lounge, kitchen, toilets and showers were very good. Plenty of space in the showers.

There doesn’t appear to be a website or opportunity for advance bookings. This caught out one guy who arrived on a bicycle after the office was closed hoping for a cabin. Couldn’t make contact so set up his tent anyway. It was a very cold night so he bedded down in the lounge, good move.

No WiFi either.

But for lack of website and no WiFi I would have given them a 10.

Reviewed 11 months ago

2May24.

Our last visit 2018 as per our review then.

To say we really like this place is that we went twice today, morning and late afternoon. We will also go tomorrow and the day after as we are in the area.

It is a magical place. Not a very long walk but the rocks and trees etc make it special.

Check out Labyrinth Rocks further along the road too.

Reviewed 11 months ago

25May24.

2 adults on powered site in motorhome. $42.

Level pitch. 2 combined toilet/shower rooms each for male and female.

Steep hills to get to the centre. We only went to the fish and chip shop and back. Too dark and the threat of rain!

Didn’t use the kitchen or laundry.

A little out of the way but close to the ferry and an ok spot.

Reviewed 10 months ago

23April24.

Plenty of parking for large motorhomes.

The original bridge and part of that walk are now closed. There is a new, better (longer) walk to the original waterside area with a new longer bridge.

Hats off to DoC.

Reviewed 11 months ago

22April24.

A good walk and well made paths. Carry on to the the Trig Point for a total 90 minute return walk. There are 2 other trails at 3.5 hours each.

Hats off to the locals. The public toilet was the cleanest we have seen so far with soap, water and a Dyson Airblade!

Reviewed 11 months ago

9th and 10th April 24.

$96. 2 adults.

A small holiday park but reasonable facilities. No stools or duckboards in showers but not metered and good temperature and pressure.

Laundry - $4 for wash, $2 for 20 mins drier.

Good lounger and dining area with plenty of leaflets etc.

A bit of a trek into town but there are buses and taxis. Reasonably quiet as whilst close to a road it is not a main road and no lorries. Would stay again if it fit our itinerary.

Reviewed 12 months ago

18April24.

1 adult, 70.

A straightforward track. Some quite steep sections and some rocky and rough. Didn’t stop some quite young people getting to the top.

However the views were worth it

Reviewed 11 months ago

12 & 13 April.

2 adults. $100. Quirky. Previous review as said hippy. Maybe, but definitely quirky.

Only 2 toilets for the site, one of which also has a shower. Separately there are 2 showers each for women and men.

The owners put a lot of work into keeping it clean and provide hand towels etc.

Thinking about this I have revised my rating from 8 to 9.

Only about 10 mins from the jetty for the Doubtful Sound cruise via a path through the woods. All in all a very good site

Reviewed 12 months ago

22April24.

Stopped for a break and cuppa. Nice site by the lake. Limited space.

Good flush toilets.

No sandflies evident. Time of year.

Reviewed 11 months ago

20 April 24.

Stopped for lunch. Good facilities. Recommend for a stop but can’t rate the campsite as we didn’t stay.

Reviewed 11 months ago

21April.

Adults.

Great walk. Best when not busy as so peaceful.

Cafe very good but a shame they play music in the outside area when there is plenty of birdsong.

The separate gallery has closed but has stock inside the cafe building.

Loads of parking especially for vans and motorhomes.

Loved it.

Reviewed 11 months ago

8 April 24.

We had a warm dry walk although somewhat breezy at times. The swing bridges were moving a bit.

Well worth the effort getting there. Not a hard walk and easily done within the time suggested.

The end of the track has a lake and the end of a glacier. A seating area and access to the lake with icebergs!

Very windy there in exposed areas.

Very busy but that was ok. Would definitely do the walk again if we revisit NZ.

Reviewed 12 months ago

22April24.

2 adults in motorhome $46.

Ok campsite but toilets and showers a bit dated. Convenient location although a longish walk to town.

Our 3rd or 4th visit so not so bad.

Reviewed 11 months ago

24April24.

2 adults in motorhome.

Grassy area so hope it’s not boggy. It wasn’t when we were there.

Went for an evening shower but the cubicle I used had very poor flow and the water was lukewarm only long enough to wet me. Then cold! I checked the other 2 cubicles after. They had good flow but were also cold.

They were ok next morning.

Other facilities good.

Would have been a 10 but for the cold shower.

Reviewed 11 months ago

01Oct18.

Damp start to the day but not cold. Walked to the lookout then down to the pinnacles base. Good stuff. Hard work walking on gravel but worth it. Don’t think we will go again tho. A bit out of the way. Glad we did it tho.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2018

18 September 2018.

We went from the most distant car park. A nice walk, the river getting bluer as we went. Very quiet in places. Lots of birds. Good facilities. The spring was not what was expected tho. Just an area by the side of the river. No real sign of water streaming out.

Well worth while walk on a warm day.

Shame others don’t respect the place. Cans thrown into the bush and something best not described in the loo at the spring!

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2018

21Sept18.

After a walk around town we decided to walk to the falls from Spa Park. It was a very warm day for spring and we bailed out before getting there. The walk was good and the hot springs were well attended by mostly younger people.

We went to the falls the following day. As good as last time. A sight to see.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2018

17Sept18.

We had intended to drive round to Cook’s Beach free site but it was getting late and I was tired! Stayed here instead. A hidden gem in terms of cost (free), access and quietness. Snapper Jack’s just down the road supplied 2 of us with a fish and chip supper for $10 total! A bargain. Public toilets not far away at the marina

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2018

18Sept18.

Enjoyed the walk in spite of a little rain. The views from the top were a bit limited due to the trees etc. Hopefully they will not be allowed to grow too much more.

A good gelato shop when we got back down.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2018

23Sept18.

A great site. Quiet, free, by the sea, free, 2 toilets within a very short walking distance.

Room enough for a lot of campers/motorhomes.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2018

12 September 2018.

Basically as previously described. We walked in light and dark. Glow-worms in places. Saw one or possibly two kiwis, just about! Great place to go. Shame about the kauri die-back but good protections in place, please use them.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2018

20Sept18.

The walk from the caves entrance is not easy to follow. We did find the path to the lookout from the car park. That was good.

We asked a very kind gent and he suggested we drive west and turn left at the roundabout. A little way along that road you will find two car parks opposite each other. Turn right immediately after them and you will find the Ruakuri Caves entrance. Brilliant!

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2018

12 September 2018.

Powered site! Great. Good facilities, all things considered. No water in the kitchen in the morning. Due to someone filling their camper water tank? Don’t expect much and be delighted

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2018

18Sept18.

Went there before, in 2014. Designated spaces now. Not sure if the one we used was meant to be for 1 or 2 campers. The spaces seem small and we noticed another camper the same as ours effectively took 2 spaces. Loos were ok and it was free!

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in September 2018

08May14, 1 night, $30 per night, 2 of us (50's).

Really quirky place, this one but we enjoyed it. Lots of bits and pieces decorating the place. Cabins all different shapes.

End of season but looking a bit tired. Previous reviews noting lack of facilities (too few loos etc) are correct but we had the luxury of being only one of two clients the night we were there.

The communal facilities looked like there are good times here in the summer for socially minded people.

We might well come back again if only out of curiosity.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in May 2014

16May14, 1 night, $40 per night, 2 of us (50's).

Good clean facilities. Friendly staff.

Guided Kiwi walk in the forest - $25 each. Good. Saw a Kiwi, eels, crayfish & Te Weka.

Got there in the dark and left earlish so didn't see all the site but it looks good. Would go again unless we try the DoC site up the road.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in May 2014

12May14, 1 night, $12 per night, 2 of us (50's).

Ha! We paid but the others that didn't got caught by the DoC Rangers! Serve them right too.

Nice site. 2 long drop ablution blocks and a cold shower facility. I don't know why the day visitors further along had flush toilets. Worth the very short walk for decent loos.

Good beach and walks and not too many flies when we were there.

Gravel road to get there but not too bad.

A good place to stay at the top end.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in May 2014

21May14, 1 night, $29 per night - booked online, 2 of us (50's).

Our last night in NZ after 8 weeks there. Booked here as close to hire depot. Not expecting anything other than somewhere safe to park, loos and showers and ability to clean the van. Surely this is the point of the place, it is not a holiday destination in itself.

The only disappointment was no facility to wash the van down other than connecting our own, short, hose up. A cleaning bay with a long hose and brushes would be useful.

7 out of 10 as it mostly met our purposes this trip. Next trip I think we would take the van back earlier and have our last night(s) in a hotel.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in May 2014

11May14, 1 night, $40 per night, 2 of us (50's).

Nice lady in reception. Only about 6 'van sites. 2 unisex loos and 2 unisex showers. Clean enough but locked overnight.

Wifi ok in laundry.

Only for stop overs on the way to somewhere.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in May 2014

Ok, we didn't stay here BUT we did go into Taupo and see it.

What a bargain! Free, right in town next to the lake and public loos. Will def stay here next time as well as the Top 10.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in May 2014

04May14, 1 night, $44 per night, 2 of us (50's).

As in a previous review, the car park/pitch area does not look so good BUT the geothermic pools and the walk to the hot (boiling hot) spring make it worth the cost.

6 pools with different temperature water, pools drained and refilled daily so no need for added chemicals.

Shower and loos adequate but not special.

Well worth the experience and we will come again.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in May 2014

06May14, 1 night, free, 2 of us (50's).

Nice location. Supposedly only 4 spaces for s/c campers but others there too.

Nice walk along to Cathedral Cove. Very nice beach and arch/tunnel. Check out the (admittedly long drop) loos. Large picture windows to look out whilst doing the business!

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in May 2014

09Apr14, 3 nights, $40 per night, 2 of us (50's).

Very close to town, albeit with a bit of a hill. Close to gondola.

Good facilities; were the adverse reviews in the same park?

Sites were a little close but why send all day on site when you have Queenstown and all it offers so close?

We will def go back there on our next trip.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2014

19Apr14, night, free, 2 of us (50's).

Convenient location for Punakaiki, sloping though. No facilities but the tavern is close and good, friendly too. Good food there.

Another good stop over point.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2014

21Apr14, 1 night, $45 per night, 2 of us (50's).

Good, clean facilities and close to town. Nice town and plenty of walking along the shore.

Pitches a little close but hedges between them help.

Will return.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2014

08Apr14, 1 night, free, 2 of us (50's).

Lovely large area by the harbour with great views.

Another good stop over point to save some dosh!

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2014

20Apr14, 1 night, $12 per night, 2 of us (50's).

Ignoring the long drop loos and the flies...it was a good site.

The walkway is good. Check out the inscriptions on the headstones in the cemetery, they had a hard life.

A bit of road noise too, some of the lorries going by were a bit noisy.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2014

28Apr14, 1 night, free, 2 of us (50's).

A bit of a gem in some ways. Access is along a longish gravel track, bumpy in places. We parked as close to the ocean end as we could amongst the trees there. Quiet and peaceful. Close to the beach. Dark at night.

A good stop over point in spite of the access track.

Would use again.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2014

23Apr14, 1 night, $5 per night, 2 of us (50's).

Excellent value. Flush loos and cold outside shower for the brave!

Good walking round the shoreline.

A good stop over place. Will use again.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2014

29Apr14, 1 night, $45 per night, 2 of us (50's).

Very good facilities here. Brilliant shower cubicles, the best we saw in 8 weeks in NZ.

Would use again.

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2014

22Apr14, 1 night, free, 2 of us (50's).

It is what it says it is. No facilities but free. A good stop over to help the budget along.

A bit bumpy on the short track in from the main road.

Good stars, especially if people turn their campers outside lights off!

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2014