Andreas and Sylvia
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Greymouth ▷
4.0/5
Lovely place to stay for the night and enjoy the sunset, even if it's just a gravel parking area.
During the day and early evening a lot of locals parking there.
+ next to the beach
+ plenty of space
+ clean
+ quiet
- no toilets or other facilities
North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Te Puke ▷
5.0/5
Great spot next to the beach.
+ great sea view
+ very friendly local people around
+ at daytime: lifeguards at the beach nearby
+ free, clean toilets open all day/night
+ good fish and chips about 2km down the street (by the way: there is another free camping just on the other side of the restaurant for self contained motorhomes, also with a public toilet!)
South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Banks Peninsula ▷
5.0/5
Great spot.
+ Beautiful view
+ Clean Toilets
+ just 1km walking to the Gardens at the French Farm
+ not too crowded, even not in January
- nothing
South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Waikawa ▷
1.0/5
Wouldn't go there again.
Unfortunatly the acess to the Cathedral caves were closed at the low tide in the evening. The girl at the information in Owara told us it would be open in the evening, too. That's why we had to stay over night at the this Holiday Park.
+ near the Cathedral Caves
+ Restaurant on site (we didn't try it)
- much too expensive (49 NZD for two adults on a powered site)
- the powered sites are just one next to another on a kind of parking space
- Restaurant took last order at 7pm
- showers not really clean
- no hair dryer
Andreas,
We monitor our pricing very closely and for a four star plus facility, with no city services, we are not too expensive.
We are in business and have to provide a livelihood for around 20 staff.
NZ wages are very high and we have to pay triple time for holiday wages to clean the park and operate the restaurant, which is when you visited.
Unfortunately, the Govt doesn't take into consideration that we can't close on Public Holidays, like everyone else can.
The powered sites have white gravel overlay and are set between planter boxes with trellises for privacy. Two vans per spot. There is grass, tables and trees to enjoy opposite the van sites. There is outdoor covered seating and well appointed ablutions, kitchen, common TV room and laundry. It rains a lot here, so we can't park you on the grass or you would complain that you got stuck in the mud.
We do not operate the Cathedral Caves, they are tidal dependant and run by a Trust, but they are close to our Park.
The restaurant is open till 10 or 11 pm every night during the summer. But if there are no diners we close. You didn't go in the restaurant, so you didn't really understand what the correct story was?
We ask that you be seated by 7.00 - 7.30 pm or you probably won't get a seat, it is a very busy place. If you arrived while dinner service is on, you are more than welcome to dine with us. Hope that explains the restaurant to you and others.
The showers get used all day at this time of the year, so you may need to use the squeegee or wipe up after yourself. It is a communal space that is cleaned daily. But guests are responsible for cleaning up after themselves. Hair dryers are not in the public space, they are in the units however, but you can borrow one from the café if you need one. Remember you 'are' camping?
whistling