Bob Fontaine
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch ▷
Coes Ford Camping Ground
4.0/5
Great!
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Lake Gunn Camping Ground
3.5/5
Two basic toilets.
The camp spots at the river beds are the nicest ones to wake up to. Make sure to park your van facing the exit as it is a very busy campsite. Approximately 45 minutes drive to Milford Sound.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Cron street ▷
Franz Josef Glacier Walk
4.0/5
Really disturbing to see how the Glacier is shrinking.
Either way a must do! This free walkway took us 40 mins to get 250m from the beginning of the Glacier. We went on a clear and warm day. Every day the view point changes due to the weather so we got lucky to see the Glacier from up close!
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Haast ▷
Pleasant Flat Campsite
4.5/5
Beautiful to wake up here!
Only 2minutes drive to the touristy Thunder Creek Falls. Facilities okay. Would give 10 if it wasn't for the sandflies.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Luggate Cricket Club Camping Ground
4.0/5
- a bit weird to check in: you have to drive halfway into the campsite to the big building and pay there.
+ big campsite
+ free hot showers
+ free to use power sockets
+ free to use fridge
+ free to use lounge area
+ short drive from Wanaka
- only 1 shower per sex
- only 1 sink
- laundry machine only for permanent campers
No noise after 10pm, check out at 10am. To recommend!
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Cron street ▷
Otto/MacDonalds Campsite
4.0/5
Nice campground(s)!
MacDonald: lots of picnic tables, big open spaces, rather close to the highway, 1 long drop toilet
Otto: not so many picnic tables but better facilities: 3 flush toilets, 2 sinks, further away from highway and inclosed by trees. Also closer to the surprisingly warm lake!
Both have water from tap but do boil it before use.
I would recommend Otto over MacDonald!
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Havelock ▷
Alfred Stream Reserve
3.5/5
Very tidy spot.
Right next to the highway but not so noisy as there is a speed limit to 60 km/h. Excellent covered picnic table and there is even a wood-operated barbecue for your convenience installed. Be careful when it rains, it tends to get muddy but you can also park on the asphalted road.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Wellington Botanic Gardens
3.5/5
We took the cable car ($4 each) one way to the top and walked our way down via the gardens.
In our opinion not the most beautiful garden New Zealand has to offer but still very beautiful. If you go, make sure you walk past the duck pond. You will find free maize for to feed them (if not you can get free maize at the treehouse).
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Owhiro Bay Overnight Campervan Parking
4.0/5
- it's just a car park.
+ very spacious (can handle up to 40(?) cars
+ facilities are "state of the art" in measures of other free campsites and stay open 24hr
+ beautiful to wake up, as you are on the very first beachfront
- (very) windy at times but nothing to worry
- always busy campsite
Nothing special to it
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North Island ▷ Wairarapa ▷ Masterton ▷
Castle Point Lighthouse Walk
5.0/5
In my opinion the most beautiful lighthouse in the North Island!
First you will have to walk on a beach (make sure it is low tide!). The lighthouse itself and its surrounding are just beautiful. The drive from Masterton takes about 1hr, easy drive.
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North Island ▷ Hawkes Bay ▷ Waipukurau ▷
Te Paerahi Beach (Porangahau) Freedom Camping
4.0/5
Lovely campsite.
Felt safe. Definitely recommend!
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Te Puke ▷
Otamarakau Beach Access
3.5/5
Cost is $5 per stay.
About 30 spots but no shade. Entrance is not signposted. Can take large vehicles. Popular with locals for fishing. Caretaker most of the year on site. Private property. No facilities.
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Waihi ▷
Dickey Flat Campsite
4.5/5
Very nice location, easy access but maybe not ideal for busses as the road is a bit windy.
The campsite extends from the adjacent fence downstream (250 m) to the suspension bridge over the Waitawheta river. No street noise, only nature! Tents can stay next to the river or near/in the car park. Cars can only stay in the car park.
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North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Hahei ▷
Cathedral Cove Walk
5.0/5
A New Zealand must do.
Takes 45 minutes one way to get to the Cathedral Cove the from car park. Much to see. Very beautiful. Could get very crowded, even in July.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Miranda ▷
Kaiaua Boat Club Reserve
5.0/5
Thanks Kaiaua Boat Club!
Perfect spot, right next to the water.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Cambridge ▷
Moanaroa Reserve
3.5/5
Lovely spot next to a lake.
Very easy to access (it's right next to the highway). Good place to spend the night when travelling towards Hamilton or Rotorua. No facilities except toilets.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Hamurana ▷
Hamurana Springs track
5.0/5
Beautiful walk!
Redwoods, crystal clear water and the largest spring on the North Island! 4,500,000 litres (1,000,000 gallons) water per hour!
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Ohinemutu Maori Village
3.0/5
Looks more like normal life.
Nothing special to me.
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Aratiatia Rapids Viewpoint
5.0/5
Great!
Make sure to arrive 15 minutes prior to dam opening. The first viewpoint is an easy 5 minutes walk. The second one (higher + little more challenging walk) is 8 minutes walk from first viewpoint (so 13 minutes from car parking area). People who watched "The Hobbit - Desolation of Smaug" will recognise this place ;-). You can also access the higher viewpoint via an asphalted access further up the main road for wheelchairs and so on. A must see when near Taupo.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Hamurana ▷
Trout Pools Reserve
2.5/5
No sign of an honesty box whatsoever so I think it is for free?
No facilities at all. Portable toilet got pushed on its side. The new toilet facility was closed when we were there. There are possums eating garbage, many rafting companies stop at this very point. Interesting walk routes start here! Good to stay one night or even two. Around 15 campervans can park here. No area for tents as everything is asphalted.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Tikitere ▷
Okere Falls Track
4.0/5
Nice walk!
Somewhere halfway the walk you'll get to a T-section. Take the walk down and you will see the 7m waterfall. Arguably the highest commercially rafting waterfall worldwide!
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North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo ▷
Hipapatua / Reid's Farm Recreation Reserve Free Campsite
5.0/5
Amazing spot!
Close to town and Huka Falls are in walking distance. Lots of good quiet camping spots. My favourite one is close to the water.
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North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷ Opotiki ▷
Boulders Campsite
5.0/5
Awesome location, next to the river bank in the middle of nowhere!
No phone reception, no traffic, nothing but just nature! Would recommend when travelling from Tauranga to Opito to East Cape. Just make sure you arrive before dark as the road is a bit tricky.