Stayed 10 nights in a large group, as a base to access the sounds.

Very popular as a one night stop for Ferry passengers.

Positives: Cheap & Large campground, Firm ground for anchoring tents, Flush toilet, Bird call from Tui, Bellbird & Morepork, Views.

Negatives: Can get extremely windy as valley funnels wind from South & the Bay funnels wind from the North.

Toilet urinal blocked, no lights in toilet block, water taps around the campground ran dry as fed from tank, portaloos overfull, toilet block not maintained well. Needs more bush planting for shelter.

Overall we enjoyed our stay despite a bit of bad weather.

I disagree that DOC has done a good job here though. They receive a hefty amount of $ from travellers every night yet simple things like lighting in toilets isn’t in place??

We were asked for change from a $20 note ($16 for two) many times by travellers...so my suggestion is make it $10 night per camper and reinvest significantly; Connect the campground taps to the stream pump, tidy the toilets, consider hot water for toilet block sink & taps, do more planting. Perhaps even a small kids area?

Reviewed almost 7 years ago

Thirty years ago this was the gem of Canterbury.

Now, the ford is heavily polluted and health warnings have been in place for many years. Do not swim or get in the water! Apart from that you'll share campsite with cows, local boy racers or people waiting for you to leave your camper or tent site unattended. Until the Selwyn district council and dairy industry tidy up their act my recommendation is to stay away. Head for Banks peninsula instead.

Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017