Cathy Mead
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Makarora ▷
Makarora Country
4.0/5
Quite a small site so book ahead.
Probably the best showers we'd encountered so far which gives it the 8. Friendly owners but I was a bit taken aback at being charged $8 for a loaf of bread - which turned out to be a day out of date! Hey-ho it was still very tasty. Wi-fi a total no go so don't pay for it. BBQ not in very good nick but kitchen well-equipped.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Kingston ▷
Kingston TOP 10 Holiday Park
4.5/5
This is a friendly place with good facilities.
Good showers, a well equipped kitchen and a big BBQ thoughtfully provisioned with tools, cleaner and even a hand towel dispenser. It is not glitzy, the amenity buildings are fairly rustic, but that is part of its charm. It is a short walk to the beautiful lake. We were positioned quite near the road but luckily it was not busy and as we were in an RV we were not troubled in the slightest.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Twizel ▷
Lake Pukaki Overnight Campervan Parking
3.5/5
I would love to have given this site a higher ranking - the position certainly deserves it - but it is being ruined by campers in cars.
As there are no facilities whatsoever these people wee & poo wherever they feel like - most seem to go for a swim in the morning so this end of the lake is to be avoided at all costs!
There are no signs saying 'freedom camping only' so these people can camp with impunity. On the night of our visit cars eventually outnumbered self-contained vehicles 2-1. There was no rowdiness, just a steady despoiling of the surroundings. What a shame, and what for the future?
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Twizel ▷
Lake Pukaki Overnight Campervan Parking
5.0/5
Wow, wow, wow!
What a wonderful place. The weather was perfect so the colours were exactly as in the picture with the sunrise and the sunset extraordinarily beautiful. We were the only folk in sight, what a treat!
There are no facilities whatsoever and, thankfully, no cars to be seen so it appeared unsullied. There are no signs either so if you are in an RV, drive off SH8 onto Haymer Road and drive along as far as you wish until you find your ideal spot - what more could you want?
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Springfield ▷
Lake Pearson (Moana Rua) Campsite
4.5/5
This was our first night in an RV and what a place to begin!
The ability to camp right on the lakeside was great - not withstanding the various bugs, spray essential. The weather was perfect so the views and the colours magical. The long drop toilet had no paper but it did have sanitiser. A great place to start.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Hokitika ▷
Lake Mahinapua Campsite
4.0/5
Not quite the lakeside views we had envisaged despite being by a beautiful lake.
The drive through rainforest to get to the site was lovely. Toilets, torch needed after dark, and washing up facilities and supposedly a solar shower - not sure where the water was sourced from though! $13 per person with an honesty box. Plenty of areas in which to camp.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Fox Glacier ▷
Fox Glacier Lodge
4.5/5
A very well-appointed and well- managed site.
Not very large so do book ahead. Very welcome hot showers, washing and washing up facilities. Sites quite close but we had nice neighbours! There's a loop walk just up the road to a glow worm dell. Nearby Lake Matheson is an absolute must. If you can get up early enough it is a mirror lake reflecting Mt Cook & other nearby peaks. We didn't so it wasn't a perfect mirror but it was still well worth it. Do the full circle if you can.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park & Motels
4.0/5
By far the largest, and most expensive site we used but very well-organised.
The lake is just over the road so easily accessible but not exactly in view from the RV site we were given. Excellent facilities. We needed to park for one night before actually staying there and they have a secure area at the back for $10 a night. We could have parked on the road but it was peace of mind. We also discovered that you can freedom camp, if self-contained, the whole way along on the road right opposite the lake.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Methven ▷
Rakaia Gorge Camping Ground
5.0/5
What a splendid place!
Lovely position high above the river, well laid-out and with good facilities. It is a managed site which ensures all remains as it should! At $8.50 per adult this was the best value charged-for site we encountered. Contrary to your description, there is no dump station on site but, thankfully, there is one at the information centre just the other side of the river.