S Weslake
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Dunedin isite Visitor Information Centre
4.0/5
Helpful enough, worth visiting to book campsites and excursions during busy times.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Oamaru ▷
Harbour Tourist Park Oamaru
3.5/5
$50 per night, for 2 adults on a powered pitch.
We booked in advance with an i-Site and the campground reserved us a spot looking directly into the harbour. Porta-cabin style facilities, all clean and in working order. Only 2 female showers which is inadequate during busy periods. Close proximity to town and to the seal colony. Paid WiFi. Pricey but convenient, not worth it if you don’t get a harbour-side spot!
Isnt it great that we are close to eveything. Even if you dont get a harbour site you are still right opposite the water so you can just walk across the road. We have a total of 5 showers onsite which is more than required for the number of people we accommodate over the busy period.
Tracy Kirk
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Oamaru ▷
Bushy Beach
5.0/5
Well worth a visit!
Short track down to a wooden shed/lookout point. We saw 4 Yellow Eyed penguins and 3 sea lions. Be prepared for the wind as it is very exposed, and binoculars are a must. Not walking distance from the town, so best to drive here, ample parking.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Cascade Creek Campsite
5.0/5
Large, level, gravel area for many camper vans and tents.
Very remote, super quiet and peaceful. Just lovely. Only a few sandflies during our stay. Lovely walks around the area and this is the last campsite before Milford Sound (50 min drive). Several drop loos, sheltered areas for cooking or keeping out of the rain, and even fire pits scattered around. I did not have a problem paying $13 per person, the DOC put a lot of work into places like these, and in protecting the environment. Thanks for providing such a lovely space.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Akaroa ▷
Akaroa Freedom Camping Area
4.0/5
Large car park with two large areas for free camping marked in yellow.
Signage could be better. There are several places to free camp in Akaroa, however they are generally hilly so not ideal. This is the best place as it is level. Check with the I-Site for more information.
Public toilets 150m away and close by to town centre. Some campers risked camping by the water’s edge, outside the yellow lines, but didn’t appear to be fined. Plenty of space. We had no trouble with noise/unsociable behaviour etc.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Dunedin City Library
5.0/5
Excellent free WiFi in a pleasant library.
Central Dunedin, lovely cafes etc close by.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Waikawa ▷
Curio Bay Dolphin Watch
5.0/5
Stunning beach, rain or shine.
Hector’s dolphins playing in the swell with the swimmers and surfers. 2 cafes and a campervan site in close proximity. Lovely walk around the headland. Well worth a stop.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Invercargill ▷
Winton Golf Course and Camp
5.0/5
Absolute perfect place to rest up!
2 adults stayed mid March 2018. $10pp, free electric hook up, $2 showers in the (dated, but pleasant enough) golf course changing rooms. Super quiet location. Very warm welcome from the golfers. There is even a washing machine available for free! Just bring your own detergent! Perfect place to power up and rest.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Leith Valley Holiday Park
3.5/5
Stayed mid March 2018, 3 adults on a powered pitch.
We booked with an I-Site due to busy times. We were reserved a space right on the road, and heard traffic all throughout the night. Facilities clean and in working order. Large indoor area for cooking and relaxing. Individual dump stations at each pitch. Nothing special.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Sandfly Bay Track
4.0/5
Visited in search of seals and penguins.
No penguins but some fun sea lions lolling around - don’t get too close.
Gorgeous beach, very steep uphill climb back to the car park - good workout for your calves! Worth it despite the lack of penguins.
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Owaka ▷
Nugget Point / Tokata
5.0/5
Fantastic place for an easy stroll.
900m walk out to the lighthouse on a well maintained track. Heard the seals before we saw them. Absolutely stunning views. Well worth it.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch ▷
North South Holiday Park
2.5/5
2 adults on a powered pitch mid March.
We stayed due to the proximity to the airport as we were returning our camper there the next morning. We were fully aware of the proximity to the motorway and airport, and hence accepted we would be disturbed but traffic - which we were. I would only recommend if you desperately need to be so close to the airport, otherwise I’m afraid this place was soulless, and I’m sure better alternatives exist.
Dan was very helpful however in helping us with the terrible WiFi, which still didn’t really work...
Showers available but I couldn’t bring myself to use it, it wasn’t the cleanest or the most inviting.
Not worth the money, you’re paying for the closeness to the airport, and little else.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Murchison ▷
Ultimate Descents New Zealand
5.0/5
We had great fun!
Super friendly and much more technical than other rafting we did on our trip. Fewer rapids but thoroughly enjoyable. Would highly recommend.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Punakaiki ▷
DOC Paparoa National Park
4.0/5
Nice place to stop en route down the west coast.
We booked a few excursions here and had a walk around the pancake rocks.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Cron street ▷
Franz Josef Campervan Park
4.0/5
Basics gravel, but level pitches, right in the town centre, and in walking distance to everything; shops, bars, walks and the glacier tours.
We were parked in a bay of two pitches which had hedges separating from other bays. We parked so that our camper was actually pretty private, despite the small space. We had a lovely large picnic bench, and had a fantastic view of the glacier and mountains. Free showers in porta-cabin style buildings. Accept that you’re going to pay more for less in this high-tourist area. We had a very pleasant stay, and in perfect weather.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Haast ▷
Kahikatea Swamp Forest Walk
3.5/5
Decided to stop off for lunch here whilst driving between the glacier and Wanaka.
Beautiful place, not great surf though, and I did not expect sandflies, but they were out on force! Worth a stop if you can beat the sandflies.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Greymouth ▷
Cobden Beachfront, Greymouth
5.0/5
Another perfect free campervan spot.
Lovely place to park up, especially if you get a space looking right into the sea. Beautiful new flush loo unit with cold outdoor shower. We stayed here en route down the west coast. Highly recommend.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Motueka ▷
Motueka TOP 10 Holiday Park
4.0/5
Camped here after a day’s kayaking in the Abel Tasman.
Comfortable stay with good facilities and excellent pizza!
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Abel Tasman ▷
Kaiteriteri Kayaks
4.5/5
We had a great time with these guys.
Spent the whole day out on the water, saw all kinds of marine life, and even had a fresh oyster! Glorious sunshine, beautiful scenery and good company. Highly recommend.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Abel Tasman ▷
Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle
5.0/5
Took the shuttle in partnership with Kaiteriteri Kayaks to spend a day on the water.
The water taxi was kind enough to detour on the way back in order for us to see Split Apple Rock.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Motueka ▷
Motueka isite Visitor Information Centre
5.0/5
Friendly and knowledgable staff.
We booked a few excursions here with them.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Westport ▷
Westport isite Visitor Information Centre
2.5/5
Not the most exciting place and not the greatest place to get information.
Other iSites are better
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Murchison ▷
Murchison Visitor Information Centre
1.5/5
Poorly staffed and very limited assistance given.
The staff knew very little about local activities and didn’t appear to be very helpful.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Beacon Point Walk
5.0/5
Perfect place for a walk/cycle/run into town.
We stayed at the campsite just a bit further round the headland. Beautiful views, and the water was so warm! Mind the wasps on the shore line - not fun when you step on one...
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Outlet Track
5.0/5
Lovely place to walk, run, cycle or swim!
Access all around into the town, about 6 miles I think. Highly recommend, especially if you’re staying at the campsite here.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Haast ▷
Fantail Falls
5.0/5
Lovely place to stop off when driving through Haast pass.
My partner climber all the way up the waterfall (he told me it was very cold!) and found lots of place to explore. Clear blue water, looks incredible. Lots of rock stacks, unsure of their symbolism. A really lovely place to be for a rest.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Eely Point Walk
5.0/5
Stunning views and so many wonderful quiet beaches to rest on.
We cycled all around the headland several times back and forth from the campsite to town. Easy and accessible cycle/walkway. I also ran a short distance of it. Perfect.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch ▷
Spencer Park and Brooklands Lagoon
4.5/5
A lovely stretch of coastline/countryside with many outdoor activities.
We did the Adrenaline Forest zip lining activity which was a great way to spend a few hours. And a nice walk along the reserve. Worth visiting to mill away a few hours.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch ▷
Taylors Mistake Walkway
5.0/5
Stunning views and a fantastic place for a walk, run or cycle.
Easy access for campervans, free parking and drop loos available. We had a picnic at the top, but it was a little too windy. Don’t waste your time and money on the Gondola, you have the same (if not better) views here! And there is so much to explore. Lots of old military bunkers etc. Highly recommend.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Hanmer Springs ▷
Hurunui Information Centre
4.0/5
Approachable staff, knowledgable, and helpful.
Worth visiting to plan your visit.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Murchison ▷
Riverside Holiday Park
4.5/5
We had a great stay here after a lovely big morning walk and afternoon rafting on the river.
Beautiful spot right next to the river, with added fishing rods and kayaks to peruse the water. Very good value for money and good facilities also.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Leithfield ▷
Leithfield Beach Holiday Park
3.5/5
2 adults on a powered pitch mid March.
Good value for money at $30 a night, and close to Christchurch for those in need of proximity.
Showers and toilets are fine, although require a $2 coin, and we’re covered in cobwebs.
Beach access is easy although it isn’t the nicest beach. The campsite had a ‘Ghost Town’ vibe about it; many permanent vans and their elaborate set ups...
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South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura ▷
Kaikoura Peketa Beach Holiday Park
4.5/5
2 adults on a powered pitch mid March.
We had a lovely stay, mainly due to the uninterrupted view over the beach and gorgeous weather. Facilities in good working order - although showers are push button operated, which is annoying for washing hair etc. My partner informs me we also had to pay $2 to use the dump station hose?
Stay here instead of in town, quieter, more spacious and better value for money.
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South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura ▷
Kaikoura Peninsula Carpark Seal Watching
5.0/5
Beautiful views of the town and of the ocean.
A nice loop walk with several alternative routes, appearing to be safe in high tide also, but be careful as always. Car park available. We saw a seal resting on the walkway from the car park. Enjoy them, but keep your distance - it’s their habitat, not yours.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Cron street ▷
HeliServices.NZ
5.0/5
If you break the price down, it really isn’t expensive.
2 short helicopter rides, a guided 3 hour hike on the ice, with all equipment/safety briefings necessary, and access to the thermal spa after... the glacier won’t be here for ever and I think it’s not bad value for money. It’s not expensive, just a lot of money.
We could not have chosen a better day. Not a single cloud in the sky, baking hot sunshine and the views were just breathtaking. I loved the hike, squeezing between the gaps in the ice and walking though ice-tunnels. Very accessible. So fantastic. And access to the thermal spa later that evening made this day even more memorable. A really perfect way to relax after a day exploring. If you can afford it, I would highly recommend it.
Thank you S Weslake, United Kingdom for such a great review, I am pleased you had a perfect day and highly recomend. HeliServices.NZ did operate the Helihike/Icexplorer flights with Franz Josef Glacier Guides up to July 2016. Another company has taken over the Helihike since then. We offer scenic flights and snow landings above the Fox and Franz Josef within the Westland (Tai Poutini) National Park. Helicopter charters also available.
Heliservices Reservations
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Wanaka Wastebusters
2.5/5
A good place to find a bargain.
We only visited to see if we could sell them a surf board, they don’t buy, just sell. Large place, easy to find.
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Hanmer Springs ▷
Alpine Adventure Holiday Park
4.0/5
Stayed mid March 2018, 1 night, 2 adults on a powered pitch.
Pitches a little disorganised in terms of placement - although this didn’t matter when we stayed as it was quiet.
Short drive to town centre.
Toilets and showers (free) in good working order. Kitchen, playground and laundry facilities available although we did not use them. 100MG free WiFi on arrival, and more available at a small cost.
We got a puncture whilst there and the host provided us with a better jack that what our rental company provided.
A comfortable stay, fairly priced I’d say, but nothing special.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Murchison ▷
Maruia Falls Carpark
4.5/5
Ample parking for self/contained vehicles.
We had no problems with traffic/noise. Watched many friendly, local kayak groups paddle off the falls and enjoyed a sunny evening by the water. Drop loo available. Worth stopping at if you’re on a budget. Beware of the sandflies.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Cron street ▷
Tatare Tunnels Walk
5.0/5
Lovely 45 min(ish) walk to the tunnels.
We were pleased we walked the route in flip flops as we could explore the tunnels - the water is freezing however! But it’s only ankle deep max. Spotted some glow worms. The second tunnel was inaccessible, appeared to have some work going on, so we turned around and walked back through it. Definitely take a head torch.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Queenstown TOP 10 Holiday Park
4.0/5
Book in advance as Queenstown is a popular place, even in low season.
Friendly staff, new, clean porta-cabin style facilities. I felt we had enough space, but think we had one of the better pitches. Hot tub in a private cabin available for rental, with a mountain view. Nice but probably overpriced. But Queenstown is expensive, so I would recommend this place, as it appears to be the better option of them all
We are happy to hear you enjoyed your time with us at our TOP 10 Holiday park and that everything was to your liking. We agree with you about booking in advance, Queenstown is really busy, pretty much all year around. Thanks very much for the review. Safe travels.
Jenny McNamee
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch ▷
Christchurch
5.0/5
Very friendly and knowledgable staff who helped us plan our long weekend in CHCH before flying home next week.
Book through the iSite and you might save yourself a few $.
Also the building has some really cool shops/boutiques having been restored following the earth quakes. Definitely worth a visit.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Lake Outlet Holiday Park
4.0/5
We arrived into Wanaka on a very hot late summer Friday night and all campsites were booked up, except this one.
You can’t book here (or couldn’t when we visited), it works on a first-come first-served basis, and the i-Site told us to visit here on the off chance. We did and took the campsite’s last remaining plot, a non-powered site right at the bottom and close to the lake with unspoilt views. In places like this you should expect to pay higher prices, so it didn’t bother us, we were just delighted to be able to stay in such a beautiful place. We decided to stay an extra 2 nights and moved to a powered site, still with a stunning view. Facilities are fine, paid showers. Can get dusty in good weather, not a problem for us though. We hired bikes from the campsite (very basic) and cycled around the headland to the town (I think 6ish miles) which was fab. If you accept you might have to pay more, I would recommend here. I think it would be nicer than the other campsites closer to the town...
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Motueka ▷
Port Motueka Beach Reserve
3.0/5
Popular spot.
We arrived late afternoon and managed to squeeze in. Very busy, noisy at times but it did for a night of free camping. Toilets available (not terrible, but no lighting). Lovely walk along the shore.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Lake Wanaka isite Visitor Information Centre
5.0/5
Very helpful, and very knowledgeable - not only about the local area but further afield too.
They saved us money by suggesting alternative routes/cruises at Milford Sound and advised us on more age appropriate activities. Worth stopping here to book in some trips. Also, Wanaka gets very busy in good weather and most campsites get booked up. Book before to avoid disappointment. Wanaka was our favourite place of the whole trip.
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South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura ▷
Kaikoura isite Visitor Information Centre
3.5/5
Staff were friendly and generally quite knowledgeable, and suggested many activities to suit our budget.
Perhaps Kaikoura needs some more alternative activity not centred around seal life?