We chose the morning nature tour and are glad we did as it didn't have as many people on it as the scenic cruise.

Cabin had big windows so you have a good view even if the weather turns bad, and there is plenty of deck space for an uninterrupted view. There's a guide walks around the deck pointing out seals, penguins and features of the landscape during the tour. Milford is a must-see in Fiordland and this was a great way to see it.

Reviewed about 7 years ago

Our favourite DoC campsite from our NZ visit.

This was a surprise find, so near the town of St Arnaud. Flat campsites, with power. Kitchen with a great lake view. Clean modern toilets. We visited in September and found the showers locked, and a laundry with no machines but the DoC ranger explained these are available in high season. Some easy walks start from the camp, including one that leads back to the town. Shine a torch from the jetty in the lake after dark to bring out the long finned eels. Crystal clear water you can see the trout! Lots of birdsong in the morning, and an owl at night. While it didn't snow while we were here there was a good cover on the mountains that surround the lake, and clouds rolled in after dark that made the whole scene surreal. Check out the displays at the DoC office - lots of info there on walks, wildlife, history and the management plan for the area. The DoC ranger was incredibly helpful. We were fortunate enough to find a water taxi active on the day we arrived, and took a tour up to see Whiskey falls and the head of the lake which we recommend.

Reviewed about 7 years ago

Powered motorhome sites are hardened separated by rock gardens, with a playground.

Large dome building contains enormous camp kitchen with spacious, modern facilities block. Everything appears modern and clean. Management were helpful and friendly.

Reviewed about 7 years ago

We stayed for one night in September, which was in the first week of the new management.

New facilities block combines a large kitchen, laundry and clean/modern showers and requires a PIN for access. Shower requires a token to operate that you can buy from the office. Looks like this was a large run down camp on the headland and that area is being allowed to regrow/recover. Sites are large with a gravel area to park the motorhome, with up to 2 or 3 sites in groups with flax growing for privacy and wind protection. Large motorhome access is not a problem. At time of staying there's not much here, with cafe under construction and main office yet to be setup. No wifi. But the location is amazing with views over the bay and along the rocks from several spots on the headland. I could have sat and watched the huge waves crashing in on the rocks all day. Petrified forest is an easy walk starting 200m down the road.

Reviewed about 7 years ago

Free sites along a waterfront road.

To the left toward the marina, to the right ends in a carpark with access to the beach. Behind the sites are playing fields with clean toilets, ruin of a historic building, a playground and a train station within a short walk. Every facility you need including groceries, cafes and laundry are a short drive away. Staying here we caught the sunset with a quiet glass of wine, and had a restful night before catching the early interislander the next morning. Locals were lovely. When we woke motorhomes and campervans were lined up close to each other and it seems many of us were waiting for the Interislander also.

Reviewed about 7 years ago

There is quite a lot of space along behind the dunes adjacent to the beach, and also mown spots along the access road which are surrounded by flax plants for some privacy.

We stayed in September for one night. The weather changed from sunshine one day to gusty winds which the dunes offered some protection from, but not completely. The motorhome being so tall still caught the wind gusts over the dunes, and in the morning sea foam was being blown about the camp. Two drop toilets centrally located are clean and provide paper, and there's the remains of a shelter shed that has a water tap with a sign that says it needs boiling for drinking. There is a ramp for vehicle beach access here, and it was very popular with 4x4's on the day we arrived.

Reviewed about 7 years ago

We took this tour in September, while staying at Te Anau.

Initially we just wanted to leave our motorhome behind, without breaking camp and avoid finding parking at the far end. David our driver though made it much more. He's a local semi-retired farmer who added background to much of the area we travelled through. We stopped at all the sights along the road to Milford Sound, and the small group means it wasn't rushed at all. On our tour they had two 18-seat Mercedes buses which were modern and comfortable.

Reviewed about 7 years ago

Amazing large flat sites between soccer fields and the river, under trees and separated by bushes.

A block of clean and modern unisex toilets is walking distance across the field. There's a kid's playground at one end. Parkland extends along the river and is used for rugby, dog obedience, pony club, and a riding club but when we arrived only a few joggers and dog owners were there. By the morning there were a dozen motorhomes there, but there's plenty of space.

Reviewed about 7 years ago

We stayed for 4 nights in September and it was one of the highlights of our month in NZ.

Powered sites in rows under trees with scattered shared picnic tables. Facilities are modern and clean. Large kitchen, laundry has commercial grade machines and there's a clothes line out back if you have good weather and don't want to pay for the drier. TV lounge has comfy furniture. Located about half an hour walk to Paihia cafes/shops/ferry. Shuttle bus services come here for the tours to hole-in-the-rock and Cape Rienga. Park management were very helpful and friendly. Sunrises are sensational after a short walk to the bridge, or over to the yacht club. Would come back for sure.

Reviewed about 7 years ago

Top 10 parks are not the cheapest, but the standards are high and this one is no exception.

The park is a large open area with a sealed parking area for powered motorhome sites - which we appreciated granted the rain. This layout does mean there's no privacy between but there was plenty of room. Facilities are clean and modern. There were two sets of toilets, one being family bathrooms with toilet/shower which was a nice touch. Walking distance to the beach and a cafe up the road that had a brilliant breakfast, and has a Top 10 discount also. Management were friendly and helpful, suggesting best time to see the seals the following morning (dodging the worst of the weather, and she was right!). It's a drive to the seals or Westport from here. A flushing stainless steel dump station was the final surprise as we departed.

Reviewed about 7 years ago

We stayed here 4 nights in September.

It's a Top 10 park so we had high expectations, but these were exceeded. This is the best of the best. The staff and management were incredibly helpful. The powered sites for motorhomes are spaced with a picnic table between each, with two sets of clean modern facilities (with music!), a large kitchen and commercial grade machines in the laundry. There are two kids playgrounds, including the signature bouncy jumping pillow and a pirate ship. They also had a pair of lambs with regular feeding times. The park is located right across from the lake, a very short walk to cafes and the ferry for the glowworm cave tour, and a small yacht club marina with sunset reflections. Tours of Milford and Doubtful Sounds have shuttle bus services so this is the perfect base for Fiordland. And all the tours can be booked at the front office.

Reviewed about 7 years ago