Flatlanders
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Hokitika ▷
Challenge Hokitika
3.0/5
Discount with a supermarket receipt.
Not sure wich one. Next station is BP (discount with AA, but more expensive), next one is NPD, this one Diesel was 13ct cheaper. So I would recommend that one. This one has stationshop.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Hokitika ▷
BP 2go Hokitika
3.0/5
Discount with AA card, but is more expensive than previous and the one after.
Next one is NPD, this one Diesel was 13ct cheaper. So I would recommend that one. This one has stationshop.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Hokitika ▷
Beach Road, Kakapotahi
4.0/5
Free, next to beach.
Did have 3 tents on arrival right after dark. Since it says max 15 vehicles, there was room for us. Every spot has a wooden marker left or rightside of the lot. Very clean dixies (portable toilet) which was a suprise. Great site to spend thee night going up or down from/to glacierarea. Few km gravelroad to get to spot. It's a bit further than map shows. Just keep driving to the end of the road. Watch the birds crossing the road!!
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South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Bluff ▷
Shark Experience
5.0/5
Amazing!!
Well worth the money, and I didn't even go down in the cage. Bf saw 3 'big fish', up close! And no, not in the teasing-shark-way you see in other parts the world, but a very naturefriendly way; happy sharks. Great crew: Skipper rode those waves on the Strait like it was a kiddypool, and there are some waves. All are knowledgeable, very helpfull and good sense of humor. Delicious fresh lunch, hot drinks, you can catch(and-release) fish, they even provided benoculars (seals!). We saw Albatros real close. I advice this trip to everyone (I now have the guts to go down myself after this experience), especially to us Europeans ;) They don't go out if the waters or weather is not safe so make sure you call before hand (and book on line) but be flexible daywise in case the NZ weather acts up. All in all sooooo cool.
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North Island ▷ Manawatu - Wanganui ▷ Whanganui River ▷
Blazing Paddles Canoe Adventures
5.0/5
What a ride!
Friendly, communicative, helpfull, though a bit more info about the rapids (we tipped over twice) and a check if we had the right supplies would have made it perfect . We did luckely ;) They gave us a tent, mats and raincoats to use for free which we luckely did not need. We booked two huts. Amazing trip, beautiful nature, lot's of goats and falcons. Plenty of time to learn how to canoe because the river starts out sweet and gentle...and even though I canoed the Dordogne several days, this was a much bigger adventure. They had cold beers for us at the end which was sooo great (and needed). Tip: Be prepared! Keep your lifevest on, tie everything to the boat or yourself. Some rapids and the river are a real challenge when tipping over. We lost a hat, watershoes and a waterbottle, tipping over twice.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Waikanae ▷
Fieldway
3.5/5
Got here after dark.
Only one selfcontained and 2 none, so we crashed here (tired, dark). There are a few more spots like this furter down the coast, minutes away, that also allow 2 vans but it seems no one bothers if there is one more, especially arriving late and leaving early. Way better spot than trying the city (where there is only room early in the day this time a year). Haven't seen a toilet around though and have not seen the view. It seemed more of a around-the-corner-river-that-goes into-the-sea-view. The sound of waves are earplug worthy, not very soothing.
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Helensville ▷
Kaipara Harbour Farm Views
3.0/5
It's a spot at the top of a familyfarm with cows.
Amazing view over his huge farmland, the cows and the river (sundown). Grandparents live at the entrance, they called their son who came up with his crossmotor. He said there was another van down at the farm (he hadn't had campervans for months and now two), we gave him $10,- and could stay on his land. Luckely at the top (little crooked grassy lot) because the way down is quite steep. Except for the amazing view there is nothing, no water, no toilet, and it doesn't seem he will change this any time soon except for mentioning he will ;) Just a quick extra buck for nothing I imagine. Who can blame him.
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North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷ Omokoroa ▷
Pahoia Domain
4.5/5
Quiet, beautiful, great view, sea to swim in, clean toilets, drinkingwater.
Great walk down the beach. Nice little free campspot.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Raglan ▷
Kev's Place
4.0/5
Reminded us of 'The Dude' from The Big Lebowski.
Lives in a boat. His kid in old pickuptrailer furter down. Amazing view. Cool way to power up your gear with the stairway to 'the office'. All in all great location...except for the facilities. Don't mind the walk down, but they were smelly, worndown and not clean. Bummer because with a little handywork and daily cleaning this would have been 10/10
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Evans Bay Marina Carpark
4.0/5
- Only early arrival (before noon) is rewarded in peakseason.
+ Harbourview (beautiful sunrise)
+ Walkingdistance Mt.Victoria (30 min up)
+ Walkingdistance Pac'n'Save (15 min) which is open till 11pm
+ Busstops (2 and 24) to city close by (had to look and ask to find)
+ Clean-ish toilets, dumpstation (2) and drinkingwater
+ It's free, it's in the city, close to WETA, airport, ferry's
We arrived late januari at 3pm and got last spot.
+/- Crowded, but cozy we're-in-it-together-and managed-to-find-a-spot feel in an odd way.
- It's a parkinglot next to the highway
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Orewa ▷
Laurie Southwick Parade, Gulf Harbour
4.0/5
Got there around 8pm, luckely squeezed into the last spot.
Great harbourview. Had breakfast among the bunny's and seaguls. Definitely a place where many go (boating). Clean toilets. Drinkingwater. A good stay in between drives.
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Blenheim ▷
Wairau Diversion Reserve
4.5/5
! It's not the spot located on the Rankers map, you need to drive further down the road to the end.
There is an awsome oceanview that meets the river, plenty of spots for vans and tents, just a hole-toilet, nothing else. Plenty of shade under huge pinetrees, fishermen near the ocean (come and go). We arrived early and it made my day. Great place to unwine after the ferry (or before). Definitely in my top 3 free campsites so far.
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North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua ▷
Blue Lake TOP 10 Holiday Park
4.0/5
Very big campsite.
Helpfull desk, explained the membership (we took cause of the ferrydiscount), suggested walks and booked our Maori-experience for us. It was our first campsite so we played it safe. Very clean facilities. A bit expensive and touristy in hindsight but then it's a holidaypark and you know what to expect from a chain. Nice walk around the blue lake which is also a watersport and swim-lake.
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North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington ▷
Mount / Mt Victoria Walk
4.5/5
Worth it!
Walked from the Evans Bay Marina (free) carpark a few blocks to the start of the Mt. then up through the forestpark (passed the Frodo-site, which is a bit disappointing nowadays, I imagine it being more movie-worthy years ago) to the topview which was definitely worth it. View over the whole city and harbours. You'll pass a few more nice viewingpoint coming from this direction. Walked it in about two hours return. Some steep parts but very doable. There are several ways up/down through the park. Nice park to get away from the city. An exercise-treat when visiting this city.
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North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Taumarunui ▷
Tīeke Marae/Kāinga Campsite
4.0/5
- We just missed the ritual welcome (at 18.00).
Review mostly about the hut:
+ Nice view
+ Interesting, helpfull host (with curious sweet 6 year old)
+ Two rooms with plenty ventilation
+ Clothdrying-lines
+ On ritualground, beautiful wellkept terrain
+ Big kitchen, gasstove
If someone only told us the time :(
- Worst amonia-toilet-smell experience so far
- Plenty canoe parking spots
+/- Earplugs are a necessity
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Waitomo ▷
Roselands Waitomo Caves
4.0/5
It's free!
No idea how the food is. The website said open till late but apparently that's 8pm in NZ. But sweet enough that they open up their carpark to campervans and use of the toilet. It's a great opportunity to do the Ruakuri-walk at night (short drive) and see thousands of glowworms outside, for free. Fairytale nature. There are even worms next to the restaurant (down left from the entrance). Other than that...it's a carpark.
Hi,
Thanks for taking the time to review us. We're definitely open till at least 8pm every day, never earlier, but over summer months can be anywhere from 9.30 - 11pm or later if there's a function on. Glad you found our glowworms here.
Leonie
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North Island ▷ Manawatu - Wanganui ▷ Whanganui River ▷
Whanganui Journey
4.5/5
What a ride!
Did 3 day canoe from Blazing Paddles. Lost one wooden paddle on day two, found it back on day 3! Especially day 3 (to Pipikiri) is challenging. Trip starts nice and sweet paddling downstream...and ends up with rapids that made us tip over twice...and the river gets deep, wide and fast by that time. But all in all very doable, even for us in our 50s. Just make sure you can swim, keep your lifevest on and tie everything. We lost a hat, watershoes and sunglasses ;) It's a beautiful trip and you'll have time to relax and look around although if you want to make the huts/campground before 6pm you can not linger to long.
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North Island ▷ Manawatu - Wanganui ▷ Whanganui River ▷
John Coull Campsite
3.5/5
This review is mostly about the hut: + Warm welcome from the host + Nice campspots for people with tents + The walk up...with all your stuff + Plenty of room for canoes + Big kitchen with gasstove
+ Everyone seems friendly and helpfull
+ The (printscreen) reservationcode on our phone was enough proof for our late booking
- Bad ventilation considering the amount of sleepers
- Toilet-amonia-smell was breathtaking and not in a good way
+/- Bring earplugs, some people snore ;)
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Raglan ▷
Bridal Veil Falls / Waireinga
3.0/5
It's a fall.
Nice view from 3 point. Top, middle, bottom. Lowest is the nicest. You might spot eel. Cool if you're in the neighbourhood but not worth a long detour...unless you never seen a fall before. Can not swim (anymore). Water is muddy and there are poison-traps around that could have spoiled the water. It's a very short walk to the fall.
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Stratford ▷
Whangamomona Domain Camping Ground
4.5/5
+ Can't miss the check-in where the owner lives.
Didn't book upfront, no problem. His livingquarter is a sight to see. Curious chickens, a duck and 2 pony's were our fellow campusers, next to (plenty room) a few other campervans and tents. Showers (hot) are in an old barn (like!) and clean, so are the (real) toilets. Small little kitchen with microwave. And indeed a quick walk into the little town, which is a sight due to her history. Nice food and beautiful old historical pictures at the hotel there. Campsite surrounded by hillsides. We did a late checkout, no one complained. P.s. Campsite also has a swing/slide/playhouse for kids, but no kids when we visit ;)
- When raining the grass stays a bit soggy.
- Dust-spiderwebs at facilities.
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North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Hawera ▷
Rotokare Scenic Reserve
5.0/5
12/10.
Beautiful paradise, birds and birdsounds everywhere. Small donation is peanuts for what you experience here. Stayed 2 nights due two van-plumbingproblem-fix in Stratford. Did both walks (lakewalk and ridgewalk (more a follow the fence-walk)) instead of Mt.Taranaki. Both great. Loved the birds-experience and jungleforest even more than the views. Saw so many sometimes very curious birds and on our nightwalk a kiwi! Very happy. All other campers were respectful and quiet. Clean toilet. Sweet little info-nook. Cold shower out of order, but who cares. Drinkwater. Love what the volunteers created here. Beautiful experience. Thank you!
Thank you for you kind words and respect for this wonderful place.
We love our volunteers too! They are the life blood of what we do every day.
Our vision is ecological restoration of this wonderful site. Equally important is sharing the site with our community and visitors.
Regarding the shower - our water is spring fed and very difficult to maintain capacity over the summer.
rotokare
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Waitomo ▷
Waitomo Walkway
5.0/5
Most beautiful walk that starts from the Waitomo entrance, or a little before at another carpark (Rankers-startpoint).
This is LOTR territory, viewwise. I could see Hobbits, Elves and Orks in my imagination. The start is a bit difficult to follow, but just keep walking, you'll find it. It's totally worth it!
If you just want a loop-walk or a nightwalk with glowworms, drive to the Ruakuri Caves carpark. This walk ends there, but this walk is a one way, but walking it back and forth is no punishment. About 2 hours back and forth, add another 30 minutes for the Ruakuri add-on. Both spectaculair (see Ruakuri walk).
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North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Taumarunui ▷
Taumarunui Holiday Park
4.5/5
+ Very friendly and helpful owners.
We came back another night after the refered 3-day-canoe-trip (we were exhausted). We slept-in/check out really late without a problem. Hot (strong) clean showers and very clean (real) toilets. Big kitchen, gas-bbq, and plenty of picknicktables. Washer and dryer made my dirty laundry happy within no time! Right besides the start of the Wanganui river (swimarea). Site is right outside town (great pies at the Taumaruni Bakery).
- Drinkingwater (bad muddy taste, both days)
- Long train in the middle of the night right next to campsite (earplugs :)
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North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Dargaville ▷
Waipoua Forest Camping Area
4.5/5
Ranger was great helpful guy who unfortunatly had to go to Auckland so we did only stay 1 night and not 2 to do a nightwalk with him.
Free wifi at the bar down the road. Small kitchen. Clean facilities. Hot showers. Beautiful campground in middle of the forestjungle, great atmosphere. Gravelroad. Definitely one we'd go back to.
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North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Tongariro / National Park Village ▷
Manowhenua Lodge
3.0/5
- Little room for campervans.
+ Friendly helpfull host
+ Strong hot showers
+ Big kitchen, lot's of stoves and cookinggear
- Crowded with loud backpacking puberty (which is fun when you are yourself)
- Kids left a mess in the kitchen even though sign says to clean up (a pain for the cleaners)
- Dated and a bit scraggly (get rid of the carpeting)
We stayed on the parkinglot, still same price
+ Several early buscalls to Tongariro (also a - because of...well noisy kids)
Conclusion: When you're in your 20s, early 30s, you'll love it. When you want the earliest departure to the Mt. you'll love it. When you feel like socializing and giggling, you'll love it.
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North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Kawhia ▷
Kawhia Hot Springs (Te Puia)
5.0/5
So cool!
And a real mindblower for us foreigners. Dig your feet into the sand at lowtide. Find heat, start digging. Bring or borrow a shovel. Within no time you have a hotpool for two. Very romantic ;) Make sure you find the right spot (straight forward from the walk down to the beach, only low-tide and as far to the sea a you can go without filling up with seawater there are the hottest spots).
! The black sand is magnetic. Cool to bring a magnet.