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It’s nice to have a
backstop for a first adventure.

City dwellers: your first camp away: Stop and Stay

Stop and Stay

What makes a good first camp for new campers? My guesses are: away from home but not too far — two hours max. Kind about forgotten things — shop nearby, alternative shelter. Kind about not getting all the gear working right — access to a kitchen, to a bed (collapsing air bed?), shelter (missing poles, ropes or pegs? We are all too cold?). Kind about choosing a spot (easy to get in and out, no getting bogged, flooded or blown away). 

Commercial campgrounds have all or most of these, which is a good failsafe for a first adventure. Some camps have shops, or there are shops nearby. Most have playgrounds, most allow dogs.

All of these sites allow tents as well as vans, campervans, motorhomes, caravans.


Discount key: apc: All Points Camping Club; nzmca: NZ Motor Caravan Association


Jump to your city: Auckland | Hamilton | Wellington | Christchurch | Dunedin


 

Auckland campers

Dickson Holiday Park 

  • 1.5hr drive Thames

  • apc and nzmca discount

  • small shop on-site

  • dogs are generally welcome; on-lead.

  • Thames: drive 6min, bike 14min.

  • bike-friendly

  • dicksonpark.co.nz


Opoutere Coastal Camping Coromandel

  • 2hr drive

  • opens mid October

  • apc and nzmca discount

  • shop on-site

  • no dogs

  • Whangamatā: drive 20min.

  • opouterebeach.co.nz


Wentworth Valley Camping Ground, Whangamatā

  • 2.25hr drive

  • dogs allowed

  • no kitchen or rubbish

  • no open fires /charcoal BBQ

  • gravel road and a ford

  • Whangamatā: drive 12min.

  • wentworthvalleycamp.co.nz


Paeroa RV Centre, Waikato


 

Hamilton campers

Ruapuke Motor Camp, Raglan


Bowentown Beach Holiday Park, Waihi

  • 1.5hr drive BOP

  • apc discount

  • dog friendly

  • Waihi Beach: drive 10min, bike 24min. Waihi: 19min.

  • bowentown.co.nz


All Seasons Holiday Park, Rotorua


Lakes Ranch, Rotorua 


 

Wellington campers

Dudding Lake, Marton

  • 2.5hr drive Rangitikei

  • dog friendly

  • Marton: drive 12min, bike 37min. Wanganui: 20min.

  • duddinglake.nz


Hydrabad Holiday Park Waiterere, Horowhenua


Ashhurst Domain Campground, Manawatu

  • 2hr drive Manawatu

  • dog friendly

  • Ashhurst: drive 4min, bike 8min, walk 28min.

  • ckw.nz/ashhurst


Eketahuna Motor Camp, Wairarapa


 

Christchurch campers

Ashley Gorge Holiday Park, Oxford

  • 1hr drive Nth Canterbury

  • apc discount

  • pet friendly options

  • small shop onsite

  • Oxford: drive 9min, bike 26min.

  • agkhp.co.nz


Kowai Pass Campground, Springfield

  • 1hr drive Springfield

  • dog friendly

  • Springfield: 2min, walk16min, bike 4min

  • ckw.nz/kowai-pass


Pines Holiday Park, Hanmer


Mt Somers Domain


 

Dunedin campers

Knottingley Park& Arboretum, Waimate

  • 2hr drive Waimate

  • dog friendly

  • Waimate: drive 4min;cycle 7min, walk 36min.

  • ckw.nz/knottingley


Naseby Holiday Park

  • 1.5hr drive Otago

  • Naseby: walk 10min, bike 4min.

  • nasebyhp.nz more


Glenavy’s Waitaki River Motor Camp, Oamaru

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Photos from the campground websites. Copyright belongs with them.

9 Spring 2024

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34

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