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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
Opoutere Coastal Camping Coromandel
2hr drive
opens mid October
apc and nzmca discount
shop on-site
no dogs
Whangamatā: drive 20min.
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.
Paeroa RV Centre, Waikato
1.5hr drive
apc and nzmca discount
in the town
device charging
Hamilton campers
Ruapuke Motor Camp, Raglan
1hr drive Raglan
dog friendly
Bowentown Beach Holiday Park, Waihi
1.5hr drive BOP
apc discount
dog friendly
Waihi Beach: drive 10min, bike 24min. Waihi: 19min.
All Seasons Holiday Park, Rotorua
1.75hr drive Rotorua
apc and nzmca discount
dog friendly
town: drive 14min, bike 29min.
Lakes Ranch, Rotorua
1.75hr drive Rotorua
apc discount
Rotorua: drive 22min.
Wellington campers
Dudding Lake, Marton
2.5hr drive Rangitikei
dog friendly
Marton: drive 12min, bike 37min. Wanganui: 20min.
Hydrabad Holiday Park Waiterere, Horowhenua
1.5hr drive
beach: walk 5min.
(there is a sister site closer to the beach)
Ashhurst Domain Campground, Manawatu
2hr drive Manawatu
dog friendly
Ashhurst: drive 4min, bike 8min, walk 28min.
Eketahuna Motor Camp, Wairarapa
2hr drive Wairarapa
dog friendly
town: bike 5min, walk 15min.
Christchurch campers
Ashley Gorge Holiday Park, Oxford
1hr drive Nth Canterbury
apc discount
pet friendly options
small shop onsite
Oxford: drive 9min, bike 26min.
Kowai Pass Campground, Springfield
1hr drive Springfield
dog friendly
Springfield: 2min, walk16min, bike 4min
Pines Holiday Park, Hanmer
1.75hr drive
dog friendly options
Hot pools: walk 16min, bike 4min.
Mt Somers Domain
1.25hr drive
pets by arrangement, on leads.
in the township
mountsomers.co.nz more
Dunedin campers
Knottingley Park& Arboretum, Waimate
2hr drive Waimate
dog friendly
Waimate: drive 4min;cycle 7min, walk 36min.
Naseby Holiday Park
1.5hr drive Otago
Naseby: walk 10min, bike 4min.
nasebyhp.nz more
Glenavy’s Waitaki River Motor Camp, Oamaru
1.75hr drive Sth Canterbury
pet friendly
local shops and hotel; Oamaru: drive 15min.
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Photos from the campground websites. Copyright belongs with them.
9 Spring 2024
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34