Sylvan Campsite
Glenorchy
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Sylvan Campsite
Camp beside the Routeburn River. Walk to Lake Sylvan via the bridge or day walk the start of the Routeburn Great Walk. Fly fish in the river.
The Sylvan Camping Ground is along side the Routeburn River and a great place to go fishing (Fly fishing only). You can do some good day walks to Lake Sylvan, or the start of the Routeburn Track.
This is the last campsite before you hit the Routeburn Track. The Routeburn Track is a Great Walk so will need to book your huts from here on in.
Notices
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Sylvan Bridge new bridge construction
The construction of a new bridge over the Routeburn River, on the Lake Sylvan Track, is scheduled to start from 10 March 2025.
The new bridge will be located approximately 550 m upstream from the Sylvan Campsite. The new section of track from the campsite to the new bridge will remain closed to the public until the bridge works are complete.
Obey all signage and instructions from the contractor personnel working at the site.
The works include:
- Construction of the new bridge.
- Construction of new sections of track to connect the new bridge to the existing loop track.
Construction noise may be present during the day as light machinery and helicopters will be operating at times.
The construction work is scheduled to take 10 weeks and be completed by mid-May 2025.
Contact the project team with any questions: floodrecovery@doc.govt.nz
First published on 5 March 2025. Last reviewed on 5 March 2025. -
Sylvan Bridge removed
For trampers of Beans Burn, Sugarloaf/Rock Burn Track and Lake Sylvan Track, the Sylvan Bridge located beside the Sylvan Campsite has been removed after it was destroyed by floods. It is being rebuilt.
The Routeburn River can be a hazardous river crossing in the area of the removed bridge.
We advise that inexperienced trampers should not attempt this crossing.
First published on 21 September 2023. Last reviewed on 15 January 2025.
DOC Campsite Pricing
Sylvan Campsite is categorised as a DOC Standard Campsite. The following pricing indicates usual pricing. Prices vary for some campsites and may include seasonal pricing. Visit the DOC website for exact pricing.
DOC Standard Campsite
Standard campsites have a more limited range of facilities and services than Serviced campsites. These campsites have toilets, a water supply that could be treated or untreated tap water, or from a stream or lake, and vehicle or boat access. Bring your own soap for washing hands. Untreated water should be boiled before use to ensure it's safe. Wood BBQs and fireplaces, cold showers, picnic tables, a cooking shelter and rubbish bins may be provided; this will vary from site to site.
| Feature | Value | Value |
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| Unpowered Site | Adult | $10.00 to $15.00 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Child | $5.00 to $7.50 per night |
| Unpowered Site | Infant | $0.00 per night |
Adults are 18+ years, children are 5-17 years, infants are 0-4 years.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC OtagoCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Glenorchy |
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Basic Camping
Reviews
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4.5/5
Fantastic campsite, beautifully located with great views.
Many places to set up, where you can pick a single spot or share larger grass fields with others. Just beware the sandflies, there are a lot of them at this campsite
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4.0/5
Came end June 2024, breathtaking views, stunning silence and all to ourselves (except for sheep!).
Drop toilet open, but running water shut off for the winter. Book online before arrival. Entrance has a short steep section that could get muddy - could be a challenge for a bigger RV.
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5.0/5
Gorgeous campsite with a beautiful view.
Two toilets and a sink with water to wash your hands. The river is beautiful and clean. Beware the sandflies and bring repellant though, or they will eat you alive. You don't have to book online, there are plastic bags and tags to write your details on and an honesty box. Just bring a pen or pencil. There is no cell reception out there. Ground is soft, so perfect to pitch a tent. It is very quiet.
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4.5/5
Great mountain views, clean toilets and a nice river passing next to it.
Only downside were the sandflies.
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5.0/5
Our favourite DOC site during our 6 week trip.
Amazing views, great spot to start the Routeburn track the next morning.
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4.0/5
Beautiful location, particularly stunning in the morning!
Fairly simple and exactly what we needed for the night before we started the Routeburn track!
$15 pp for the night (although we just had $20s so paid a bit more..), there was a slip to write info on. Nice, separate bays to park or camp in. Long drop toilets, no showers. Tap to top up water tanks. We were there in October 2023 and the bridge right by the campsite (for the longer track to the start of Routeburn) had been washed away a few days earlier so you can’t do that trail currently. We drove to start Routeburn and it was perfect location to stay for that.
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4.5/5
Really liked this spot!
The drive up here from Queenstown was absolutely gorgeous the whole way, and so were views from the campsite. And the road wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it might be. I also had decent phone signal here which was a pelasant surprise. There's plenty of spaces for both campervans and tents, and a decent amount of privacy in between most of them. I didn't have time for any of the nearby hikes but I'm sure they would have been brilliant as well. The only downside is the smelly toilets.
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5.0/5
Really liked this campsite.
Great views down the valley, and a lovely walk in beech forest to Lake Sylvan. Nice little camping alcoves for some privacy, plush grass, picnic tables and plenty of trees around for some shade from the hot sun. Not too many sandflies when I was there - definitely present, but manageable. Clean toilets.
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5.0/5
Lovely cold river to swim in and access to a couple of great walks.
Great camping spot with lots of individual bays
Also a short drive to Roueburn track
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4.0/5
Amazing view!!!
Drop toilets are fine. River close by for a wash. Nice camping ground.
You will have internet connection there.
Stayed 2 nights
(German couple - no kids)
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5.0/5
Loved it.
Might be the best location, because the scenery was so stunning. There were a lot of mosquitos though due to the river close by. Basic toilet is on site. We could simple pay by Petting Cash in an envelope and put it in a Box there. It was ver, peaceful and is great for walks.
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3.0/5
Nice site, gravel areas so not boggy in the rain.
Long drop toilets and water supply that is 'generally drinkable'. Good location for a lot of scenic walks. Lovely views of the surrounding mountains. Sign is up warning of possible flooding from the river after prolonged rain. Only problem here was I had mice climb in the van in the evening which wasn't ideal. Once you see one every noise at night makes you think it's back. I'd make sure food is put away securely. $13 a night seems a bit much for the facilities, plenty of sites have the same but for 8.
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4.5/5
Fantastic campsite, beautifully located with great views.
Many places to set up, where you can pick a single spot or share larger grass fields with others. Just beware the sandflies, there are a lot of them at this campsite
-
4.0/5
Came end June 2024, breathtaking views, stunning silence and all to ourselves (except for sheep!).
Drop toilet open, but running water shut off for the winter. Book online before arrival. Entrance has a short steep section that could get muddy - could be a challenge for a bigger RV.
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5.0/5
Gorgeous campsite with a beautiful view.
Two toilets and a sink with water to wash your hands. The river is beautiful and clean. Beware the sandflies and bring repellant though, or they will eat you alive. You don't have to book online, there are plastic bags and tags to write your details on and an honesty box. Just bring a pen or pencil. There is no cell reception out there. Ground is soft, so perfect to pitch a tent. It is very quiet.
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4.5/5
Great mountain views, clean toilets and a nice river passing next to it.
Only downside were the sandflies.
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5.0/5
Our favourite DOC site during our 6 week trip.
Amazing views, great spot to start the Routeburn track the next morning.
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4.0/5
Beautiful location, particularly stunning in the morning!
Fairly simple and exactly what we needed for the night before we started the Routeburn track!
$15 pp for the night (although we just had $20s so paid a bit more..), there was a slip to write info on. Nice, separate bays to park or camp in. Long drop toilets, no showers. Tap to top up water tanks. We were there in October 2023 and the bridge right by the campsite (for the longer track to the start of Routeburn) had been washed away a few days earlier so you can’t do that trail currently. We drove to start Routeburn and it was perfect location to stay for that.
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4.5/5
Really liked this spot!
The drive up here from Queenstown was absolutely gorgeous the whole way, and so were views from the campsite. And the road wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it might be. I also had decent phone signal here which was a pelasant surprise. There's plenty of spaces for both campervans and tents, and a decent amount of privacy in between most of them. I didn't have time for any of the nearby hikes but I'm sure they would have been brilliant as well. The only downside is the smelly toilets.
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5.0/5
Loved it.
Might be the best location, because the scenery was so stunning. There were a lot of mosquitos though due to the river close by. Basic toilet is on site. We could simple pay by Petting Cash in an envelope and put it in a Box there. It was ver, peaceful and is great for walks.
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5.0/5
Really liked this campsite.
Great views down the valley, and a lovely walk in beech forest to Lake Sylvan. Nice little camping alcoves for some privacy, plush grass, picnic tables and plenty of trees around for some shade from the hot sun. Not too many sandflies when I was there - definitely present, but manageable. Clean toilets.
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5.0/5
Lovely cold river to swim in and access to a couple of great walks.
Great camping spot with lots of individual bays
Also a short drive to Roueburn track
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4.0/5
Amazing view!!!
Drop toilets are fine. River close by for a wash. Nice camping ground.
You will have internet connection there.
Stayed 2 nights
(German couple - no kids)
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4.5/5
Great site for tents or campervans every size.
There are some sheep, the beautiful river and even a nice walk direct next to the campsite. Facilities and sites are very well maintained.
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5.0/5
Beautiful campsite!!
Nice tidy toilets, very maintained camp area, next to a river and close to lots of walks!
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4.5/5
The campsite is lovely, near the Routeburn River and bush walks, well maintained with clean long drop toilets and water taps (water to be boiled).
Lots of sandflies and can be exposed to strong winds coming down the valley. We only stayed one night as once you've done the walks, admired the river, there's not much else to do except reapply insect repellent!
Our only complaint was our fellow campers, not the campsite itself. Loud talking late at night and a campervan arrived late and slammed its door multiple times. DOC ranger visited in the morning and we were secretly pleased to see the loud talkers busted for not registering or paying ;-)
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4.0/5
Beautiful spot with basic facilities and next to the river.
Great place to stay the night before the Routeburn walk.
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3.0/5
Nice site, gravel areas so not boggy in the rain.
Long drop toilets and water supply that is 'generally drinkable'. Good location for a lot of scenic walks. Lovely views of the surrounding mountains. Sign is up warning of possible flooding from the river after prolonged rain. Only problem here was I had mice climb in the van in the evening which wasn't ideal. Once you see one every noise at night makes you think it's back. I'd make sure food is put away securely. $13 a night seems a bit much for the facilities, plenty of sites have the same but for 8.
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4.0/5
Beautiful view and very nice flat ground to park our campervan!
Toilets present. [Drinking water]
Walking routes to Lake Sylvan start at the campsite. Bit expensive ($13 per person) but the place is very well maintained!
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2.5/5
Would have been 9 if no mice.
We had minimal sand flies and loved the views. Another camper mentioned having trouble with a mouse and one got in to our campervan somehow causing poor sleep over night. No sign of it after we left. The direct walk to the lake was great, good swing bridge. The tramway walk was very boggy and marshy though.
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5.0/5
Lovely DOC campground with beautiful views of surrounding mountains and soothing sound of the nearby Routeburn River.
Extremely well located for both Lake Sylan Walk and Routeburn Track (both start at the campground) and the Routeburn Great Walk (5 km further down gravelled road). Facilities are basic - long drop toilets, clean water supply - good value for NZD 8 per adult per night. Individual sites are well spaced out so you don't feel cramped - many are both levelled and gravelled so easy for camper-vans. Highly recommend.
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4.0/5
Nice place to stay Nice walks around.
Toilets dirty and no water so only self contained. Can be a bit windy. Beautiful and peaceful we were there alone. Road is ok with 7 meter van.
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3.5/5
Cool campsite.
Near a stream. Walks. Closest campsite to start of the Routeburn. We stayed 2 nights mid February. No shade. Protect and respect nature!
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2.5/5
Only thing going for this is its accessibility to the start of the Routeburn track.
No lights in toilets - no toilet paper in one of the toilets. It was sandfly party hub over here. And no protection from the blustery wind. Only charming thing was a random cow grazing next to our camper van. I guess you pay for what you get i.e NZD6 per person.
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4.0/5
Nice location with river nears.
You have your own little grassy pitch. Nice walk to the lake. Good distance to go on the Routeburn track. Too many sand flies at dusk though. Long drop toilet.
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3.5/5
Beautiful spot, when we were there, there were no envelopes.
The location stars as Isengard in Lord Of The Rings
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3.5/5
Basic DOC site.
Sand flies were bad. Good place to stay the night before if you are looking to start the Routeburn Track or so some day walks.
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5.0/5
the lake sylvan walk is a gorgeous, enchanted forest.
this site is very convenient to the routeburn. two picnic tables. the van spots have some gravel so you wont get stuck in the mud.
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4.5/5
The travel into Queenstown and the campsite is wonderful.-The place is beautiful and not wet.
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4.0/5
Nice view $6 per person.
Site offered toilets but no showers or electricity. Nice views close to river,
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