Caroline Bay
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Caroline Bay
This is a great place for the self-contained gang to stay for the evening. You can park up very close to the beach, just on the edge of the CBD in Caroline Bay (adjacent to roller skating rink).
Please make sure you vacate the area between 9am and 9pm everyday. This site is limited to 10 campervans/motorhomes at any time. Cost is $20 per campervan per night. Pay via the "PayMyPark" app.
Details
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Organisation |
Timaru District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Timaru |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Basic Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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1.5/5
I already came here twice, it was busy (full at 4-5pm).
It was free. It is not anymore. 20$ to pay with an app.. sorry but big nope for me.
But still here: Nice garden in front of the park, sea with beach volley nets, pingouins at night 1 minute away by walk. Some kind of an open cold shower. Toilets. Dump station. Shower at the pool 15min walk (+-5$pp)
Still here too: light at night, very loud with the container ships harbour.
Decent when free. Ok for a donation. Lovely if it was doc site. BUT NOPE FOR 20$. Go to the lovely top 10, for few more $ you get a very cute campsite, free hot shower, kitchen and so on ❤️
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0.5/5
It used to be a freedom camping site and it is now 20$ per night.
Wtf Timaru council ?! It is not worth the money! The place is ugly and loud, and really narrow parking spaces. It is almost the same price as the Top 10 Holiday Park in town. Don't waste your money and go somewhere else
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3.5/5
Sign now says $20 parking fee.
Noise from the shipping yard. The bathrooms were not in the best condition. Easy walk to see the penguins.
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5.0/5
10/10.
Clean flush toilets, two cold showers, dump station and drinking water. So much park to explore, see the penguins at night. The park even has an aviary. There were 20 vans, and the guy came to check everyone was out by 10am the next morning, he made comment that he knew there were more than 10 parked but nothing they can do. There's another carpark 10 yards away to park in during the day if you want to stay another night. Loved it here
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4.0/5
A good spot for an overnight stay It is a car park and far more than the 10 allowed units came in but no one official objected Flush toilets in the outdoor beach style change room and 2 cold outdoor
showers
Some noise from the shipping yard but not bad Lovely beach to walk along and we did see the little blue penguins
coming into the rocks near the far beach end at dusk
There are extra lovely flush toilets on the other side of the nearby tunnel as well
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3.5/5
It gets crowded very quickly.
But there are some rewards. Of course there's the chance of seeing the penguins but if you're travelling with children visit the nearby park. The playground is just awesome. Your kids will love it.
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4.5/5
It's a parking lot next to the harbour.
Toilets, cold showers, dumping station and fresh water available.
We also watched out for the penguins, one came by at 21.30pm. Just 10 cars allowed, there was definetly more, no one came to control
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4.0/5
Decent place to spend the night here - close to the town if you need any supplies, and there’s a public toilet, clean drinking water available, and you can have a shower (outside so just be aware).
Short walk to where the penguins come in - we saw 2, a really lovely experience, and who can complain when it’s free. Nice swim on the beach in the morning. Description says about 10 campers - didn’t seem to be any such restriction at the site.
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5.0/5
Amazing campsite!
Right on the beach, close to downtown and close to the penguin. Bathrooms, change rooms, water and a shower. Everything you need.
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5.0/5
The best parking lot seen to date.
Toilet with flush, cold shower, dump station, besch, nice view, just beside wonderful park and the most crazy playground EVER, just few 100 meters away. Pinguins at night (after sunset), city near by with shops and restaurants.
We saw 4 penguins, they turned up about 45 minutes after sunset (22.05). Our children loved the playground, the teens the free wifi at the library and the adults the penguins. We were there a friday with sun and little wind. Very quiet spot, even though there was some cars racing beside the penguins spot around 9-11 PM.
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4.5/5
Awesome experience to watch penguins after sunset!
Must do. Facilites were okay, cold showers, dumping and water station were available. Nice picnic area with ocean view, but the lights from the Harbour can be annoying. Lots of parking spaces but officially only 10 vehicles for overnight camping allowed. We were about 20 overnight campers and no one checked.
Can recommend!
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1.5/5
I already came here twice, it was busy (full at 4-5pm).
It was free. It is not anymore. 20$ to pay with an app.. sorry but big nope for me.
But still here: Nice garden in front of the park, sea with beach volley nets, pingouins at night 1 minute away by walk. Some kind of an open cold shower. Toilets. Dump station. Shower at the pool 15min walk (+-5$pp)
Still here too: light at night, very loud with the container ships harbour.
Decent when free. Ok for a donation. Lovely if it was doc site. BUT NOPE FOR 20$. Go to the lovely top 10, for few more $ you get a very cute campsite, free hot shower, kitchen and so on ❤️
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0.5/5
It used to be a freedom camping site and it is now 20$ per night.
Wtf Timaru council ?! It is not worth the money! The place is ugly and loud, and really narrow parking spaces. It is almost the same price as the Top 10 Holiday Park in town. Don't waste your money and go somewhere else
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3.5/5
Sign now says $20 parking fee.
Noise from the shipping yard. The bathrooms were not in the best condition. Easy walk to see the penguins.
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2.5/5
NOT free anymore!
Only 10 vehicles allowed and it costs 20$/ night!
To be payed in PayMyPark App and only 10 vehicles per night can pay!
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5.0/5
10/10.
Clean flush toilets, two cold showers, dump station and drinking water. So much park to explore, see the penguins at night. The park even has an aviary. There were 20 vans, and the guy came to check everyone was out by 10am the next morning, he made comment that he knew there were more than 10 parked but nothing they can do. There's another carpark 10 yards away to park in during the day if you want to stay another night. Loved it here
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4.0/5
A good spot for an overnight stay It is a car park and far more than the 10 allowed units came in but no one official objected Flush toilets in the outdoor beach style change room and 2 cold outdoor
showers
Some noise from the shipping yard but not bad Lovely beach to walk along and we did see the little blue penguins
coming into the rocks near the far beach end at dusk
There are extra lovely flush toilets on the other side of the nearby tunnel as well
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3.5/5
It gets crowded very quickly.
But there are some rewards. Of course there's the chance of seeing the penguins but if you're travelling with children visit the nearby park. The playground is just awesome. Your kids will love it.
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0.5/5
We were going to stay here 12th September.
Arrived at the site to find it cramped and a decidedly suspect pair in a dodgy looking camper who got out to check us out. Didn't feel safe at all and so made the decision to go to the Top 10 Holiday Park instead. Sad that we didn't get to see the penguins.
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4.5/5
It's a parking lot next to the harbour.
Toilets, cold showers, dumping station and fresh water available.
We also watched out for the penguins, one came by at 21.30pm. Just 10 cars allowed, there was definetly more, no one came to control
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1.5/5
Very loud from the port during all hours of the night..
didn’t read one comment about it but definitely wanted to add. If I knew how loud it was going to be I wouldn’t have picked this spot. Couldn’t sleep at all. Besides that, good facilities, flash toilets, drinking water and dump station in a very convenient area.
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4.0/5
Decent place to spend the night here - close to the town if you need any supplies, and there’s a public toilet, clean drinking water available, and you can have a shower (outside so just be aware).
Short walk to where the penguins come in - we saw 2, a really lovely experience, and who can complain when it’s free. Nice swim on the beach in the morning. Description says about 10 campers - didn’t seem to be any such restriction at the site.
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5.0/5
Amazing campsite!
Right on the beach, close to downtown and close to the penguin. Bathrooms, change rooms, water and a shower. Everything you need.
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5.0/5
The best parking lot seen to date.
Toilet with flush, cold shower, dump station, besch, nice view, just beside wonderful park and the most crazy playground EVER, just few 100 meters away. Pinguins at night (after sunset), city near by with shops and restaurants.
We saw 4 penguins, they turned up about 45 minutes after sunset (22.05). Our children loved the playground, the teens the free wifi at the library and the adults the penguins. We were there a friday with sun and little wind. Very quiet spot, even though there was some cars racing beside the penguins spot around 9-11 PM.
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4.5/5
Awesome experience to watch penguins after sunset!
Must do. Facilites were okay, cold showers, dumping and water station were available. Nice picnic area with ocean view, but the lights from the Harbour can be annoying. Lots of parking spaces but officially only 10 vehicles for overnight camping allowed. We were about 20 overnight campers and no one checked.
Can recommend!
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4.0/5
Here in Nov.
Lot almost filled up but folks were quiet. Some highway noise, big field with picnic tables, functional bathroom. Highlight is that at sundown you can walk 5 minutes up on the port road and look down on the penguins popping out of the sea to head for their nests in the rocks.
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4.5/5
We arrived in the dark having driven further than we expected due to the flooding of roads south of Chch.
Flat carpark area. Toilets were fine. We left early the next day. Good place for an overnight stop.
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5.0/5
Great place to spend a night!
Toilets, changing rooms, cold shower, rubbish and recycling bins, dump station and drinking water tap…and little blue penguins after sunset coming to the beach!
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4.0/5
As described by other people, beautiful location with a great park.
The aviary is worth a visit and lots for children to do. We only saw one penguin unfortunately but I think that depends on the time of year. Shower is outdoors and toilets basic and open, and without toilet paper. Quite busy when we were there but very quiet.
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4.5/5
Amazing for seeing the penguins - after sunset up on the port road for best views!
Very busy parking lot with some longer term stayers. Good facilities including a shower and drinking water which is a rarity! Bit of a walk into town. Also the nearby seafood market is just a tiny fishmonger counter!
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5.0/5
What a find lovely overnight spot right next to the beach no toulet but one nearby you can use.
Lovely beach to wander along
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4.0/5
Great place to sop Labour weekend so no noise from container port.
Good beach nice walk. Toilets not that clean dump station
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4.0/5
Great little spot next to the beach and close to town.
It’s set next to a large and active port (containers), so looking one way you see containers and the other way you see the beach. Toilets are a bit open to the elements but are clean and maintained daily. There is also a dump station too but no potable water
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4.0/5
A bit of noise from the port and you are basically in a car park.
But the park and beach are close by and very handy to the town centre.
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3.0/5
Penguins are the main attraction of this site.
Plenty of rubbish bins, okay toilets. Not the quietest place, as plenty of people are around recreationally, and the port can be quite noisy. A few interesting characters about. Unclear as to whether you can freedom camp in the parking closest to the water, or only by the toilets
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5.0/5
WOW! A beautiful relaxed restful spot, toilets available 24/7, access to great walkways, penguin colony and town, plenty of parking, THANK YOU Timaru...a lovely spot indeed
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2.5/5
Noisy and small as some commented but right on the beach, may be good for some.
I only stopped for the dump station and toilets for a little while and noticed some creepy people coming and going with dogs, what's going on there? Lol