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What a score! This site is right next to the Salt Baths in Motueka, these baths are refilled every high tide and are a great place for a dip. The reserve is very popular and is always full and no wonder really..... it's got showers, toilets, a play ground, picnic tables, designated fire places, large grassy areas and you can easily walk into town via the beachside walkway. What more can I say really? Oh it is also next to a fish factory, so it can be a little smelly at times - not a major.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Tasman District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Motueka |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Overnight Camping Site Cost |
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Overnight Camping Site CostWhat is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? Free Camping It costs nothing to stay overnight. In general this means that you should not expect any facilities. |
Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Self-contained motorhomes only Overnight stays are only permitted if your vehicle is certified as being 'self-contained'. The vehicle must display the "Responsible Camper" sticker. |
Maximum Stay Duration |
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Maximum Stay DurationHow many consecutive days can you stay overnight at this establishment? 2 nights You may stay up to two nights in a row. |
Water Supply |
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Water SupplyIs there fresh water available? Water supply available A supply of fresh water is available. |
Shower |
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ShowerIs there a shower at this location? Shower At least one shower is available (it's unknown if it's hot or cold). Cold showers only - refreshing! |
Booking Required |
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Booking RequiredIs it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? First Come, First Served Sites are allocated in a first come, first served basis. Get in early for the best spot. |
Dogs |
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DogsDoes this establishment allow dogs? Dogs allowed The location allows dogs. There may be conditions that may be met eg. dogs must be on a leash. But please keep them on a leash when walking past the nesting birds |
Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. |
✓ Picturesque seaside location
✓ Clean toilets and showers
✓ Good for early morning start
✓ Friendly and quiet atmosphere
✓ Safe and secure environment
𐄂 Fills up quickly
𐄂 Limited parking spaces
Cool spot, great walk along the waterfront
Really great place to stay!
Really nice free camping spot!
Great Spot, 2 nights allowed.
Great location.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 25 |
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27% |
9/10 | 19 |
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20% |
8/10 | 24 |
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26% |
7/10 | 9 |
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10% |
6/10 | 7 |
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8% |
5/10 | 2 |
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2% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 1 |
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1% |
2/10 | 1 |
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1% |
1/10 | 5 |
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5% |
4.0/5
Parking lot next to the beach but beside a park A great stop for a night with flush toilets Filled up before 4 (we stayed Friday Nov 1) - many disappointed people arrived and had to depart after that
!
Reviewed 16 days ago
4.5/5
Great spot.
Gets full quickly !
Around 20 spots, some already take by long term stay.
Reviewed 7 days ago
5.0/5
30Apr24.
2 adults in 7.2m motorhome.
Arrived mid afternoon and got a space. One side is suitable for smaller vans side by side. The other is suitable for longer vans end to end.
Toilets updated since our last visit in 2018, much better now.
Fellow campers nice and quiet. Be aware though that there are industrial units fairly close that seem to be working 24/7 so you may hear them at night.
A bit of a walk into town but that suited us.
Reviewed 7 months ago
5.0/5
Great location.
Clean toilets & outdoor shower. All spaces had filled up around 4/5pm!
Reviewed 7 months ago
4.5/5
Great place next to the sea.
Clean toilets and showers. You do have to get there early as it's very popular. Oh, don't be a douche and listen to music all day on your JBL speakers ✌️
Reviewed 9 months ago
5.0/5
Cool spot, likewise the comment below.
Good toilets, shower, nice sunrise...
But get here early, spaces are quiet full
Reviewed 10 months ago
5.0/5
Really nice spot.
3 flushing toilets and shower outside, great for a free camp. Limited places, we arrived at 10 am and it was half full. Nice walks around and a great sea swimming pool to refresh !
Reviewed 10 months ago
0.5/5
On a essayé deux fois de venir sur ce free camp on a jamais eu la chance d’avoir une place, les gens présent restent à la semaine…
Reviewed 10 months ago
5.0/5
Great spot but fills up by 4pm so get in quick.
There are approx 20 spots.
3 clean and spacious toilets, cold outdoor shower, right in front of the sea with a walking loop, wood fire, public seating on the foreshore, salt baths (Rockpool) and the camping car park runs alongside a park so plenty of room to spread out and pull out a yoga mat or dining table.
It’s a 20 minute walk to a great cafe called Toad Hall or a 45 minute walk to town with loads of food options.
Reviewed 11 months ago
5.0/5
Perfect spot for hammocks and walks by the sea.
Limited spots available. Great bathrooms with flush water and shower (cold water). Loved the spot!
Reviewed 12 months ago
4.5/5
Fairly busy, get here early.
Clean flushing toilets. Cold outdoor shower. Easy walk to town and good spot for an early start to explore Abel Tasman.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.5/5
Great spot.
Gets full quickly !
Around 20 spots, some already take by long term stay.
Reviewed 7 days ago
4.0/5
Parking lot next to the beach but beside a park A great stop for a night with flush toilets Filled up before 4 (we stayed Friday Nov 1) - many disappointed people arrived and had to depart after that
!
Reviewed 16 days ago
5.0/5
30Apr24.
2 adults in 7.2m motorhome.
Arrived mid afternoon and got a space. One side is suitable for smaller vans side by side. The other is suitable for longer vans end to end.
Toilets updated since our last visit in 2018, much better now.
Fellow campers nice and quiet. Be aware though that there are industrial units fairly close that seem to be working 24/7 so you may hear them at night.
A bit of a walk into town but that suited us.
Reviewed 7 months ago
5.0/5
Great location.
Clean toilets & outdoor shower. All spaces had filled up around 4/5pm!
Reviewed 7 months ago
4.5/5
Great place next to the sea.
Clean toilets and showers. You do have to get there early as it's very popular. Oh, don't be a douche and listen to music all day on your JBL speakers ✌️
Reviewed 9 months ago
5.0/5
Cool spot, likewise the comment below.
Good toilets, shower, nice sunrise...
But get here early, spaces are quiet full
Reviewed 10 months ago
5.0/5
Really nice spot.
3 flushing toilets and shower outside, great for a free camp. Limited places, we arrived at 10 am and it was half full. Nice walks around and a great sea swimming pool to refresh !
Reviewed 10 months ago
0.5/5
On a essayé deux fois de venir sur ce free camp on a jamais eu la chance d’avoir une place, les gens présent restent à la semaine…
Reviewed 10 months ago
5.0/5
Great spot but fills up by 4pm so get in quick.
There are approx 20 spots.
3 clean and spacious toilets, cold outdoor shower, right in front of the sea with a walking loop, wood fire, public seating on the foreshore, salt baths (Rockpool) and the camping car park runs alongside a park so plenty of room to spread out and pull out a yoga mat or dining table.
It’s a 20 minute walk to a great cafe called Toad Hall or a 45 minute walk to town with loads of food options.
Reviewed 11 months ago
5.0/5
Perfect spot for hammocks and walks by the sea.
Limited spots available. Great bathrooms with flush water and shower (cold water). Loved the spot!
Reviewed 12 months ago
4.5/5
Fairly busy, get here early.
Clean flushing toilets. Cold outdoor shower. Easy walk to town and good spot for an early start to explore Abel Tasman.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
5.0/5
Emplacement proche de la mer et des bains d'eau salée Toilettes propres et proches des emplacements Le freecamp était rapidement plein quand nous y sommes allés
Reviewed about 1 year ago
3.5/5
Nice to have a free spot by the sea.
The salt water baths are clean but very cold in August. It’s a long walk to the town centre but there is plenty of grassy space to lounge away the afternoon at this site. The dairy hums all night (even on a Sunday night) so could keep you up but didn’t bother us at all. Very popular site!
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.5/5
Agree with previous comment.
Make sure to come earlier, espetialy during summer. We stayed for two nights in June, came around 5pm and took one from the last spots.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
Great place, clean toilets, felt really safe there.
Obviously it is very popular also in the winter-the place was full 2 nights we stayed there. The salt baths nesrby are just stunning! Bbq for 1 dollar.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.5/5
Brand new, clean toilets.
Spots could be more level, spots along the field fill up and become a puddle in the rain. Great beach access to catch a sunrise or sunset or for a walk. Some disruptive people using the BBQ's but they did not stay late. Every spot full even in June.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.5/5
Really nice free camping spot!
It's not really a large carpark but there's designated spaces with small barriers in between and so it didn't feel too cramped. Toilets were clean and there's a nice seaside walk nearby. Not too far from Abel Tasman NP so it was great staying here the night before my l daytrip up there.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.0/5
This is a car park, so you are very close to your neighbours.
Must be there early to get a spot as it is popular. Well maintained toilet facilities.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.5/5
Looks like a great place, we didn't get to stay there though because it was full by 3pm.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
Good place closed to the beach with a shower, change rooms and toilets.
The ranger check everyday if you are on a good spot etc.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
Really nice place to stay it gets very busy if your not here by 3.30 you'll miss out.
Clean loos, rubbish, BBQ spoint and friendly
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
4.0/5
Nice Freecamp with the seasaltwater swimming pool just next to it.
Good amenities : toilets, sink for the dishes, shower (no hot but not too cold).
Only 23 places available get juste quite quick (do not try to fit more than one car on 1 place, there is a patrole coming to check).
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
4.0/5
Nice to be near a pretty interesting beach, including a weird spit, a novel saltwater bath and a 1950s iron shipwreck.
Stayed two nights
Pro's:
v near the beach
Beach is nice
Lots of pretty flowering trees and birdsong
Nice big field next door
Lots of space
Possible drinking water supply but unlabelled as such
Toilets were lovely
Cons:
A few homeless locals hanging about but were harmless
One total looser sat around playing local radio station in his car, clearly looking for a fight. Luckily no room for him in the camping spots and the normal carpark is a no park zone past 10pm so he left soon after
The Motueka Creamery added an annoying background industrial hum 24/7
Fills up very fast, was full by ~4pm
Reviewed almost 2 years ago
4.0/5
Stayed here for one night and it filled up very quickly.
Nice stop over. Toilets were a bit dirty but can’t complain as it was free. Good dish washing sinks :)
Reviewed about 2 years ago
3.0/5
The spaces quickly full before 7pm (least 22 spaces) The new toilets still in building (there have temp box plastic toilets nearby) Saltwater bath not clean But nice spot
Reviewed over 2 years ago
5.0/5
Really great place to stay!
Lovely place for a walk/ run/ cycle. Saltbaths are brilliant and nice outdoor cold shower. Would definitely stay again!
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
4.5/5
Nice quiet spot right next to a great green area and BBQ.
Very short walk to the sea pool. Would stay here again.
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
4.0/5
Really nice spot.
Quiet at night. Enough places for at least 12 vehicles to stay. Toilets a bit manky which is why the 8/10. Close to the ocean. Water, BBQ, toilet, cold open shower. Would stay again.
Reviewed almost 3 years ago
5.0/5
Chill people, quiet, clean, beautiful beach walk.
Would come back for sure!
Reviewed about 3 years ago