Taylor Dam Reserve
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Taylor Dam Reserve
Stay in a self contained vehicle for up to 2 nights at peaceful Taylor Dam Reserve. Good walking and mountain biking options, while also in close proximity to Wither Hills Walkway and only 6kms from Blenheim township.
The responsible camping area at the Taylor Dam Reserve is in the Upper Levels of the Reserve.
The Taylor Dam Reserve Upper Level is located off Taylor Pass Road approximately 7 kms from Blenheim as shown on the Taylor Dam Reserve Upper Level map.
No person may responsible camp except in the area shown and must be in a certified self-contained
vehicle.
There is clear signage into the area directing campers to the area allocated for camping.
The maximum period anyone can responsible camp in this area is two consecutive nights in any four-
week period.
Vehicle numbers are limited to 10 vehicles.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Marlborough District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Blenheim |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Freedom Camping
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
Beautiful spot right by a little nature reserve.
Not many spots so be mindful that they will fill up fairly quickly. Toilets a short walk past the dam.
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4.5/5
Beautiful location, but only has about 9 spots.
Located on the left just a few meters after turning off the main road. Make sure you arrive early to secure your spot. Last one filled up by 8PM even in off season. We didn't have any cell reception here.
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4.0/5
Our best spot prior to or post ferry .
Peaceful area but 10 spots fill fast. Sad to see the large caravans taking up two spaces just to park their car. I felt sorry when there was no room for a late comer . Lovely walks around and 5 km from Blenheim . 10/10 toilets !!
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4.5/5
Nice spot next to a beautiful lake,with lots of swans and surounded by hills.
Clean toilets after a 5min walk.
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5.0/5
Beautiful spot close to a lake.
There is a view on surrounding hills. The places are only around 10, so it's better to be here earlier
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4.5/5
First stop after the ferry to the South Island.
Quiet, clean flushing toilets, nice spot.
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5.0/5
Great wee spot.
Site was pretty level. Get there early if you want a spot. Filled up by dark. Nice clean toilets about a 5 min walk away with lights at night. Lots of bird life and was nice waking up to the birds
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4.5/5
The best spot before or after sailing to Wellington.
Very calm to hear the birds and see the stars. Just the toilets are quite far away. There is a water tap on the first “electric pole”.
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4.0/5
Lovely spot close to nature.
Modern, clean toilets. Slightly sloped camp area, just off the road. Space for 10 SC vehicles, which filled up quickly after 5pm. About 15 mins drive from Blenheim. Quiet throughout the night.
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3.5/5
Good spot, lovely lake with one bench.
9 spots all in a row, didn’t fill up. Lovely sunset and lots of ducks in the lake/reservoir. Some cars at weird hours of the night.
One portaloo which was in fairly grim condition although toilet roll present, 4 min walk from camping area.
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3.0/5
Parking area slightly sloped, otherwise alright.
Not quite at the lake, but close. Watch out, currently no toilets. The “new toilets” mentioned by others were closed for repair and no alternative was provided. But it was free, and there are public toilets about 5 minutes away driving next to a biking park. Easily 8/10 if the toilets were working.
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5.0/5
Beautiful spot right by a little nature reserve.
Not many spots so be mindful that they will fill up fairly quickly. Toilets a short walk past the dam.
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4.5/5
Beautiful location, but only has about 9 spots.
Located on the left just a few meters after turning off the main road. Make sure you arrive early to secure your spot. Last one filled up by 8PM even in off season. We didn't have any cell reception here.
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4.0/5
Our best spot prior to or post ferry .
Peaceful area but 10 spots fill fast. Sad to see the large caravans taking up two spaces just to park their car. I felt sorry when there was no room for a late comer . Lovely walks around and 5 km from Blenheim . 10/10 toilets !!
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4.5/5
Nice spot next to a beautiful lake,with lots of swans and surounded by hills.
Clean toilets after a 5min walk.
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5.0/5
Beautiful spot close to a lake.
There is a view on surrounding hills. The places are only around 10, so it's better to be here earlier
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4.5/5
First stop after the ferry to the South Island.
Quiet, clean flushing toilets, nice spot.
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5.0/5
Great wee spot.
Site was pretty level. Get there early if you want a spot. Filled up by dark. Nice clean toilets about a 5 min walk away with lights at night. Lots of bird life and was nice waking up to the birds
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4.5/5
The best spot before or after sailing to Wellington.
Very calm to hear the birds and see the stars. Just the toilets are quite far away. There is a water tap on the first “electric pole”.
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4.0/5
Lovely spot close to nature.
Modern, clean toilets. Slightly sloped camp area, just off the road. Space for 10 SC vehicles, which filled up quickly after 5pm. About 15 mins drive from Blenheim. Quiet throughout the night.
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3.5/5
Good spot, lovely lake with one bench.
9 spots all in a row, didn’t fill up. Lovely sunset and lots of ducks in the lake/reservoir. Some cars at weird hours of the night.
One portaloo which was in fairly grim condition although toilet roll present, 4 min walk from camping area.
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3.5/5
To repeat the last review can confirm the same thing toilets are still being upgraded but a portaloo is onsite and is a 2-3 min walk away camping spot is limited so arrive before 6 I reckon ground doesn
't permit pitched awnings and as is sloped slightly which has been mentioned
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3.0/5
Parking area slightly sloped, otherwise alright.
Not quite at the lake, but close. Watch out, currently no toilets. The “new toilets” mentioned by others were closed for repair and no alternative was provided. But it was free, and there are public toilets about 5 minutes away driving next to a biking park. Easily 8/10 if the toilets were working.
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4.0/5
Very nice spot, near forest and small lake.
Not too big and enough space for 6-8 campervans. A bit noisy with cars that drive there and then leave (young people, we guessed). A shame that toilets are closed
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3.5/5
Nice campsite just off the main road next to a small lake full of swans and ducks.
Brand new toilet block at the bottom of the lake … however it’s not open, there is a sign on it saying it’s “closed due to Covid” there is 1 portaloo attached to a tree instead. Slightly disappointing as there are 10 spaces in the freedom carpark! We thought about moving to another location, however we have the ferry tomorrow morning so it’s a good spot for that.
Recommend for location, but don’t expect the toilets to be open (hopefully they will as peak season come around)
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4.0/5
Arrived here at about 4pm and were the first people here, and by 7pm there were another 5 campers with 4 spaces left.
Not a lot here, but you can take a nice walk around the water. The toilets are still closed due to covid restrictions so bare this in mind. Was a very quiet and peaceful spot.
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4.0/5
Nice rural free camp.
Spots clearly marked. Toilets not open during our visit and a good 5 min walk from the free camp spots. Nice walk around the lake takes you past the toilets and back to the camping parks. Quiet during our stay and minimal road noise. Liquid wash in Blenheim is a great place to do washing and drying.. taking under 1hr for a family of 4 washing including drying time... getting you back to looking around with minimal interruption.
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3.5/5
Location is ok.
Only a few spots available. A few minutes walk from the toilets, which are closed right now (end of September) due to renovations.
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4.0/5
Great spot above the dam.
Lots of bird life.
We walked up the hill to watch a beautiful sunset. We were treated to an air show with planes from the local area.
Toilets immaculately clean, only downside that they are a 3 min walk away so not ideal if you need to in the night.
We did hear some boy racers but not for long.
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4.0/5
Quite close to the main road.
No road noise. We got here at 4:30pm and had no issue getting a spot. Filled up quickly at around 5:30-6 however. Toilets are quite far away but they are very clean and new. Parking spots are clearly marked. Would stay again.
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4.5/5
Really great spot near a walkway and beautiful scenic lakes with lots of swans.
Clean Portaloos 5 min walk to them and 2 mins to the lake. Dogs allowed so some campers had friendly dogs with them which was a plus for us.
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4.0/5
All good spot, can drive down to the toilets which are portaloos but were really clean.
Only downside was a random cars driving in and out past the camp spot at night.
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5.0/5
Stayed here a night and had breakfast bye the pond the next morning.
Beautiful place.
Not sure what the complaints about the toilet are about, yes it's a small walk bit you're freedom camping.
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5.0/5
Beautiful spot!
Toilets aren’t as bad of a walk as some people are making out, maybe a 3 minute walk down a paved road. Stayed for 2 nights, beautiful scenery and sunsets! Recommended
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3.5/5
Not a bad spot to park up, pretty cold in winter, lots of vans were frosted over in the morning!
Toilets are a fair walk down to the dam, lots of beautiful swans. Relatively quiet for a Friday night- no noisy drunk people or loud cars.
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3.5/5
- Small and crowded carpark for about 10 vehicles, - close to lovely pond with lots of birds, - very nice about 30 minutes walk around the pond, - clean toilets at 10 minutes walk, - in the morning
you can drive down to the pond and enjoy its calm beauty
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5.0/5
Beautiful location.
Stunning scenery of the dam and mountains. A shame you can only camp at the top and not around the dam. But it’s still a perfect free place to park for a night.
One down fall was there were cars coming in and out a lot (not sure why, very strange!) through the evening and again early morning and some idiot decided to honk their horn 3 times on the way out! Idiots (to wake up all the campers).
The council came round at 8:30pm, we assum to make sure campers we not on the dam front, so obey the signs.
All in all a beautiful spot though and much nicer than others we pass on the way up from Christchurch to Picton. Close to ferry as well, a 25min drive in.
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