New Zealand lures campers with new camp sites

There will be plenty more places to ‘go bush’ in New Zealand with the recent announcement that the country’s Department of Conservation (DOC) is creating 100 new camp sites on land it administers, as well as a new conservation park.

Recognising the decline in camping spots due to rising land prices (and much coastal land in particular being sold for residential development); DOC hopes to open four new sites by December 2007 and a fifth by the middle of 2008.

Camping is a very popular option for overseas visitors. Approximately 20 percent of UK visitors incorporate a stay at a holiday park into their New Zealand experience. (Ministry of Tourism)

The first new camp site to be unveiled is Canaan Downs near Takaka in the top of the South Island adjoining the Abel Tasman National Park. Canaan Downs is a camping paradise of rolling grasslands surrounded by native beech forest.

Other sites earmarked are:

- Moawhitu on D’Urville Island on the Marlborough Sounds in the top of the South Island (opening December)
- Morturua Island in the Bay of Islands (opening February 2008)
- Ox Bow Kiripapango campsite on the banks of the Ngaruroro River 100kms from Napier or Hastings in the middle of the North Island (opening in December)

In addition, DOC has just announced the creation of New Zealand’s newest conversation park at Hakatere in the South Island. It is the largest public park to be created in 20 years, covering more than 68,000 hectares of land. The park boasts snow-capped mountains, crystal clear lakes and a popular ski field at Mt Hutt.

Located in the Ashburton Lakes area two hours drive south of Christchurch, it will offer endless recreational opportunities such as walking, water skiing, climbing, skiing, camping, sailing, trout fishing and horse riding. Walking enthusiasts can see impressive volcanic formations, tussock grasslands, and a deep river canyon on the original 17km Mt Somers walkway linking the popular picnic stops of Woolshed Creek and Sharplin Falls in South Canterbury.

“This huge new park is a special place, a landscape of clear streams and red tussock, of braided rivers, wetlands and alpine habitat where a host of rare native species can be found,” Conservation Minister Chris Carter said.

The area was previously under various ownerships and the Conservation Minister has praised the private owners for having the foresight in recognising the conservation values the area has.

To find out more about camping options in New Zealand go to Newzealand.com.