Best Dunedin holiday parks: 10 South Island campgrounds

Image credit: 100% Pure New Zealand

Dunedin, on New Zealand’s South Island, is a beautiful city built at the head of the Otago Harbour, tucked into the south-east coast. There is a huge array of holiday parks and camping grounds in Dunedin itself and the surrounding Peninsula.

The city itself is rich in Maori and Scottish history, with breathtaking architecture and a relaxed vibe, while the surrounding countryside is the perfect place to explore New Zealand's natural wonders! Continuing along the Otago Peninsula will reward you with breathtaking views, and the chance to see unique marine life up close and personal.

To help you explore it all, we've rounded up our top suggestions for the best camping holidays in the Dunedin area!

Best Dunedin camping grounds

Beaumont Hotel and Holiday Park

On the banks of the Clutha River is the town of Beaumont and the Beaumont Hotel and Holiday Park. The Beaumont Hotel is a rare and iconic country pub, with small-town charm and friendly local owner, that serves alcoholic drinks, hearty pub meals, and delicious desserts. On the grounds of the hotel are holiday cottages for hire and sixteen powered campsites with access to bathrooms, a dump point, and free wifi. Pets are also able to stay on request. Contact Beaumont Hotel and Holiday Parks for up to date seasonal rates.

Warrington Domain

If you’re looking for a much cheaper and more flexible option, freedom camping is encouraged in New Zealand, although each region has its own by-laws. In the Dunedin area, Warrington Domain is a picturesque spot right on the beach of Blueskin Bay.

It’s only a 25-minute drive north of Dunedin, perfectly located to explore not just the area around Dunedin, but also some of the best attractions between Dunedin and Christchurch like the famous Moeraki Boulders. The maximum stay here is two nights and there is a strict no fire rule. Campers are asked to respect the site and use the provided bathroom and rubbish facilities.

Portobello Village Tourist Park

Out on the wild and rough Otago Peninsula is Portobello Village Tourist Park, a cosy refuge that makes the perfect launching point from which to explore the Peninsula's beautiful bird and animal life and gorgeous coastline and hiking trails. Portobello is a tiny village on the edge of Latham Bay, with quaint local shops and people.

The Portobello Village Tourist Park provides basic but well-maintained facilities, with a shower block and dump point available. More facilities such as bicycle hire and a playground are located in Portobello itself, which is just a short walk away. Powered sites here start from $22 per person per night, with unpowered sites from $20.

Ocean View Recreation Reserve

The other freedom camping spot recommended for use in the Dunedin and Otago area is Ocean View Recreation Reserve. A 15-minute drive south of Dunedin’s city centre, Ocean View is a small, fairly basic camping area that caters to vehicles only with no tent camping available. This reserve has separate sections for self-contained and non-self-contained vehicles and allows a maximum of one night’s stay. A dump point and toilet facilities are available. Most importantly, it’s a short five-minute walk through the dunes to the beach and just a few minutes drive from the small seaside town of Brighton.

Leith Valley Holiday Park and Motels

On the opposite side of the city in Dunedin's north is Leith Valley. Nestled amongst the hills of the Otago Region, Leith Valley Holiday Park and Motels provide a scenic place to stay in a semi-rural area with access to walking trails and glow worm tunnels. While it’s an accessible 25-minute drive to the beautiful Organ Pipes Reserve, it’s also only a few minutes drive from the centre of Dunedin, where you can find attractions like Dunedin Railway Station and Otago Museum.

Leith Valley Holiday Parks and Motels offers powered sites on the banks of the Leith Stream for $19 per adult per night and $10 per child. Facilities include free wifi, a sauna, pool table, communal kitchen facilities with a microwave, a tv room, and a heated common room. A laundry, shower block, and dump point are also available.

Kaka Point Camping Ground

A one and a half-hour drive from Dunedin is the beautiful Roaring Bay, with its population of Yellow-Eyed Penguins and the stately Nugget Point Lighthouse. Stay at the lush Kaka Point Camping Ground so you can take your time exploring the area.

It’s just a short walk to the beach and there are numerous hiking trails available that take in the surrounding forests and traverse the Clutha River. Kaka Point Camping Ground is also a short walk from the village of Kaka Point, where there is a playground, tennis courts and an RSL Club.

Kaka Point offers a kitchen, BBQ, dump point and shower and toilet block. Powered sites are available for a reasonable price - contact the property directly for up to date rates.

Purakaunui Bay Campsite

Almost a two-hour drive from Dunedin, in the south of the South Island, is another basic camping option - Purakaunui Bay Campsite. This campsite is located close to the beach, near sweeping cliffs and the rugged landscape that the Otago region is famous for. It’s also close to Purakaunui Falls and the wildlife refuge of Cosgrove Island.

It’s not possible to book sites at Purakaunui Bay and they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. While there are 40 sites available, there can be seasonal restrictions. Fires aren’t permitted and the facilities are on the more basic side, with toilets and showers available.

A self-registration stand is available at the campsite, and you’ll need to pay in cash - $8 per night for an adult and $4 for a child, with children under 4 years old being free.

Lake Waihola Holiday Park

30 minutes south of Dunedin is Lake Waihola, which is an ideal spot for a family van life getaway. Lake Waihola Caravan Park is situated right on the banks of this beautiful freshwater lake, with its calm clear waters and rolling banks. It’s the perfect place to embrace the outdoors and get into the water, with sailing, fishing, and jet skiing available, as well as plenty of safe swimming areas for kids and adults alike.

Powered and unpowered sites are available at Lake Waihola Caravan Park, both located on lush green well-manicured lawns. Facilities are top-notch and include a laundry room, bathroom facilities, and a dump point. It’s also just a few blocks walk into the town of Waihola where you can stock up on supplies and meet the locals.

Powered sites are $22 per person per night, with additional adults $9 and additional children $9. Unpowered sites start at $18 per person per night, with additional adults $16 and children $9.

Waitaki Waters Holiday Park

The Waitaki Waters Holiday Parkis located on the meandering banks of the Waitaki River, one of New Zealand’s most beautiful ‘braided’ waterways. With beautiful green grounds, a large playground, and clean and modern shower and bathroom facilities, this holiday park provide access to everything Waittiki has to offer, including hiking, horse riding and fishing. Free wifi is also available, and pets are welcome.

The surrounding area has a huge range of family-friendly activities, including little penguin viewing areas, cheese factories, and award-winning restaurants. The Waitaki Water Holiday Park is just an hour and forty minutes north of Dunedin and has reasonable rates available. An unpowered site is $15 per person per night, with children $7.50. A powered site starts from 420 per adult per night and $7.50 for children. Discounted rates available for additional adults.

Ready to visit some camping grounds in Dunedin?

Dunedin is the perfect place to begin your South Island trip, with plenty of options available in the form of paid camping, freedom camping, caravan parks and holiday parks. With such a diverse range of waterways, landscapes, flora and fauna in the Dunedin region, there’s plenty to see and explore.

Check out the ultimate Dunedin to Invercargill road trip.

Why Camplify?

We are proud to be New Zealand’s fastest-growing private caravan, campervan and motorhome sharing community. When you hire a van through our platform, it comes with lots of advantages:

• Comprehensive hire insurance

• Nationwide AA roadside assistance

• 24/7 customer support

• All members are verified

By hiring with Camplify, you are also helping local families who share their van on our platform and supporting many local companies across New Zealand in addition to ours. So we are very grateful to you.

Sign up if you want to join our beloved community of van life lovers and receive our most recent news and offers.