A holiday in the deep south should always include rugged coastlines, wildlife spotting and urban adventures. Take your time to explore the beaches, the alleyways filled with street art and the outdoor natural wonders. Ōtepoti Dunedin is the ultimate destination for a roadie in the South Island, with all the spectacular scenery and city life you’re seeking, plus top-notch campgrounds to stay in. Base yourselves by the ocean and soak up views of early morning surfers and cafe goers, or stay lakeside and spend your days kayaking or swimming – you could even find your base when cycling the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail.
Explore the roads less travelled and see what the South is made of at this fantastic Dunedin camping spots. Be sure to hire the perfect camper to make your journey complete!
1. Dunedin Holiday Park
Dunedin Holiday Park is located in Dunedin’s beachy suburb St Kilda, with a laid-back surfer vibe all while being a short 10-minute drive from the city centre. Spend your days checking out some of the top Dunedin sites like Baldwin Street and the Dunedin Railway Station, or stick to the coast and check out beautiful St Clair just down the road and John Wilson Drive for incredible ocean views. This holiday park couldn’t be in a better spot. It’s also a gateway to the Otago Peninsula. Consider hiring a camper with bike rakes on the back so you can cycle alongside the Otago Harbour, and check out wildlife tours and cruises to soak up all the Peninsula has to offer.
The Holiday Park has plenty of powered sites so you can plug in your Camplify camper and have dinner in, charge up your devices and heat your camper without worrying about power usage. Other facilities like free unlimited WiFi, barbeque areas and a kids playground make this holiday park a great place to stay on a Dunedin summer holiday. If you’re starting your campervan journey in Dunedin, check out motorhomes like Vando and Peace Train on Camplify. Bike racks in tow plus all the bells and whistles will see you ready for an adventure in the south. Parking these up at a powered site in Dunedin Holiday Park in Dunedin offers full-luxury on wheels.
2. Lake Waihola Holiday Park
Dunedin has the allure of the concrete jungle, the easy-going slow pace of the beaches and the perfect lakeside spots for a summer holiday in the sun. Lake Waihola, roughly 40 minutes drive from central Dunedin is the ideal place for a family and friends getaway. The lake is great for swimming and kayaking, with a pontoon that kids will love swimming to! The Lake Waihola Holiday Park perched practically on the edge of the lake is all set up with powered and unpowered camper spots.
Lake Waihola Holiday Park is not far from Dunedin Airport, so you can fly in, pick up a classic Kiwi caravan like Sprite in Momona and make this holiday park your first stop. Character campers like Spirit, available for pick up in Dunedin, will help create those kiwi summer road trip memories. If it’s the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail that’s got you travelling to Dunedin, the trail now extends to Waihola so be sure to hire a camper with room for your bikes and enjoy some well-earned R&R before or after you hit the 135km trail.
3. Ocean View Recreation Reserve
The Ocean View Recreation Reserve is a fantastic spot for certified self-conatined campers to stay overnight at the beach. Made for a maximum 2-night stay, it’s the ideal way to get a dose of beach life in Dunedin before carrying on to another top Dunedin campground. This is a freedom camping spot, so ask your campervan owner for tips on responsible freedom camping when your hire from Camplify. It’s not a large site, so arrive early and allow plenty of time to enjoy sunset on the coast.
Ocean View Reserve offers access to the fantastic east coast, and Ocean View Beach is a must-visit in Dunedin. Often quiet and uncrowded, it’s the perfect way to soak up the oceanfront beauty of Dunedin. A funky camper like Orange on Camplify will be your reliable wheels on the journey.
Just down the road is Brighton, a popular coastal spot in Dunedin with one of the best beaches in the area. Here you’ll find a kids playground, Brighton Beach Cafe and Brighton Domain, another free camping spot with a great beach location.
4. Portobello Village Tourist Park
Stay on the Otago Peninsula at Portobello Village Tourist Park. This Dunedin campground is in a prime location, encouraging you to explore this picturesque part of the city. The campground itself is a mere 5 minutes walk from Portobello town, a quaint township with a restaurant, cafe, general store and more. Continuing along the Otago Peninsula there are incredible places to discover including the Royal Albatross Centre, a sanctuary for the incredible large seabirds. Other must-visit places in this neck of the woods are Victory Beach, Sandymount and Larnach Castle.
You’ll find powered and non-powered sites at Portobello Village Tourist Park, and a lovely quiet setting with outdoor cooking facilities, showers, bathrooms and a laundry. Go budget friendly with a camper like Silver Linings and make the most of these campground facilities, or hire a motorhome like Happy Mobile with everything you need onboard.
5. Taieri Mouth Beach Holiday Camp
Beach walks, wildlife spotting and relaxing back at camp, Taieri Mouth Beach Holiday Camp is the laid-back beachside campground that you need to check out. Taieri Mouth is south of Dunedin central and the white sandy beach is a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of town. This friendly Kiwi campground is all about the simple pleasures of camping. Stay on a grassy campervan site and stroll to the beach in roughly 2 minutes.
Keep busy during the day with fishing at the beach and walking the Taieri River track before returning to the campground for a cosy night in your camper. Make the most of your Dunedin getaway with a quirky camper like Sapphire, available for hire on Camplify.
6. Waikouaiti Beach Motor Camp
A 35-minute drive north of Dunedin, this is the perfect campground to base yourself at while exploring Dunedin and the Otago coastline. Waikouaiti Beach Motor Camp is just off SH1 and only a 5-minute walk to beautiful white sand shores. The beach atmosphere combined with great Kiwi hospitality make this campground perfect for a summer camping holiday! Powered sites are flat, grassed and sheltered by large trees giving the best of the beach, forest and estuary. Non-powered sites are also available, and the campground facilities will ensure you have all you need for a campervan getaway.
Between Dunedin and Waikouaiti check out top spots like Doctors Point Reserve and Purakaunui Beach. Drive along the coast and enjoy the scenery at Blueskin Bay and out towards Karitane – it’s an incredible stretch of the east coast to explore. The range of campervans, caravans and motorhomes available for hire on Camplify are your ticket to an unforgettable holiday in this corner of New Zealand.
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