No camps planned despite concerns for family-focused Kiwi tradition
KEY POINTS:
The Department of Conservation says it has no specific sites chosen for new camp grounds in the coming year or the year after.
This is despite its review of camping opportunities two years ago which found they had declined because of rising coastal land prices.
Former Conservation Minister Chris Carter requested the review of the "availability of family-friendly camping opportunities".
He said the Government wanted to ensure that the tradition of the Kiwi camping holiday was preserved.
The department responded by saying it had drawn up a list of 100 potential camping spots on land it administers.
It said four new camping areas would open this summer and a fifth one would be ready by mid-year _ leaving the department managing 297 camping areas.
Senior technical recreation officer Brian Dobbie said after completing the five camping areas _ offering toilets, water supply and cold showers _ no specific new areas were scheduled for opening in the following summers.
The department was talking to local authorities and camp ground operators about new camping opportunities on land managed by the department, said Mr Dobbie.
Last year's review gave options for discussion on how to reverse a 6 per cent drop nationally in a decade in camping capacity, particularly on the coast and between Christmas and early January.
Options included extending the network of camping areas on public conservation land, providing lease opportunities for private operators and schools opening up their grounds and facilities to campers during the peak season.
Mr Dobbie said the list of potential camping spots and future development could be affected by the present talks with interested parties.
He said the department did not want to compete with commercialholiday parks.
"Our sites tend to be in remote areas with basic facilities where you are not competing with commercial operators but there is a demand. We don't have TV lounges and we don't build tourist cabins."
In the meantime, Mr Dobbie said the department was extending the capacity of popular and big Northland sites at Uretiti Beach, near Waipu, and Whangaruru, north of Whangarei.
Work to extend the capacity of the Port Jackson camping area, north of Coromandel, was expected to be completed for next summer.
In the past year the department has improved facilities at a dozen camping areas. It has a big project under way at the White Horse Hill camping area at Mt Cook Village _ the only conservation camp site inside Mt Cook National Park.
This will get a sewerage treatment system, piped treated water supply, and a day shelter incorporating toilets.
After a Recreation Opportunities Review three years ago, the department agreed to develop and maintain 15 new camping areas in places where there was significant demand.
Mr Dobbie said these camping areas would be small and in remote back-country areas, for example, ones established in the Hauraki Gulf at Goat Island and Great Barrier Island were for hardy sea kayak voyagers _ three or four tent sites with a toilet and water supply.
The department was also under pressure to provide areas for freedom camping with camper vans, which are self-contained and do not require facilities.
PEACE, QUIET AND ADVENTURE A DRIVE AWAY
NORTH ISLAND
NEW
Moturua Island, Bay of Islands.
Basic toilet and water supply for 25 people will be open by the autumn. Boat access only. It is next to a DoC standard campsite at Urupukapuka Island. Katrina Upton, DoC Bay of Islands area community relations manager, says Moturua Island will appeal to those with sea kayaks and small runabouts.
"It's for people who are more independent and wanting somewhere to stop overnight that's a little different. It has peace and quiet and isolation. We have upgraded the 4km walking track which loops around the island scenic reserve. It is suitable for families because we have improved the gradient. It takes 30 minutes to walk over a ridge between bays and stop for a picnic and swim before you return." The few holiday homes on the island have live-in caretakers.
French explorer Marion du Fresne stopped at the island three years before Captain Cook in 1769. It has six recorded pa sites.
Contact Russell Information Centre, ph 09 403-9005.
NEW
Kiripapango, Ngaruroro River, Kaweka Forest Park, Hawkes Bay.
Reached from the Napier-Taihape road. Work has finished on a 1km access road to the Oxbow pasture camp site and basic facilities. Campers fill their billies from the river 200m away. DoC's Pat Sheridan says: "It's a very pleasant spot ... . sheltered and quiet. It's right at the backdoor of the Kaweka Forest Park and several tracks. DoC is responding to a demand for a camp here."
Contact DoC Hawkes Bay office, ph 06 834-3111.
NEW
Lake Arapuni, Western Shore, Landing Rd, 1 hour's drive from Hamilton.
It has basic facilities, toilet and water supply. Landscaping yet to be completed.
DoC Maniapoto area acting manager John Gumbley says the site has been used for a few years by anglers and campers but recent work makes it more amenable for family use. Motor Caravan Association Waikato official Dawn Fellows says: "It's a beautiful, tranquil spot with surrounding views of lake and countryside. And it's close for Waikato people who live in town and like to get away from it all." Attractions include fishing, waterskiing, the Arapuni hydro dam, built in 1929, the Jones' Landing rock outcrops and Jim Barnett Reserve walking tracks.
Contact DoC Maniapoto office, ph 07 878-1050.
UPGRADE
Uretiti Beach, Waipu, Whangarei.
On SH1, 8km north of Waipu. The upgrade includes four extra toilets, which are on a dry vault system favoured for sand country. Classed as standard, the camp has barbecue and fireplaces, picnic tables, rubbish collection, is connected to Waipu town water supply but still has no power. Thousands of shrubs planted for shelter will eventually replace the shade lost when the old pine trees were felled for camper safety. Security has improved with installation of gates opened by a swipe card. It has up to 1000-1500 campers over the Christmas-New Year holidays. Shaun Anderson, DoC Whangarei assets manager, likes the camp because "it is relaxed freedom camping. sites are not marked out, there are no concrete paths or boardwalks. It's built on the back dune so it's a short walk over the foredunes to the ocean beach." The camp is popular with campervan users.
Contact DoC Whangarei area office, ph 09 470-3360.
UPGRADE
Port Jackson, Coromandel Peninsula.
The standard camping area, 45km north of Coromandel and near Cape Colville, is a summer favourite alongside a sister camp at Fletcher Bay. Work to boost the number of toilets, showers and water supply, to raise capacity to 450 people, is expected to finish in June.
Peter Carter of DoC says the spot is ideal for families. "It's natural and you look across a half-moon-shaped bay to Great Barrier Island. Last week dolphins and orca came through the bay. Anyone can catch a fish here and within 15 minutes' drive to Fletchers you can take the Coromandel Walkway for a pleasant scenic walk round to Stony Bay." DoC community relations manager Joy Mickelson says the capacity of the popular Waikawau camping area on the east coast, has also been boosted for 150 more campers. Competition for sites means both camps have a "first in, first served" policy.
Contact Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, ph 07 867-9080.
SOUTH ISLAND
NEW
Canaan Downs, Takaka Hill, Abel Tasman National Park, Nelson.
Greg Napp, DoC community relations manager, says the camp was a farm, which DoC bought through the Nature Heritage. He says the camp's raw appearance will improve. "It's very simple as opposed to the beach camp grounds." A nearby attraction is Harwoods Hole, 176m deep and 15m wide, among limestone formations.
It's a beautiful place to go biking, nice views, nice bits of bush, ground is undulating and no huge uphills to do. Some bikers take a track to Takaka township.
It is close to the Takaka hill venue for the Canaan Downs Festival, being held from December 29 to January 2, 2008. The new camp is on Canaan Rd, off SH 60, the same as Harwoods Hole.
Contact Nelson Regional Visitor Centre, ph 03 546-9339.
NEW
Moawhitu, Greville Harbour, d'Urville Island, Marlborough Sounds.
Boat access only. The island is separated from the mainland by the narrow strait French Pass. DoC has established a basic camp, with a toilet and running water. Roy Grose, DoC area manager, says: "It's a spectacular site at the north western end of the beach. There is a mixture of mature native bush, sand dunes, a sweeping beach, interesting geological formations and an inland lake."
He expects it will be used mostly as a sheltered stop during sea kayak circumnavigations of the island, which are popular despite the island being exposed to northerly Cook Strait storms. "We call the site Moawhitu ... we've found moa bones in the sand dunes, as well as remnants of the native thrush, kakapo, tuatara ..." The sand dunes at Greville Harbour are up to 25m high and extend inland for 400m. After centuries of Maori occupation, the island was milled for kohekohe timber during clearance for farming and there was a copper mining venture in the 1860s. about 40 residents farm on the island and are served by a water taxi from French Pass.
Contact Picton Visitor Centre, ph 03 520-3113.
UPGRADE
Southland. Mavora Lakes Park, Te Anau area.
Southlanders know of it but it's a bit off the beaten track for half a million visitors in Fiordland National Park annually. Turn off SH 94, 30km north of Mossburn. It's 39km down the road. The upgrade is really a "tidy up", with new toilets, picnic tables and signs. Beth Masser, DoC community relations manager, says: "It's a very scenic spot, with two beautiful lakes and benefit of having open tussock lands as well as beech forest and alpine tops _ so you have a range of landscapes. What's great about it for people is that it's managed informally _ facilities are the bare minimum. There's shelter but it could do with less _ you need wind to blow the sandflies away.
"It's not in a national park, so there are opportunities to take your horse or dog or motorbike, mountain bike. The camp is between the two lakes _ one lake is for motor boating, the other for quiet recreation." North Mavora Lake is 9.5km long. The South Mavora Lake is 2.4km long.
Contact Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, Te Anau, ph 03 249-0200.
UPGRADE
Purakaunui Bay camping area, Catlins Coast, southeast Otago.
Cheryl Pullar, DoC community relations manager, says: "The upgrade has replaced toilets and it is serviced and cleaned twice weekly. There is an honesty system for paying fees. It's really lovely. You definitely get peace and quiet there except for the New Year period.
Camp there and take in the sights. Nearest shops and fuel is 25 minutes' drive at Owaka. North Islanders can't believe how good this place is."
The bay's high cliffs were in scenes of Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. From here, visit the Purakaunui Falls _ 20m and falling in three tiers, revealed after a 10-minute walk.
Contact Catlins Information Centre, ph 03 415-8371.
