New Zealand Camping - South Island:
Beach Camping
(Purakaunui Bay Scenic Reserve Campsite)

New Zealand Camping - Beach Camping At Purakaunui Bay

ADDRESS / TEL / GPS coordinates:

Purakaunui Bay Scenic Reserve Campsite

Purakaunui Bay Road

Purakaunui Bay

Catlins Coast

Otago

South Island

New Zealand

46.54262S 169.6101E

WHAT MAKES IT REAL?

LOCATION...

Beach Camping New Zealand Purakaunui Bay

This is a beautiful DOC campsite on a windswept sandy beach flanked either side by a rocky headland.

The best campsites are to the right of the beach, just before the gravel road goes up the hill (just be careful if it is wet. We couldn’t reverse out of our campsite...just wheel-spinning hopelessly, so some other kind campers gave us a push). There are no campsites at the top of the hill.

If you walk along the beach, around to the right, you will come across a small hot spring that flows out onto the sand (which feels hot under your feet and steams). The spring is not big enough to bath in, but you can dig a hole in the sand and sit in the warmth :o)

Just before the sun went down, a New Zealand Sea Lion came onshore and bedded down for the night amongst the rocks. Pretty special. Pretty real.

Beach Camping New Zealand Purakaunui Bay

Directions to Purakaunui bay:

• Turn off State Highway 1 at Balcutha

• South of Owaka, take the turnoff for Ratanui.

• Follow Purakaunui Falls Road.

• Then take Long Point Road (this is unsealed).

• When Long Point Road forks take the left fork which is signposted Purakaunui Bay Road.

• The campsite/beach is at the end of Purakaunui Bay Road.

PRICE:

Adult (18+ years): $6 per night

Child (5 - 17 years): $3 per night

Under 5 years old are free

SIZE:

40 campsites (as described by DOC, but it is a gravel area and a grass area with no designated campsites. It would be a really tight squeeze to fit that many vehicles in this campground)

OPENING TIMES:

All year

HOW TO BOOK:

First come first served

NUMBER OF NIGHTS YOU CAN STAY:

Unknown

Beach Camping New Zealand Purakaunui Bay

FACILITIES:

• Grass area, with no designated sites
• Vault/long-drop/compost toilets
• Sinks
• Non-drinking water
• Stone ring fire pits

Note: No drinking water. No campfires.

PETS ALLOWED?

Yes, but on a leash

ROAD SURFACE:

Gravel

ROAD SURFACE IN CAMPGROUND:

Gravel

ACTIVITIES:

• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Swimming
• Fishing
• Beach

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