Local Time: 8:26 PM
The Hurunui District starts 45 minutes north of Christchurch.
We encourage travellers and campers to use camping grounds and other accommodation facilities as much as possible while visiting our district.
There is extensive information available on this website covering "what you can see", "what you can do" and "where you can stay" during your visit.
Freedom camping is defined as overnight parking in areas that are in the vicinity of roads and are easily accessed by cars/campervans. It is not intended to apply to the “back country” experience.
We ask you to comply with the following rules which apply to all forms of camping whether in tents, cars, campervans, boats or buses.
Freedom camping within Hurunui District Council Reserves is subject to the Freedom Camping Policy adopted in 2008. – see www.hurunui.govt.nz for further information.
1. Respect our environment. Leave the site clear of all rubbish, waste and damage.
Understand that dumping of waste and litter is an offence and will result in instant fines or prosecution. Litter infringement - $400 . (as of 1 July 2009)
2. Act responsibly, and respect the access and enjoyment rights of other public space users.
3. Have immediate access to, or on-board, three day capacity toilet, wastewater collection and rubbish disposal facilities. Toilet and greywater must be disposed of in an approved campervan dump station.
4. Use designated public spaces, camping areas (e.g. Department of Conservation sites) or commercial premises as available. Check with the local i-SITE (information centre), local council website or other camping guides if unsure of freedom camping sites in the area. Appreciate that some environmentally or culturally sensitive, and built-up, areas will not permit any form of freedom camping.
5. Understand that freedom camping is a temporary activity, generally considered to be two days unless otherwise informed.
1. All areas where Hurunui District Council "No Camping or Overnight Parking" signs are displayed, which are:
All roads and all recreation reserves under Hurunui District Council’s control within
** Hanmer Springs Basin Management Area (see PDF)
 | Hanmer Basin Adobe Acrobat Document: 765 KB, 112 seconds @ 56kbps |
The boundaries for this area are: North - Hanmer Range Ridgeline, East – Hanmer River Boundary Stream, South – Amuri Range Ridgeline, Transit NZ brown tourism sign (SH7) & Organ Range Ridgeline, West – Boundary Stream Waiau River. This area takes in the entire Hanmer Springs village.
** Motunau Beach Township (see PDF)
| Motunau Beach Adobe Acrobat Document: 134 KB, 20 seconds @ 56kbps |
Amberley
• Delhaven Motels & Caravan Park, 124 Carters Road
• Mobil Petrol Station, Carters Road
Cheviot
• State Highway 1 (town centre)
Greta Valley
• Greta Valley Camping Ground, State Highway 1
Hanmer Springs
• Alpine Adventure Tourist Park, 200 Jacks Pass Road
• Alpine Holiday Apartments, 9 Fowlers Lane
• Hanmer River Holiday Park, 26 Medway Road
• Mountain View Top 10 Holiday Park, Hanmer Springs Road
• Pines Holiday Park, 158 Argelins Road
Leithfield Beach
• Leithfield Beach Motor Camp, 18 Lucas Drive
Waiau
• Waiau Motor Camp & Backpackers, 9 Highfield Street
Waikari
• Waikari Domain, Princes Street
Waipara
• Waipara Sleepers, Glenmark Drive
Amberley
• Delhaven Motels & Caravan Park, 124 Carters Road
• Amberley Beach
Cheviot
• Cheviot Motels & Holiday Park, 44 Ward Road
• Gore Bay & Buxton Camping Grounds
Greta Valley
• Greta Valley Camping Ground, just off State Highway 1
Hanmer Springs
• Alpine Adventure Tourist Park, 200 Jacks Pass Road
• Alpine Holiday Apartments & Campground, 9 Fowlers Lane
• Hanmer River Holiday Park, 26 Medway Road
• Hanmer Springs Forest Camp, 243 Jollies Pass Road
• Mountain View Top 10 Holiday Park, Hanmer Springs Road
• Pines Holiday Park, 158 Argelins Road
Hurunui
• Balmoral Camping Ground (beside Hurunui River), State Highway 7. ** please note only basic facilities on site
Leithfield Beach
• Leithfield Beach Motor Camp, 18 Lucas Drive
Mt Lyford
• Mt Lyford Lodge, 10 Mt Lyford Forest Drive (right beside State Highway 70)
Waiau
• Waiau Motor Camp & Backpackers, 9 Highfield Street
Waikari
• Waikari Domain, Princes Street
Waipara
• Waipara Sleepers, Glenmark Drive
There are free recycling drop off points at the Amberley, Culverden, Hanmer Springs and Waiau Transfer Stations for newspapers, magazines, food and drink cans, plastic bottles, cardboard and paper.
Rubbish Disposal Cost: per large bag/sack $2.50 each
Hurunui District Council Transfer Stations
Amberley (Carters Road, State Highway 1)
Open Mon to Fri: 9am to 4.30pm. Sat: 9am to 12 noon
Cheviot (Mina Road)
Open Tues, Thurs and Sun: 10am to 1pm
Culverden (St Leonard’s Road)
Open Sun and Wed: 2pm to 4pm. Sat: 9am to 10.30am
Hanmer Springs (near the river bridge)
Open Sat and Sun: 1pm to 4pm
Tues and Thurs: 1pm to 4pm during spring, summer and autumn
Wed: 1pm to 4pm during winter
Waiau (just south of the river bridge)
Open Sat: 10.30am to 12 noon . Sun & Wed: 1pm to 3pm
New Zealand Eco-Wise Travel Guide
New Zealand is a beautiful country. Help us keep our towns, cities, parks, beaches and native bush free from pollution and waste. This website provides some tips on how to be eco-wise and leave gentle footprints when travelling in New Zealand.
Trees for Travellers
To offset carbon emissions from visitors and residents, locally sourced, native plants can be purchased. All plants are established locally and growth can be tracked via GPS coordinates and the internet.