View from Kerr Bay Campsite, Nelson Lakes

Image: Adam Eason | Creative Commons

Kerr Bay Campsite

Located in Nelson Lakes National Park in the Nelson/Tasman region

Introduction

Kerr Bay campsite is located adjacent to Lake Rotoiti, surrounded by beech forest and with a boat launching ramp nearby. It is open all year round, but facilities are limited during winter.

Campsite overview

Access

  • Campervan
  • Car
  • Caravan

Landscape

  • Forest
  • Rivers and lakes

Category

  • Category
Serviced

Bookings

  • Bookings

Bookings required

Facilities

  • Boat launching
  • Cookers/electric stove
  • Dump station
  • Non-powered/tent sites
  • Powered sites
  • Shelter for cooking
  • Shower - hot
  • Toilets
  • Water from tap
  • Wheelchair accessible
13 non-powered/tent sites
9 powered sites

Activities

  • Bird and wildlife watching
  • Boating
  • Fishing
  • Kayaking and canoeing
  • Mountain biking
  • Swimming
  • Walking and tramping

Seasonal restrictions

Fires are not permitted at any time.

Dog access

No dogs

Brochures

About this campsite

Kerr Bay camp is located adjacent to Lake Rotoiti with a boat launching ramp nearby. It is surrounded by beech forest and 500 m from the St Arnaud village shop. The camp is not suitable for vehicles greater than 7 m in length.

The campground is open all year around. During the summer months bookings are essential. Bookings are not available during the winter. During winter there are no showers, washing machine & dryer available.

Campsite zones

There are five camping zones, each with varying numbers of sites: Bellbird, Fantail, Robin and Tui zones have powered sites with hardened surfaces, while the grassy Kaka zone is more suitable for tents. Kiwi sites are suitable for campervans/caravans and provide a gravel surface with some grass around the sites.

Facilities and services

A day shelter provides kitchen and cooking facilities (stove; no pots, pans, cutlery etc). During the summer months the ablution block has hot showers (token operated), toilets, full access shower/toilet and washing machine and clothes dryer.

During winter, the showers (including full access shower/toilet) are closed and the washing machine and dryer are not available.

There is a sewage dump station opposite the cooking shelter.

Volunteer camp host opportunities

Volunteers are needed to act as camp hosts for a minimum of two weeks from mid December through to late April.

You would need your own campervan or caravan. A free powered site is provided in return for basic duties such as checking camper bookings and liaising with the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre.

For more information and application form: Nelson Lakes volunteer camp host

Getting there

Lake Rotoiti, Kerr Bay just off SH63 on Kerr Bay Road.

The campsite is near the St Arnaud township, which is 1 hour 30 minutes by road from Nelson or Blenheim.

Location

NZTM2000 coordinates: E1587370, N5371777
Latitude: -41.80577, Longitude: 172.84795

Fees

Labour weekend – 30 April

Non-powered site

  • Adult (18+ years): $20 per night
  • Child (5 - 17 years): $10 per night
  • Infant (0 - 4 years): free

Powered site

  • Adult (18+ years): $23 per night
  • Child (5 - 17 years): $11.50 per night
  • Infant (0 - 4 years): free
Additional fees

Tokens required for showers: $1 each

1 May – Friday before Labour weekend

Non-powered site:

  • Adult (18+ years): $15 per night
  • Child (5 - 17 years): $7.50 per night
  • Infant (0 - 4 years): free

Powered site:

  • Adult (18+ years): $18 per night
  • Child (5 - 17 years): $9 per night
  • Infant (0 - 4 years): free

Passes

The campsite pass for rental campervans cannot be used at this campsite.

Backcountry Hut Passes cannot be used at this campsite.

DOC/NZMCA campsite passes can not be used at this campsite.

Bookings

Summer

From mid December to the end of April the campsite can be booked online or through the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre. Bookings are essential for the Christmas holiday period, classic boat show and power boat regatta weekends and Easter.

Winter

From 1 May through to mid December the campsite can't be booked. Register at the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre.

Book Kerr Bay campsite online, or contact:

Nelson Lakes Bookings Helpdesk Business Unit
Phone:   +64 3 521 1808
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   nelsonlakesvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   View Road
St Arnaud
Postal Address:   PO Box 55
St Arnaud
7053

Activities

Services offered at the Visitor Centre include walk and tramping information, maps, hut bookings and tickets, fishing licences and retail sales. Interpretive displays explain the landforms, history and wildlife of the area.

Know before you go

Campsite rules

  • The camp is within Nelson Lakes National Park, park by-laws apply.
  • No domestic pets are allowed.
  • Sites must be vacated by 10 am on the day of departure.
  • Speed limit in the camping areas is 5 km/hr.
  • Excessive noise in the campgrounds after 11 pm will not be tolerated.
  • Keep rubbish to a minimum.
  • No fires.
  • New Zealand Motor Caravan Association Pass not valid here.
  • Jet skis are prohibited.

The management reserves the right to cancel tenancy at any time if park by-laws or these regulations are contravened and under such circumstances will not refund any fees paid in advance.

All drone use must be authorised by DOC

A concession is required to fly a drone on any public conservation land - see Recreational drone use and Commercial drone use for more information.

Contacts

Rotoiti / Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 521 1806
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   nelsonlakesvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   View Road
St Arnaud
Postal Address:   PO Box 55
St Arnaud 7053
Whakatū / Nelson Visitor Centre
Phone:   +64 3 546 9339
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   nelsonvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   Millers Acre/Taha o te Awa
79 Trafalgar Street
Nelson 7010
Postal Address:   Private Bag 5
Nelson 7042
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