Camping Grounds

This camping season in the Hurunui District, some of our camping grounds will be managed by Penny.

These are; Scargill Motunau Reserve, Culverden Domain, Waikari Reserve Camping Ground, and Amberley Beach Reserve.

Penny manages site bookings and looks after camping ground facilities such as showers, laundry, cooking and WIFI.

With your Penny 'digital key' you will have access into the camping ground, and be able to use basic facilities.

How to use Penny:

• Purchase a digital key from a local retailer, the current list is Blue Dairy, Amberley; Gas, Waikari; Greta Valley Tavern, Greta Valley; Challenge, Culverden; HDC main office, Amberley. https://help.kiwicash.nz/hc/en-nz/articles/1763953...
• Download the app from the apple app store, google play or visit https://go-penny.com/
• Enter your details to create a Penny account.
• Sync your Penny key to your account by entering you Penny key's unique code.
• Top up your account by your credit card.

Remember, you will have to set yourself up with Penny before staying at the above-mentioned campgrounds.

Penny can be used in more than 30 campgrounds and services around New Zealand. Hurunui District joins places like National Park Village, Waihi Beach and Taupo in providing pay-to-use services for campers and independent travellers.

The remaining camping grounds in Hurunui are still managed privately, which include Gore Bay and Buxton Camp, Balmoral Recreation Reserve Camping Ground, Pines Holiday Camp, Hurunui River Mouth Reserve Camping Ground, Motunau Beach Camping Ground and Leithfield Beach Holiday Park.

There is extensive information available on the Visit Hurunui 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.

Freedom camping within Hurunui District Council Reserves is subject to the Freedom Camping Bylaw. We encourage freedom campers to use our interactive map to see where freedom camping is permitted.

Please see our interactive map for dog friendly areas in the Hurunui District.

(** Managed by Penny)