Respect our wildlife Clutha’s coastal wildlife species provide fantastic viewing opportunities, but please respect their space. CAMPING IN CLUTHA • Fur seals and sea lions - The recommended safe viewing Reporting Problems distance is 20m. • Yellow-eyed penguins - Stay well away and out of their sight. If you see people camping in non-permitted areas, or Do not approach or follow them. causing problems contact the Clutha District Council on It is an offence to disturb or harass wildlife. Where available, 0800 801 350 use the viewing hides provided. Look for brochures that provide more information about the wildlife you may encounter. Please report any parking hazards, or vehicles behaving recklessly on beaches to the New Zealand Police at *555 or 03 418 0203.
For concerns related to wildlife and conservation phone the Department of Conservation: • General conservation matters – 03 477 0677 • Wildlife emergencies – 0800 362 468
For emergency services phone 111
Bikes on board? The Beaumont-Lawrence section of the Clutha Gold cycling and walking trail will open in 2013 and will be accessible to campers.
Going fishing? Trout and salmon are sure to be biting in the Clutha, Waipahi, Pomahaka, Tuapeka and Catlins Rivers. Other notable freshwater fishing spots include the Owaka, Waitahuna, Tokomairiro and Leithen Burn rivers. Fishing licences are available from your local information centre. Alternatively, try surf casting at the various beaches down the coast.
Surf’s up! Some of New Zealand’s best kept surfing secrets are in Clutha Country, including Toko Mouth, Kaka Point, and Cannibal and Purakaunui bays. Motorists should take extra caution on the road to Cannibal Bay which is gravel and extremely narrow in places.
Tuapeka Punt The Tuapeka Mouth Punt operates daily, free of charge, between 8am and 10am, and 4pm and 6pm, when conditions are suitable. The punt can take motorhomes/campervans up to about 2.7 tonnes. However, with changing river levels, the ramp to get on and off the punt can be a determining factor on whether they can be loaded or not. www.cluthacountry.co.nz
Where can you camp? There are some great places to stay in Clutha Country and we Clutha Country’s many distinct and welcome responsible campers who are prepared to look after our unique natural environment and follow some simple rules. diverse areas, rich in natural and scenic Camping is permitted in any designated camping ground for all types of camping – tents, campervans, sleeper vans and vehicles. See map landscapes, coastlines and wide-open inside this brochure for locations. If your campervan is fully self contained (with a toilet, wastewater spaces are well-suited to campers. and rubbish facilities on-board) then you may camp overnight for Having guidelines for campers allows free on most land administered by Council away from the town centres and residential areas. Some public land is excluded however. this form of tourism and recreation Please observe all no camping signs. If you do not have a fully self-contained campervan then please to continue, and provides some stay at a camping ground if you wish to camp. • Dispose of your wastewater at one of the waste disposal dump stations. protection to our community’s natural • Put your rubbish in bins provided within the town centres or at Camping in The Catlins the Council transfer stations. The Catlins is a popular and frequently visited area of Clutha Country. Its environment, by minimising littering • Do not light any fires. unique and fragile coastlines and ecosystem are home to endangered and dumping of toilet wastes. wildlife and bird species. Please camp only in permitted areas. • Leave the area as you found it, free of litter and damage. • Comply with any request to move on by an Authorised Officer. There are three Department of Conservation (DOC) camping grounds in Clutha Country (Tawanui, Purakaunui Bay, and Papatowai), all of which Please note that breaching any of these rules can result in an instant are located in The Catlins and are relatively cheap to stay at. These are fine or prosecution. Instant fines start from $500. all standard campsites with a limited range of facilities and services, including toilets, water supply and vehicle access. Prohibited camping areas: See map inside this brochure for locations of DOC sites and various • Public places in any urban area. This includes the townships of other private camping grounds within Clutha Country. Balclutha, Clinton, Kaitangata, Kaka Point, Lawrence, Milton, Owaka, Papatowai, Pounawea, Stirling, Taieri Mouth, Tapanui and Waihola. This prohibition does not apply to any signposted Why we need rules around freedom camping designated camping or freedom camping sites in those urban areas. These rules are designed to assist with the protection of our natural • All areas where “No Camping” signs are displayed. environment and the sustainability of this tourism activity for years • The foreshore area between Kaka Point and The Nuggets. to come. Further general information about freedom camping is available on www.camping.org.nz Rubbish & Recycling Please put your rubbish in bins provided within town centres or at If freedom camping, we ask that you please: one of the Council transfer stations. Transfer stations are located • Stay away from the town centres, residential areas and prohibited in most urban townships in the district. Here you can drop off camping areas (see right). recyclables for free, or dispose of rubbish for a fee. Please visit one • Stay a maximum of three nights in any four-week period at any of the information centres to find out the opening hours and fees for one single location. transfer stations. Clutha Gold Trail Waihola: indicative route 1 Lake Waihola Holiday Park, 03 417 8908, dump station, [email protected], www.holidayparknz.co.nz 7 Taieri Mouth: 2 Taieri Mouth Beach Holiday Camp, 67 Moturata Rd, 027 890 2346.
8 Milton: 3 Taylor Park Camping Ground, Main Rd, 03 417 8109, dump station. 5 1 6 Balclutha: 2 4 Balclutha Motor Camp, 56 Charlotte St, 03 418 0088, dump station $5 or guests free, [email protected], www.balcluthamotorcamp.co.nz
3 $ Clinton: Public dump station, Triangle Reserve on Anzac St, free Tapanui: 5 Black Gully Recreation Reserve, 03 204 2187 or 027 234 1002 6 Tapanui Motor Camp, Northumberland St, 03 204 8212 or 0274 952 795, [email protected] or [email protected], $ 4 www.tapanuimotorcamp.com. Free public dump station, Bushyhill Street 9 Lawrence-Beaumont: 7 The Beaumont Holiday Park, 1987 Beaumont Highway (SH8), 03 485 9431, dump station free for guests, [email protected], www.beaumonthotel.co.nz 10 8 Gold Park Motor Camp, 1 Harrington St, 03 485 9850, [email protected] Free public dump station, SH8, Lawrence, across from Police Station. 12 11 13 Kaitangata: 16 14 15 9 Kaitangata Riverside Motor Camp, 20 Water St, 03 413 9219, dump station. The Catlins: 10 Kaka Point Camping Ground, 39 Tarata St, 03 412 8801, dump station, 18 17 19 [email protected], www.kakapointcamping.co.nz 11 YHA Catlins Coast and Camp Ground, corner Ryley and Clark streets, Toilets Main Touring Route Native Forest Owaka, 03 415 8333, [email protected], dump station free for Fuel Distance in Kilometres guests, $5 non-guests. Dump Station Southern Scenic Route Plantation 12 Catlins Inn, 21 Ryley St, Owaka, 03 415 8350, dump station, $ ATM Other Touring Roads [email protected] Prohibited non-urban Railway Tramping & camping areas Walking Tracks Free public dump station, Inn St, Owaka 13 Keswick Park Camping Ground, Park Lane, Pounawea, 03 419 1110, Please note, public places in urban areas, as well as anywhere else ‘No dump station, [email protected], www.pounawea.co.nz Camping’ signs are displayed are also prohibited camping areas. 14 Pounawea Motor Camp, Park Lane, [email protected], 03 415 8483, dump station. 15 Newhaven Holiday Park, 324 Newhaven Rd, Surat Bay, 03 415 8834, [email protected], dump station free for guests. Clutha I-SITE Visitor Centre Catlins Information Centre & Milton Information Centre Lawrence Information Centre Tapanui Service Centre, 16 DOC Tawanui Campsite, Morris Saddle Rd, www.doc.govt.nz 4 Clyde St, Balclutha Owaka Museum 53 Union St, Milton & Museum Information Centre & Library 17 DOC Purakaunui Bay Campsite, Purakaunui Bay Rd, www.doc.govt.nz Ph: 03 418 0388 Ph/Fax: 03 417 7480 18 DOC Papatowai Campsite, Main road, www.doc.govt.nz Fax: 03 418 1877 10 Campbell St, Owaka [email protected] 17 Ross Place, Lawrence 1 Suffolk St, Tapanui 19 Whistling Frog Cafe & Holiday Park at McLean Falls, 7 Rewcastle Rd, [email protected] Ph/Fax: 03 415 8371 Ph/Fax: 03 485 9222 Ph: 03 204 8306 [email protected] [email protected] Fax: 03 204 8302 Chaslands, 03 415 8338, dump station free for guests, $5 non guests, [email protected] [email protected], www.catlinsnz.com
NB: Some private dump stations may incur a fee. Prices correct at 1 December 2012