Tramping Equipment: Stoney Creek Drone Fly Sheet

New Stoney Creek tarp/fly for camping adventures

I got to use a new piece of equipment on my recent camping trip in Arthurs Pass NP. This was a new tarp/fly sheet made by the local outdoor company Stoney Creek. 

Drone fly sheet set up over my tent, Arthurs Pass NP

I purchased a Stoney Creek 4X4 meter fly with a Hunting and Fishing voucher I got for Christmas. It cost me $80 (normally $119) in their Summer sale and is an item of kit I have needed for some time now. I have a smaller 2.5 x 3 meter fly but it is not large enough for covering my tent and an area for camp tasks. 

Stoney Creek Drone Fly in its carry bag

The fly sheet has a seam sealed 3000 water-head rating and weighs about 700 grams and will provide another option for when I am camping in the backcountry. It is easily big enough to cover three people or can provide a vast amount of covered space for one. 

The Drone fly is 4x4 meters with a central ridge

The fly/tarp came with pre attached guy lines so it is ready for use right off the shelf. They have a handy cord loop on the underside of the fly so once you roll them up you can feed them through the loop to keep everything nice and tidy. 

Guy line looped on the edges of the Drone fly

Good reinforced attachment points for guy lines

The attached guy ropes on the fly are excellent. They are all about 3 meters long and made of a decent quality reflective cord. I had no problems reaching nearby trees with the guys when I used it recently. I was also impressed by how reflective the guys were...I could easily see them from about 40 meters away when I flashed them at night.  

Good quality reflective guy lines on the Drone fly

One thing I did need to buy was a set of X stakes for tying the fly down...they are not provided with the tarp. You really need at least 6 stakes with a tarp to allow you to set it up in a variety of ways. All up the 6 stakes add about 60 extra grams to the total weight. 

Set of Zempire aluminium stakes

I brought some cheap Zempire aluminium X stakes and they will be stored in the stuff sack with the fly. I will probably replace these with some better quality MSR stakes once I find a set. 

Drone fly in use:

Here are some photos of the Drone fly out on its first trip. This is from my New Years camping trip to the Hawdon Valley in Arthurs Pass NP. It didn't rain so I cannot speak to effectiveness by I will once I use it in inclement weather...

Drone fly was more than large enough to cover the tent

As you can see in the photo below there is an attached bag for storing the fly sheet in attached to the corner with a length of cord. 

Stuff sack attached to the Drone fly

No doubt you will see the fly in action in the future as I will be using it on a series of Wild Camping trips I have planned for the new year. 

DOC Backcountry campsites: West Bay-Jetty Campsite

 A summer camping spot at Nelson Lakes NP

This is the second in my new series about DOC campgrounds and in this post I will be looking at the front country campground at Westbay. Westbay is on the shore of Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes NP and is a summer use only site off the Mt Robert Road.

Sign at entrance of Jetty Campsite, Nelson Lakes NP

This campsite is only open from December through April each year...outside of these months you have to camp at the main campground down at Kerr Bay. There are two sites here...Jetty Campsite and Buller Campsite with both holding about 40 sites for a total of 80 all up. 

Looking out to Mt Robert Road, Jetty Campsite

I stopped by on my way back from Mt Robert carpark and had a bit of a walk around the closed site.

Jetty Campsite at Westbay Campground:

Jetty Campsite is the first of the two sites at this camp ground and as they name implies it is opposite the jetty and boat ramp at Westbay. Buller Campsite which is very similar is another 300 meters down the road and close to the Buller River. 

Three zones at the Jetty Campsite, Nelson Lakes NP

DOC 0800 number at Jety Campsite

You drive down Mt Robert Road to reach the campsite and it is about a kilometer off SH63 on the western edge of St Arnaud. It is well signposted at the campsite and also down on SH 63 so it is hard to miss. 

View over to Westbay from the Jetty Campsite entrance

Mt Robert Road continues to Buller Campsite

The Westbay Campground is set amongst thick Kanuka/Manuka bush and the trees provide a good degree of protection from the wind which often whips down Lake Rotoiti. There are two entrances as the gravel roads around the site are one way traffic only. 

Side entrance to Jetty Campsite, Nelson Lakes NP

...this campsite is closed till December...

The campsites are a mix of grass and gravel...probably best suited to campervans and caravans rather than tents. That said I have seen tents pitched here before but they would need to be self supporting as there is no soil to drive pegs into. The sites are easily wide enough for a caravan and a towing vehicle and you would have plenty of space around you in a campervan. 

Sites close to ablution block at Jetty Campsite

This campsite has no powered sites...for powered sites you need to book into Kerr Bay Campground down near St Arnaud. Some sites have picnic tables at then and there are a couple of freshwater taps scattered about the grounds. 

In the Kanuka zone at Jetty Campsite

The sites are wide and long at Jetty Campsite

There is a new and nicely appointed toilet/shower block at each of the campsites with freshwater taps on the outside of the building. The toilets are locked outside of the summer opening so I was not able to show you the interior but they are only a few years old so are in excellent condition. 

Ablutions block at Jetty Campsite, Nelson Lakes NP

Jetty Campsite: cold water showers and hand basin

Water tap on ablution block at Jetty Campsite

Three toilets here at Jetty Campsite, Nelson Lakes NP

Each site has a post with a ticket holder on it where you are supposed to put your booking form and as you can see in the photo below there are some water taps. Apart from this the sites have no other facilities. 

Water tap and campsite, Jetty Campsite

Looking into the Mapou zone at Jetty Campsite

The main draw of this campground is its close proximity to Lake Rotoiti...the jetty and boat launching ramp are literally less than 100 meters away. If you were a fan of the 'sports aquatic' then this would be an excellent base of operations. 

Boat ramp and jetty access to Lake Rotoiti

As well as the lake you have nearby MTB tracks at Teetotal Campsite and a couple of nice walking tracks including the Moraine Walk and Anglers Walk. It is a bit further to St Arnaud Settlement itself but even that is less than 3 kilometers away.

The water level was low in Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes NP

Mt Robert dominates this side of Lake Rotoiti

Westbay looking towards the Brunner Peninsula

All in all the Westbay Campground is very nice, well maintained and would be an excellent place to spend a few days. While it has more basic facilities they are still in good condition and its location close to the lake but away from busy St Arnaud is a real plus. 

Access: Turn off SH63 about one kilometer to the west of St Arnaud. Drive along Mt Robert road to Westbay on Lake Rotoiti. The campsite entrance is directly opposite the jetty at Westbay.

Facilities: Campground, 40 campsites over three zones, toilets, cold water shower, freshwater tap's around site, children's playground. 

Miscellaneous: Westbay Campground has two campsites...Jetty and Buller. Open from December to April each year and can be pre booked on the DOC Website. Alternately visit the DOC Centre on Ward Street. No fires allowed at any time!

You Tube: Jetty Campsite-Westbay Campground

DOC Backcountry campsites: Deer Valley

Looking at DOC Campsites/Campgrounds

I have started a new vlog series on my companion YouTube page all about Department of Conservation campsites and campgrounds. When I am out and about on tramping adventures I often pass through or stay at campsites. I thought it might be useful to people to have a look at some of these sites and discuss their features. 

At the Deer Valley Campsite near Lewis Pass

Going forward I will publish more posts about backcountry campsites but to start with lets have a look at a nice site near Lewis Pass...Deer Valley. 

Deer Valley Campsite:

Deer Valley Campsite is a well known front country campsite administered by the Department of Conservation. It is located in Lewis Pass National Reserve and is just down the road from the track to Nina Hut and the start of the St James Walkway. 

Turn off to Deer Valley Campsite on SH 7

The Deer Valley Campsite is clearly signposted

The campsite is well signposted on SH 7 over Lewis Pass...there is a large and obvious DOC sign at the entrance to the campsite and a Transit NZ sign about 400 meters either side of the access road. 

Gravel access road to the Deer Valley Campsite

The campsite is close to the road but it is in a very picturesque location with dense Beech forest surrounding it, nearby mountains rising to over 1500 meters and the Lewis River. The river runs right along the edge of the campsite and it is deep enough in places to swim in while still being a gentle mountain stream. 

Lewis River flows through the Deer Valley Campsite

Picnic table at the Deer Valley Campsite

There aren't a lot of facilities at this campsite...flat camping areas, some picnic tables, a vault toilet and a nearby river for water. The site is on a first come -first served basis with no provision to pre book sites. Most of the more basic campsites follow this pattern...the closest DOC staff are in Reefton and they are not driving here every day to manage the visitors. 

Deer Valley Campsite has a vault toilet

Be aware that there are MANY sandflies here....bring plenty of DEET with you!!!

Deer Valley Campsite: campsite payment station...

Fees for a campsite of this type are $8 per person per night and payment can be made online, with a DOC Campsite Pass or by using campsite tickets available from DOC offices and some outdoor retailers. There are instructions about payment on the pay station attached to the fence around the toilet.  

Deer Valley Campsite is first come-first served

Campsites are super cheap in New Zealand especially the DOC ones. The prices were increased at the start of this year to keep in step with the general increases in other parts of the economy. It was the first increase in nearly a decade. Please pay your fees as the money is used to maintain these campsites so that future generations will be able to use them. 

Deer Valley campsite on the DOC pages

There are more campsites at the northern end of the area with a mix of gravel caravan spots and flat grassy tent sites. Just follow the access road a short distance to the furthest end of the road where there is a turning circle and some flat ground. 

View to the north end of the Deer Valley Campsite

 If you are using a tent this is the best place for you to pitch up. There are some flat grass areas next to the river and amongst the beech trees. As always watch for overhead hazard's before setting up as Beech trees are notorious for shedding branches in high wind. Dont pitch too close to the river if it is raining as I have seen this river top its banks before.... 

The northern end of the Deer Valley Campsite

Deer Valley Campsite: the Lewis River...

So...that is the Deer Valley Campsite...it is basic but you could be quite comfortable set up here for a night or two. This site is very typical of the DOC front country campsites scattered around the country. . I will be looking at a variety of other sites and camp grounds to give people a good idea of what to expect..

Details: Deer Valley Campsite is three kilometers east of the northern terminus of the St James Walkway in the Lewis Pass National Reserve. It is clearly sign posted off SH 7- Lewis Pass Highway. The campsites are positioned amongst Bech forest with a lovely river running down the southern edge of the campsite. Foleys Track to the top of the Libretto Range starts directly opposite the entrance. 

Facilities: The campsite has 10 non powered campsites, a vault toilet, water from nearby Lewis River. Sites are first come-first served and payment is via DOC Campsite Pass or campsite tickets deposited in the provided receptacle. Permeant fire ban in place here...DO NOT LIGHT ANY FIRES!!!

YouTube: Deer Valley Campsite

Camping at Kerr Bay, Lake Rotoiti

 A winter visit to Kerr Bay campsite...

I recently spent a couple of days up in Nelson Lakes National Park day walking some of the shorter tracks there. I booked one night in a local motel but I also spent one night camping. I stayed a night at the Kerr Bay Campground between St Arnaud township and Lake Rotoiti. Kerr Bay Campground is a DOC facility with powered and unpowered sites for caravans, camper vans and tents. 

Kerr Bay Campground, St Arnaud

To access from SH63 turn off onto Kerr Bay Road and follow down to the campground near the main boat ramp. Bookings are required from December through to the end of April, over Easter and any week there are speed boat races on Lake Rotoiti. 

Map: St Arnaud and start of Nelson Lakes NP

The rest of the time you have to go to the St Arnaud DOC office on View Road off SH 63 to book a site and pay your camp fees.

Map: set up of Kerr Bay Campground, St Arnaud

The Kaka Zone at Kerr Bay Campground...tent specific

There are both grass and hard surface pads available and the whole campground had a major overhaul last year while the country was mostly empty of tourists. There has been a lot of work done on the camping sites and both the amenity block and the camp cook shelter have been repainted and renovated. 

The Silver Surfer parked up at my site at Kerr Bay

I was using one of my Coleman tents on this trip...a smaller two person tent that I use for base camp trips such as this one. At 2.2 kg it is light for a camping tent but too heavy for tramping purposes (we have a lighter Macpac tent for that role). It performed well on this trip but it was really too cold for camping...I should just have stayed in the motel for both nights I was scheduled to be in the area.

The Coleman Camper 2 is set up behind the car

Nice protected site for the tent at Kerr Bay Campground

Plenty of free space in the mostly empty Kerr Bay Campground

I was in the Kiwi Zone which is a mixed camping/caravan area so there was a hard pad to park the car on and plenty of grass areas around it for the tent. Each of the sites have their own picnic table and each site is sheltered by a couple of trees. It is a nice set up and one I shall be taking advantage of going forward. 

Looking down to the Lake and Mt Robert from Kerr Bay Campground

It was a quiet night at the campground as there were only about 6-7 camper vans and myself in the campground. It was a little cold...I had my Marmot -10 degree bag so I was warm enough in my pit but my face got cold as it dropped down to -2 degrees overnight. 

I had a closed cell foam mat under my airbed to insulate from the ground but I probably need a down filled air bed for these winter camps. I don't know that anyone makes a camping air bed with down inside but it is something I shall be investigating. 

My camping air bed in the tent, Kerr Bay Campground

I was reading Karen's Willard Price books on this trip...

I actually had a Kiwi walk right past my tent at around 8 pm just as it got dark...it was literally a couple of meters away and while I could make out its shape I couldn't really see any detail in the dark. Still amazing as it is a busy area right on the edge of the National Park and not a place you would expect to see our rare national bird.

Campsite facilities at Kerr Bay:

Kerr Bay Campground is well set up with all the facilities you might need when staying overnight at this locale. There is a very nice camp cook shelter and a set of toilets/showers/laundry attached to the camp to make your stay more comfortable. 

The cook shelter at the Kerr Bay Campground, St Arnaud

...it is called Blechynden Shelter...

The cooking shelter is a three sided building with three large tables, bench's and a seat right around the walls of the building. It has a stainless steel bench with two sinks with both hot and cold water. There is a Zip on the wall for boiling water and a four burner gas hob for use by those people staying in the campground.

Kerr Bay Shelter: the hob and one of the dining tables (2018)...

 Filtered water is available inside the shelter and there is a filtered water tap outside for refilling those camper van water tanks before you leave. 

The newly painted interior of Blechynden Shelter at Kerr Bay

The filtered water tap outside Blechynden Shelter

There are some awesome views of Lake Rotoiti and Mt Robert from inside the cooking shelter which makes for fine dining with a view. They have also put some Clearlite panels in the roof so it is much lighter inside than it used to be. You will find recycling bins and rubbish bins at the cooking shelter and others scattered around the campground. 

View of Lake Rotoiti from inside the shelter at Kerr Bay Campground

There is a combined shower/laundry block at Kerr Bay Campground with token operated hot water showers and coin operated washing machines/dryers. You get the tokens for the facilities from the St Arnaud DOC office on View Road. One token is good for six minutes of hot water or 30 minutes of cloths drying. 

Information about the Kerr Bay Campground showers

Kerr Bay Campground toilet block...

There are three warm showers at Kerr Bay Campground

Laundry facilities at Kerr Bay Campground

There is a new set of toilets located right next to and opposite the shower block. Both the toilet block and the shower block were totally renovated in December of 2020 so they are now very flash. All these facilities are located opposite the cooking shelter at the Lake Rotoiti end of the campground.

Nice facilities at the Kerr Bay Campground

DOC sign at the entrance to Kerr Bay Campground, St Arnaud

The Lake Rotoiti boat ramp and dock are located right outside the entrance to the Kerr Bay Campground. There is a carpark here where several of the tracks start that go along this side of Lake Rotoiti including the Lakehead Track to Lakehead Hut and the Travers Valley, St Arnaud Range Track, Loop Walk and Honeydew Track.

Start of the Lake Rotoiti track network at the Kerr Bay carpark

One of the tracks I walked was the Mt Robert Circuit which loops around the northern side of the mountain with a start and finish at the Mt Robert carpark. You have an excellent view of Mt Robert from the campground at Kerr Bay and in fact you can see Paddy's Track from the wharf. 

Mt Robert is visible across Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes NP

The sun setting on the St Arnaud Range, Nelson Lakes NP

Kerr Bay Campground is a well appointed and well located place for you to use as a base camp while exploring the nearby Nelson Lakes National Park. It is definitely worth considering as an accommodation option if you are ever visiting the area. Better in Summer than Winter unless you have a caravan or camper van...