Backcountry Campsites: Nina Valley

Camping in the Nina Valley

If you read my blog you will know I was recently up in the Nina Valley near Lewis Pass. i was heading up the valley to visit Nina Hut but on the way I passed a backcountry campsite some people might be interested in.

Nina Valley access off SH7 Lewis Pass Highway

The Nina Valley Campsite is located on a river flat about 45 minutes from SH7 and you can see it is marked on the Topo map for the area. It is hardly befitting the name campsite as it is basically a flat piece or ground next to the river with no facilities. 

Map: Nina Valley Campsite

Emerging onto the river flats at the Nina River

If you are staying here you will be drawing your water from the nearby Nina River...it is safe to use the water from the river as there are no sources of pollution up this valley as there are no industries or farms.

Nina Valley Campsite is next to the Nina River

There are a number of excellent swimming holes in the river with some up to 3 meters deep. In the summer and when it is not raining this is a relatively safe place to swim but I would be cautious if the river was high or discolored. 

I actually thought about a pack rafting trip down the Nina River the last time I visited. I think the river is probably navigable from Duchess Stream down to the Lewis River. It is certainly deep enough from Lucretia Stream. 

Looking down the Nina River from near the campsite

...deep swimming pools in the Nina River...

The river flats which make up the campsite are a couple of hectares in size and could easily accommodate a dozen or more tents. There is no toilet here which I think is a problem...you would have to go dig a cat-hole in the forest. This is not a good long term solution as it would soon despoil the whole area. 

Luckily not many people use the campsite.

The basic Nina Valley Campsite

There are a couple of spots set back into the forest edge which would be the best places to pitch your tent but even out on the flats would be fine. The valley is narrow here so I don't think you would get very strong winds blowing through. 

Some tent sites in the Beech at Nina Valley Campsite

The river would be the real draw at this campsite...it is there in front of you right along the flats. It would be possible to have a fire as there is wood in the nearby Beech forest. Just be aware that there are often fire bans in place in Lake Sumner Forest Park as the area can be quite dry especially in late summer. 

Day trampers at the Nina River

If you are coming in from SH7 the entrance to the campsite is off the Nina Valley Track. The track passes through the river flat on its way up river and there are marked entrances at both ends of the open flats. 

The Nina Valley Track from the campsite

 There are also opportunities to camp further up the valley on an extensive set of river flats above the Nina River bridge. The mid reaches of the Nina Valley near Lucretia Stream is much wider and there are some lovely spots along the river banks and amongst the fingers of Beech forest. 

River flats (true right) above Nina Valley Bridge

To access the flats on the true left of the river you need to follow the Lucretia Stream Route from the Nina Valley Bridge. Go straight ahead instead of crossing the bridge and after about 20 minutes walking you will emerge onto another large river flats. 

Past the sign is the Lucretia Stream Track

View of the river flats on the left of the Nina River

I have plans to go for a camping trip to this valley hopefully before the summer ends. I just need a few nice fine days first which is easier said than done with the pattern of weather we seem to have this year. 

Details: Nina Valley Campsite is about three kilometers along the Nina Valley Track. It is just before the Nina Valley Bridge. The campsite is positioned on a river flat with a lovely river running down the southern edge. There are some great swimming holes in the river near here.
Facilities: The campsite has a large open space for tents but no toilet, water is from the nearby Nina River. Sites are first come-first served and there is no charge as this is a basic backcountry campsite.

YouTube: Nina Valley Campsite

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