INDEPENDENT NEWS

Save Money by Staying at a Conservation Campsite

Published: Wed 24 Dec 2008 10:50 AM
Save Money by Staying at a Conservation Family Campsite
Conservation campsites are in hot demand with families looking for local destinations to save money these holidays.
DOC Visitor Services Manager, Gavin Walker, say with money too tight to mention you can’t beat a conservation campsite for a cheap family holiday this festive season.
“We’ve had many people come in to our visitor centres to ask about DOC campsites. Mostly people are really surprised at the excellent price of the campsites – they’re real value for money and that’s great news for families. DOC campsites are a great base to explore the country from,” he said.
There are over 250 conservation campsites to choose from throughout the country, located in some of our most spectacular natural surroundings. For as little as $8 per adult per night you can stay at a serviced campsite complete with kitchens, flush toilets, hot showers, and laundry facilities. Even better, children 5-17 years old stay for half price and under 4s stay free.
DOC manages a range of sites with different facilities - serviced campsites, standard campsites with limited facilities such as toilets, cold showers and outdoor cooking areas, and for more adventurous families, basic campsites for which you need to be fully self-sufficient. Costs of standard campsites range from $3 to $10 per adult per night, and basic campsites are completely free of charge.
Popular campsites, particularly those in Northland, Coromandel and Nelson, are visited by hundreds of holidaymakers each year and may be booked out or full already. For serviced campsites, you’ll need to get in quick and make a booking at your local DOC visitor centre. Most standard and basic campsites are available on a ‘first-come first-served’ basis so no booking is necessary. Peak times are between Christmas and the second week of January.
Just visit www.doc.govt.nz/campsites to find the right campsite for you, load up the kids and the tent and enjoy a cheap family holiday out in our amazing natural surroundings.
Here’s what you’ll need:
• Tent
• Cooker and fuel
• Sleeping bag
• Mattress or stretcher
• Food
• Chilly bin
• Insect repellent
• Sun screen
• Clothes and toiletries
• Games and sporting equipment
• Bags for rubbish
• First aid kit
• Camera
As well as conservation campsites, there are numerous other tramping and walking opportunities in National Parks and conservation areas throughout the country. For more information, visit www.doc.govt.nz.
ENDS

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