Area & getting there
Hans Bay - Lake Kaniere Campsite
DOC's published campsite reference point, not a surveyed entrance or individual pitch.
Official location information: Department of Conservation (new tab)Location source & precision
- Reference coordinates
- -42.80873, 171.15481 (latitude, longitude)
- Precision
- Published DOC reference coordinates; not a claim of survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
- Source
- Hans Bay - Lake Kaniere Campsite: published Location coordinates (new tab)
Department of Conservation - Location source checked
Read the full guideArrival, planning and local advice
- Reserve before arriving; Campsite Pass holders also need a booking.
- DOC specifies boiling tap water for three minutes before use.
- The campground has flush toilets and a cooking shelter.
- Dogs need a DOC permit; fires and leaving rubbish are not allowed.
- Location
- Lake Kaniere, 19 km southeast of Hokitika
- Camping
- 40 non-powered sites; tents, campervans and caravans
- Adult fee
- NZ$15 per person (18+) per night; confirm with DOC
- Facilities
- Flush toilets, cooking shelter, boat launching and jetty
- Water
- Untreated taps; boil for three minutes
- Dogs
- DOC permit required before visiting
Hans Bay is a Lake Kaniere camping option for travellers who value a lake setting more than a long list of holiday-park services. Its main planning distinction is the water instruction: a tap is present, but that does not make the supply ready to drink.
Decide whether the facilities fit
DOC lists a grassy lakeside campground with flush toilets, a cooking shelter, a jetty and boat launching. Showers are not confirmed in the checked listing. Decide how each person will wash and change clothes before choosing several nights here.
Bring the cooking equipment your meals actually require. A simple menu reduces both setup and washing-up work; treating a shared shelter as a private kitchen would make either harder. Compare the essentials using our DOC campsite guide.
Book and navigate to Hans Bay
Bookings are required, with an adult nightly rate of NZ$15 at the time checked. DOC's directions lead from Kaniere along Lake Kaniere Road, then Dorothy Falls Road to Hans Bay.
Save the campsite name as well as the route. Using a general lake destination in a navigation app can leave you still looking for the correct camping area at the end of the drive. Keep the confirmation available offline and check the official arrival instructions for your dates.
Plan the water routine
DOC requires the tap water to be boiled for three minutes before use. Carry drinking water for the first evening, and allow enough equipment and time for subsequent needs. Work out where cooled water will go so it is not confused with untreated water.
The site is pack-in, pack-out. Leave room in the vehicle for the rubbish you generate, rather than using every storage space for supplies on the outward journey.
Check permissions before packing
Dogs need a DOC permit, and fires are prohibited. Arrange any dog permission separately from the campsite booking; a leash alone does not meet a permit requirement.
For a group travelling with water equipment, separate the campsite decision from the decision to launch. Revisit conditions on the day and keep a land-based alternative. Use the official Hans Bay page for current notices and reservations.
Source: Department of Conservation; factual information paraphrased under DOC's reuse terms.
Common questions
Is the tap water drinking water?
Not untreated: DOC says to boil it for three minutes before use. Bring a filled drinking-water container.
Are showers confirmed at Hans Bay?
The checked facility list does not confirm showers. Arrange your washing needs without relying on one.
