Area & getting there
Kidds Bush Reserve 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
- -44.44118, 169.26181 (latitude, longitude)
- Precision
- Published DOC reference coordinates; not a claim of survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
- Source
- Kidds Bush Reserve Campsite: published Location coordinates (new tab)
Department of Conservation - Location source checked
Read the full guideArrival, planning and local advice
- Meads Road is not suitable for large campervans.
- DOC lists no tap water in winter; boil the untreated supply when available.
- Portable toilets remain described while a replacement block is awaited.
- Book ahead, and do not camp beneath trees.
- Location
- Meads Road, Lake Hawea; 32 km north of Wanaka
- Camping
- 40 non-powered sites; vehicle suitability restricted by the approach
- Adult fee
- NZ$15 per person (18+) per night; booking required
- Road
- Gravel, narrow and steep in places; no large campervans
- Water
- Untreated taps; no tap water in winter
- Toilets
- Portable toilets pending a new block; completion not verified
- Restrictions
- No dogs or fires; avoid camping beneath trees
Kidds Bush Reserve combines a Lake Hawea setting with practical limits that matter more than a generic campervan icon. Check the approach, seasonal water and current toilet arrangement before making it the anchor of a family or vehicle-based itinerary.
Check Meads Road before booking
DOC describes the gravel approach as narrow and steep in places, and unsuitable for large campervans. The campground is reached along Meads Road, about 32 km north of Wanaka.
Use your actual vehicle dimensions when asking about suitability. A booking confirmation cannot shorten a vehicle or improve turning space. For a hired campervan, check both the operator's road restrictions and DOC's advice before paying for nights here.
Match facilities to the season
The tap supply is untreated and must be boiled; DOC lists no tap water in winter. Portable toilets remain described pending a new toilet block. The checked page does not establish a completion or seasonal water-restoration date.
Arrive with drinking water and work out washing needs for the full stay. Ask about the current toilets if their layout affects a member of your group. Treat an old campsite photograph as scenery, not a reliable inspection of today's facilities.
Secure dates without overloading the day
Bookings are required, with an adult rate of NZ$15 per night. DOC warns that the period from Boxing Day to early February often fills.
Choose the camping dates before building a tightly timed driving plan around them. Save the confirmation offline and leave the arrival afternoon mostly free for the road, setup and any change to the available facilities. Compare alternatives with our DOC campsites guide.
Choose a position, then an activity
DOC advises against camping beneath trees. Dogs and fires are prohibited. Follow the designated-area signs before unloading; a shady position is not automatically the appropriate pitch.
A nature walk starts at the campground, but the group still needs a separate decision about clothing, time and conditions. Keep a simple camp-based evening available rather than treating the walk as compulsory after a long drive. Recheck the official Kidds Bush page before departure.
Source: Department of Conservation; factual information paraphrased under DOC's reuse terms.
Common questions
Can any campervan use Kidds Bush?
No. DOC's general campervan category is qualified by an explicit warning that Meads Road is not suitable for large campervans. Check your particular vehicle before booking.
Is tap water available after winter?
DOC gives no exact restoration date in the checked page. Confirm the supply for your stay and bring drinking water; any available tap water is untreated.
