DoC identifies 100 possible new sites for campgrounds

Proposed new DoC campsites will enable even more New Zealanders to experience the great outdoors. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post

The Department of Conservation (DOC) has drawn up a list of 100 possible new camping sites on land it administers.

Conservation Minister Chris Carter said four new sites would open this summer and a fifth by the middle of next year.

He said the list of around 100 sites had been drawn up after a review by DOC found rising land prices had caused a decline in the number of camping spots around the country - particularly on coastal land.

One new site was at Canaan Downs at Takaka adjoining Abel Tasman National Park.

It would accommodate about 50 people in area which was popular with mountain bikers, trampers and cavers.

Canaan Downs was the main accessway to the 176m marble shaft known as Harwood's Hole.

A number of campgrounds had been upgraded by DOC including Uretiti Beach near Whangarei, Mavora Lake in Southland and Purakaunui Bay in Otago.

Also opening by mid-year were campsites at:

* Moawhitu on D'Urville Island in the Marlborough Sounds;

* Moturua Island in the Bay of Islands;

* Ox Bow Kiripapango campsite on the banks of the Ngaruroro River in Kaweka Forest Park about 100km from Napier or Hastings;

* Lake Arapuni, 45km from Tokoroa;

* An extension to the campground at Port Jackson at the far tip of Coromandel Peninsula. Its 350-person capacity would be increased by another 100.

DOC had a list of 94 locations were low impact campgrounds could potentially be developed or existing camping opportunities expanded.

DOC was providing camping opportunities in the back country with relatively few facilities.

- NZPA