Haast River Motels & Holiday Park

The facilities and amenities were clean, which we appreciated, but the welcome on arrival was disappointing. We reached Haast at 12:30 pm after driving all morning. We parked outside reception, out of the traffic, and were ready to wait in our caravan until 2 pm after seeing the “office closed” sign. A younger staff member on a ride-on mower aggressively told us to leave, saying we couldn’t park there. There were no no-parking signs as we came up the entrance driveway, so we drove downtown and waited alongside the road until 2 pm. At the same time, an older female staff member spoke to my wife through the green net fence in a very hostile, commanding way, telling her the office was closed until 2 pm and to come back later. We understand the office is closed from 10 am to 2 pm so staff can clean the used facilities. A friendly, welcoming approach would have made a big difference. We travel a lot and have visited many parking facilities, but have never been treated like that. Caravan sites don’t need cleaning, and up to now we’ve been allowed to enter and park after 10 am if the site is clear. I hope the owners consider a different approach in future. In hospitality, customers should come first. This was not a good representation of NZ Tourism.

The facilities were excellent and spotlessly clean, with a well-equipped kitchen and a brand-new gas barbecue. We had a powered campervan pitch for one night on the way from Franz Josef to Wanaka. It was level and had its own water tap. Reception gave us a warm welcome, and the hot showers were free with good water pressure. We’d happily stay longer.

The sunset, moon and stars were all fab, with mountains in the distance all around. It’s a five-minute drive to the beach, where you have to look for little gaps in the bush to find the routes down. There’s also a bar and restaurant within walking distance via a cute little nature walkway. The campsite was beautifully kept and immaculate, with a super friendly welcome. The kitchen and showers were lovely, and the common room stays open until 11 pm. There are good facilities for getting away from the sandflies, though they were less savage here than at other places we tried.

There isn’t much to walk to or see in the local area. The grounds are nicely landscaped, and the facilities are spotless, all in an aerodrome hangar-style complex. Staff were polite, smiling and helpful, and reception opens at 1400 hours. Booking online was somewhat overcomplicated. The gravel or stone powered sites were a little small. Otherwise, a very nice campsite.