Balclutha Camping Ground

Happy Camping Review

Balclutha Motor Camp is a small site located just off the State Highway 1 as it passes through the farming service town of Balclutha. It is run by Mick, who keeps the site in tidy order and runs the site from a temporary caravan next to the entrance. The site seems popular with both holidaying families and groups stopping over on their way down to Catlins Coast.

While the site has been around for quite a number of years, Mick took over the site 4 years ago. There are plans to update the facilities and build a new home/office building on the grounds. The site has several cabins and a couple of dozen powered sites, arranged in a circle around the facilities block. Tent sites are set at the back, far from the road and on the boundary with the Balclutha Park. They are sheltered by a hedge that divides the ground from the neighbouring bowling green.

Nearby shops include a Warehouse 5 minutes walk away, a few banks, cafes, restaurants and clothing shops in the town, and a New World supermarket. The Clutha Visitor's Centre (located just after the bridge on the right, if approaching from the north), is a useful source of local information and has internet access. Being a town primarily for the farming community, there is not lot to do in the town itself, though the BYO Chinese restaurant is recommended.

The site is old but well maintained, and has a mixture of tourists stopping over and locals who have set down their roots, flowerbeds and all. One resident has been at the site for 15 years, and several have lived on site for several years. The site does have a relaxed, homelike feel to it, with a cosy lounge/dining area attached to the well-provisioned kitchen. As well as several sinks, a microwave, grills and hob, the kitchen has various utensils and books and magazines are available to borrow from the dining area.

The toilet facilities are functional but rough around the edges, but include hand soap and towel, and are kept clean. There are plans to update both the kitchen and toilet areas in the near future. Wheelchair access is provided. Powered sites are all close to the amenities, though can be a little cramped if the site is full, and the site has no internet access.

While the site may not have a lot to appeal to travellers looking to stay a while, it is a quiet, comfortable stopover, and is easily found on the SH1 south from Dunedin. Some campers may prefer to invest the extra 40 minutes to drive to Owaka and Catlins Coast (take a left while passing through Balclutha) for more scenic locations.

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