Fernwood Holiday Park

Happy Camping Review

Motueka has grown in recent years to become a hub for visitors to the Abel Tasman National Park. With a range of funky shops and cafes, as well as an excellent bakery (the Rolling Pin's pies are fantastic), Motueka is a decent visit. It's also possible to book all sorts of activities around Abel Tasman from here, and for many it's a great base for hiking, sky diving, boat trips and horse riding trips.

Fernwood Holiday Park is situated on the left as you enter Motueka coming from Nelson / Richmond direction. It's a smallish park with lots of mature trees and a reasonable amenities block in the centre of the site. Tent sites are seperate from the powered sites area and occupy a pleasant looking shaded area, again not too far from the facilities. There is also a hut with some birds flapping around in it, if that's your cup of tea.

The Fernwood site is often overlooked in favour of the Top 10 on the other side of Motueka. With old facilities, basic toilet facilities (and coin-operated showers), the site does lack the sheen of a Top 10. However, with the decent tent placement, and with being cheaper to stay at Fernwood, it could appeal to those looking for somewhere a little more chilled out. This would specifically apply during the busy summer period when the Top 10 would be full of screaming kids.

One issue with the site is the proximity to the main road from Nelson. The road passed along one side of the park, and while this is less of an issue should you park on the other side, it's worth bearing in mind when choosing a site. Other than that the site is very quiet, and dark enough at night to make sleeping in a tent hassle-free.

Scores

Location:
Tidyness:
Facilities:
Value:
Overall: