Kingston Holiday Park

Happy Camping Review

During the period when steam trains were the best way to transport goods around the country, Kingston was a vibrant centre of commerce. However, the completion of the road to Queenstown in 1936 spelled the end of this period, and the town has declined in size.

The quiet, serene town that it has become is seen by many as a useful stop-over on the way to Te Anau from Queenstown, or vice versa. It's easy to find Kingston Motel & Holiday Park, being located just off the highway. The site was established around 2001 or so, and has been run since 2006 by Peter & Robyne Connolly. There are plans to add more cabins to the park, as they are a popular choice for car travellers passing through.

Being located a short drive from Queenstown, it is indeed a handy place to stop, and may suit people looking for a cabin or camp site in an evening and would rather avoid the hassle of taking on Queenstown. The site does have a number of permanent caravans, and with the proximity to a beautiful lake, local trout and salmon fishing and the many walking trails in the area, there is some appeal to the location.

Locally there are two choices for food, a tavern and a cafe / restaurant. When I visited, they were offering 10% discount vouchers to each. If you decide to visit the restaurant, don't go after 8pm as the kitchen may have closed. The cafe also contains some basic provisions and sits beside a petrol station. A short walk from the site leads to the stone-shored lakeside, the tavern bar, and the popular Kingston Flyer steam train. The train takes runs daily from September to mid-May, and consists of a 30 minute each way ride to Fairlight. There is also a very nice local golf course that the owner would rather keep secret (don't tell him I told you!).

Kingston Motels & Holiday Park, as the name suggests, contains several types of motels and cabins along with 46 powered and unpowered sites. Some cabins are ensuite, and the motels contain their own kitchen facilities. The site has a decent sized play area for kids, and is laid out in an attractive, parklike manner. A creek runs through the centre of the site, and there are a good number of mature trees.

The facilities are basic but clean, and a small kitchen serves the needs of the campers, along side a narrow lounge. The kitchen includes a microwave, fridge, hobs and sinks. The toilet facilities are also reasonable, with hand soap provided. It's a pleasant site with a very friendly reception, and is a handy place to stop over while passing through.

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