OTAGO

Otago is most famous for Queenstown as our advernture capital and playground, as well as for Dunedin as a university city, focussed around the scarfies and the medical school.

It also has New Zealand's only castle, which has now been restored and is well worth visiting. Further out on the Otago peninsula, is the only land-based albatross colony in the world. At the right time of the year, you can see albatross chick nesting in there natural environment. Or you can watch blue penguins returning from foraging out at sea, and waddling right past you as they head back to their burrows for the night.

But, our personal favourite, especially for motor caravanners, is Cromwell town. A large area of the town was flooded as part of an electric power genration project back in the 60s, and the town of Cromwell has reinvented itself on the shores of the brand new Lake Dunstan. Combine motorhome friendly, with just stunningly beautiful mountain and lake scenery, a lovingly reconstructed historic village, and a friendly town, and this is one location not to miss if you really want to enjoy the South Island.

Dunedin is also a great city to explore, and has a well considered policy of freedom camping that provides for both self-contained, non-self-contained, and tent camping, within the city area and it's beaches. If you're travelling in a certified self-contained van then you can stay for a maximum of two consecutive nights on any sealed or gravel parking area unless it is specifically prohibited.

Click here to view the council's full freedom camping policy.

Lake Dunstan in Autumn as seen from Cromwell Old Town

Kawaroa Gorge

Lake Whakatipu as viewed from Kinloch Campsite