Gillespies Beach Campsite
Gillespies Beach
Reviews
Niven
Ranking: 10/10
Really good spot. Nice toilets/dishwashing facility. Short walk to the beach, and you get amazing views of the Glacier. Stop at lake Mathison on the way
Boardwalk Blss
Ranking: 9/10
Despite the road warnings our 6 meter Fiat Ducato camper handled it fine tho road can be narrow in places. If you want to experience some West Coast isolation this could be it (we were there July 2020). Flush toilets w/paper. Bring your own water; pack out rubbish. Learning the history of the area made it even more interesting ... visit the old graveyard nearby.
John
Ranking: 10/10
The dirt road shouldn't put anyone off. It is in good condition and no extra steep sections. We took a medium sized camper (Mercedes sprinter) down there no problems. Beach was pretty amazing just the power of the surf and the sun position. But warmer here than inland areas if camping in the shoulder season or winter. Windy. Flush toilets. No cell reception.
Sandy
Ranking: 9/10
Gravel road through dense rainforest is very scenic and suitable for big vans if you drive slowly. It is a parking lot with toilet facilities and some sinks. Fire pit and short walk to the beach. Great for a sunset. The driftwood makes the beach very special. Nice walks starts from DOC camping. We have seen 3 hector dolphins in the morning.
Anonymous (117919)
Ranking: 10/10
After picking up our 6 berth campervan from Queenstown our first stop was Gillespie's Beach, naturally I wanted to go there because I'm also a Gillespie, arrived about 10.30pm that night, grabbed a bite to eat and got the kids into bed, was about midnight that my partner and I decided to go stretch our legs down to the stony beach, the moon was up and the stony beach was glistening in the moonlight, the air was fresh due to the snowy mountains of mount cook standing directly behind us, it was an absolutely an amazing site to know that one side we had the ocean and the other were the mountains.the sunrise also made a spectacular view, found the doc camping ground really clean and tidy, even the flushing toilets were in good order, would of been great to have a walk around and learn the history of the site, but we sadly had to leave this part of paradise to continue our journey north. We will be back to stay a few more nights and to explore the rich history of Gillespie's beach. Golden rule always have a can of insect repellent handy... the sandflies come in there 100s. But definitely a spot to come back to.
RYAN
Ranking: 8/10
Nice quiet camp, close enough to beach so you can hear as you fall asleep but far enough so your sheltered from the sea breeze. Beautiful sunset, sandflies are present so take your repellent. Clean flushing toilets with basic wash basin. Take your own drinking water. Great walks down the beach. Secure your stuff, Kia’s were there in the morning and relocated out footwear and wrecked another campers shoes. Shoutout to Bridget and Brett from Australia for the good yarns.
Vanessa
Ranking: 10/10
The place is lovely. starting point of great walks along the beach to the lagoon. Way to seal colony still closed. Facilities okay for doc camp site. Payed 8$ per person. Wonderful views over the mountains...
John
Ranking: 8/10
Great little place... Beware the crazy sand flies though! Also the bridge to the seal colony was closed so the main walk was not possible.
Helena Wong
Ranking: 9/10
Drive on dirt road was fine. Few sandflies. Beach access right off the parking lot. Clean facilities.
Recommend getting there before 5pm for some choice of a spot. Seems popular and the lot isn't really that big.
Shaun
Ranking: 10/10
Way cheaper then most other DOC Campsites and facilities are great
Connor
Ranking: 10/10
Great campsite, very tidy. Sleeping with the sounds of the ocean was nice, and we were visited by several kea in the evening.
Michael
Ranking: 9/10
Great location 25 min drive from Fox Clacier.
A lot of Spaces for Campers. We drove there with our 7m van and the street was no problem, only dusty.
The stony beach with high waves is absolutely amazing.
You dont have a view of the beach from the parking lot or the campsites, therefore you have to cross the dunes.
Lots of wood at the beach, do easy to light a fire.
The only big minus: Sandflies everyehere. We git in our van quite early. Othereise it would have been perfect.
Anwang
Ranking: 10/10
Loved this camping spot. There were a few sandflies around, but not too many (and I hate them with a passion, so that I wasn't annoyed says something). Nice walks from the campsite to the lagoon and over the beach. Due to a storm last February the bridge to the seal colony is destroyed and closed still.
Sunset from the pebble beach is amazing. Two toilets and two sinks available. $8 pp a night.
Drive carefully on the gravel road!! It's up and down and bendy roads.
Karo
Ranking: 8/10
Right next to a nice beach where we saw the most beautiful sunset. Many walks start there. Clean flush toilets, water supply and a sink for doing the dishes. Roofed picnic area, no service, long gravel road, 20min away from town
Macker
Ranking: 7/10
Lovely car park with a toilet. As with all DOC sites, gets busy but people respectful. Close to beach and mountain views. Not exactly freedom camping but what is in this country?
Arne
Ranking: 7/10
Nice spot not far away from mirror lakes and fox glacier. You sleep on a little parking space. We had rain for days and the gravel road was full of water. There's a nice little roof with tables for cooking. And water supply which may be treated. 2 toilets available. Walks on Gillespie's beach are just starting from that spot and the beach is only 2 minutes away.
Luis Vigil Vidal
Ranking: 9/10
Great location! Totally worth the long unpaved road. Great beach and amazing view to Aoraki! Honesty box, clean drop toilet, not drinking water supply. Couple of nice treks around the area. Maybe in high season will get full early, around 20-30 spaces.
Phil and Mel Rowson
Ranking: 9/10
12km gravel drive but worth it even though we were here on a wet and windy night. Can't see beach but you can hear it! Beach full on driftwood and pebbles, lots of walks can be done from here but can be quite difficult walking on pebbles when the tide is in. Good flushing toilets.
Frederick Yott
Ranking: 8/10
Beautiful spot on a beach with views looking back at Mt Cook.
Madi
Ranking: 7/10
A carpark with a short walk to the beach. Filled up quickly. Drinking water available, good facilities.
Bruce Graham
Ranking: 8/10
A great place to camp on the West Coast. Pays to get there early as only a small car park. The drive there is on a gravel road through bush, which is fine if you are not in a rush. Well worth a visit.
Judy Aspinall
Ranking: 7/10
Not free, $8 pp, long drive in but worth it. Bring insect repellent, toilet quite smelly. Rocky but beautiful black sand beach. Beautiful sunset and bonus, double rainbow. Spaces fill fast.
Grace White
Ranking: 7/10
Great location with beautiful west coast sunset. Very close to the beach.
One side of this small car park is for self contained vehicles only but the car still seem to park here. Gets very busy! Long winding road out but worth it. No reception, dirty toilets and small water supply.
Marissa Carlberg
Ranking: 9/10
Great location. Right next to the beach. Sandflies suck though. All I was looking for in a campsite. Even has a sheltered area and picnic tables to eat! Also not right on the beach, it's behind bushes so winds not too bad. Enjoyed it!
vaylenmoothia
Ranking: 9/10
One of my fav campsite in the South Island. Facilities are very well maintained. Great location for a walk on the beach at night and also to access the glaciers the next day.
The Beans
Ranking: 3/10
Unfortunately we did not enjoy our experience here. We arrived at the site (after a long gravel road trek), and managed to bag the very last spot. Two other campervans trailed us into the campsite and were very quick to take the first spots on arrival. We couldn't open the doors of the campervan due to the high sandfly concentration and the only public toilet was sealed off. We left first thing in the morning (as did many others) without walking on the beach. I have given 3 stars solely on the basis that this was a free spot and good proximity to Lake Matheson for a morning visit.
Benjamin Nuttin
Ranking: 3/10
The drive is actually not all that bad. However if you have a campervan, note that this is just a parking lot, with a porta-potty for a restroom. Yes, it's within steps of the beach, but you don't get a view of it. Just the other vehicles on the parking lot. If you're tent-camping, you are, in theory, closer to the beach, but a ton of bushes close off your view. So again all you see is the parking lot. What's the point of freedom camping if it's just to be on a parking lot?!
Megan Jurgensmeyer
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful beach campground!
Peter Moore
Ranking: 10/10
Nice and secluded. Car spaces fill up quickly. Sand flies continue to exist but sure what can you do. Lovely views and a nice walk to the mining equipment.
Matthiew Rey
Ranking: 9/10
Free campsite. Stunning view of Mt Cook/Fox and the beach in the same place. Many people here but very good ambience. You must go here!
Rachel Denham
Ranking: 10/10
Free campground, right on the beach, toilet, tap, great location for sunset.
Flo Egger
Ranking: 8/10
Ok and everything fine - could be more spacious.
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Howard Kestrel
Ranking: 3/10
Small gravel car park at the end of a long unsealed road. Cannot see the beach from the site. Very few spots, very close together. Toilets were full of insects.
Marina
Ranking: 7/10
Great view and sunset from the beach to the Glaciers but easy car parking ( packed when we were there in February).
Beau Corazon
Ranking: 8/10
Great campground on the beach. Free. 20 minutes by car from the town.
Baptiste Morin
Ranking: 8/10
Spot not too bad. Very long and narrow gravel road to go there. Full of sandflies (repellent resistant!!). Close to the beach. Always crowded, arrive early.
Max Brunner
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome view. Beach in the front - glacier in the back. Also some walks start there. Toilets are basic and there is water. The space is a bit limited. We went there end of November and it was full.
Sarah Gurney
Ranking: 9/10
Great small freedom camp next to the beach. The parking was just in a carpark and it was pretty busy when we were there but the views of the mountains and Fox Glacier are stunning if you get a clear day. The beach is lovely, lots of driftwood and beautiful stones and wild waves. Two longdrop toilets and a sink that uses rainwater. Lovely spot.
Steve Warren
Ranking: 9/10
Stayed here instead of closer to town. Farmer has blocked with rocks the entry to Clearwater stream as NON self contained vehicles have defecating in his paddocks and he is sick of it.
This was told to us by our pilot over the Glaciers.
Very narrow road to Beach for Motorhome, but we left very early so as not to meet another vehicle coming in. Great relaxing time by the sea. Excellent place, but always worried about getting out.
Evelyn
Ranking: 6/10
Free campground with toilets. But the road is really bad, especially if you come at night and can't see the holes in the road. Was also really busy and so many sandflies around.
Dianne van der Wal
Ranking: 7/10
Beautiful black beach nearby. Many noisy backpackers around and very crowded. Narrow road towards the site was a challenge with a camper van.
Matt Betts
Ranking: 10/10
15km drive along a gravel road which can be tough going on the van, but so worth it. Amazing sunset beach and the campsites are sheltered from the wind by large bushes, so no noise at night.
Stephanie Poppe
Ranking: 8/10
Lovely camping spot right next to the beach and for free. Basic but clean facilities. Can get really busy and you have to deal with the sandflies.
Annika Fletemeyer
Ranking: 9/10
It is a long drive through the bush but it is a nice campsite for free. There is a toilet, picnic table and beach access.
Katharina Block
Ranking: 8/10
For free, nice sunset in the evening, 20km drive through bush, toilet and a table.
Daniel Jarrett
Ranking: 8/10
Lovely freedom camping spot next to, what seem's like, a famous beach. The place was packed with campers so I imagine you need to get there early in summertime. A 1-minute walk to the beach which is great for sunset.
Caroline Hennache
Ranking: 6/10
Really smelly toilets, not a lot of space. But okay for overnight.
Claudia
Ranking: 9/10
It is free and you have a small toilette thats all we needed! But you need to go on a small gravel road to get to the campground
Agathe Dupuis
Ranking: 6/10
Very busy, maybe 25 or 30 campervans for just 8 places! But great walks and nice view of mountains (but seal colony walk and goldmine walk are closed).
Marion Busch
Ranking: 7/10
Very beautiful location and have all facilities you need (not including showers). But on the other hand think was a little too long on the unsealed road to the camp and too many sandflies.
Tiit Pullerits
Ranking: 7/10
Aside from the large amount of sandflies which was expected, everything was in order, eg water, toilets okay. Seal colony track was closed due to flood damage.
Guillaim Terrangle
Ranking: 8/10
One of the best places I stayed, you can enjoy the sunrise, front the ocean and behind you have a fantastic panoramic view of the Alps.
Vuillermet
Ranking: 9/10
Very peaceful and beautiful spot on the beach.
Charlotte
Ranking: 10/10
Free campground with beautiful view of Mount Cook, good walks around and a beach. Toilets and water.
jefft
Ranking: 8/10
12km drive on an unsealed road, (excellent condition during the trip), rewards with a small, free site on the beach. Protected by dunes. Terrific walks, stunning views of mountains and glaciers, sunsets, washrooms, terrific except sandflies are a nuisance to manage if you are bothered by them.
Karen Garvin
Ranking: 10/10
Another gravel parking lot - nicely sheltered by trees and shrubs and flax, short walk to beautiful beach. Despite huge warning sign, the road (unsealed for 12km), was excellent.
Justin globalgauthiers.blogspot.com
Ranking: 7/10
Free. Gorgeous view in both directions; ocean one way and Mount Cook the other on a clear day. Parking lot with nearby walks. Neat stone beach to walk on. Very busy in April. Lots of sand flies. Clean and basic long drop toilets. Fairly long and windy drive from hi-way but not too bad. Good spot for free for vehicles.
SC W
Ranking: 7/10
Free campground, just next to beach. Can view the peaks of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman when it was not cloudy. Two long drop toilet, water supply, shelter, picnic tables. Long gravel road to get into the campground from fox village. Several tracks around the campground. Get crowded in the evening. Beware of sandflies!
Kim Maertens
Ranking: 8/10
At the beach wonderful sunset, good facilities, popular-so hurry to get a good spot.
Bjorn Van Mulders
Ranking: 10/10
Great camping ground next to the beach.
Evyatar Karni
Ranking: 10/10
Good for free, good for shelter
Adam Taniwha
Ranking: 2/10
Upsides are the views. Wild West Coast Beach looking back to the mountains.
Downsides are many though, so be prepared if you want that view.
The toilets are awful at the time of writing. The left hand long drop is basically full.
Sandfly and mosquito city, make sure you take A LOT of repellant. They will eat you alive out here.
Its really busy, suggest you plan a lunch time arrival as some are clearing out, if you want a space.
It's a tiny camp, prepare to be crowded.
Andrew Potratz
Ranking: 8/10
Very busy free camping spot. It's about a 15-20 minute drive from the main road along a winding forest road (which is actually really cool, even if it's a bit exhausting to maneuver).
Be sure to walk out onto the beach (two minute walk, tops) to watch the sunset, but make sure to flip around and catch a glimpse of the setting sun's reflection off of Mt Cook and Fox Glacier. Absolutely gorgeous.
Only complaint is that the toilet had an incredibly strong odor, but that's kind of to be expected.
Pei
Ranking: 8/10
Great view of the mountains, gravel drive, close to sea.
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Michael Heuer
Ranking: 8/10
A long gravel road leads to this site, but it is easy to drive if careful with a four bed campervan. Beautiful location with views to sea and mountains but also crowded.
Stella Thoben
Ranking: 9/10
Beautiful beach, cute small tracks around, heaps of keas.
Giles Leonard
Ranking: 5/10
Handy location near Fox Glacier but very crowded, offers 8 sites but we counted 25 campers midweek.
Sian Bolderson
Ranking: 6/10
Outside Fox Glacier, gets overcrowded during evening-night. Very small carpark/camp area. Dirty tracks due to toilet paper where people have not used the toilet provided. SANDFLIES.
Stientje van den Heuvel
Ranking: 5/10
More grass instead of marking spots (dusty) would be nice.
Gina Lisi
Ranking: 8/10
No water but there was a neat mining tunnel.
Billy Koichopolos
Ranking: 8/10
Nice walking track and mining tunnel.
Mycall
Ranking: 7/10
Fantastic location right by the beach with really interesting walks and great views of the snow capped mountains. However when we stayed it was very crowded with way more users than the designation says it should have. This was fine as the atmosphere was great but the toilet was under severe pressure (long cues and gettin quite full) as were the empty rainwater harvesting tanks
Katey Justice
Ranking: 8/10
Incredibly stunning location - a beautiful beach with breathtaking views of Mount Cook and surrounding mountains, strewn with driftwood looking like sculptures, good value (free), but very busy - a bigger space would be more practical.
Daniel Jezak
Ranking: 6/10
Lots of sandflies, small place, stony beach, cold and windy.
Patrick O'Connell
Ranking: 10/10
Great, remote campsite right on the beach offering superb views of the Southern Alps and sunsets to die for.
Héléna Degres
Ranking: 6/10
Really nice view with Tasman Sea and the mountains. Not bad access for campervans.
But smelly toilets and full...
Unfortunatley some people leave their rubbish, so birds eat plastic...
Rena and Kirsten
Ranking: 10/10
Really nice place next to the beach, with beautiful sunsets at the beach. Great walking track, nice toilet and water. For free.
jule
Ranking: 10/10
Great free spot. Many campers in a small space, but it was not uncomfortable. Simple toilets and filtered rainwater. Beautiful beach. The narrow winding road to the campsite easy to drive with a small campervan.
Hanna Clement
Ranking: 10/10
DOC campsite, free, direct at the beach. DO the tracks! There you can see amazing sunsets. Behind you there are the mountains. Perfect views on Mt Cook.
Jessica Tilly
Ranking: 10/10
Great spot to watch the glacier and a beautiful sunset!!!
Petr Stepanek
Ranking: 10/10
Free DOC campsite with great views, you are on the beach and can see Mount Cook and Tasman.
Maximilian Heller
Ranking: 10/10
For free and directly nearby the West Coast. Awesome sunsets and view of mountains.
Les Barnes
Ranking: 9/10
Watched fabulous sunset over sea - with Mt Cook and Mt Tasman in other direction with snow and glacier.
Mike1952
Ranking: 7/10
Well, it is a nice spot but soooo crowded. Basic DOC site. Ideal for Lake Matheson walk and Fox Glacier. The small miners cemetery is interesting.
Rainer Renntzsch
Ranking: 9/10
Very good.
Lydia McLean
Ranking: 8/10
Good DOC campsite by the beach. Nice drive through the bush to get there and amazing sunsets over the sea. Only toilets, no showers etc = only ok for one night!!
Rachel_Flowers
Ranking: 5/10
Heaps of sandflies and heaps of people...and a long dirt road to navigate to get there. Not all that...the DOC sites on the lake north of Franz Josef are better.
Judith
Ranking: 8/10
Really nice location with great views if clear weather.
Brian Jones
Ranking: 10/10
Nicest scenery with clear view of Mt Cook. Lots of sandflies but it is a bit small and crowded.
Karsten Tannhauser
Ranking: 7/10
NJext to Fox Glacier. Too many sandflies, full toilet, sheltered! Nice place, scenic view.
jhwjhw
Ranking: 3/10
Smelly toilets, limited parking but close to historical gold mining area, plenty of walks available.
Mark Walker
Ranking: 9/10
Views of Glaciers/Beach/Gold mining.
Marcel Camsch
Ranking: 8/10
On beach with stunning views of the mountains.
Michael Long
Ranking: 4/10
Nice location but let down by swarms of sandflies and mosquitoes.
Andy Cameron-Daniels
Ranking: 10/10
Campsite is free and the views in all directions are stunning.
Seiler
Ranking: 8/10
The ocean is at your backdoor and you can stroll around the beach! Without shower, but the toilet is nice and clean.
csziegler
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful location, basic but very good with possibility to walk to the seal colony. And FREE!