West Bay Campsite
Standard campsiteLocated in Nelson Lakes National Park, Nelson/TasmanDOC data as at 20 September 2026
About this place
Enjoy water activities on the lake at this easily accessible campsite in the picturesque Nelson Lakes National Park. This is one of the two camping zones in West Bay Campsite. It is only open during the summer months.
Know before you go
Rubbish and recycling
Nelson Lakes National Park is reducing waste to be more sustainable and has a ‘pack-in, pack-out’ policy. Take your rubbish and recycling with you. Kerr Bay and West Bay campsites at Lake Rotoiti have no rubbish or recycling. Waste transfer stations are located at the following centres: Murchison – 41 Matakitaki West Bank Road, Murchison 7077 Richmond – 14 Fittal Street, Richmond, 7020 Blenheim – Wither Road Extension, Blenheim 7201
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Fees and bookings
The DOC Campsite Pass can be used at this campsite. Campsite Pass bookings must be booked online before occupying a site. If you do not book, bookings may be made by campground staff (if present) and will incur a $10 service charge. Sites may not be available if you do not book.
Bookings are open for stays from 27 November 2026 to 30 April 2027. If no availability shows online for your dates, the campsite is fully booked. No spaces are kept for campers arriving without a booking. Phone and in‑person bookings made at a visitor centre incur a $10 service fee. Same‑day bookings are available online until 8 pm if spaces remain. 27 November - 30 April The campground is open. Bookings are required. Book well in advance for the Christmas holiday period, classic and power boat weekends, and Easter. 1 May - 26 November The campground is closed. Book West Bay campsite online All bookings are first-come first-served. We do not have waiting lists for bookings for future seasons or facilities that are already booked-out. Your booking will be for a site, which will be allocated or selected on arrival.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Contact
Nelson Lakes National Park Visitor Centre
Regional DOC service centre.
Nearby stops
West Bay Campground (Buller)
Standard • Tasman • 0.5 km
['Non-powered/tent sites' • 'Shelter for cooking' • 'Shower - cold'
Teetotal Campsite
Standard • Nelson/Tasman • 0.8 km
Non-powered/tent sites • Water from tap - not treated • boil before use
Kerr Bay Campsite
Serviced • Nelson/Tasman • 1.9 km
Boat launching • Cookers/electric stove • Dump station
Bushline Hut
Serviced • 14 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 4.3 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Relax Shelter
Tasman • 4.4 km
All details
- Facilities
- Boat launchingNon-powered/tent sitesShelter for cookingShower - coldWheelchair accessible with assistanceWater from tap - treatedsuitable for drinkingToilets - non-flushToilets
- Activities
- Bird and wildlife watchingBoatingFishingKayaking and canoeingMountain bikingSwimmingWalking and tramping
- Access
- CampervanCarCaravan
- Setting
- ForestRivers and lakes
- Unpowered sites
- 16
- Bookable
- Yes
- Category
- Standard
- Dogs
- No dogs.
- Location
- Located in Nelson Lakes National Park
- Tents
- Yes
- Caravans
- Yes
- Toilets
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Reservations
- required
- Website
- This place on doc.govt.nz
- Source data
- View source data
Map
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.41.79784° S, 172.82739° E
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Sources
- OpenStreetMap Campsites · ODbL (Open Database License)Contains information from OpenStreetMap, made available under the ODbL.
- DOC Campsites · CC BY 4.0Data sourced from the Department of Conservation (DOC), New Zealand.
- DOC Campsites (API) · CC BY 4.0Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai. Data sourced from the DOC Developer Portal (api.doc.govt.nz).