Rotokare Scenic Reserve

Beautiful beautiful beautiful . So peaceful and so clean . The people that work here and keep this place immaculate deserve an award this place is outstanding . Outstanding information about the reserve and it's birdlife . What an mazing experience

Fantastic place for one or two nights of freedom camping! The area is fully fenced and predator free. There are 150? Kiwis although we were not able to find them at night. However this is not a problem at all. The walk around the lake is beautiful (did it once with rain and once with sun) and takes around two hours if you are into birds. The tomtil are everywhere and allow you to take a thousand pictures. But also the Saddlebacks are easy to spot. Very special are the very fast Stichbirds (black head with white spot, yellow breast) which you can spot at one of the two feeder stations. Take sometime for it because they are not easy to get on a photo. As you can see we also found a Fern bird as proof that the environment is extremely in balance.Public toilets are clean and you park the camper on hard ground (a plus because we had a lot of rain). Max 6 campervans.And don’t forget to donate (in front of the toilet)

Beautiful place! Could see a kiwi in the afternoon - Amazing!

A beautiful and well maintained reserve. We did the 4km Lake Walk and really appreciated the shady areas along the track since it was a very hot day.Will definitely be back, next time with a picnic basket. The picnic area is right next to the lake.

My partner and I recently visited this nature reserve, and it felt like we were entering a scene from Jurassic Park when we arrived at the gate. The process of getting in was unique - we had to press a button from our car window, wait for the first gate to open, drive into the middle section, wait for the entrance to close fully behind us, and then press another button to open the second gate.Once inside, the open fields were replaced by a well-cared-for, pest-free sanctuary. As we drove through with the windows open, we were greeted by an incredible bird chorus that seemed like a small paradise we had stumbled upon. It was evident that this place was cherished, as only six cars were allowed to stay per night, and a sign asked visitors not to stay more than three nights a month.Before setting up our tent by the lake, my partner and I stood there, stunned by the beauty of the place. Birds in groups of two to thirty flew overhead, chirping or gliding towards an unknown destination. The morning chorus was just as impressive, with native birds filling the air with their songs.We decided to take the two-hour walk around the lake and saw Saddleback birds with loud calls that sounded like car alarms and curious robins that would fly very close to us. The forest was clearly old and cared for, with lengthy vines being a constant in the foliage, making it a bird paradise. We only met one other person during our walk, an old volunteer named Alan, who was cleaning the Hihi bird feeding stations. He told us more about the sanctuary and its birds.The highlight of our visit was the Hihi bird. These birds are very rare, and in the sanctuary, there were only 60 of them. During our conversation with Alan, two Hihi birds showed up to check if the feeding station was ready yet. Another name for these birds is sewing birds, as their calls sound like an old-style sewing machine. It sounded incredibly loud compared to the size of the yellow-accented bird.Overall, our experience at the nature reserve was incredible, and we would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and memorable experience!

Great spot. Hidden away from the main roads and surrounded by rolling farmlands. The native bush is amazing. The bird life is very raucous and varied. Much love and dedication has gone into this place and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves nature.

There is a nice 4.5km circuit of the lake. Birds, forest and flora visible.Good grip shoes recommended after rain.

Great reserve. Good loop track around lake. Can be a bit muddy in winter. Lots of bird life.

What a lovely place to come and stay. It's a freedom camping site, you can stay no more than 3 days. Plus awesome bush walks and great camping sites and campa vans and mobile homes. Go try for yourselves.