The NZMCA celebrates an historic first today (17 Nov 23) following the opening of the Moeraki Boulders Holiday Park @Hampden Beach at Labour weekend.  

Developed in line with the NZMCA’s Places to Stay strategy, which seeks to provide a wider range of camping opportunities to better meet members’ needs, NZMCA members visiting Hampden Beach now have the option of staying at the Moeraki Boulders Holiday Park or the newly established Hampden Beach NZMCA Park located next door.  
 
The Moeraki Boulders Holiday Park provides full campground facilities including powered and unpowered sites, toilets, showers, a dump station, a fully-equipped camp kitchen and a coin-operated laundry. It is available to the general public and, of course, those members who choose to utilise those benefits at good-value CampSaver rates. 

 
Next door is a traditional NZMCA Park offering, where for just $5 a night members can enjoy a safe and secure parking environment with potable water and rubbish facilities on site. 
 

Both options, of course, offer the benefit of a peaceful seaside location just north of the famous Moeraki Boulders and easy access to the very supportive Hampden township. 


Excited by this significant development in the NZMCA’s property portfolio, James Imlach, the National Manager Property and Policy, says it is also a great opportunity to ‘give back’ to the New Zealand camping community. 


“As an Association that’s been built on the values shared by all Kiwis, we strongly believe this is a major step towards preserving the affordable family camping traditions which generations of New Zealanders have enjoyed.”  


James says he and his team have been impressed by the support the local business community – especially Boulders Bar & Bistro, Vanessa’s café, and Hampden Night n’ Day dairy – has offered to Chris Botha and Wendy Cain, the newly-appointed managers of Moeraki Boulders Holiday Park. 

 
If you’re keen to be among the first to enjoy the facilities of the Hampden Beach NZMCA Park, here’s some key points to keep in mind: 

  • The Moeraki Holiday Park showers and the dump station require KiwiCash tags to operate. Paying guests at Moeraki will be issued with a tag on arrival to access the showers and dump station during their visit, without an extra fee.       
  • Members staying across the road at the NZMCA Park may use the Moeraki showers and dump station – for a fee. Members can purchase KiwiCash tags at Moeraki or from the Night n’ Day in Hampden.  
  • Please note, if you’re staying in the NZMCA Park the use of any other campground facilities at Moeraki is strictly prohibited.  
  • Also, please be aware, a section of the Hampden Beach NZMCA Park will remain cordoned off to give the new grass area a little more time to get established. 

 
Looking forward to seeing members enjoying both sites, James says he’s grateful for the time and effort local members and several NZMCA staff have put into setting up the Association’s latest property. 


“I’d particularly like to acknowledge Alan Johnson, our Senior Policy Analyst, for his efforts securing this historic opportunity, Chris & Wendy, and our volunteers Ken Foote (Otago Area Chairperson #38993), Phil & Teresa Baird (#108811) and Peter & Linda Boyce (#49321). We couldn’t have done all this without their support.”   

A couple more points… 

  • If you’re heading to the new NZMCA Park, please be aware of the following requirements re dogs and dumping wastewater. 

DUMP STATION: 

  • Please only empty your cassette tanks at Moeraki as wastewater is treated on site and there are maximum discharge limits per day.  
  • Alternatively, there is a free public dump station available for use, about 25kms down the road in Palmerston.  

DOGS: 

  • Dogs must be kept under continuous control and on-leads at all times while on either site and in the adjacent public areas, as per the Waitaki District Council’s dog control bylaw.  

SUMMER ON-SITE PARK CUSTODIAN

We’re looking for a diligent member (single or couple) who can live in their own certified self-contained motorhome or caravan to act as an on-site park custodian at Hampden Beach NZMCA Park, in Otago over summer (flexible with start and finish dates). The responsibilities and duties of this position are exactly the same as other volunteer park custodians, other than the fact that you will be residing on site. You’ll work alongside the Otago Area and our other non-resident park custodians to monitor the day-to-day use of the park, ensure fellow members are aware of the rules and their obligations, with the overall aim of helping everyone enjoy their experience while staying on site.

To express your interest please email [email protected].

Click here to view Park Custodian Duties & Responsibilities.