SOUTHLAND: CENTRAL

19-Apr-14

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Monkey Island Reserve

star rating of 3.5

by Chris Gaelic

Monkey Island Rd, Orepuki, Richmond, Southland

Phone: 0800 732 732

rvexplorer id: 18229

Lat-Long: -46.30053, 167.7283

Entrance to Monkey Island Rd Reserve

Entrance to Monkey Island Rd Reserve

 

Free camping at Monkey Island Road Reserve

 

History of Monkey Island

 

Monkey Island Road Reserve is popular beach location with a large area assigned for freedom camping. Public toilets are also available.

 

The beach is divided into two areas - one for day visitors, and the other for freedom camping. Quite a good idea, as it provides for the needs of both.

 

When we arrived, on a sunny Easter Saturday afternoon, the beach parking area was mostly full. Children were running around on the beach, others were fishing, and there was even a wedding party taking photos.

 

Monkey Island doesn't look anything like a monkey - but apparently got its name when the early settlers used the island for offloading goods delivered by boat, and then used a 'monkey' for winching the goods to shore on a barge. You can walk out to the island at low tide.

 

The public toilets were well maintained.

 

We really liked this location - unfortunately, it was a bit too crowded for us to find a spot and stay overnight.

 

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