Gowan River Holiday Camp was created in 1990 to offer campers an alternative to camping by Lake Rotoroa in the Nelson Lakes National Park. While the camp land was being smoothed out a dam was created, initially to supply a water source for a small hydro dam, and is now used for Kayaking, bird watching and swimming.



Gowan River Holiday Camp is located off the Gowan Valley Road 5km from State highway 6 the main inland route between Golden Bay, Motueka, Nelson and Christchurch, or the West Coast, also it is 10 km from Kawatiri corner the turn off to/from Blenhiem and Picton. Approximately 20 minutes north of Murchison and 1.5 hours south of Nelson.



If you need a good nights sleep, relax to the sound of New Zealands' fastest flowing river. The sun will not wake you up until after 8am (two hours after sunrise) when it appears from behind the Howard Conservation Area, it disappears two hours before sunset behind the Tutaki Conservation Area. There is sun light, when the sun isn't visible, during normal daylight hours.



Gowan River Holiday Camp has tent sites, power sites and cabins constructed from a former Railway Goods Carriage, at very reasonable rates.

Our facilities are clean and modern. The free showers and BBQs, laundry and well equipped kitchen provide comfort during your stay.

Activities available during your stay include free use of bicycles, gold panning and fishing rods (spinners to be purchased). Kayak's can be hire from $5/hour on our dam or $25/hour on the lake (includes transport to the lake) and plenty of river frontage to walk, run or relax beside.