Set beside Lake Pearson (Moana Rua), a high-country lake in the Waimakariri Basin within Craigieburn Forest Park, Canterbury, this is a popular and scenic lakeside campsite. There's plenty of room, with gravel parking areas ideal for campers, vans and rooftop tents, plus grassy patches that suit tents.

Facilities are basic but tidy: modern long-drop toilets and unfiltered water, so come prepared to treat or carry your own drinking water. The big draw here is the setting — open lake views ringed by tussock and mountains, and excellent bird watching.

Being so exposed, the site offers little shelter from the wind, so pitch and pack accordingly; campers report vehicles rocking on breezy nights. Fees are modest, around $10 per adult and $5 per child, which essentially buys you a night camped in some of Canterbury's finest high-country scenery. It makes a handy base for exploring the wider forest park.