This well-loved DoC campsite sits beside Loch Katrine in Lake Sumner Forest Park, Canterbury, on a spacious grassy lakeside flat. There's room to spread out, with open spots by the water or sheltered sites under trees, which helps when the wind picks up — a regular feature here, so it's worth checking the forecast before you go.

The setting is genuinely scenic, with good walking and mountain biking tracks around the lake and up into the surrounding hills. Anglers can chase small trout from the lake edge, and the brave can take a swim in the chilly waters, best in the calm of morning. Dogs can roam. There are also cabins on the hill behind the settlement, run by the Loch Katrine Association and bookable in advance.

Facilities are basic but well kept: non-flush toilets in good condition and a tap (untreated water — boil before use). Access is via gravel road past Lake Taylor, after which an unmaintained high-clearance or 4x4 track with potholes, fords and gates leads roughly 5km in at a crawl — not suitable for caravans. Phone reception is intermittent. A quiet, rewarding spot for those happy to make the effort.