Slab Hut Creek Campsite
Our first family tent-camping trip in New Zealand took us beside a West Coast creek where weka wandered through camp and people were still searching for gold.
About 10 km south of Reefton.
Current DOC-listed adult rate.
Ages 5 to 17. Under 5 currently free.
Book before occupying a site.
What we found during our stay.
Official public fossicking area.
Apparently moving to New Zealand was what it took to get all four of us into tents.
This was not just our first tent-camping trip in New Zealand. It was our first time camping together as a family in tents.
We had two small tents, air mattresses that only just fit, cheap sleeping bags, a basic stove and no fancy camp kitchen. We were very much figuring it out as we went.
Slab Hut Creek turned out to be a memorable place to start. The creek runs beside camp, weka wandered around behind our tents, and just a few steps away people were working pans and sluice boxes looking for tiny pieces of gold.
Quiet bush, a creek beside camp and people looking for gold.
It felt different as soon as we turned in.
We could hear the creek, there were grassy areas tucked between the trees, and almost immediately we noticed people working down beside the water.
We walked around trying to decide where to put the tents. Quite a few spaces were already occupied, so we were glad we had planned ahead rather than treating this as somewhere we could simply roll into late in the day.
You really don't need thousands of dollars of camping gear to start.
We wanted to try family camping without spending a pile of money before knowing whether everyone would actually enjoy it.
So we watched Marketplace, waited for sales and used a few things the girls already owned. Nothing about our setup was fancy.
These are the prices we paid for this trip, not current retail prices. Some of the gear was second-hand and we already owned other pieces.
Small tents. Tight mattresses. Big success.
Getting everything to fit was part of the adventure.
One of the mattresses pushed the tent tight enough that head and toes were not going to have much spare room. But everyone was still there, the tents were standing and our first family camp was officially happening.
Then the weka started wandering around our tents.
We did not have to go looking for wildlife. The wildlife came looking at us.
Within minutes we were spotting weka around the campsite. At one point we counted several nearby, including one curious bird that wandered close enough to become part of the whole camp setup.
People really do still come here looking for gold.
We expected camping. We did not expect to spend part of the evening talking to gold fossickers.
There were people working in the creek with pans and sluice boxes, and because we had never watched anyone do it before, we started asking questions.
One of the people we met turned out to be another Canadian. He showed us the tiny flakes he had collected after spending much of the day working, which gave us a better appreciation for how much patience is involved.
Slab Hut Creek • GFA 30 • Permit area 42030Our first family tent camping trip in New Zealand.
The guide gives you the useful information. The video keeps the family reactions, campsite conversations, first-night chaos and the things we did not see coming.
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Watch on YouTube
Yes, but stay inside the designated fossicking area.
Slab Hut Creek is an official public recreational gold-fossicking area.
Recreational fossicking is allowed inside the designated public area.
Check the official NZPAM boundaries rather than assuming the whole creek is open.
DOC lists non-motorised tools such as pans, picks and shovels.
Do not start digging into banks, vegetation or the campground edge.
Restore disturbed ground as you found it.
Avoid damaging vegetation, wildlife, historic features or culturally significant places.
Burgers, coffee and our first proper camp evening.
We were not fancy. We were just giving camping a go.
The little stove worked brilliantly, dinner got cooked and eventually we ended up sitting together with some of the people we had met around the campsite.
Later, everything quietened down and we could hear the creek running beside the tents.
That was our nickname for the tiny biting bugs that came out once the sun dropped. Insect repellent moved very quickly up our camping checklist.
Slab Hut Creek is simple camping, but plan before you arrive.
These are the things we would want to know before planning another night here.
DOC currently requires bookings and does not hold spaces for unbooked arrivals.
Adults are 18+. Children aged 5 to 17 are $7.50. Under-fives are currently free.
Access is off SH7 onto Slab Hut Creek Road, about 10 km south of Reefton.
Conditions can change quickly and DOC warns visitors to prepare for downpours.
This is what we personally found during our visit.
This is our experience from one visit, not an official occupancy pattern.
We had plenty of tiny biting bugs around dusk.
We arrived with plenty rather than relying on the creek.
Fossicking is allowed in the designated area, but the rules matter.
That was a welcome surprise on our first family tent-camping trip. Facilities can change, so confirm current information with DOC.
Christchurch to the West Coast by the scenic route.
We reached Slab Hut Creek after crossing the South Island on SH7.
Along the way we stopped around Lewis Pass, explored part of the St James area and disappeared into the bush for the walk to TaJoMa Falls.
Those adventures deserve their own guides. For this page, the destination is camp.
Absolutely.
Slab Hut Creek gave us exactly what we wanted from our first family tent-camping trip.
We had bush around us, a creek beside the tents, wildlife wandering through camp and enough going on nearby to make the place interesting without feeling like a busy holiday park.
We also learned plenty for next time. Better insect protection would be high on the list, pillows would be helpful, and we might eventually buy an actual camping table.
But for a first attempt, cheap tents and all, this one worked.
Slab Hut Creek Campsite FAQ
Where is Slab Hut Creek Campsite?
Do you need to book Slab Hut Creek Campsite?
How much does Slab Hut Creek Campsite cost?
Can I use a DOC Campsite Pass?
Are there flushing toilets?
Can you fossick for gold at Slab Hut Creek?
What tools can you use?
Is Slab Hut Creek good for tent camping?
Does the campsite get busy?
Are there biting insects?
Is this a good first campsite for a family?
Official information used for this guide
Campsite fees, booking information, access, Campsite Pass information and weather advice are based on Department of Conservation information. Gold-fossicking rules and boundaries should always be checked against current DOC and NZPAM information. Camping gear prices, campsite atmosphere, wildlife encounters, occupancy, toilets, insects and family observations describe our own visit.