Mt Somers Holiday Park sits on the Inland Scenic Route 72 at Mt Somers, roughly halfway between Christchurch and Queenstown — about an hour's drive south of Christchurch Airport and an hour from the beautiful Mackenzie Basin. The park occupies a tranquil setting amongst established trees, and with a choice of accommodation to suit all budgets and requirements, it promises a peaceful night's sleep whether you arrive in a campervan, a tent or a car full of family.
The park is owned by Georgie and Pete, who moved to Mt Somers with their two daughters in search of a new challenge and a life closer to nature, and are currently living and working in Samoa. Day-to-day, the park is run by hosts Amy and Cam, who live on-site with their two boys and have been putting their own touch on the place since taking over in May 2026. Between them, they welcome a genuine mix of guests: walkers and mountain explorers, travellers passing through on a bigger adventure, and those who simply want a quiet spot to put their feet up for a few days.
Accommodation ranges from powered campervan and caravan sites and tent sites through to standard cabins and ensuite cabins, with long stay specials available for anyone settling in for longer. The park also caters for conferences and group bookings, and pets are welcome by arrangement. Above all, it is a quaint country basecamp near the mountains — an ideal jumping-off point for walks, lakes and Mt Sunday, better known to film fans as Edoras from The Lord of the Rings.
Follow the Inland Scenic Route 72 out of Christchurch and, about an hour south of the airport, you'll come to Mt Somers — and to a holiday park that has quietly become a favourite stop for travellers crossing Mid Canterbury. Mt Somers Holiday Park sits in a tranquil setting amongst established trees, a peaceful pocket of countryside positioned neatly between Christchurch and Queenstown, with the Mackenzie Basin just an hour's drive further on.
The park is a family affair. Owners Georgie and Pete moved to Mt Somers with their two daughters, purchasing the park in search of a new challenge and a life closer to nature; they are currently living and working in Samoa. The day-to-day running is in the hands of hosts Amy and Cam, who live on-site with their two boys and have been busy putting their own stamp on the place since taking over in May 2026. Their welcome is the kind that comes from genuinely living where you work — if you need anything during your stay, they're usually not too far away.
One of the park's strengths is choice. Travellers arriving by campervan or caravan can pull into a powered site, while tent campers can keep things traditional on a tent site, all within grounds shaded by established trees. For those who prefer a roof and a proper bed, the park offers standard cabins as well as ensuite cabins with a private bathroom.
The range is deliberately broad — accommodation to suit all budgets and requirements, as the park puts it. Planning a longer visit? Ask about the long stay specials, which reward anyone who wants to settle in and slow down for a while. And if you're travelling with a four-legged family member, pets are welcome by arrangement.
Mt Somers Holiday Park markets itself as a great basecamp, and the surroundings back that up. The mountains and walking tracks of Mid Canterbury are close by, as are the lakes, and the park is well placed for a trip to Mt Sunday — better known to movie lovers as Edoras from The Lord of the Rings. Guests tend to fall into three camps, as Amy and Cam observe: some come to explore the mountains and tracks, some are passing through on a bigger adventure, and others simply want a quiet place to put their feet up for a few days. The park accommodates all three comfortably.
The location does a lot of the work. An hour from Christchurch Airport makes it an easy first stop after landing, and an hour from the Mackenzie Basin puts some of the South Island's most striking lake country within easy reach. It's a natural overnight halt on the drive between Christchurch and Queenstown, or a destination in its own right for anyone who prefers scenery at a slower pace.
Beyond travellers and families, the park also hosts conferences and group bookings, making it a workable option for clubs, schools and work gatherings looking for a country setting with accommodation on site. Bookings can be made online through the park's reservation system, by phone on +64 3 303 9719, or via the contact form and email at [email protected].
What ultimately sets Mt Somers Holiday Park apart is the combination: a tranquil, tree-lined setting, straightforward accommodation at a range of price points, on-site hosts who live the place day to day, and a backyard of walks, lakes and movie-location mountains. Whether you're pitching a tent for a night or putting your feet up for a week, it's the kind of spot that makes the South Island feel like home.