Riverlands Holiday Park is a camping ground and holiday park set in a rural pocket of North Canterbury, on the skirts of the river town of Kaiapoi. Surrounded by gardens and farmland, it offers a peaceful place to relax and unwind while staying close to modern conveniences — Kaiapoi's shops and amenities are only a five minute drive away, and Christchurch is roughly 15 to 20 minutes to the south.
The park accommodates all styles of traveller: two well-designed two-bedroom motels that sleep up to eight people, plus flat, grassy powered and non-powered sites for motorhomes, caravans and tents. Communal camping areas sit a short walk from the amenity blocks and carry a friendly, sociable atmosphere.
Facilities include two modern kitchen blocks, two laundries, a TV room, free showers, a barbecue and a great playground for children, all supported by easy check-in at reception with hassle-free options for after-hours arrivals.
Golfers get their own drawcard — Riverlands Golf is open seven days from dawn till dusk right on site — while anglers, walkers and cyclists can head for the Waimakariri River and the trails that link to the charming Kaiapoi township, a previous winner of New Zealand's Most Beautiful Town Award. Thanks to its position just off the Northern Motorway and State Highway One, the park is a natural place to start or finish a South Island holiday.
Tucked into the countryside on the outskirts of Kaiapoi, Riverlands Holiday Park is the kind of base that works just as well for a single night as it does for a whole holiday. Set among gardens and a serene rural landscape in North Canterbury, it offers travellers a genuine chance to relax and unwind — without stranding them far from the modern world. Christchurch is only about 15 to 20 minutes away, the airport is roughly 15 minutes south, and the park sits conveniently just off the Northern Motorway and State Highway One.
That mix of countryside calm and easy access is the park's defining charm. Whether you arrive in a motorhome, towing a caravan, with a tent in the boot or with nothing but a suitcase, there is a spot waiting — and it is a natural place to either start or finish a South Island road trip.
The park's rural setting on the skirts of Kaiapoi means you wake to farmland views rather than traffic, yet everything you might have forgotten is close at hand. Kaiapoi — a picturesque river town and a previous winner of New Zealand's Most Beautiful Town Award — is a five minute drive or roughly a 20 to 30 minute walk away for all your last-minute needs.
For those who prefer to earn their town visit, the Waimakariri River offers a scenic walk or bike ride route to the Kaiapoi township. Fishing is another popular way to pass the time, and the surrounding trails and farmland reward anyone who simply wants to stretch their legs.
Accommodation comes in two broad flavours. The park's self-contained motel units are two-bedroom, well designed and thoroughly practical for families or groups, sleeping up to eight people. Bedroom one holds a queen bed and a single; bedroom two has a double bed with two single beds. There is a fully tiled wet-area bathroom with shower, toilet and vanity, plus a lounge, kitchen and dining space — everything needed for a comfortable, self-sufficient stay.
Campers and road-trippers are equally well catered for. Flat, grassy powered and non-powered sites suit motorhomes, caravans and tents alike, all within a short walking distance of the amenity blocks. The communal camping areas have a friendly, sociable atmosphere that many guests come to appreciate as much as the scenery.
Riverlands Holiday Park keeps its facilities modern and generous. Two kitchen blocks are equipped with ovens, cooktops, microwaves and fridges, so cooking a proper meal is never a chore. Two laundries handle the washing, a TV room provides a cosy spot for evening gatherings, and showers in the two shower and toilet blocks are free for guests.
Families are well looked after: there is a great playground for children, a barbecue for relaxed outdoor dinners, and parking is free. A drink and snack vending machine covers the between-meal cravings.
Check-in is straightforward at reception, and the park offers hassle-free options for after-hours arrivals — a thoughtful touch for anyone reaching camp late off the motorway.
The park's on-site golf course, Riverlands Golf, is open seven days from dawn till dusk. If the gates are closed when you arrive, a quick enquiry at the Camp Office sorts you out. Few holiday parks can offer the chance to play a round without ever leaving the property.
Beyond the fairways, the local attractions page-worthy list continues: the Waimakariri River for walking, cycling and fishing, and the charming township of Kaiapoi with its cafes and shops just down the road.
Bookings can be made online, and the team is happy to assist with bookings, inquiries or special requests by phone or email. Whether it is a convenient first night after landing at Christchurch airport, a family week of campground evenings, or a quiet wind-down before the drive home, Riverlands Holiday Park delivers a relaxed North Canterbury welcome.