Leithfield Beach Holiday Park is a family-run holiday park at 18 Lucas Drive, Leithfield Beach, Hurunui, Canterbury — a short stroll from the beach and nestled under mature pine trees that shelter the park from Canterbury's easterly wind. It sits about a kilometre from SH1, roughly 30 minutes north of Christchurch and 5 minutes from Amberley.
The park offers accommodation for every budget, including cabins, rental caravans, caravan and all-weather campervan sites, and tent sites, with facilities including a large communal kitchen and bathrooms, a laundry, two children's playgrounds, a toddlers' paddling pool, Wi-Fi, a pump track, basketball hoop and tennis courts. It's dog-friendly, and gear is available for hire for a hassle-free stay.
Owned by Gail and Kevin Fenemor with Camp Manager Charmaine Smith, it's a genuinely family-run business — the couple's grandchildren often help out as the park's unofficial meeters and greeters. Hector's Takeaways food caravan operates on site Friday and Saturday nights, and other occasions during long weekends and holidays.
Leithfield Beach Holiday Park sits at 18 Lucas Drive in Leithfield Beach, Hurunui — a short stroll from the beach, sheltered under mature pine trees that protect the park from Canterbury's well-known easterly wind.
The park is about a kilometre from SH1, roughly 30 minutes north of Christchurch and just 5 minutes from Amberley, making it an easy weekend or holiday escape without a long drive. Its setting offers what the park calls the peace and security of a small seaside village.
Leithfield Beach Holiday Park offers cabins, rental caravans, caravan and all-weather campervan sites, and tent sites, with guests in any accommodation type able to access all the park's facilities. One of its three cabins, Weka, is set up as a family or group cabin, positioned near the kitchen and amenities and right next to two all-weather power sites.
The park's amenities include a large communal kitchen and bathrooms, a laundry, and two children's playgrounds adjacent to the camp, alongside a pump track, basketball hoop and tennis courts. A toddlers' paddling pool runs over summer, and forest, beach and river all sit right at the park's back door. The nearby Fairy Forest is a particular draw for younger visitors. For outdoor cooking, there's a BBQ and pizza oven alongside picnic tables, and Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout. The park maintains a no-smoking policy across all accommodation and communal areas.
Leithfield Beach Holiday Park is owned by Gail and Kevin Fenemor. Gail runs the office and shop, alongside Max, the miniature schnauzer, while Kevin keeps busy around the camp ensuring facilities are ready for guests. Charmaine Smith has stepped up as Camp Manager, also looking after the park's social media, with assistants Thea and Flynn helping out. It's a family business in the fullest sense — the Fenemors' grandchildren, including Amelia, Lucy and Olivia along with cousins Ben, Zoe, Josie, Henry, Douglas and Angus, are the self-appointed official meeters and greeters, while Morgan keeps the camp in top shape as the cleaner.
For guests not wanting to cook, Hector's Takeaways food caravan operates on site, run by Missy, Tuhi and the team. It's open Friday and Saturday nights from 5pm to 7pm, plus other occasions during long weekends and holidays.
Leithfield Beach Holiday Park is dog-friendly, recognising that pets are part of the family too. The park also participates in CampSaver, a discount programme for New Zealand Motor Caravan Association members, offering reduced rates to NZMCA members who show their membership card on arrival.
The park can be reached by phone or email, and bookings are best made directly for the best rates. Popular periods like Labour Weekend and New Year fill up quickly, so early booking is recommended.
Between its sheltered pine-tree setting, a genuine family-run atmosphere spanning three generations of the Fenemor family, and facilities built with kids in mind — from the Fairy Forest to the paddling pool — Leithfield Beach Holiday Park offers exactly what it promises: a slice of seaside camping nostalgia, just a short drive from Christchurch.