Our new favourite Free camp in New Zealand | lake Pukaki | Family camping.

hey everyone, an exciting adventure this week, this is up there as one of our top camping spots. Mc Kenzie country is spectacularly beautiful.
After a beautiful drive through the Lindis pass, through Twizel and onto the north arm of lake Pukaki in search for a free camp, with lake, mountain, and lupins to give us the postcard picturesque camp site we found ourselves at.
25km of gravel up the Braemer rd, but what a spot to stop and enjoy.
#lakepukaki #Newzealandcamping #freecamping

Пікірлер: 77

  • @katvi8194
    @katvi81945 ай бұрын

    Awesome channel!!!!!

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    5 ай бұрын

    THANKS, we have a pretty fun lifestyle right now, awesome cruising round our country side.

  • @waynefergusson9987
    @waynefergusson99876 ай бұрын

    Thanks so much Team for sharing your wonderful adventures ' such a breath of fresh air considering all the madness that is on the internet , brilliant filming and editing !

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Totally nice to have something free of dramas aye. Happy new year, see you in the next adventure.

  • @michaelconnell8624
    @michaelconnell86246 ай бұрын

    Great stay along there 👍 Have a great start to 2024 and looking forward to your first video of the new year 👍😀

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks mate, lots of adventures to come for sure... happy new year 🎉

  • @RadRoadAdventures
    @RadRoadAdventures6 ай бұрын

    What a great time you all had there. It's the best type of freedom camping with the lake and the mountains. Your curry looked great Mike. We are hoping for some mid-high 20° temperatures over the coming days. Happy new year to you all, Shannon, Lyndelle and kids

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    It's such an incredible area for freedom camping, curry was delicious 😋 we've brought it again... happy new years guys, enjoy pinders pond

  • @mountainz9992
    @mountainz99922 ай бұрын

    Just found your channel. Mate, this is awesome, you have great morals and to do what you do with the family and give them this opportunity is just grand.

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    2 ай бұрын

    Oh thanks mate, we're living our families dream at the moment, it's not always sunsets and nice beaches but we like to show the rainy days and the blasting wind in our videos as well. Glad ya found us and can enjoy adventures around Aotearoa aye. Cheers.

  • @Blox-1340
    @Blox-13406 ай бұрын

    You've become my number one NZ travel channel. Keep up the awesome mahi guys 😀

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    AWWWW thanks for that feed back thats really nice... Def easy to make good videos in such stunning places.

  • @garth2876
    @garth28766 ай бұрын

    Doesn't get much better than a beautiful spot like that with perfect weather. Must have been great to get away from the wind for a few days.

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    It was bloody beautiful 😍

  • @kk-tk8zl
    @kk-tk8zl6 ай бұрын

    I always love your background music ❤❤❤

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    5 ай бұрын

    Yea music makes a big difference... takes a while to find the right tracks

  • @willieforbes5284
    @willieforbes52846 ай бұрын

    Awesome video! All the best for 2024

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks mate, pretty awesome spot.

  • @ihsanaabdulmuhusin4026
    @ihsanaabdulmuhusin402612 күн бұрын

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    11 күн бұрын

    thanks for the love.

  • @robinmills5827
    @robinmills58276 ай бұрын

    That looks a beautiful spot in the right weather. You're giving me itchy feet to rent a campervan and head off in the autumn for a couple of weeks. I love the bleak tussock lands and the play of light in the hills. Happy New Year!

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Canterbury high country is pretty stunning aye, all seasons have their true beauty through here... Love the snow and Ice, summer has the golden grass, Autumn the change leaves. Magic area. Happy New Year.

  • @lh6135
    @lh61356 ай бұрын

    Happy New Year and greeting us with beautiful view from your home, truly appreciating the nature. Plus your lovely curry. Have more fun this year

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Happy new years team, what a spot aye, looking forward to more good meals and adventures.

  • @meow2612
    @meow26126 ай бұрын

    Wow, so beautiful ❤

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks Team, such a great spot alright.

  • @jennieking8831
    @jennieking88316 ай бұрын

    Thanks for sharing your family’s journey. Lots of good advice for us newish to caravaning . Best wishes for 2024

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Happy new year, thanks for watching. happy and safe travels.

  • @craigwadey2122
    @craigwadey21226 ай бұрын

    Have a good new years, good to see the wetsuits being used

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    The kids are very grateful for wetsuits, well used.

  • @PaulSmith-bb7lv
    @PaulSmith-bb7lv4 ай бұрын

    The McKenzie (is that the correct spelling?) Basin area is very special with beautiful scenery. Yes, it gets quite chilly in winter but the Summers make up for that. You have to spend some time there and not just rush through as do some tourists. (Been there, done that tourists). Wonderful to see the family enjoying the outdoors.

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    4 ай бұрын

    Mc Kenzie country is beautiful also known as the Canterbury High country, which spans quite a long way if your driving... We were lucky to spend over a month up here in the winter time, seeing some incredible places, in true winter conditions and then Pukaki in glorious summer... Must be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

  • @craignelson-swiftyenzed7578
    @craignelson-swiftyenzed75786 ай бұрын

    Happy New Year's eve from the Eglington Valley!

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    One of my favourite places... happy new year 🎉

  • @craignelson-swiftyenzed7578

    @craignelson-swiftyenzed7578

    6 ай бұрын

    @leopardsgowild We will probably bug out a day early... the sand flies are relentless!

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    @@craignelson-swiftyenzed7578 awful critters...

  • @CHillAdventures
    @CHillAdventures6 ай бұрын

    epic epic epic!!! hope everyone is well, happy new year!!! thanks for all the amazing episodes!!!! see yah in 2024!!

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks Cam, happy new years mate... Bring on the 1000 subs, the mans been working hard...

  • @karenhealey935
    @karenhealey9356 ай бұрын

    Hope you have a fabulous New Year. Look forward to seeing your adventures in Whites Bay.

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Happy new year to you also, should have a kaikoura video coming up as well... thanks for watching 👀 🙂

  • @kevinpalmer1249
    @kevinpalmer12496 ай бұрын

    Omarama has a great dump station and potable water too. Both easy access.

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    yip it's one of the better ones for sure...

  • @kerylarnst7914
    @kerylarnst79146 ай бұрын

    Another awesome video. Looks stunning.

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Yea this spot was so much more than we expected

  • @peterb4620
    @peterb46206 ай бұрын

    Stunning scenery. Thank you for sharing another high quality episode. Happy New Year P&J

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Thanks mate, how beautiful is this area aye. Happy new year

  • @angelamcdougall983
    @angelamcdougall9836 ай бұрын

    Happy new year 🎉 to you all, looks like a great place to visit

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Happy new years. Yip a fantastic spot alright.

  • @user-sw2gb5tr1f
    @user-sw2gb5tr1f6 ай бұрын

    Hi from Hastings. I have only been watching your show recently and the level of professionalism great scenery and information is great It reminds us of our trip that we did of the south island 20-22. 22 motels every dot on TV1 weather map 43 nights and 5000kms in our ford ranger. We are considering buying a caravan for holidays only and we want to spend $40000 on one the only ones at that price are English ones. What advice have you got and are they any good. We might have to move up in price. Thanks for the answers. Keep the happy travels going. Thanks Jono P

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Hey mate been an awesome family adventure we're loving full time travel... personally the english vans are probably fine if you stick to the main rds, then generally don't have onboard water tanks it's all roll away, do that's something to consider the Dethleffs look good from Germany but they are pricey... height of the ground is important for most free camps or Doc camps seen loads of English vans bottoming out on un even terrain even if it's just turning around... we considered our caravan an investment and if we needed to sell we'd likely get most of our money back, we paid $106k for our Caravan I think we'd prob get that back if we had to sell

  • @Spiderman1a
    @Spiderman1a6 ай бұрын

    Best video so far ....👍👍😊😊

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Cheers mate. I really enjoyed this one as well. lots of fun to film and put together.

  • @iamie153
    @iamie1536 ай бұрын

    Great video again. We passed through Pukaki on 14th December en-route between Wanaka & Christchurch. It was a stunning day. I thought you were probably in and around there either then or just after us. Our trip was a bit of a reconnoitre for a more leisurely trip sometime in the next year or two. Definitely beautiful country to drive through and very different from Hawkes Bay.

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    yea we would have been in there around the 14th Dec, Def a great spot to unwind at, it's a bit of effort going through the gravel to get out there but well worth it if you have the time. Happy new year.

  • @christophermarshall527
    @christophermarshall5276 ай бұрын

    Looking forward to you all doing more in twenty twenty four!!

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Cheers mate, yep loads of adventures a head in 2024... happy new year.

  • @user-pm5nk7vp3b
    @user-pm5nk7vp3b6 ай бұрын

    Beautiful area which I have known since the 60s. I have sent you a PM re levelling.

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    I'll look forward to reading... this place is pretty awesome I imagine it's changed a bit over the years

  • @jezthomas4402
    @jezthomas44026 ай бұрын

    Happy New Year Leopards! Hope you’re not as hungover as us! Had a great knees-up with the locals in the Collingwood tavern last night; we’re camping at the caravan park here for a week then heading down the east coast. Will you guys be in the Kaikoura area in the next week or two? We might be able to pop over and say Hi.

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    Happy new years we'll be heading to Nelson lakes next week feel free to pop in

  • @Sevenage07
    @Sevenage07Ай бұрын

    Whereabouts is this spot on the Braemar Mt Cook Station Rd? It looks fantastic. We’re headed that way very soon. Thank you.

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    29 күн бұрын

    This is just past Braemer station. Although this area has been recently closed to freedom camping. Not sure who inforced it is, but You technically aren't allowed to camp at this spot any more, which is a real bummer cause it's such a great spot.

  • @GOROSSI46
    @GOROSSI466 ай бұрын

    I actually thought it was a total fire ban , specially when they have had 2 big fires there lately. Great place , great video . Shame the lake is so low. Was like that about 6 years ago

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    I thought no fires as well thats why I thought I better point it out in the video, before the comments came in, I even looked it up on the fire website first as well.. we had a couple of buckets of water next to it for extra safety... great place to camp.

  • @GOROSSI46

    @GOROSSI46

    5 ай бұрын

    loving the videos mate

  • @bomax1066
    @bomax10665 ай бұрын

    Another great video. What engine does your Hilux have and year, also what is the GVM of your caravan. Thanks Bob

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    5 ай бұрын

    Thanks mate hilux is 2018 sr5 2.8litre turbo diesel manual.caravsn gvm is 3.5tonne, we should be quite a bit under that though

  • @bomax1066

    @bomax1066

    5 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the info. Heading SI late Feb for a few months, will keep an eye out for you.

  • @mysterioanonymous3206
    @mysterioanonymous32066 ай бұрын

    Lake Bukake... 😂

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    LOL...

  • @viversemrestricoes
    @viversemrestricoes24 күн бұрын

    Great Video, we stayed at Lake Tekapo mid March. Wish we had a better van with batteries to do some Free Camping. Check out our videos - all in Portuguese, though 😂. Cheers.

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    23 күн бұрын

    If Only I spoke Portuguese, hope you have had a wonderful time in our country though.

  • @hopaea7
    @hopaea76 ай бұрын

    How do we organise meeting up and camping with y'all?

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    6 ай бұрын

    I suggest you get incontact with John and Shirley, they will put you onto Shiree and Stu and then they can put you onto Soph who takes care of all those bookings... thanks 😊

  • @whisk938
    @whisk9385 ай бұрын

    Bet there were sandlies

  • @leopardsgowild

    @leopardsgowild

    5 ай бұрын

    I don't think there were many at all actually, we def encounted some at lake Ohau, and Nelson lakes area, we had citronella coils out, we may have had them out there as well, but I don't remember them being an issue, would have been worth it if there were loads any way, what a spot.

  • @whisk938

    @whisk938

    4 ай бұрын

    Sorry must be my southlander background and every beautiful lake or the west coast came with this very annoying con. How lucky you are to be travelling as you do. Best Jo