This inspiring community initiative brought together local businesses and volunteers to support native restoration in the region. Together, the group planted an incredible 800 native trees, grasses, and shrubs — helping to regenerate the land and protect the natural beauty of Wānaka for future gener

ations.

Getting our hands in the soil was a powerful reminder of what sustainability looks like in action. For us, it’s not just a concept — it’s about actively contributing to the wellbeing of our environment and strengthening our connection to the land and community around us.

We’re incredibly grateful to Love Wānaka for organising such a meaningful event, and to Te Kākano, QLDC, and all supporting partners who made the day possible. It’s initiatives like this that show the impact we can have when businesses come together with a shared purpose.

At The Camp, we believe in creating experiences that go beyond our site — fostering leadership, connection, and environmental responsibility. Being part of the Love Wānaka tree planting day is just one example of how we live these values.

We look forward to continuing our sustainability journey and supporting more community-led environmental projects across our community.

Ngā mihi,
The Camp Team

Why You’ll Love It

Shop small for Christmas: Tick off your gift list with handcrafted ceramics, art prints, jewellery, candles, natural skincare, gourmet pantry goodies and more—thoughtful, locally made presents with a story behind every stall.

Lakeside vibes: Wander shaded lawns with the lake glittering beside you, browse to your heart’s content, then find a sunny spot to sit and soak it all in. Bring a picnic rug and make a morning (or afternoon) of it.

Tasty bites & good coffee: Fuel your browsing with great coffee, sweet treats, and delicious food from The Camp Food Truck & Bar, which will be open all day serving wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and refreshing drinks. You’ll also find a selection of other local food vendors on site offering a variety of bites and beverages—perfect for grazing your way through the afternoon.

Family-friendly outing: Plenty of open space for little legs to roam, bikes to roll, and big kids to bask in the sun. It’s the easy, local way to spend a Sunday together.

Make It a Gift-Hunting Mission

Not sure where to start? Try these ideas:

• The “one-of-a-kind” gift: small-batch ceramics, original art, or limited prints.
• The foodie favourite: local honey, hot sauces, chutneys, artisan chocolate, and specialty oils.
• Stocking stuffers: soaps, balms, candles, scrunchies, mini plants, ornaments and cards.
• Experience gifts: look out for vouchers from local operators—you can’t go wrong with memories.

Know Before You Go

• When: Sunday 7 December
• Where: The Camp Lake Hāwea (follow signage on arrival)
• What to bring: reusable bag, water bottle, sunhat, sunscreen, and a picnic rug
• Payments: many stalls accept cards; some may be cash-only—come prepared
• Parking & access: on-site parking available; please follow event signage and staff directions
• Dogs: if you’re bringing a pup, please keep them on a lead, bring some bags for their business and be considerate around stalls and families

Tip: Come early for the best selection, then linger by the lake—December in Hāwea is pure magic.

See You by the Lake

Mark your calendar, rally your market-mates, and join us for a summery Sunday of community, craftsmanship, and lakeside lounging.

Add it to your diary: Sunday 7 December at The Camp Lake Hāwea.
For updates, follow @thecampnz and @gather_market_ on Instagram.

Interested in becoming a stallholder at future dates? Reach out to Gather Market directly for vendor enquiries.

The Leaves are Changing!

Autumn is arguably one of the best times of year to visit the Queenstown Lakes District – the leaves are oh-so beautiful, the temperature is perfect for adventures and trails are quieter than in peak seasons. There are plenty of hiking and biking trails nearby, it’s perfect for a visit to the Secret Sauna and slow mornings with a coffee. The best time to see those beautifully yellow leaves is during April (but you’ll notice it anytime between late March to early May, depending on the weather).

Public Holidays & School Break

April is a jam-packed month. Autumn school holidays for Australia and New Zealand kick off in April, as well as Easter and Anzac Day providing with public holidays for us adults. You can get a $30 voucher for two nights or $75 voucher for three nights if you stay in any glamping accommodation at The Camp. It’s the perfect time to get out with your family and loved ones to make the most of getting outside before the weather starts to cool down.

Events in April

Check out the list of events below happening in the area:

Festival of Colour

March 29 – April 6, 2025

A true celebration of creativity, the Wānaka Festival of Colour is a nine-day event packed with theatre, music, dance, and storytelling from March 29 – April 6, 2025.

There’s a wide range of events happening throughout the week – check out the 2025 Programme for more info on individual events.

Native Plant Propagation Workshop with Te Kakano

April 1, 2025
Native species are an important component of our ecosystem and multiplying a single plant sure does make it easy. Join the Te Kākano team for a hands-on experience in native plant propagation. Learn about local flora, eco-restoration efforts, and how you can contribute to a greener future.

Harakeke Weaving Workshop with Te Kakano

April 5, 2025
Ever weaved some flax before? If you haven’t, it’s a great way to get crafty and cultural, all at once. Discover the traditional art of harakeke (flax) weaving in this interactive workshop. Connect with Māori culture while learning the techniques to create your own woven piece to take home.

Herbal Culture – Winter Remedy Workshop at Grow Wanaka Community Garden

April 12, 2025
We might be talking about autumn, but winter is just around the corner! Prepare for the colder months by learning how to craft natural herbal remedies. This workshop at Grow Wānaka Community Garden offers practical insights into using herbs to support health and well-being.

Wheels at Wanaka 2025

April 18–20, 2025
The largest vintage machinery event in New Zealand returns! Witness an incredible display of tractors, motorbikes, trucks, and heavy machinery in action. This year, Wheels at Wānaka will attempt a world record for the most Caterpillar machines in a parade while also hosting the New Zealand round of the Cat Global Operator Challenge.

Easter Egg Hunt

April 20 (Easter Sunday)

Get ready for the annual easter egg hunt at The Camp – it’s the perfect thing to keep the kids occupied. With sustainability a focus for us, you’ll be finding rocks instead of chocolate – bring them to us to receive your bounty!

Beach Clean-up at Wanaka Lakefront

April 22, 2025
Here at The Camp, sustainability and conservation are always front of mind – we want our beautiful home to be better for the next generation, and part of that means looking after what we’ve already got.

Celebrate Earth Day by giving back to the environment. Join the community in cleaning up the Wānaka Lakefront and help preserve this beautiful area for future generations.

Get Your Feet Wet at Bullock Creek

April 24, 2025
A great opportunity for eco-conscious individuals to engage in water conservation efforts. This hands-on experience focuses on freshwater restoration and protecting native species in Bullock Creek.

Last Month of The Food Truck at The Camp

As the cooler months set in, it’s your last chance to enjoy the delicious offerings from The Camp Food Truck before it closes after Easter weekend. We’re open Thursday to Sunday from 8–11 AM and 4–8 PM, so make sure to stop by for a meal. Oh, did we mention pizza nights? Every Thursday until we close, you’ll be able to grab any pizza for just $20 (including takeaways), plus plenty of other great options on the menu and music every Sunday from 4.30-7.30pm.

April is shaping up to be an exciting month in the region filled with creativity, culture, and community initiatives. Whether you’re keen to immerse yourself in the arts, learn a new skill, contribute to conservation efforts or explore the area (because that temperature is perfect for an adventure), there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Mark your calendar and make the most of this vibrant autumn season!

Book your spot at The Camp

About Your Meditation Facilitator

Susan Allen has been teaching meditation for over 20 years. She’s the founder of Yoga Ground, mentors yoga teachers through The Yoga Transition and has an online platform for yoga and meditation called Entering the Stream. It’s safe to say she knows her stuff!

Day 1

Day one of the Meditation and Yoga Retreat – everyone arrives full of anticipation and curiosity about what will unfold over the next five days. Some people have done meditation before, and others are complete newbies. On arrival, everyone relaxes quickly as they come to see they are with a friendly group of like-minded people. Interested people and interesting people do meditation! Your teacher Susan welcomes the group and gives a clear map of the ground you will be covering over the five days.

Arriving at The Camp and seeing the large geodesic dome where you will be doing our retreat is a wide-eyed arriving. This place is truly spectacular with its lakeside mountain setting balanced with the green lush of the gardens.

The retreat begins by de-mystifying meditation – discussing what meditation is, why we might embark on a meditation practice and unpacking in detail the wide and varied benefits of meditation. Everyone gets super excited about the possibilities of bringing this life changing practice into their daily lives.

Day 2

With our introductions done it’s time to begin. For those that want to, a gentle flow over the yoga mat is the perfect way to wake up the body, to lift the energy and to prepare the body for sitting in meditation. A quick cuppa and then our deep dive into meditation begins. And where to begin? At the beginning of course! How to sit – chair, floor, cushion? Comfort is king.

Once you’ve got our posture set up our first topic is understanding what attention is. For many of us our mind is easily distracted with thoughts; over the course of this day, you will build an awareness of where our attention is and learn strategies to cultivate a more stable attention. You will have your first taste of the mind beginning to settle and quieten. You begin to practice patience and friendliness and follow with a Q&A (this will happen at the end of every session), everyone getting personal guidance around obstacles and strategies.

Day 3

Day three starts with yoga and maybe a friendly chat to some of your new meditation friends. Arriving with a few minutes to spare you might start with a fresh dip into the glorious deep blue of Lake Hawea. Truly the best way to prepare for a day learning meditation!

Today you will continue to build the skill of stability of mind, with regular short practices the mind more and more easily settles into quiet. First you’ll learn about the main obstacles that people come up against such as drowsiness, distraction or agitation and present specific strategies to overcome these. Like learning any new skill, we need intelligent and smart strategies rather than just loosely drifting along hoping to get it. The day is a mixture of meditation practices as well as plenty of Q&A and discussion, each participant receiving personal advice on how to progress their practice.

At the end of this day, after 2.5 days immersion in the practice, a real sense of calmness and tranquility becomes felt. Exciting times!

Day 4

Today you will make the shift from practices that still the mind to what we call Insight Practices – practices where we enquire into what is the mind and how does the mind work. A whole world awaits us here! You’ll take a fascinating dive into inquiries such as “what is consciousness”, “why does the mind get stuck in reactive patterns”, “what is the self?” and “am I my thoughts, or if not then what am I?”

Through meditative inquiry we come to see that our mind is constructing our experience in every way. There is nothing that is subjective in our experience. We come to see that everything is coloured by the lens we are looking through. This is an exciting discovery as we then understand that we are in control of our mind and our experience, we can no longer be buffeted by external events or situations.

Day 5

Our final day together enjoying the magic of The Camp Meditation Retreat and the theme of the day is awareness. The previous four days of practice has quietened thought; what remains is – awareness. Awareness is the background to thought. Awareness of sound, awareness of sky, awareness of sensation, awareness of emotion. We discuss in detail with practices to match – what is awareness? We shift from living life operating from thinking to instead operating from awareness. This is a monumental shift, perhaps one of the most significant a human could make. Awareness that is non-reactive, interconnected, non-dual, infinitely peaceful. Ooooh la la.

You will do some meditations seated and meditations walking outside. Bringing what you’ve learned off the cushion and into nature, or into conversations or into your lunch break. After all, bringing these learnings into your everyday life is what it’s all about.

As the final day draws to a close, looking back you will be surprised at how much you’ve learned and how far your practice has progressed. Our closing circle ends with an in-depth discussion around how to practice at home and continuing to evolve what you’ve learned. Warm goodbyes and lots of hugs with your new friends and fellow meditators – till we meet again!

If this interests you, secure your spot through the link below or get in touch with Susan. We can’t wait to see you at The Camp!

Secure Your Spot

Summer is here, and there’s no better time to soak up the sunshine, explore Lake Hawea, and enjoy everything our incredible region has to offer. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning for another unforgettable holiday season, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your summer stay at The Camp.

The Food Truck is Back!

Take your family to The Camp Food Truck for breakfast and dinner! We’re thrilled to announce that our food truck is in action. Our hours have extended for the peak season, which means that we are now open from Wednesday to Sunday, 8-11am and 3-8pm, from October through April.

We have a vibrant crew running the food truck this year and they are here to keep you fuelled for all your adventures.  Serving up fresh, locally sourced bites, you’ll find Kiwi-inspired flavours alongside mouth-watering vegan and gluten-friendly options. From quick breakfast fixes to hearty sunset dinners, there’s something for everyone. Don’t forget that we have ice, drinks, ice creams available on site at The Camp Shop.

Stay in the loop by following us on Instagram, and don’t forget to check out our breakfast menu and dinner menu.

The Secret Sauna – Growing to Meet Demand

After an incredible first year, The Secret Sauna is expanding! Nat has added an additional sauna to accommodate larger groups, so you can relax and unwind in this serene lakeside retreat. Everyone is raving about the health benefits! Nestled in the natural beauty of Lake Hawea, the sauna is the perfect way to recover from a big year or a long hike/bike ride. The sauna will be exclusively available to our guests up until 10 January 2025, so make sure to book your spot in advance.

What’s New in Lake Hawea?

Fresh Choice Supermarket

A brand-new Fresh Choice supermarket has opened in Lake Hawea, just minutes away from The Camp. Stocked with all your essentials and local goodies, it’s perfect for grabbing last-minute picnic supplies, fresh ingredients, or snacks for your adventures.

New Gym Opening

Fitness enthusiasts will love this addition to Lake Hawea’s offerings. The new gym in Hawea features 24 hour access, modern facilities and a convenient location, providing a fantastic way to stay active during your stay. Whether you’re maintaining your routine or unwinding after a day of exploring, the gym is ready to welcome you.

Plan It: Your Personal Travel Assistant

Make your trip to Lake Hawea truly unforgettable with Plan It, an app that connects you to a team of personal travel assistants. They’ll guide you to the best experiences and help you craft the trip of a lifetime – it’s the ultimate booking tool for adventures like jet boating, bungy jumping, and more.

Use code “THECAMP” to receive exclusive discounts on activities all across New Zealand. Whether it’s booking outdoor adventures, dining experiences, or local events, Plan It ensures you don’t miss a thing!

Local Events and Activities

Lake Hawea is buzzing with excitement this summer! Here are some highlights to add to your itinerary:

Live Music Nights

Catch live music on Sundays from 4.30-7.30pm by The Food Truck at The Camp through the summer months. We hosted the Dirty Money Duo a few weeks back, and have plenty more talent to keep you entertained! Keep an eye on our social media for updates on dates and artists.

Bike Hire & Outdoor Adventures

Leave your bike at home! We now offer bike rentals in conjunction with NZ Bike Trails so you can explore the area with ease. Explore on a regular bike or ebike the Dunstan Trail (with shuttles to the trail included) or choose a trail close to the camp. You can book bikes to hire through Plan It or by coming into the office at The Camp.

Use code THECAMP for exclusive deals. Experiences make great Christmas gifts, so plan ahead.

Yoga Classes

Yogis, rejoice! Don’t lose your progress over the silly season. You can sign up for a drop in yoga class while you’re staying at The Camp. Head down to the Lake Hawea Community Centre (located in the main township) for yoga classes with Danni on Thursday nights, from 6.30-7.45pm.

Learn More Here 

Surfing in Hawea

The newly launched YourWave is an exciting addition to the region. Perfect for surfers of all levels, this innovative wave pool allows you to catch the perfect wave, no matter the conditions. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner looking to try something new, YourWave offers a thrilling experience for everyone. Book your session online and get ready to ride! You can book this through Plan It to make your trip arrangements streamlined. Don’t forget to use the code “THECAMP” when starting your journey with Plan It.

Hawea is also home to its own purpose-built wave, which can be found at the Camphill Bridge. The Hawea Wave is great for white water kayak, bodyboarding and surfing, but be warned – this is not for the faint hearted or beginners!

Lake Hawea Disc Golf

Lake Hawea’s disc golf is probably one of the most beautiful courses in the country (but we might be bias). Play a 18-hole round (par 57) while taking in the serene lakeside views, located at the corner of Lakeview Terrace and Muir Road. All you need is a disc (frisbee) to play a round – it’s the perfect afternoon activity while you’re staying at The Camp with the family or your friends. You can find the map at the beginning of the course, online from the Hawea Community association or on the free app UDisk.

Hiking Trails Nearby

There’s plenty of walking and hiking trails catered for a variety of ability levels. If you fancy a stroll, the Gladstone Track is a fantastic walk along the lakefront and will get you to the disc golf course. For those after a bit more elevation, the Isthmus Peak Track boasts panoramic views of Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka – skip the crowds of Roy’s Peak and get an even better view.

Summer at The Camp Hawea is all about making memories, exploring the outdoors, and enjoying the best of what our region has to offer. Don’t forget to stay updated about news and everything else happening in the region through the Wanaka App. We can’t wait to welcome you and help make your stay unforgettable. See you soon!

Susan Allen, the visionary behind Retreats NZ, is not only the founder of Yoga Ground, esteemed studios located in Auckland and Wanaka, New Zealand, but also the driving force behind Entering the Stream, a distinguished online yoga and meditation platform, and The Yoga Transition, a premier yoga teacher mentorship endeavor for yogis who are seeking guidance about teaching yoga. It’s safe to say that Susan knows more about yoga than your average teacher.

Susan Allen from Retreats NZ concluded yet another transformative meditation and yoga retreat here at The Camp, Lake Hawea, New Zealand. With her extensive experience, Susan orchestrates retreats across New Zealand, extending her offerings to the local community in Wanaka while warmly welcoming guests from distant corners of the globe to join us.

This what Susan had to say about her April 2024 retreat:

“The retreat was a 5 day meditation and yoga retreat where participants were learning meditation practice from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Each day offered a full day of learning, yoga classes in the morning followed by morning and afternoon sessions where the meditation practices were taught. There were also plenty of breaks during the day for participants to soak up the surroundings, go for walks or swims in the lake, or just rest and have a picnic somewhere under the trees.

The Camp is such a good venue for retreats like these. The large geodesic dome that is called The Beehive is a great venue with plenty of light, warmth and views out to the lake and mountains. The dramatic mountain lake background is the spacious backdrop for this immersive meditation learning experience. 

The Buddhist practices learned have a particular emphasis on cultivating quietness and steadiness in the mind as well as cultivating insights that bring freedom and peace of mind into our everyday life. Tibetan Buddhist meditations value an intelligent and structured approach to investigating ‘What is the mind?’ and consequently frame meditation in a practical and methodical way. The meditation practices are taken from the Mahamudra and Dzogchen Tibetan Buddhist tradition and are presented in a secular, practical fashion. While most of the meditation practices were done inside the beehive, some where also done walking in the beautiful surroundings on the lake shore. This taking the practices ‘off the cushion’ is a key and integral part of these Buddhist practices as they are only really useful if we can use them in our everyday lives”

For updates on the upcoming meditation retreats hosted at The Camp, Lake Hawea, New Zealand, feel free to explore Retreats NZ online or reach out to Susan Allen directly by phone or email.

If you are interested in joining Susan at her next retreat why not stay on site and really enjoy what the surrounding lake and mountains have to offer. At The Camp and Cross Hill Lodge & Domes, a variety of accommodation options await you, catering to different preferences and budgets. From camping to glamping, cabins, tiny houses, and cottages, to luxurious 5-star Geodesic Domes, there’s something for everyone.

Book Your Spot Now

We were among 30 Upper Clutha businesses to attend the workshop.

Over the course of the morning, we heard from four businesses who have already made inroads into managing their waste and made real and lasting changes.

It was refreshing to hear from other local businesses who, like us, were tackling the issue of how we can continue our efforts as businesses in the race to reduce waste and we felt that we were certainly among those making a concerted effort. Our sustainability and regeneration efforts out here at The Camp are a top priority, while at the same time giving our guests the most authentic quinessential camping experience in New Zealand, so it was great to hear how others are managing their own unique situations.

After a delicious morning tea from the Fedeli team, we broke off into groups to discuss practical challenges and solutions to reducing and minimising business waste before we joined together to go over these and come up with action points to help everyone on their way.

The overarching message was clear: there’s strength in numbers, whether it’s in demanding change from suppliers or working together to establish a composting hub.

The energy and motivation were palpable and we’re excited to see what lies ahead for the region as well as what we are already doing and how we know that this will improve our environment and our experience for our guests, our team, and the land we hold so very dear.

The Camp Lake Hawea takes out title of best new build for unique geo dome project

A multi-million-dollar eco-dome glamping retreat on the shores of Lake Hawea has taken out the title of best new build over $100,000 at an industry awards ceremony last weekend.

The Camp, a quintessential Kiwi camping ground located in park-like settings on the shores of Lake Hawea, won the title of Resco Best New Build over $100k Award at the Holiday Parks Association of New Zealand (HAPNZ) annual awards for the development of the Cross Hill Lodge & Domes.

The judges were impressed by the six energy-efficient geodesic domes which have been designed and built in a secluded area of The Camp, providing a premium level of glamping accommodation at the popular South Island glamping spot.

HAPNZ CEO Fergus Brown said the judges were “very impressed with the premium product”.

“The geodesic domes provide quality accommodation at a premium rate that will meet the needs of visitors and provide valuable income for the property. It is excellent to see holiday parks investing in new and improved product at a time when business is very difficult.

“The judges applaud Sarah and Richard for providing a premium product to meet customer demand as well as exceeding their expectations when they arrive,” he added.

In the works for over two years, and delayed due to covid-19, owners Sarah and Richard Burdon forged ahead with the $2M + build despite the pressures and uncertainty of covid-19.

Co-owner Sarah Burdon said the couple and the wider Camp team were “stoked” to take out the title.

“We’ve all worked so hard to get the domes completed, facing numerous barriers along the way.  It is one of our long-term sustainability goals to provide accommodation all year round so to have the domes now finally open and experienced by guests for the winter is so rewarding. The feedback we’re getting is phenomenal and guests are loving the uniqueness of the concept and the High-Country Hospitality we’re providing”, said Sarah.

Located within the parklike surroundings of The Camp, Cross Hill Lodge and Domes celebrate the magic of human connection on the land with high country hospitality and premium comfort in a remote, peaceful setting.

Each of the six domes at Cross Hill has a 40sqm interior with a 30sqm deck and provide an enviable architectural aesthetic, bringing the outside in, to each and every dome.

The floor to ceiling window enables guests to lie beneath the stars at night, cocooned, safe and warm (or cool) from the outside elements and in the day the beauty of the natural environment surrounds the domes.

The domes are the latest accommodation offering at The Camp, which introduced Bell, Denver and Safari-style glamping tents to the campground in 2019, to complement its cottages, cabins and other camping options.

ENDS

Video: Click here to view a video of Cross Hill.

About Cross Hill Lodge & Domes

Cross Hill Lodge & Domes offer premium, unique accommodation in Lake Hawea. Offering high country hospitality at its best, guests at Cross Hill Lodge & Domes become part of the family. Use your own private geo dome as a base from which to explore the region, before sharing stories of your day with our host team and other guests at Cross Hill Lodge. Cross Hill offers more than accommodation, Cross Hill is where paths cross, stories are shared and memories made.

Fast Facts:

• Located in a secluded area of The Camp, Lake Hawea
• Six geodesic domes spanning 40sq m interiors and 30sqm decks
• Kitchenette with dishwasher
• Private changing area with hanging space and full-length mirror
• Premium interiors inspired by the local area
• Environmentally friendly heating and cooling system
• Access to Cross Hill Lodge including hot tub, massage room and lounge areas

We have: 

• Two-bedroom cottages (self-contained) – each has two bedrooms, own bathroom /toilet and kitchen/ lounge – $540.00 per week for four people
• Powered sites for FULLY self-contained campervans – This means you need to have your own toilet, shower and cooking facilities as the shared facilities in the Camp are CLOSED and not be used – $160.00 per week
• Two x four-bedroom holiday houses (self-contained) in the Hawea township – from $750.00 per week for four people, extra people $25/person/night

All our shared facilities are closed to the general public and are NOT to be used during the COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown.

To make a booking please call 027 226 0290 or email: stay@thecamp.co.nz

Please note all lock down rules MUST be adhered to while staying at The Camp to ensure we stop the spread of the virus together.

We thank all of our guests for visiting us this summer and we look forward to welcoming you back later in the year. Stay Safe!