12 mile delta is actually a really great campsite (I have heard that the midgies can be bad), but it's right on the water - it's a DOC campground so you do have to pay a small amount (usually around $15 per person).

The main reason I'm adding it in is because it's a LOTR location (Frodo, Sam and Gollum watch the battle between Faramir's Rangers of Gondor and the men (and Oliphaunts) of Harad. Sam and Gollum discuss coney cookery.)

• View: 45° 4.008'S 168° 32.683'E - view in Google maps

• Coney cooking: 45° 4.151'S 168° 32.587'E - view in Google maps