Rarakau Lodge Guests park for free
Convenient, monitored and free for guests for the full length of your walk — whether that's an afternoon or a month.
Rarakau Lodge Car Park
Our car park is located at 1304B Papatotara Coast Road, Rowallan, Tuatapere 9691, right at Rarakau Lodge.
The final stretch from Tuatapere is a nice, easy drive — a cruisy, relaxing run through the Southland backcountry, with stunning coastal and mountain vistas the whole way to the lodge.
24-hour cameras and onsite security keep watch around the clock, so you can leave your vehicle with peace of mind.
Rarakau Lodge guests park free for the entire length of their hike.
Rarakau Lodge Car Park Features
- Right at the start and finish of the Hump Ridge Track.
- No rushing to miss the bus if you're leisurely.
- No waiting around for a shuttle if you're swift.
- Free, monitored parking for all lodge guests
- Boot cleaning station available at the lodge
- Food cart on site for a pre or post-walk bite
- Public toilets available at the car park
- Hot showers available on site, free for lodge guests
- Dedicated accessible parking spaces
- Park your car for the duration of your Hump Ridge Track walk
- Campervan parking available
- Track information available on site
Find Rarakau Lodge Carpark
Take State Highway 99 west through the rural townships of Otautau and Orawia to Tuatapere, gateway to the Hump Ridge Track. From Tuatapere, it's a nice, easy, cruisy drive onto Papatotara Coast Road — a relaxing, scenic run through the backcountry with stunning coastal and mountain vistas the whole way to the very end of the road, where the lodge and car park are waiting. Approximately 1 hour, door to door.
Head south on State Highway 1 through Balclutha and Gore towards Invercargill, then turn onto State Highway 96/99 and head west through Otautau to Tuatapere. From there, it's an easy, cruisy final stretch onto Papatotara Coast Road — a relaxing, scenic drive through the backcountry with stunning coastal and mountain vistas all the way to the end of the road. Approximately 3 hours, with rolling Southland farmland for most of the drive.
Follow the Southern Scenic Route (State Highway 94, then State Highway 99) south through Manapouri and Clifden to Tuatapere, skirting the edge of Fiordland National Park along the way. From Tuatapere, it's a nice, easy, cruisy run onto Papatotara Coast Road — a relaxing, scenic stretch through the backcountry with stunning coastal and mountain vistas the whole way to the end of the road. Approximately 1.5 hours.
Head south on State Highway 6 towards Mossburn, then join the Southern Scenic Route (State Highway 99) west through Otautau to Tuatapere. From there, it's an easy, cruisy final stretch onto Papatotara Coast Road — a relaxing, scenic drive through classic Southland backcountry with stunning coastal and mountain vistas all the way to the end of the road. Approximately 2.5 hours.
Have a question about parking? Send us a message and we'll get back to you.
Just for fun / a rough guide — parking is $5/day for non-guests and free for anyone staying at the lodge, however long the car sits there. Showers are $10 for non-guests (free if you're staying). Towels are $5, free if you're staying 2+ nights. The spa is $20, free if you've booked the Deluxe Suite.
Rarakau Lodge Rooms
Deluxe SuiteRarakau Lodge$180/night
Twin Bunk RoomRarakau Lodge$200/night
Single Bunk Bed (Shared)Rarakau Lodge$60/night