Upper Eglinton Campsite

Overview

About Upper Eglinton Campsite

Upper Eglinton is a simple DOC campsite tucked right off the Te Anau–Milford Highway, roughly 70 km north of Te Anau. It trades creature comforts for setting: broad valley floor, steep mountains, and starry skies when the weather plays nice. If you want a low-key night in classic Fiordland scenery before or after Milford Sound, this is an easy win.

Why stop

Big Eglinton Valley views right off Milford Road
Handy base for Earl Mountains walks and Eglinton River fishing

Heads up

Very basic facilities with untreated water and no power
Sandflies can be intense

Unlike the busier holiday parks, this is a small, no-frills stop in the middle of the Eglinton Valley—scenic, quiet (outside peak season), and close to trailheads in the Earl Mountains. You’re camping in a classic glacial valley, so the views do a lot of the heavy lifting.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhat makes it different

Map

Where it is

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CampgroundUpper Eglinton Campsite-44.92734, 168.03190

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Upper Eglinton Campsite

It’s first-come, first-served—arrive early in peak season.
Bring strong insect repellent; sandflies are active at dawn and dusk.
Carry and treat your own water; no potable supply on site.
Pack out all rubbish—there are no bins.
Use fireplaces only when permitted and only in designated pits.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Seasons: Works year-round; summer brings longer evenings but also more sandflies and campers.
Daily rhythm: Late afternoon arrival nets softer light on the peaks; mornings are calm and photogenic.
Crowds: First-come, first-served—arrive earlier in peak season to secure a spot.

Facilities and what to expect

Think standard DOC basics: toilets, designated fireplaces, and an untreated water source (boil or treat before drinking). No power, no showers, no bins—pack out everything. It’s a straightforward pull-in off SH94 with simple parking and space for tents or small vehicles. Fires are only in provided fireplaces and only when permitted.

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Fiordland Tour Guide

Your drive to Upper Eglinton Campsite, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Fiordland National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Fiordland audio tour

Recorded for this place

Upper Eglinton Campsite: A Base for Hikers

Listen

“The campsite you're passing is the Upper Eglinton Campsite, positioned right on the flat floor of the valley.”

Plays as you drive up to Upper Eglinton Campsite in the Parkwolf Fiordland Tour Guide.

More about Upper Eglinton Campsite

Things to doDay walks and tramping: Earl Mountain tracks are nearby, making this a handy overnight for…

Day walks and tramping: Earl Mountain tracks are nearby, making this a handy overnight for hikers.
Fly fishing: The Eglinton River is right there and popular with anglers.
Valley wandering and photography: Morning and evening light sweep down the valley for easy, dramatic shots.

WildlifeExpect a healthy chorus of native birds at dawn, and keep an eye out for curious locals like…

Expect a healthy chorus of native birds at dawn, and keep an eye out for curious locals like weka around camp. You’re in prime Fiordland habitat, so treat wildlife with respect and keep food locked down.

PracticalitiesBring insect repellent, warm layers, and full rain gear—Fiordland weather swings.

Bring insect repellent, warm layers, and full rain gear—Fiordland weather swings.
Boil/treat all water; there’s no potable tap.
Pay your camping fees and pack out every scrap of rubbish.
Fires only in designated pits and only when there’s no fire ban.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Fiordland

All Fiordland wildlife maps

1,181 sightingsKeaMost seen around 10 AMSighting map

199 sightingsFiordland PenguinMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

228 sightingsBlue DuckMost seen around 5 PMSighting map

32 sightingsBottlenose DolphinMost seen around 5 PMSighting map

247 sightingsNew Zealand Fur SealMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

58 sightingsKākāMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Fiordland. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.