Last Updated on: 1 December 2025

The Argyle Pond camp area is located in the Marlborough area.

Turn off State Highway 63 and drive for around 3-minutes up to the Argyle Powerhouse.  Opposite the powerhouse is a small uphill climb. There you will find the Argyle Pond camping area where you will experience a big open space with plenty of room to camp; nice and quiet.

Explore the Local Area

This area of New Zealand is known for its high-quality wines, and what better way to enjoy one of the sunniest regions of New Zealand than through a winery tour!  Relax and marvel at the amazing scenery as you are driven through this stunning area.

Quick Facts about this walk

  • Location: Off State Highway 63, Marlborough region, near St Arnaud
  • Access: 3 mins to Argyle Powerhouse, then drive over the dam to the camp spot
  • Cost: Free (self-contained vehicles only)
  • Facilities: Toilets reportedly now closed due to vandalism — check before going
  • Features: Boat ramp, open grassy space, shady spots by the trees
  • Heads up: Rough gravel road, sandfly central, no firewood available onsite

Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

Good views of the Richmond range.

Track Quality

Dirt road from the top of the dam. You get to drive along the top of the dam.

Water

Due to the drinking water quality rules brought into play last year there is no drinking water, there are signs at the camp ground stating this.

Driving Instructions

It's an interesting side trip off State Highway 63 in the Marlborough region. Turn off SH63 and drive about 3 minutes up to the Argyle Powerhouse. Opposite the powerhouse is a small uphill climb. Drive past the powerhouse onto the dirt road, then along the top of the dam to reach the camp spot — another 3 minutes or so.

Area & Trail History

Lake Argyle is an artificial lake about one kilometre long in the Wairau valley, built as a storage reservoir for the Branch hydro-electric scheme. It was commissioned in 1983 and officially opened in April 1984 by Prime Minister Robert Muldoon. The project cost $24.5 million. The scheme diverts water from the Branch River into Lake Argyle, which then feeds two powerhouses — the smaller Argyle powerhouse nearby, and a larger one down near the Wairau River that generates most of the electricity. Originally owned by the Marlborough Electric Power Board, the scheme was sold to Trustpower in 1999 following electricity reforms that prevented companies owning both networks and generation assets. By that point it was supplying up to 26% of Marlborough's electricity. The lake is kept stocked with trout and remains a popular fishing spot.

Map Location

Points of interest along the walk​

Argyle Pond Camping
Argyle Pond Camping
Argyle Pond Camping
Argyle pond camp site
Argyle pond

Argyle Pond Camping Area

Camping type: It’s a shady camping area for self-contained campervans — so freedom camping rules apply and you’ll need a certified self-contained vehicle.

Facilities: Toilets and water (not drinkable) are in the middle of the camp area. However, due to ongoing vandalism, the toilet block is now permanently closed according to more recent reviews, so check before you go.

Setting: It’s a big open space with plenty of room to camp, nice and quiet. There’s also a boat ramp onsite, and it’s peaceful and idyllic when waterskiers aren’t practising.

Other notes: There’s no wood there suitable for firewood, so bring your own if you want a fire. It’s ground-zero for sandflies, so pack repellent. The road in is quite rough gravel with some very large puddle-craters, and two small concrete fords have steep entry and exit ramps that may challenge low-slung vehicles.

Cost: The site is now free to stay for self-contained campers.

Walks Nearby

Argyle Pond is about 36 km from St Arnaud, so the walks in Nelson Lakes National Park at Lake Rotoiti are the closest options. Here’s what’s nearby:

Short walks at Lake Rotoiti (St Arnaud)

  • Bellbird Walk — wheelchair-friendly, starts at Kerr Bay
  • Honeydew Walk — easy loop through beech forest, part of the Rotoiti Nature Recovery area
  • Loop Track — 1.5 hours, climbs through beech forest with lake and mountain views
  • Brunner Peninsula Nature Walk — follows the shoreline between Kerr Bay and West Bay
  • Black Hill Walk — climbs through beech forest onto Black Hill with views of St Arnaud village

Longer day walks

  • St Arnaud Range Track — 5-6 hours return, climbs to over 1650m with spectacular views from Parachute Rocks
  • Mount Robert Circuit — 2.5-4 hours, 7.5 km
  • Whisky Falls Walk — starts from Mt Robert Road carpark, goes to a 40m waterfall

Multi-day options

  • Lake Rotoiti Circuit — 5-7 hours around the entire lake
  • Travers-Sabine Circuit — popular multi-day backcountry tramp including Blue Lake