Summer is looking a little different at the Maitai Valley Campground this year, with a new owner, new managers, and a whole lot of upgrades.
Owner Chris Wagner and his company, Penny, took over the campground in June 2025, and Honza Picha and his wife Mirka have come on board to manage it.
What they have achieved since then is pretty impressive – not to mention the infrastructure upgrades completed by Nelson City Council over the past two years.
There are five cabins at the campground, which have all been relocated and upgraded.
“The cabins were leaky, so we had to replace the roofs and insulate them. We also replaced the floors, painted the walls, painted the outside, and refurnished them,” Honza says.
The toilet and shower blocks have also had a spruce up.
“Some of it hadn’t been touched for a very long time,” Chris adds.
Another addition is a new sauna for guests to use. Called the ‘Ahi Mahi Sauna’, it’s located right next to the river.
The council has appointed Penny as the successful leaseholder to manage the camp for an initial term of five years, with one right of renewal for a further five years. The New Zealand-owned company manages campgrounds throughout the country.
The appointment follows the council’s extensive $1.8 million upgrade to the camp’s facilities over the past 24 months.
Since 2022, the campground had been restricted to just 80 campers due to an outdated wastewater system. That system has now been completely replaced, allowing increased capacity to 400 campers a night, while significantly reducing environmental impacts.
Other improvements include a new barbecue and picnic area, new water taps, and campervan dump stations.
Chris says their approach to running the campground combines a traditional Kiwi camping experience with smart technology.
Guests can use self-service devices and the Penny App to book and manage their stays, and updated technology means they have better access control and enhanced safety monitoring.
At the same time, Chris wants to make sure the true kiwi camping experience doesn’t get lost.
“There’s a whole lot of campgrounds that have been converted into housing over the last five years…. But we want to preserve the idea of Kiwis going camping… kids learning to catch a fish, how to make a fire, all that sort of stuff that’s being lost.”
Next summer, they are looking at adding in some big glamping tents and maybe some more cabins. They still have bookings available through January, and Chris encourages locals to come have a holiday – in fact, they’ve already had some Nelsonians book their summer stay.
“You don’t have to drive for three hours. Seven minutes and you are out here, and it feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere,” Chris says.
He adds that there is plenty around to do near the camp, too.
“You’ve got golf course, the mountainbiking tracks and walking tracks… There is also a pump track, frisbee golf, and archery just up the road.”
Honza says they have lots of ideas for the campground, including utilising it during the off-peak months.
“We might do some evening bonfires and game days for kids.”
Chris says they would also like to bring school camps to the Maitai.
“There are so many schools now that either can’t afford it or just don’t do it anymore, and it’s so important for young kids to be able to go out into nature.”
They still have long-term residents at the campground, and Chris says this is working well. They have also just got their first tiny home on site, and they will soon have the capacity for more.
