Ashley Gorge Camping Ground sits beside the clear Ashley River / Rakahuri at the base of Mount Thomas forest, less than an hour's drive from Christchurch in North Canterbury.

The campground spreads across 12 acres of grassy sites shaded by native trees, with an additional 13 acres of picnic area alongside.

Sheltered against the foothills, it enjoys its own mild microclimate, free from the cold easterlies that affect much of the region.

The river is a focal point for guests, offering swimming and a popular take-out point for packrafters and kayakers running the Ashley Gorge whitewater section upstream.

Native bush walking tracks wind through the surrounding woodland, and birdlife — tui, fantail, kererū, and morepork — is abundant. The campground accommodates tent and powered sites alongside cabins, a bunkhouse, and a camping pod.