About Lakeland Park
Lakeland Park was established in 1957 to provide the youth of Otago and Southland areas with a camp-site in one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand.
After World War 2 the government of the day actively encouraged organizations to get involved with the youth of the country. It gifted land to those organizations who would involve themselves in looking after the moral, spiritual and recreational interests in our country.
Alan and Harold Melhop, brothers and Invercargill businessmen that also were the founders of the K-Jet and Shotover Jet boat operations), together with their wives and others were involved in youth work among churches in Invercargill decided that a camp in Queenstown
They came to Queenstown, hired a boat (no road access at that time) and rowed across to what is now Bay View Road at Kelvin Heights and explored the area. A approach to the government requesting this land for a youth holiday camp was made by working with the adjoining land owner at the time the gifted land was swapped with some of his land above. The camp trustees agreed with his idea because they were concerned about being so close to the lake and the safety of children.
The Queenstown Christian Camp Trust was formed in 1957 to control and manage of the gifted land pursuant to a Gazette Notice dated 29th June 1959. They also purchased further land next to the gifted land using funds from trust members.
The Kawarau Jet, born in the summer 1960 was the world's first commercial jet boating operation. Both Kawarau Jet (and the Shotover Jet) were inextricably linked with the Lakeland Christian Camp in 1960 when camp trustees and Invercargill brothers Alan and Harold Melhop made the first powered navigation of the Kawarau Falls dam in a Hamilton Jet 30. Holidaymakers soon lined up for rides on the thrilling new boat and at five shillings a go - the trip provided efficient fundraising for the Christian Camp. So began one of Queenstown's most successful and enduring adventure tourism operations.
The Melhop brothers were devout Christians and the Christian principles on which the camp was founded remain to the forefront of the operation today. The camp is not like a private or council-owned camping ground and the prices set by the camp trust board are considered carefully and deliberately to be kept at a modest level to just cover the costs of operating and improvements so that the facility can continue to be used by groups without extensive resources. Therefore Lakeland Park remains one of the most affordable group venues in the Queenstown region.
There is no doubt that such a facility could never be developed in this location today.
You can read more about the amazing history of Lakeland Park on the information panels in the Main Camp Dining Room and here in a new book: 100 years of Christian Camping
Donate to Lakeland Park
As a charitable trust, the Lakeland Park Trust Board tries to keep it's overnight charges as low as possible. However this often means that we need to wait for funds to build up and/or apply for funding to make needed improvements and even some general maintenance.
Donations made to Lakeland Park are appreciated and helpful to us keeping our facility top notch, tidy and well maintained. All donations are tax-deductible and we issue donation receipts at the end of the financial year.
Account Details: Queenstown Christian Camp Trust
Account Number: BNZ # 02-1265-0010364-00
Reference: Please use your name and the word "donation"