Mike and Clare Allison and Heather and Stu Thorne had the pick of the sites in the empty camping ground.
They and their families have been regular Kidds Bush campers for 30 years, and the two couples travelled to the Department of Conservation-owned camping ground specifically to celebrate access being restored.
Mrs Thorne described the camping ground as ''a proper Kiwi holiday'' spot and said she was delighted the access road to it was open again.
The road is on Hunter Valley Station land and has been closed since April, when pastoral leaseholders Taff and Pene Cochrane shut the gate.
They were unhappy at a lack of progress by the Crown and the Queenstown Lakes District Council to resolve issues over the use of their land for public access.
Mr Allison said the two couples were among the regular camping ground users who pushed to ensure public access was restored.
He paid tribute to Wanaka Community Board chairwoman Rachel Brown and Queenstown Lakes deputy mayor Lyal Cocks for the part they had played.
Cr Cocks said yesterday the council was working through a the Public Works Act process to secure permanent, long-term public access.
