Mrs Simonsen, who is in her 80s, first camped at Clyde with her late husband Vic and two daughters 42 years ago.
Since then, she has returned at Christmas, Easter, and Labour Day each year, apart from either one or two years in between.
"Vic's mother lived at Clyde and knew the woman in charge of the camping ground so she found us a good site and we've had it ever since.
"I love Central Otago and looking at the hills . . . the skies are so clear you can see the Milky Way and beautiful moon," Mrs Simonsen said.
When considering whether to buy a house at Clyde, Mr and Mrs Simonsen decided against it because they loved the fellowship experienced when camping with other families nearby.
Mrs Simonsen has seen a lot of people come and go, but said there were always familiar faces around.
When Mr Simonsen died in 1989 she continued to make the journey with daughters Kirsten and Andrea, who as adults have followed tradition and stayed at the camp with Mrs Simonsen's two grandchildren.
Celebrating Christmas and her birthday on December 27 at the camp each year, Mrs Simonsen enjoyed a few luxuries while away from home.
A television, two fridges, microwave, and double hot plate helped when it came to cooking Christmas dinner and surviving her regular three-week stay.
It has not always been as comfortable.
"One year, the caretaker got a bee in his bonnet about Vic, so he knocked our whole tent down and threw it down the river bank.
"All our friends marched over, picked it up, and put it back on the site," she said.
The incident prompted the purchase of a caravan, which is transported from Dunedin, set up at Clyde, and returned home by Mrs Simonsen each visit, with the help of family and friends.
