Camping in New Zealand© Unsplash
Camping in New Zealand

Camping in New Zealand

© Unsplash

The Best Way to Experience the New Zealand Wilderness

Camping is the best way to experience the great outdoors! The country is well-known for its beauty and many campsites are situated in stunning areas. With so many campsites in New Zealand, it is an affordable accommodation option. Sometimes it’s even free! Not only that, but you can meet a variety of people when staying in campsites, from fellow backpackers to families, both overseas and Kiwis.

So check out the guide to camping in New Zealand below to see what your options are when it comes to New Zealand camping. We’ll go through Department of Conservation campsites, holiday parks, free campsites and freedom camping.

Plus, for things to pack, check out our Camping Essentials Checklist for New Zealand. Be sure to bookmark The Best Travel Guide to New Zealand for even more tips.

The Laws on Freedom Camping

The laws on freedom camping are a little fuzzy in New Zealand, after the Freedom Camping Act 2011. You can freedom camp on public land only if you are camping responsibly (see the eco-friendly camping section below). However, councils can enforce camping bans on certain areas or entire districts. Anyone found camping in a banned area or not camping responsibly can be fined up to NZ$10,000. Yikes!

Unless you are certain you can legally camp somewhere, it is smarter to pick a designated campsite. Plus, campsites at least have the basic facilities to benefit you and the environment. For more information on freedom camping in New Zealand, head on over to our freedom camping guide.

Camping in New Zealand© NZPocketGuide.com

Where to Camp in New Zealand

Although freedom camping is limited in New Zealand, that doesn’t mean there is a lack of places to camp! New Zealand’s designated campsites are:

  • The Department of Conservation (DoC) campsites
  • holiday parks
  • and other designated campsites.

Check on the DoC website to find your nearest campsite and browse our Camping & Holiday Parks category for holiday park listings.

To have your DoC campsite locations on the road, download the NZ DoC Campsite Finder app.

Pixabay© Pixabay

DoC Campsite Facilities

DoC has six types of campsites. Some campsites require booking in advance through the DoC website or at a DoC visitor centre. Other campsites require you to pay fees via the self-registration system at the campsite or nearest visitor centre. You pay per person in the DoC campsites or you can purchase a Campsite Pass for a week, month or a year.

Serviced campsites (NZ$20) have toilets, water, kitchen bench, hot showers, rubbish collections. Some will have BBQ, laundry, fireplace, cooker and picnic tables.

Scenic campsites (NZ$15) have the same facilities as services campsites minus kitchen bench, hot showers. They may have cold showers.

Standard campsites ($8) a more basic toilet (composting or pit) and water supply (tap, stream or lake). They may have cold showers.

Basic campsites (free) are similar to standard campsites, but be prepared to be fully self-sufficient.

Backcountry campsites tend to vary in price and facilities.

There are almost 60 Great Walk campsites. They provide similar facilities to standard and basic campsites at varied prices. See the DOC website for Great Walk campsite prices.

Pixabay© Pixabay

Holiday Park Facilities

Holiday parks tend to have all the facilities you need. As well as campsites, they tend to have units, powered sites and even a hostel or motel. So in holiday parks, you can expect hot showers, toilets, laundry and kitchens. Take a look at our Accommodation Guide to Holiday Parks in New Zealand to get an idea of what accommodation types are available.

Holiday park fees tend to be per site used, rather than per person. Prices range from NZ$30-$50. Therefore, the more people the merrier (and cheaper)!

In New Zealand, you are never too far away from a holiday park, especially in spots with points of interest. Find out where your nearest holiday parks are in our Camping & Holiday Parks category.

 Eli Duke on Flickr© Eli Duke on Flickr

Eco-friendly Camping

When you see how beautiful New Zealand is, you’ll want to do what you can to keep it that way. The unique wildlife, plant life and fellow campers will thank you for respecting the environment. For camping rules you should be aware of and abide by when in New Zealand, see our 11 Golden Rules of Camping in New Zealand. Otherwise, here are some ways to be eco-friendly while camping.

  • Use facilities campsite facilities are there to convenience you and the environment. Use campsite toilets and showers. Also, take advantage of the facilities on the road.
  • Don’t litter take waste with you and find a bin.
  • Recycle it saves the environment and money to reuse water bottles and plastic bags. You can also find recycling bins. Just ask at the local i-SITE.
  • Use dump stations if travelling by camper van, NZ has many designated dump stations. Ask at your nearest i-SITE.
  • Don’t wash your clothes in rivers and streams to prevent the spread of unwanted pests and diseases.
  • Fire bans do not light a fire if there is a fire ban in the area.
© Quickmeme

Camp Safely

When camping in New Zealand, it’s best to be prepared. After all, New Zealand is said to experience “4 seasons in a day”. So clothes-wise, you should carry waterproofs and extra layers to keep warm. Make sure your tent is waterproofed and sealed before using it. Check the specific facilities at campsites before embarking on your adventure, to see what cooking equipment you might need.

For multi-day walks in New Zealand, such as the 10 Great Walks, check out our article on How to Prepare for a Great Walk.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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