Free Camping in New Zealand: Your Ultimate Guide

New Zealand, with its diverse landscapes packed into a compact area, offers a fantastic destination for a road trip with family or friends. Furthermore, there are numerous scenic routes leading to stunning and remote locations where free camping opportunities flourish. Respecting New Zealand’s beaches, forests, and waterways guarantees a warm welcome from the locals. Here are the top tips to help you discover legal free camping spots and ensure your experience is ‘sweet as’.

Where Can You Camp? Always Ask First!

It’s crucial to inquire about camping regulations at the local i-SITE tourist information centre. They can inform you about designated areas suitable for free or ‘freedom camping’ (essentially setting up camp anywhere). However, be cautious; that picturesque hilltop view you spot might be on private property, and camping there could lead to legal issues.

Many New Zealand towns and cities provide specific areas for free camping. Additionally, check the Department of Conservation (DOC) website (doc.govt.nz) for locations where camping is permitted, typically for a small fee covering amenities. Always pay attention to signs indicating whether camping is allowed.

Best Source for Local Information? DOC is Your Friend

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is essential for an excellent backpacking and road-tripping experience in New Zealand. DOC manages over 200 campsites across the country, typically priced between NZ$6 to NZ$10 per person per night, which often include barbecues, cooking shelters, toilets, and running water access!

Top camping locations include sites by Lake Karapiro near Hobbiton on the North Island, and at Cascade Creek in the Fiordland National Park heading towards the breathtaking Milford Sound. Moreover, DOC offers free campsites, typically in remote wilderness areas, but these are often limited to self-contained vehicles, due to the lack of public toilets.

Best Camping Apps for Your Smart Device

Before departing, ensure you have extra storage on your phone or tablet. You will need it for videos of Māori welcomes, mountain biking, and Milford Sound. Additionally, consider downloading helpful apps from Google Play or the Apple Store. The ‘Official Camping NZ’ app, developed in partnership with DOC and the i-SITE network, provides a complete guide to every legal free and paid camping location nationwide. It’s approved by local councils and contains reviews from fellow travellers. Offline maps are available, which is an excellent feature since mobile data can be costly in New Zealand. Another useful app is CamperMate.

Plan Your Trip by Visiting Local Websites

The New Zealand Tourism Industry Association has created a ‘Camping Our Way’ website (camping.org.nz) that offers a handy summary in various languages, including English, French, Dutch, German, and Spanish. By clicking on ‘designated areas’, you can also download the Official Camping NZ app seamlessly.

For regional camping information available on the app, including detailed descriptions of facilities and traveller reviews, check out the ‘Respect NZ’ map on the Rankers website (rankers.co.nz/respect). Moreover, if you’re renting a campervan from local companies like Spaceships (spaceshipsrentals.co.nz), Jucy Rentals (jucy.co.nz), or Escape (escaperentals.co.nz), their websites also provide guidelines for freedom camping. Consequently, there’s ample information regarding freedom camping in New Zealand.

The Importance of On-board Toilet Facilities

If you plan to camp around New Zealand, pay close attention to this information. With a campervan equipped with toilet facilities and a grey water storage system, you can legally stay at authorised campsites without public toilets. Various camping websites and apps provide information on waste water dumping facilities.

Conversely, if you’re driving a smaller campervan or regular car, camping is permitted only at sites with public toilets. This limitation aims to preserve New Zealand’s pristine beauty and prevent environmental degradation.

Tips on How to Be Environmentally Responsible

New Zealanders take immense pride in their environment and are eager to share their stunning country with visitors. However, some negative behaviors from tourists have led to environmental concerns. Therefore, adhering to guidelines can lead to a more enjoyable and less harmful freedom camping experience.

• Leave no trace of your campsite.
• Dispose of all litter properly. If there are no bins, take your waste with you.
• Avoid chopping down trees or vegetation for campfires; this is detrimental to the environment.
• Keep soaps, detergents, and toothpaste away from waterways during cleaning or washing.

Visitors come to New Zealand for its stunning environment; thus, it’s our shared responsibility to treat the forests, lakes, and rivers with respect.

The Freedom Camping Act: It’s the Law

Due to the irresponsible actions of some freedom campers in New Zealand over the past decade—such as littering and improper waste disposal—the Freedom Camping Act was enacted in 2011.

This legislation empowers local councils to impose fines of up to NZ$200 for illegal overnight camping. Additionally, some councils impose a further NZ$200 fee for wheel clamping. Consequently, an impulsive decision to camp illegally may lead to significant expenses, and there are plans to ensure fines are settled before departing New Zealand.

With a variety of free and low-cost camping options, there is significant support among New Zealanders for fines as a reasonable consequence for non-compliance with the law.

Ultimately, cherish this beautiful country as the locals do, and make the most of your freedom camping adventures throughout this breathtaking landscape. Sweet as.

This article was first published in October 2016.