How to camp
For the best experience, stay at one of New Zealand's great campsites. Many campsites and campgrounds have cooking, toilet and shower facilities on site - everything you need in one place. You might even make new friends.
If you do decide to camp on public land, there are some things you need to know. Rules about where and how you can camp are different across New Zealand. Every district and council has different bylaws so it's important to do your homework before visiting each region.
Check out the list of useful websites below or visit an i-SITE Visitor Information Centre to find out more.
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Freedom Camping Act
The New Zealand Government established the Freedom Camping Act in 2011 to regulate camping on land controlled by local authorities and by the Department of Conservation.
Freedom Camping Act
Find out more about the act and how it applies to you. -
Camping on conservation land
Camping is permitted on public conservation land, except in areas where it is expressly prohibited or restricted to self-contained vehicles. This is indicated at each location by signage. For a list of conservation areas where camping is prohibited or restricted to self-contained vehivles visit the Department of Conservation's website.
Department of Conservation -
Self Containment Certification
Certified Self-contained vehicle must meet the Caravan Self Containment Certification Standard.
Self Containment Certification Standard
You'll need to be able to live in it for three days without getting more water or dumping waste. It must have:
-a toilet
-fresh water storage
-waste water storage, and
-a rubbish bin with a lid.
These rules are in place to encourage campers to be responsible for all their own waste, and leave each camping area as they find it.
A plumber, gasfitter or other qualified officer needs to check if your vehicle meets the requirements. If it passes, they will give you a warrant and a blue and white sticker to display in your vehicle. These are the only people you should get this sticker from. -
Council camping bylaws
Make sure you're following the bylaws for the areas you're in by checking with the local council. For a full list of New Zealand councils click the link below.
New Zealand Councils -
Whangarei District Council
Whangarei District Council -
Thames-Coromandel District Council
Thames-Coromandel District Council -
Hamilton & Waikato
Hamilton & Waikato -
Tauranga City Council
Tauranga City Council -
Western Bay of Plenty District Council
Western Bay of Plenty District Council -
Gisborne District Council
Gisborne District Council -
Rotorua Lakes District Council
Rotorua Lakes District Council -
Napier City Council
Napier City Council -
Kapiti Coast District Council
Kapiti Coast District Council -
Wellington City Council
Wellington City Council -
Nelson City Council
Nelson City Council -
Tasman District Council
Tasman District Council -
Kaikoura District Council
Kaikoura District Council -
Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council -
Mackenzie District Council
Mackenzie District Council -
Waitaki District Council
Waitaki District Council -
Central Otago District Council
Central Otago District Council -
Dunedin City Council
Dunedin City Council -
Queenstown Lakes District Council
Queenstown Lakes District Council -
Southland District Council
Southland District Council