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.

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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 year.

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

Fees typically range from NZ$25 per night for adults (18+) and NZ$12.50 for children (5-17) on unpowered sites, infants (0-4) stay free, while powered sites cost around NZ$20-$28 per adult and NZ$10-$14 per child per night, infants (0-4) stay free.

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

Fees typically range from NZ$10-$20 per night for adults (18+) and NZ$5-$10 for children (5-17) on powered and unpowered sites, and infants (0-4) stay free.

Basic campsites are similar to standard campsites, but be prepared to be fully self-sufficient. Fees are free for basic campsites.

Backcountry campsites tend to vary in price and facilities. Check individual campsite pages for prices.

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.

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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

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 10 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.