If you’re on a budget but travelling is your life, packing up and hitting the road for a classic Kiwi road trip is a great way to get out of town and see some of the beautiful NZ scenery. There are quite a few ways to take on an adventure, but one that has become increasingly popular amongst both NZ and foreign tourists is freedom camping.
So what is freedom camping?
Simply put, freedom camping is when you pop up a tent or park up a campervan in areas that have not been assigned for camping. It is important that you follow signage and do not try to camp in areas that DOC have mapped out as prohibited, restricted or protected. Usually these areas do not have basic facilities (water, toilets etc.) so if you are going to camp here, it is important for you, the locals and the environment that you follow some simple rules and leave the location better than you found it.
Where can you freedom camp?
According to the DOC website, freedom camping is permitted on public conservation land, except in areas where it is expressly prohibited or restricted to self contained vehicles. This is indicated by signage.
If you’re freedom camping in a vehicle that is not self contained, we recommend trying to park as close to public bathrooms as possible.
The basic rules
- Obey any signage indicating you are in a restricted or prohibited area or that you cannot park overnight
- Do a little research – some areas are for self contained vehicles as there is no access to facilities
- Reduce your waste and make sure you take all your rubbish away with you – let’s keep NZ green
- If you are in an area close to residential homes, be weary of your noise levels
Basically, don’t be a dick about it. Clean up after yourselves and be respectful of the area you are staying in.
Packing essentials
- Water – lots of it
- Toilet paper and bug spray
- Practical things – gas cooker, torch, washing line, portable speakers, cooking utensils, fold out chairs, towel
- Rubbish bags or something to discard your waste in to until you can find a rubbish bin
- Snacks, snacks and more snacks
- Pillows, sleeping bags and an additional blanket – if you’re parked up by the water, it can be colder during the early hours of the morning
North Island hot spots
Options for any vehicle type and available at a low cost ($8 – $13/night for an adult) – monitored by DOC:
- Cape Reinga – Tapotupotu Campsite
- Whangarei – Uretiti Beach
- Coromandel – Fletcher Bay Campsite
- Tongariro – Mangahuia Campsite
- Wellington – Putangirua Pinnacles Campsite
South Island hot spots
Options for any vehicle type and available at a low cost ($8 – $13/night for an adult) – monitored by DOC:
- Abel Tasman – Caanan Downs Campsite
- North of Kaikoura – Puhi Puhi Campsite
- Fox Glacier – White Horse Hill Campground
- Queenstown – Twelve Mile Delta Campsite
- Fiordland – Cascade Creek Campsite
Written by Emily Blake
The source of our #fomo, Emily is constantly jetting overseas. A coffee aficionado, you’ll most likely find her swiping right on Tinder and daydreaming about her next adventure.
Favourite karaoke song: Wonderwall by Oasis
As New Zealanders we used to be able to camp by a river, or the sea ,or were ever, NOW councils and DOC have a large problem with tourist in So called Self Contained station wagon cars, the porta toilet is wrapped in Gladwrap, if the tourist use it they are charged to clean it, therefore what do you think these tourist do.
Ban all tourist from Freedom camping by removing the Act of our mindless Govt. so New Zealanders can camp self contained without living in a wash of toilet paper and human waste or being asked to move on by a warden
A campervan sounds like a wonderful way to sight see around the country especially when travelling with children as you don’t have to pack up each time you go somewhere and you can prepare your own food. however personally I would prefer to stay at places with facilities e.g. holiday parks.
A campervan sounds like a wonderful way to sight see around the country especially when travelling with children as you don’t have to pack up each time you go somewhere and you can prepare your own food. however personally I would prefer to stay at places with facilities e.g. holiday parks.
I would love to do this with the kids when they are a bit older. Show them out beautiful country at its best.
I would looovveeee to go freedom camping – it’s something that would be so awesome and a great way to see the country. Sadly budget and work seem to get in the way of that dream, but you never know one day it may happen!!
Excellent. I’ve often wondered about freedom camping and what the rules are and here they are with all the relevant links! I like the basic “don’t be a dick” rule though. A bit of common sense.