Camping in NZ: Rules, regulations and how to avoid hefty fines

Hi friends!

Ahhh camping. I love love love getting to road trip across Aotearoa. It’s hands down the best way to see the country and lets you get into all the little nooks and crannies you couldn’t reach if you’d taken a tour. I think camping/caravanning around NZ is MUCH more straightforward than other countries (especially in Europe!)

But I can totally understand why you might feel overwhelmed, especially as there are so many terms and rules, and the country is pretty strict. It can all get a bit full on, and I remember wanting someone to take the wheel for me (literally) when I first started exploring.

In this guide, I'll explain everything in detail, helping you understand how to camp around NZ and what you need to know to really enjoy your trip.

1. Are you travelling with a self-contained vehicle?

First thing you need to do is decide if you’re travelling in a car with a tent, or pushing the boat out and renting a campervan. If you’re renting a camper, I recommend booking one that’s self-contained, as it’ll allow you to stay at the freedom campgrounds dotted around the country. A self-contained vehicle is usually a camper van with everything you need to live off-grid for up to three days. This includes a toilet, fresh and wastewater storage, and a rubbish bin. If you’re doing vanlife in NZ long term and looking at buying a van or converting one yourself, our self-contained laws have changed in the last few years, so you’ll need to check out the regulations on the NZMCA website.

If you don’t have a self-contained van, you’ll be fine, but you’ll need to stay in campgrounds, which are a bit more expensive. However, DOC campsites (more on that in a second) are pretty cheap. Don’t chance staying in a freedom site if you’re not in a self-contained van, as the fines are so expensive and range from $400-$800 depending on where you are.

2. Where can you camp?

NZ has pretty strict camping laws, which are different from places like Europe and North America, where you can pretty much sleep wherever you park up (within reason; obviously, this is a massive generalisation).

Freedom campsites

If you are in a self-contained van, NZ has hundreds of designated free campsites, buuuuut there’s rules around these too so make sure you read the signs which will tell you who’s allowed to stay, how long you can stay (usually 24-48 hours), and what time you need to leave etc. To make things easy, I recommend downloading CamperMate to find freedom campsites near you, and the app usually includes what rules apply to each site.

Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites

My favourite way to travel around NZ is to stay at DOC sites. The Department of Conservation (DOC) has a network of campgrounds across NZ, which are often located in some of the most beautiful and remote parts of the country.

Generally the sites are really basic and have longdrop/compostable toilets and cold showers. Some DOC sites have flushing toilets, cooking shelters, and warm showers, but they're few and far between.

Prices vary around the country, but DOC campsites usually cost around $15 per person per night. If you’re planning to camp long term, consider getting a DOC campsite pass, which will give you access to most of the campsites around NZ. The 30-day pass is $95, and the annual pass is $195. We got passes a couple of years back, and they were well worth the investment.

Some sites need to be booked in advance (especially during the summer months) so you can pay online, whilst others operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and you'll need to bring cash to give to the warden.

Holiday parks

If you’d rather stay at holiday parks, we have plenty of those too. These are the most equipped campsites with loads of facilities like hot showers, kitchens, laundry rooms, and even WiFi. They usually range from $20 to $60 per person, depending on the location and facilities. Examples of these campsites include the TOP 10 Holiday Parks, Kiwi Holiday Parks and individually owned and operated campgrounds.

3. Practice Leave No Trace

If you plan to camp in Aotearoa, New Zealand, please please please respect our environment.

As they say: 'Take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints'. When you're here, follow the Leave No Trace guidelines, which are generally common sense and help you leave the land as you found it so that it can be enjoyed for years.

1. Pack out your rubbish and don't leave anything behind. There's nothing worse than arriving at a beautiful part of the country, only to find that the previous campers have left all their rubbish behind.

2. Don't use soap in rivers or lakes as it can harm fish and wildlife and damage the ecosystem. If you need to shower or wash your camping gear, make sure you're at least 200 yards away from any water source.

3. Please don’t light fires on public conservation land (or anywhere else for that reason). Also, make sure to pay any campground fees, even if it's just an honesty box system.

I hope that gives you a better understanding of what it's like to go camping in Aotearoa. If you have any more questions, please let me know. I'd love to hear from you :)