Camping in New Zealand
Camping in New Zealand is like having a pint in England - the tradition has been around for years and almost everyone is a part of it. Each year, thousands of New Zealand families unlock their motorhome or pack up their tent and sleeping bags, grab the barbeque, fishing rods and hiking boots and head off to their favourite camping ground to kick back and relax. Within an hour's drive of most places where Kiwis live, are camping sites on the shore of a white sandy beach, the edge of a lake or rainforest or close by geothermal hot pools. New Zealand is the ultimate camping destination.
Holidaying in a motorhome is the best way to experience the great New Zealand camping phenomenon. You're in control of the wheel so you’ve got choices. You can either follow a detailed itinerary mapped out before leaving home or leave the decision about where to go and where to camp until you’re on the road. For all but the two weeks after Christmas and holiday weekends over summer, campground reservations are not usually required.
New Zealand has some of the best campgrounds in the world. Most are in breathtaking locations, have quality amenities, and are great places to meet fellow travelers. In some regions, you can freedom camp in places where freedom camping is permitted. Camping at a place you never knew about until you got there is one of the best ways to experience New Zealand. For many of us, it’s the memory of those places that will stay with you forever.
Both types of camping have their merits and either way, you'll be among Kiwis and their friends. Because all Wilderness motorhomes are certified self-contained (a requirement for freedom camping in many regions), you can stay either at a campground or freedom camp – you decide. Our vehicles meet the ablutionary and sanitary needs of the occupants for at least three days, are equipped with water storage tanks for drinking and cooking and have waste water holding tanks.
Whatever your buzz, you can be sure of two things - your chosen spot will be beautiful and your Wilderness motorhome will have no trouble getting you there.
There are four main types of camping in New Zealand:
Freedom camping - Commercial campgrounds - DOC campsites and Regional Parks - Native Parks
Freedom camping
Travelling around New Zealand and parking somewhere beautiful is what freedom camping is all about. In a country where every corner brings something new and exciting, you will often find campervans parked up next to beaches, reserves or on the side of roads overlooking incredible vistas. If you have a Base Jumper campervan, you can easily rest your head away from places where camping facilities are provided and soak up New Zealand's natural beauty - without having to entertain your neighbours.
Our Base Jumper campervans are purposely designed for freedom camping. The large water tanks and the long life batteries plus inverter allow you to stay away from civilization for days on end. While our Dart campervans aren’t specifically intended for camping at sites without amenities, you’ll be fine to stop for the night at a spot where freedom camping is permitted since our Darts are also certified self-contained.
We encourage you to get off the beaten track and freedom camp but there's one important point to remember - Kaitiakitanga, a Maori word which means guardianship. This is all about looking after our natural and cultural resources so our future generations can enjoy what New Zealand has to offer. New Zealand is a beautiful place and we need you to help keep it that way. Please take your time, respect the environment you share with others, and leave only footprints.
Where can you freedom camp in New Zealand?
In some neighbourhoods you can camp at your own leisure but, in other places it is restricted to specific areas. Don't just assume you can park up and camp anywhere - always ask someone who knows and check for no overnight camping signs. This is what they look like:
Each council or local authority manages freedom camping in ways that are most appropriate for its communities. Many councils have bylaws to control freedom camping. In some regions, freedom camping is restricted to specific areas and in other regions it is prohibited. Some require the purchase of a freedom camping permit for a small fee (<$6 per night). Visitor Centres called iSITES located in most towns and cities are great sources of local information as are Department of Conservation (DOC) visitor centres.
For more information about where you can freedom camp, check out www.camping.org.nz or the links below.
North Island South Island Commercial Campgrounds
There are hundreds of commercial campgrounds across the country offering a range of amenities from the very basic to the full-on resort. They are usually friendly family-run businesses and provide a good opportunity to meet other campers. Although not always in the most picturesque locations, they usually provide good quality amenities including a 240V main power hook up, kitchen and laundry facilities, BBQ areas, TV lounges and dump stations in a secure site. Some also offer playgrounds, pools, shop, restaurants and even bike or boat hire. Rates at commercial campgrounds range from NZ$25 to $40 per night.
Some campgrounds belong to networks that offer incentives if you stay in any of their affiliated sites. For a small joining fee, family parks, kiwi holiday parks and top10 offer a 10% discount on site fees at more than 100 campgrounds around the country. For more information on commercial campgrounds across the country, go to NZ Camping or check out our New Zealand camping ground suggestions.
You’ll feel at home at a commercial campground in either a Wilderness Base Jumper or Dart. We recommend you hook up your camper to 240v mains power about every three nights to top up the batteries.
While most rental motorhomes need power to work all the appliances and charge the battery thankfully this isn't the case at Wilderness. Our Base Jumper campervans stand on their own two feet - letting you make the most of the lakeside or beachfront possie if you wish to. See above for information about freedom camping.
Department of Conservation (DOC) Campsites and Regional Parks
New Zealand has 14 national parks and over five million hectares of land protected in parks and reserves. Within these parks, DOC manages over 250 vehicle-accessible camping areas on conservation land within these parks. Volunteers across the country help to maintain the campsites all year-round so they're beautiful and clean for spending the night in your rental campervan.
Department of Conservation camping grounds tend to have very limited amenities offering a 'back to nature' style of camping. Both the Wilderness Base Jumper and the Dart are suitable for camping at DOC campsites however, if you are intending to predominantly use these campsites, you’ll find a Base Jumper will suit you best. The Base Jumper is fully kitted out for this kind of camping with pressurised hot water and appliances and heating that work regardless of whether you are hooked up to mains power or not.
Every region boasts its fair share of DOC campsites which are easy to find and cost very little to park up for the night (free - $14). Facilities at DOC campsites can vary considerably and are divided into three categories:
- Serviced campgrounds ($8-14) have flush toilets, tap water and showers, rubbish collection, picnic tables, mown grass, and access for all vehicle types as well as some powered sites. Many have barbeques or fireplaces, kitchen and laundry facilities, a shop and waste disposal sites. There is plenty of space to park your rental motorhome and often gravel paths for site-hunting.
- Standard campsites ($3-10) include toilets, water supply, mown grass and vehicle access. Facilities and services such as barbecues or fireplaces, picnic tables and rubbish collection may also be provided but, not always. Campervan access is a given.
- Informal campsites (free) offer limited facilities. In many cases these sites will only include a toilet, a place to camp, access to water and limited motorhome access.
The Auckland Regional Council has a network of 26 parks across the Auckland region in bush, farmland, and seaside locations. You can stay in remote bush locations, on farms complete with animals, or in picturesque spots on one of Auckland's offshore islands. The campgrounds are very popular with the locals so if you want to see how Kiwis camp, stay at an Auckland Regional Park. They have basic facilities (drinking water and vault toilet) and fees are only NZ$10 per night for adults and NZ$5 for children. The gates are locked at some parks from about 8pm so if you're planning to arrive late call ahead on 09 366 2000 or email parks@arc.govt.nz. Greater Wellington Regional Council has a network of similar campsites in regional parks throughout the Wellington region. It pays to book ahead for all campsites stays during the peak period (December and January).
As with DOC campsites, you can camp in a Wilderness Base Jumper or a Dart at regional park campsites. For more than the occasional night at a regional park, we recommend the Base Jumper with its full freedom camping set up.
Native Parks
Native Parks is a network of "motorhome havens" or privately owned rural properties and businesses throughout New Zealand that welcome campervans and motorhomes to stay overnight and experience local hospitality. The hosts offer personal and genuine local experiences without the overcrowded feel of camping grounds. When you purchase a membership (NZ$70) you can stay free at 50+ private properties, meet the people, and experience their land and lifestyle first hand. The Motorhome Havens cover a diverse range of rural New Zealand including farms, large stations, wineries, cheese makers, artists, and adventure activities.
Native Parks require motorhomes that use the havens to be fully self-contained which means you’ll be fine in either a Base Jumper or Dart. However, if you plan to use many of the motorhome havens on your adventure, you’ll be more comfortable in a Base Jumper with its onboard bathroom as most havens have few if any camping facilities.