Camping

Kiwis love camping and the New Zealand camping holiday is a national institution! For visitors this means you’ll find an abundance of campsites, camping grounds and holiday parks, ideal for families, budget travellers and groups.

A New Zealand camping holiday is not only easy on your wallet, but also gives you flexibility and a great social experience. Camping also lets you get back to nature, as you’ll be staying in some stunning countryside settings, though there are holiday parks in city locations too.

On your camping trip you can choose from a range of accommodation options from motel units, cabins and backpacker accommodation in holiday parks to powered and unpowered campsites and, of course, campervans. Holiday parks such as the Top 10 chain offer comfortable accommodation with full facilities, while the Department of Conservation (DOC) operates more than 250 back-to-basics campsites in stunning wilderness areas. Some of these spots can be very basic and will only have long-drop toilets and streams for water, but you can stay there for free. For a small fee you can choose more comfortable DOC campsites with hot showers.

Freedom camping is popular amongst New Zealand budget travellers. While New Zealand freedom camping is still possible, it is increasingly frowned upon and prohibited in many places because of freedom campers littering the beautiful New Zealand environment. New Zealand freedom camping is only permitted in fully self-contained campervans with toilet, shower and grey water storage. Do not camp in places displaying ‘No Camping’ signs and never, ever leave rubbish behind! Don’t pollute waterways with soap and never use the great outdoors as a toilet! When freedom camping, keep the noise down and don’t annoy the locals – this is their backyard, after all. For more information, visit Camping Our Way.