Free campsites in New Zealand

DOC runs 62 basic campsites that cost nothing to stay at. Facilities are very limited (a basic toilet and untreated water), so come self-sufficient. 46 of them can be reached by car or campervan.

Bay of Plenty

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Humphries Bay Campsite Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve	Basic Free	walk-in, first come, first served

Canterbury

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Ahuriri Bridge Campsite Omarama area	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Andrews Shelter Campsite Arthur's Pass National Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Lake Poaka Campsite Twizel area	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Round Bush Campsite Ruataniwha Conservation Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Temple Campsite Ruataniwha Conservation Park	Basic Free	drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served
Loch Katrine Campsite Lake Sumner Forest Park	Basic Free	dogs on a leash, first come, first served
Quailburn Campsite Ahuriri Conservation Park	Basic Free	first come, first served

Central North Island

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Army Road Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Clements Clearing Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Kaimanawa Road Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Kakapo Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Pokaka Mill Campsite Tongariro Forest Conservation Area	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Te Iringa Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Urchin Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Waikoko Campsite Kaimanawa Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Whakaipo Campsite Taupō area	Basic Free	drive-in, dogs allowed, first come, first served

East Coast

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Boulders Campsite Ōpōtiki area	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Mid Okahu Road Campsite Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Mimiha Campsite Te Urewera	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Orangihikoia Campsite Te Urewera	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Rosie Bay Campsite Te Urewera	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Sanctuary Campsite Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Te Pakau (Eight Acre) Campsite Te Urewera	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Te Taita A Makoro Campsite Te Urewera	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Whitikau Campsite Ōpōtiki area	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Verns Camp Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park	Basic Free	walk-in, first come, first served

Fiordland

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Monowai Campsite Fiordland National Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
South Arm Campsite (Lake Manapouri) Fiordland National Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Thicket Burn Campsite Fiordland National Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Hall Arm Campsite Fiordland National Park	Basic Free	boat access, first come, first served

Hawke's Bay

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Cameron Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Glenfalls Campsite Mōhaka River area	Basic Free	drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served
Kuripapango (Ox Bow) Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Lake Tūtira Campsite Tūtira area	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Lawrence Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Mangatutu Hot Springs Campsite Kaweka Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Waikari River Mouth Campsite Waikari River area	Basic Free	drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served
Everetts Campsite Mōhaka River area	Basic Free	walk-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served

Manawatu/Whanganui

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Piripiri Campsite Pohangina Valley area	Basic Free	first come, first served
Simpsons Domain Campsite Hunterville area	Basic Free	first come, first served

Marlborough

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Lake Tennyson Campsite Molesworth Recreation Reserve	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Mill Flat Campsite Mount Richmond Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Moawhitu Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Robin Hood Bay Campsite Blenheim area	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Kauauroa Bay Campsite Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere and Kenepuru Sound area	Basic Free	boat access, first come, first served
Lucky Bay Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves	Basic Free	boat access, first come, first served
Mill Arm Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves	Basic Free	boat access, first come, first served
Penguin Bay Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves	Basic Free	boat access, first come, first served
South Arm Campsite French Pass and D'Urville Island Scenic Reserves	Basic Free	boat access, first come, first served
Waiona Bay Campsite Pelorus Sound/Te Hoiere and Kenepuru Sound area	Basic Free	boat access, first come, first served

Nelson/Tasman

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Cobb River Campsite Cobb Valley	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Coldwater Stream Campsite Upper Wairau River area	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served

Northland

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Raetea North Side Campsite Raetea Forest and Mangamuka Gorge Scenic Reserve	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served

Otago

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Danseys Pass Campsite Naseby area	Basic Free	drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served
Homestead Campsite Oteake Conservation Park	Basic Free	drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served
Lindis Pass Historic Hotel Campsite Lindis Valley area	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Macetown Campsite Macetown Historic Reserve	Basic Free	drive-in, dogs on a leash, first come, first served
St Bathans Campsite St Bathans area	Basic Free	drive-in, dogs allowed, first come, first served

Waikato

Campsite	Type and fee	Good to know
Piropiro Campsite Pureora Forest Park	Basic Free	drive-in, first come, first served
Central Clearing Campsite Pirongia Forest Park	Basic Free	walk-in, first come, first served
Kaniwhaniwha Campsite Pirongia Forest Park	Basic Free	walk-in, first come, first served

Campsite list: Department of Conservation open data (CC BY 4.0), refreshed weekly. Fees are DOC’s published category fees; some campsites differ and prices can change. Always check the DOC page for alerts and closures before you go.

Plan the rest of the trip

Find a campsite by region → Packing checklist Cheap car hire

Questions

Are DOC basic campsites really free?

Yes. DOC lists the fee for basic campsites as free. Most are first come, first served, so arrive early at busy times.

Can I drink the water at a free campsite?

Treat it as unsafe: basic campsites have untreated water from a tank, stream or lake. Boil, filter or treat it first.

Is freedom camping the same as a free campsite?

No. Freedom camping means staying outside a campsite, and on most council land you need a certified self-contained vehicle. Free DOC campsites are official campsites.

More camping guides: all camping guides