Freedom Camping in Queenstown

Freedom Camping in Queenstown

Planning a free camping adventure in the Queenstown Lakes region? Here are five of the most important things you need to know before you set off on your journey.

1. You camp overnight for free on most land administered by Council, away from town centres and residential areas, if your campervan is fully self-contained (with a toilet, waste water and rubbish facilities on-board).
2. There are some public land areas including Department of Conservation reserves where free camping is not permitted. See the online map for clarification, and be sure to observe all no camping signs.
3. If you do not have a fully self-contained campervan, you cannot freedom camp anywhere in the Queenstown Lakes District. Freedom camping without a self-contained campervan will result in a $200 instant fine.   
4. Leave the area as you found it, free of litter. Dispose of your waste water at one of the waste disposal dump stations and dump your rubbish at the Council transfer stations or dump stations. Lighting fires of any kind is prohibited when freedom camping in the Queenstown Lakes District.
5. When freedom camping, you may not stay at any one camping site for more than two consecutive nights.

Camp responsibly! Read the Queenstown Lakes District Council Freedom Camping Control Bylaw 2012 for full rules and regulations.