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Responsible Camping in the Queenstown Lakes District
Taupuni
Responsible campers share the responsibility of being guardians of this stunning landscape. We hope that you will make the most of our wild playground, and care for it as we do by leaving no trace and help keep our communities and natural environment free from pollution and waste.
Quick links
Be a responsible camper
There are many places you can camp in the Queenstown Lakes District, ranging from fully serviced holiday parks to Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites. Check out our Responsible Camping Brochure which includes tips for minimising waste.
Freedom camping is permitted only if your vehicle is certified self-contained. Learn more about Freedom Camping in the district by reading the FAQs. Read about the new regulations now in place for certifying self-contained vehicles.
Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025
Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has adopted the Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025 / Ture ā-Rohe mō te Noho Puni Korehere 2025 which will come into effect on 1 December 2025.
Key information to be aware of as part of the Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025:
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Freedom camping is prohibited in urban areas. That means no camping in on-road parking spaces such as parallel or angle parks.
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Freedom camping in certified self-contained vehicles is allowed in 15 designated carpark sites across the district (which contain a total of 141 spaces). Camping in these areas is only permitted if the specific conditions for each site are followed.
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Camping in certified self-contained vehicles is permitted on rural roads such as off-road laybys, however, a range of specific bylaw conditions must be met – including how close a vehicle can park to the road.
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Fines for breaching the Freedom Camping Bylaw or the Freedom Camping Act start at $400.
You can read the Bylaw in full below.
Freedom Camping Conditions
There are 15 car parks with designated spaces where freedom camping is permitted, subject to a set of conditions specified for each area. These state you must:
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use a certified self-contained motor vehicle
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arrive after 6.00pm and leave before 8.00am (note times vary for some sites)
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ensure any motor vehicle, camping equipment and personal items
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are fully contained within one of the designated marked spaces
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not stay more than 2 nights within any 30 day period,
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and not return to any of the marked spaces within a 30 day period
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remove all waste
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not light any fires outside of the motor vehicle
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follow all daytime parking restrictions.
Conditions for rural roads
Camping in certified self-contained vehicles is permitted on rural roads such as off-road laybys, however, a range of specific bylaw conditions must be met – including how close a vehicle can park to the road. See infographic below for more guidance.
Campgrounds
There are many places you can camp, ranging from fully serviced holiday parks to DOC (Department of Conservation) campsites.
Visit CamperMate.co.nz or download the free app for full details.
Download the CamperMate App
We've teamed up with CamperMate to ensure all information on the map is correct and up to date for visitors! Download their free app on iOS or Android to find dedicated responsible camping sites and service hubs online.
Help minimise waste while camping
Whether you’re seeing our beautiful mountains and lakes for the first time or after decades of living here, they take your breath away. Our community shares the responsibility of being guardians of this stunning landscape, and we hope that you will make the most of our wild playground and care for it as we do by leaving no trace.
"Help protect our piece of paradise. Be a good guardian."
Putting recycling and rubbish in the right bin is helpful, but we want to change the game. Our Vision Beyond 2050 aspires to eliminate waste in the Queenstown Lakes.
So if you’re out and about in your campervan or you’ve got a tent ready and waiting in the boot of your car, get the thumbs-up from the locals by supporting our zero waste options while you’re here:
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Getting a delicious coffee? Say no to single use take-away cups - sit in, bring your own reusable cup or use a deposit/return system in participating cafes. Local loan cup examples include the Chunky Loan Cup System.
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The Wānaka bag makes a great souvenir and all profits support reduction of single-use plastics. For stockists see plasticfreewanaka.co.nz.
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Wastebusters was voted “top clothing shop” in Wānaka’s Local’s Choice Awards. Salvation Army and Hospice have shops in both Queenstown and Wānaka.
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Local tips are available in the waste-free shopping guide at plasticfreewanaka.co.nz or www.therubbishtrip.co.nz.
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You'll find a list of local repairers and upcoming repair events at www.wastebusters.co.nz.
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Some campgrounds have separate food scrap bins or you can drop yours to a local composter using the Sharewaste. Sharewaste connects people who wish to recycle their food scraps and other organics with their neighbours who are already composting, worm-farming, or keep farm animals.
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Put only the right things in the bin so recycling can meet quality standards. Recycling is available at campgrounds, in public recycling bins near the lakefront, at the Wakatipu Recycling Centre in Queenstown and at Wastebusters in Wānaka (a small fee applies). For more information on what can be recycled within our district please visit: How we recycle in the Queenstown Lakes District.
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