Camp sites of varying standards, generally in conjunction with other forms of accommodation, are offered by holiday park operators throughout New Zealand. The Department of Conservation, which administers one third of the land area of New Zealand, operate 250 vehicle accessible campsites on public land. The facilities at these campsites varies from those with only a basic toilet to those that have the full range of camp ground amenities.

The largest organisation representing motorised campers is the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association. It was founded in 1956 and currently represents 33,000 owners of a fleet of 18,000 camper vans.

The thermette, a type of storm kettle, was a popular camping accessory before the advent of gas fired camping stoves.

Popular campsites during the summer holidays include the Mavora Lakes, Kaiteriteri Beach, Marahau and the Coromandel Peninsula. The summer holiday period, which is over Christmas and New Year, coincides with the peak of inbound tourists leading to high levels of crowding at popular locations.

Camping grounds are governed by the Camping-Grounds Regulations 1985.

Freedom camping

Freedom camping, where camping is done in a location without facilities and is not a designated campground, is allowed in certain areas of New Zealand under certain conditions. Limitations have been put in place in recent decades because of litter and human waste problems, and attempts to encourage payment for camping by directing tourists to commercial facilities.

The thermette was a popular item of camping equipment in New Zealand prior to the advent of gas camping stoves.

There has been a realisation that freedom camping, where campers a choose to camp in areas without facilities, is creating problems through the incorrect disposal of human waste. There are also reports of the discharge of greywater from campervans while parked on suburban streets. Campers using self contained camper vans are also disposing of human waste incorrectly by not using the dump stations supplied for this purpose.

The causes of the problem relating to freedom camping have been stated as:

lack of toilets

disposal from campervan toilets

increased number of freedom campers

Poor level of knowledge by the campers about the issue

inconsistent application and enforcement of the laws and regulations by government agencies

remoteness of the area

See also

Tramping in New Zealand

Tourism in New Zealand

References

^ "Conservation campsites by region". Department of Conservation. http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/ByRegionLanding.aspx?id=37039. Retrieved 2008-08-29. 

^ "History". New Zealand Motor Caravan Association. http://www.nzmca.org.nz/index.php?id=20. Retrieved 2008-08-29. 

^ "Camping-Grounds Regulations 1985". New Zealand Government. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1985/0261/latest/DLM103332.html. Retrieved 2008-08-29. 

^ a b Anon (January 1988). Freedom camping: the problem of human waste disposal. Ministry for the Environment (New Zealand). ISBN 0-477-05834-5. 

Further reading

Ross, Kirstie (2008). Going Bush. Auckland University Press. ISBN 978-1-86940-424-6. 

External links

Department of Conservation - Conservation campsites by region

New Zealand Motor Caravan Association

New Zealand camping guide

Bushcraft New Zealand - Information about roughing it in the New Zealand bush

Freedom camping

Gisborne District Council - Freedom Camping

Westland District Council - Freedom camping policy

Clutha District Council - Policy on Freedom Camping

Southland District Council - Freedom Camping

Categories: Camping in New Zealand | New Zealand society | Tourism in New Zealand