Frequently Asked Questions

Responsible camping is an umbrella term for all types of camping which educates campers to camp responsibly by:

• Ensuring your vehicle is certified self-contained

• Always using public toilet facilities or the toilet contained in your vehicle

• Using a designated wastewater dump station for your sewage sink water

• Using your own facilities for bathing, washing, and toileting to keep our environment clean and pollution free

• Disposing of your rubbish and recycling in the bins provided or at the transfer stations

• Always parking in the areas specifically designated for your type of vehicles

All of these refer back to the Tiaki Promise – an initiative referring to campers promising to be responsible in and for New Zealand.

The Freedom Camping Bylaw 2021, which has recently been ruled invalid, restricted freedom camping in a number of areas in the district.  Without the bylaw, those restrictions are lifted.

Freedom campers should not assume that they can camp on any public land without first checking whether other restrictions apply.  Council is going to review its signage and maps; and publish additional information to assist with that.

Council will ensure that freedom campers have this information available for a particular area ahead of commencing enforcement activity. 

There are still other laws and rules that apply and these will remain part of Council’s Responsible Camping education programme. This includes:

• Many areas, especially around the built-up areas of towns, have traffic and parking restrictions, and these still apply.
• Vehicles must be certified self-contained, with a toilet and enough fresh and wastewater storage for three days without getting more or dumping waste. 
• It is an offence to say your vehicle is self-contained when it really isn’t.  A certified self-contained vehicle will display a current warrant card on the front left bottom windscreen, which will include the lawful number allowed to sleep in the vehicle.
• Public reserves have specific restrictions on temporary and permanent accommodation under the law and in specific reserve management plans.  These restrictions still apply. Council will be reviewing its signage and maps and publishing additional information to assist campers.  
• Public land, including the plants, animals, soil and water, must never be damaged and people causing damage will be committing an offence.
• Safety rules and common sense still always apply, and people should never freedom camp in a place that is unsafe to themselves or other people, or in a way that interferes with public access.

If your vehicle is not a certified self-contained vehicle you will need to camp at a designated campground.

Check out Campermate and go to one of the many camping grounds in the area.

No, a Certified Self-Contained vehicle will display a current warrant card on the front left bottom windscreen, which will include the lawful number allowed to sleep in the vehicle.

Read about the new regulations now in place for certifying self-contained vehicles 

The Plumbers, Gasfitter and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) is the regulator of the self-contained vehicles system. Information on what is needed to certify your vehicle (including answers to technical questions), and where to go to get certified, is available on the PGDB website. 

Only vehicles that have a fixed toilet can obtain a self-containment certification (issued with green warrants).

See the Freedom Camping Transition Timeline here. 

Vehicles already certified with a blue warrant (issued under the old requirements) can still freedom camp on local authority land (unless it is specifically prohibited), until your blue warrant expires, or 7 June 2025 (whichever happens sooner). After that, the vehicle owner must seek a new certification. 

The Plumbers, Gasfitter and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) is the regulator of the self-contained vehicles system. Information on what is needed to certify your vehicle (including answers to technical questions), and where to go to get certified, is available on the PGDB website. 

Please call QLDC to report the issue on 03 441 0499 – we provide 24/7 assistance.

You can also use the Snap, Send & Solve app, a simple and free way to send QLDC non-urgent 'Fix It' requests.

If you are struggling to find suitable accommodation, please see our Manaaki page to help you find support.

If you are living in your vehicle, you are able to stay at dedicated campsites. You can find available campgrounds and facilities on the CamperMate website or app or on our Responsible Camping page.

If you are homeless and receive a freedom camping fine, you may be eligible for a waiver. You can request a waiver. These are assessed on a case-by-case basis

You can find available campgrounds on the Campermate website or app, our Responsible Camping page and on the Tourism NZ website.

Campermate is a great source of locating services such as toilets and showers. If your vehicle is Certified Self-Contained, you should have your own toilet on board!

Campermate is a great source of locating services such as rubbish and recycling centres. Both Queenstown and Wānaka have transfer stations which have rubbish and recycling areas. Dumping of rubbish causing overflowing in town centre bins is not being a responsible camper.

Campermate is a great source of locating services such as laundromats.  If you stay in a registered camping ground, most of these will have their services on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Campermate is a great source of locating services such as dump stations.  There are public dump stations in Queenstown and Wānaka.

Campermate is a great source of locating services such as dump stations. Used water from sinks, showers, bath, laundry and chemical toilets must be dumped at a public dump station. There are public dump stations in Queenstown and Wānaka.

• BP Service Station, Frankton Road, State Highway 6, Frankton
• NPD Service Station, corner of State Highway 6 and Hawthorne Drive, Frankton
• Wānaka Showgrounds, corner of Brownston and McDougall Street, Wānaka