how to find free campsites in New Zealand: 12 best apps for campervan travel in New Zealand
This guide will explain exactly how to find free campsites in New Zealand and the best apps for your road trip.
There is definitely more than one way to see a country, but intrepid travellers looking to see the very best of New Zealand honestly must see it on a campervan road trip. There is nothing more quintessentially New Zealand than a campervan trip across the country filled to the brim with lake dips, coastal swims, multi-day treks, and plenty of (mis)adventures along the way. But planning any trip across the length and width of a country via campervan can be quite a task, not to mention quite an expense. So where do you find free campsites? What are the rules for freedom camping? What if you need to shower?
Don’t fret! I cover all of this and more in this lengthy guide set to help you find free campsites across New Zealand, learn the rules of the road, and insure you download all the apps that will guarantee an epic road trip in Aotearoa!
when to visit New Zealand ↴
Summer is widely regarded as the best time to visit New Zealand. The summer months take place between December and March. The days are longer, brighter, and sunnier. Camping is the most enjoyable in the summer because these are the driest months, so you have a lessened chance of getting soggy, but this is also when temperatures soar and crowds develop along hiking trails and beaches.
The summer is also when camping season is in full swing, meaning you’ll want to plan ahead and book campsites if you plan on taking advantage of the many holiday parks and campsites available throughout the country.
freedom camping in New Zealand ↴
“Freedom camping” in New Zealand refers to camping for free— pretty straightforward. There are rules, however, regarding freedom camping. Freedom camping has had a terrible reputation amongst New Zealand locals, especially in high tourism areas throughout the South Island. It’s a point of real debate because while backpackers make up a huge percentage of the overall tourism demographic in New Zealand, cheap travellers also contribute to irresponsible use of land (like using the toilet wherever they feel like) and tend not to inject much money into the local economy, which so sorely needs it. Due to a lack of responsibility shown by campervan travellers, the government has tightened freedom camping rules and set categories for vehicles: self-contained, and non self-contained.
self-contained vs. non self-contained
Freedom camping is available in specific areas for certified self-contained campervans. These campervans will have a sticker on the back of them, signifying that they have met the official criteria of a self-contained vehicle. But what is a self-contained campervan?
Put most simply, “self-contained” refers to a van with a sink and a toilet. More technically, a certified self-contained vehicle must meet the sanitary needs of its occupants for a minimum of three days without requiring additional services. If your van doesn’t meet these standards, does not have its own toilet, and does not have a sticker on its backend— you are in a non self-contained van, and therefore must find suitable campsites or pay where necessary.
It is imperative that freedom campers have a self-contained van, and those who don’t find suitable campsites or pay where necessary. Also, it should go without saying, but it’s worth repeating: please don’t shit in public parks. There are heaps of free, public toilets throughout New Zealand if the need arises.
responsible camping
Responsible camping in Aotearoa New Zealand, whether paying for a site or freedom camping, means disposing of waste properly, respecting locals and the environment, and following camping rules set by councils and local government. Being a responsible camper, especially a responsible freedom camper, is crucial for freedom camping to continue and so that restrictions on camping aren’t tightened further.
facilities at campsites in New Zealand↴
Most freedom camping sites have no amenities. Freedom camping spots are usually just a flat piece of ground for you to park on. Think gravel parking lots, lakeside spots, and hidden dirt pulloffs. Sites like this, with no amenities, are restricted to vehicles which are certified self-contained so that campers who stay there will have minimal impact on the environment. Freedom camping sites which are suitable for vehicles that are not certified self-contained have basic amenities that include a public toilet, a sink, and a rubbish bin.
If you are looking for a campsite that has hot showers, kitchen facilities, waste disposal, and WiFi, you will almost definitely need to pay for a campsite that includes these amenities. Top 10 campsites are great for classic campervan amenities and reliable cleanliness.
where to find free campsites in New Zealand ↴
Rankers
We had good luck using the free Rankers app to find free campsites for our non self-contained campervan. On Rankers, users rate and review both free and paid camping sites. There are also photos of the campsites on the app so that you can determine whether or not a site interests you. The Rankers app offers offline maps, meaning you can download maps in specific areas where you plan to camp and look up campsites as you travel! One of the best features of the Rankers app is that it allows you to filter its extensive list of campsites by DOC (Department of Conservation) campsites, freedom camping, non self-contained, etc. It also features a star-ranking system by previous campers (thus the app name, Rankers). It’s definitely a must-download app if you’re planning a big van trip in Aotearoa.
CAMPERMATE
This free app is great for finding holiday parks, hostels, and free campsites. Beyond that though, it shows nearby public toilets and dump stations so that you can be a responsible camper. The app covers 1000s of sites across both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It is also helpful if you are travelling in Australia! The Campermate app includes reviews from people who have recently visited the listed facilities, giving you up-to-date information about the sites.
WIKICAMPS NZ
WikiCamps NZ isn’t an app I’ve used heaps, only because I tend to stick with Rankers. However, I have friends who prefer WikiCamps, especially as it lists campsites, parks, and hostels. New Zealand's largest database of campgrounds, caravan parks, backpacker hostels, points of interest, dump stations, visitor information centres, water taps, toilets, showers, and more.
other useful apps for New Zealand road trips↴
Roady NZ
Roady NZ is a must-download for first-timers visiting New Zealand, though it’s definitely helpful for veteran visitors too. This free app was made for road trippers looking for cool hikes, stunning waterfalls, and local attractions along their route of choice. Ever get to a place, tick off the “must dos”, and realize you still have heaps of time there but no actual idea how to spend it? Enter Roady. Open the app and it will show you pins near your location. Each pin is an experience or excursion of some sort. Pins feature reviews and pictures from previous visitors, along with a description of the recommended stop, how much it costs (if anything), and how much time you need to allow (especially handy for hikes). As an added bonus, every time you upload your own photos from these experiences, you earn points and badges, making your way up Roady’s leaderboard.
AllTrails
AllTrails is my go-to hiking app, but it mainly makes this list as a hero app because it saved us when we got lost looking for the Mt. Brown Hut trailhead. AllTrails is simple to use, which is awesome if you aren’t super techy like me. It makes tracking your elevation gain and navigating trails super straightforward.
Plan My Walk
As an alternative to AllTrails, Plan My Walk is a New Zealand-specific app for those ready to hit the trails.
MetService
The MetService app is a fantastic weather app that makes planning your campervan travels around good weather so much easier. It’s free to download, and I found that MetServie had the most accurate hourly weather forecasts. I used MetService to plan our hikes, beach days, and scenic flights for the best possible weather and lighting outcomes.
yr
Norwegians know extreme weather. So, it makes sense that there is a robust Norweigan weather app that is ideal for use in areas with highly changeable weather (read: all of New Zealand but specifically places like Fiordland). Yr app is great for multi-day hikes or if you are looking to camp somewhere but are weary of the weather conditions. Yr was on par with MetService in my opinion, in terms of hourly-forecasting and condition predictions.
Google Maps
Google Maps is a must in my book since it allows you to download maps, insuring they are available offline. This is crucial in New Zealand where you are often navigating sections of road without service or WiFi. Having Google Maps downloaded for offline use gave us peace of mind while navigating backcountry roads in our campervan.
Gaspy
The truth is petrol in New Zealand is criminally expensive. It’s something that can critically affect your travel budget. Luckily, the Gaspy app compares gas stations in nearby areas to find the lowest petrol price for you! When you are filling up a vehicle as large as a campervan, Gaspy is an absolute must-have app.
MagicHour
MagicHour is a valuable investment for photographers looking to guarantee they are at specific locations for the golden hours of the day (i.e. the best light to shoot in). There is a limited free version of the app, but you can upgrade to the paid version to add multiple locations, which is especially helpful for those who travel frequently.
PlugShare
For those fancy (or eco-minded) folks travelling in an electric car, PlugShare is a free app that pinpoints all the available charging ports for your vehicle. PlugShare’s map of electric car charging points even distinguishes between public charge points, high power charge points, and those in residential areas so you know exactly what to expect.
campervan tips in New Zealand ↴
SANDFLIES | Sandflies, otherwise called the blackfly, are commonly found around the North Island and in wetter regions of the South Island. They can be a real camping nightmare, but you can combat them with a homemade concoction of olive oil mixed with Dettol, citronella oils, or potent insect repellents.
ROAD USER CHARGE (RUC) | Anyone driving on New Zealand’s roads contributes towards their upkeep. While most drivers pay levies when they buy fuel, those who drive diesel vehicles pay through Road User Charges (RUC). If you are renting a diesel campervan, you will likely have a mileage limit. If you exceed this limit, it is likely you will have to pay a fee per kilometre you drive over your established limit. Read the T+Cs of your rental agreements to know for sure.
MANUAL VS. AUTOMATIC | Check whether your campervan is a manual or automatic transmission vehicle before you pay your rental deposit! We’ve known people who paid for a van and didn’t read the vehicle description thoroughly. When they went to pick up their campervan, they realized it was a manual transmission vehicle and they didn’t know how to drive it, causing them to lose a lot of money, and the campervan.
RELOCATION DEALS | There are campervan rental companies throughout New Zealand that offer deals for campervan relocations. How it works is simple: visitors drive their camper one way and then fly out of the country at the end of their trip. Campervan companies offer special prices to people who are willing to drive the campervans back to their “base” locations. Typically, these deals include a few free days of use, a free tank of fuel, and a free ferry crossing (if the relocation requires going from one island to the other). These deals are often advertised on aggregate websites such as Transfercar.
