New Zealand Camping and Caravan Parks for Motorhomes

Where to Camp with a Motorhome? When on a New Zealand Motorhome Rental or Campervan Hire holiday there are a wide range of options from commercial Holiday Parks and Freedom Camping to National Parks or Native Havens.

Holiday Parks in New Zealand

There is a great choice of campgrounds and holiday parks throughout New Zealand. Many of these are located in some of the most beautiful locations, beside rivers and lakes, with mountain or coastal views. We recommend staying at Qualmark® rated Holiday Parks, as these have been independently inspected by New Zealand's official tourism body for quality standards.

Holiday and Caravan Parks all have your essential shower and toilet conveniences. Campgrounds also allow you to connect your campervan or motorhome to powered sites for 240V electricity. NZ camping grounds also usually have communal kitchen facilities, as well as a lounge area, games room, internet access, laundry facilities and waste water dumps. Many campgrounds also feature recreational facilities such as children's playgrounds, BBQ areas, swimming pools and tennis courts.

Rates vary, but there is normally a nightly rate of about NZD15-25 for the vehicle and one adult, with an extra nightly rate for extra people. Children are usually charged at half the adult rate.

Holiday Parks and Campgrounds are also extremely popular with New Zealanders over holiday periods. We would recommend pre-booking powered sites during the peak Christmas/New Year and Easter Holidays, as they can become heavily booked. For more information on individual camping grounds and caravan parks, we recommend the following websites.

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New Zealand National Parks

Many of the National Parks in New Zealand allow campervans and motorhomes to camp overnight in pre-designated areas. These sites are quite basic and run by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Sometimes these sites include toilets, showers and BBQ areas; however there are not normally any powered sites. These campgrounds are great places to stay, due to the pristine, wilderness locations; that will allow you to experience the beauty and peace of New Zealand National Parks.

Freedom Camping in New Zealand

You can Freedom Camp in New Zealand, however this is normally restricted near the main towns and centres. In the country, away from towns, camping is usually allowed. The rules governing Freedom Camping varies between districts and councils. We recommend checking locally on arrival in each area. A great place to check is with the Tourism Information Centres (i-Site) in each town.

Most campervans and motorhomes are equipped with gas heating, or 12 volt power allowing you to camp overnight away from the main campgrounds.

Native Parks of New Zealand - Motorhome Havens

Another great option is Native Parks of New Zealand, and their Motorhome Havens designed solely for Campervan Rental or Motorhome Hire vehicles. Native Parks is a network of rural properties varying from small farms to large sheep or cattle stations. It is a great way to meet the locals, and experience the local hospitality.

As long as you are a member of Native Parks of New Zealand, you can park your campervan overnight, whilst experiencing the joys of freedom camping in a safe, quiet and peaceful environment, without any overnight charge. Membership of Native Parks is about the cost of 2 nights at a normal Holiday Park. This gives you a full guide to all Native Parks properties and membership card; as well as information on New Zealand Farmers Markets, where you can purchase fresh, local food from local growers, farmers and boutique food producers as you travel.

As the Motorhome Havens only have limited spaces, you will need to phone ahead and book spaces as you travel.

To join Native Parks of New Zealand, you need to join before leaving home, so you can receive your Native Park guide. If travelling with more than one vehicle, then you will need one membership for each vehicle.

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