Freedom Camping has become a divisive issue in recent years. Concerns over the damage being done to the environment and Queenstown Lakes District’s reputation as a tourist destination has prompted a further review of the Freedom Camping Act.

The Freedom Camping Act 2011 allows freedom camping on any council or conservation land, unless the local council or DOC say otherwise. QLDC currently prohibits freedom camping in many areas. The 2012 bylaw lapses in December 2019 and QLDC invited public submissions for a new bylaw to regulate and manage freedom camping in the region. The new bylaw is expected to expand the number of prohibited freedom camping areas.

The increase in the number of freedom campers on the road, and the behaviour of a small minority of the holidaymakers who use them, has had an adverse effect on how locals and tourists alike experience the Queenstown Lakes region.

Overcrowding, risks to public health due to human waste, and potential damage to the environment from people washing dishes, clothes or themselves in the lakes and rivers in the region are just some of the issues causing concern. 

The QLDC website includes a guide to Responsible Camping in the region. Responsible Camping in Certified Self-Contained Vehicles only is permitted in Service Hubs in Frankton and Wanaka from November 2019 through to March 2020. 

This summer, QLDC will introduce a range of initiatives to encourage Responsible Camping including employing Responsible Camping Ambassadors to educate campers, monitor trouble spots and the Service Hubs in Frankton and Wanaka, and assist enforcement officers as required.  

You can report any illegal camping or poor behaviour to the Council on 03 441 0499 or 03 443 0024. However, bear in mind that fully certified self-contained campers are allowed to camp on the side of the road outside of the signposted “no camping zones”.  

Feedback, comments and questions are always welcomed – please feel free to e-mail me on [email protected]

T: 03 443 0900

W: www.aspiringlaw.co.nz

Mike Toepfer is a Director of Aspiring Law.

Please remember, this information is designed as a general guide, and should not replace specific legal advice on a particular issue.