Portaloos installed for ‘self contained’ freedom campers
Sue Wards
08 February 2026, 4:04 PM
Legal freedom camping at the Wānaka Rec Centre has resulted in additional use of indoor facilities, says QLDC.The district council has installed portaloos at the Wānaka Recreation Centre carpark to “relieve pressure” on facilities over the summer.
Local lobby group Save Clean NZ, which wants freedom camping banned at Beacon Point, says installation of portaloos at the site, which has 18 carparks designated for self-contained freedom campers, shows the “system is not working”.
“Freedom camping is supposed to mean self-contained,” the group posted on social media last week.
“The two new portaloos at the Rec Centre say otherwise.”
A Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) spokesperson told the Wānaka App the portaloos were installed as “a temporary measure to help relieve pressure on existing WRC facilities over the summer peak”.
“The freedom camping sites and increasing visitor numbers this summer have meant the additional use of indoor facilities,” the spokesperson said.
“The additional portaloos help to ensure that inside and sports field toilets remain available for all users.”
He said freedom camping vehicles must still be certified self-contained, with a valid warrant displayed to freedom camp.
The two portaloos: a sign freedom camping isn’t working, or simply a way to ensure public toilets remain available for all users?
“This means a vehicle must have a toilet and campers must be able to live in the vehicle for three days without getting more water or dumping waste.
“Part of our education campaign is that campers must use a public toilet or the one onboard their vehicle.”
Save Clean NZ, however, said installation of portaloos shows that “people [are] using the carpark as a toilet”.
“The system isn’t working and locals are paying the price,” the group said.
“If ratepayers are funding toilets, what’s next?”
The council spokesperson said enforcement officers work in the nighttime hours and issue infringements to any campers they find breaching the rules, including to those without a valid self-contained warrant.
The Wānaka Rec Centre sites are designated in the QLDC Freedom Camping Bylaw, which was put in place in December. The bylaw prohibits freedom camping (in certified self-contained vehicles) in most urban areas but allows for 18 designated spaces at the Wānaka Recreation Centre carpark and three spaces at the Beacon Point Road carpark.
Three spaces designated at the Allenby Place carpark were removed last month after QLDC said the area had experienced access and health and safety issues.
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