A summer of “concerning levels of non-compliance” among freedom campers visiting Queenstown Lakes has been recorded by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) summer ambassadors.

The ambassadors visit popular freedom camping locations and share information on how to camp sustainably, improve visitor behaviour, and promote local commercial or Department of Conservation campsites. 

There were more than 7,000 overnight campers in the district during 2024, and evidence collected by the ambassadors over the past summer include littering, campers toileting in the bush, and campers washing in the Clutha River.

A report from QLDC staff to be presented at a council meeting this week (Thursday March 20) reveals that ambassadors saw littering on the Wānaka lakefront, as well as washing lines, and evidence of people toileting in the bushes.

At the Mount Iron carpark they found littering, toileting in the bushes, toothpaste spit, and non-self-contained vehicles. Wānaka Roy's Peak carpark also had littering and toileting in the bushes, while at the Hāwea lakefront there was littering, washing lines, and fire pits.

The ambassadors noted capacity issues at the free Luggate Red Bridge campsite, where there was rubbish dumping and littering, toileting in the bushes, tents and non-self-contained vehicles, fire pits, and campers using the Clutha River for washing.

In addition, community members reported a number of issues, concerns or complaints (‘requests for service’ or RFS) related to freedom camping from November 2024 to January 2025.

“Concerning levels of non-compliance has been recorded, resulting in a number of infringements under both the [Reserves Act] and the Freedom Camping Act 2011,” the report said.

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In that period, two RFS were made on the Lake Hāwea-Albert Town Road and three on Albert Town’s Wicklow Terrace; seven were made about the Red Bridge Reserve; while ten RFS were logged in the Lake Hāwea area (Elizabeth Street, Esplanade Reserve, Flora Dora Parade, the Hāwea lakefront and the Hāwea recreation reserve).

An abandoned tent and camper van at the Luggate Red Bridge freedom camping site. PHOTO: Supplied

In Wānaka, 13 RFS were logged, including at Ardmore Street, Beacon Point Road, Dungarvon Street, McDougall Street, Mount Iron, Totara Terrace, Umbers Street, Wānaka Recreation Centre, and Wānaka-Mount Aspiring Road.

“The district is known to be one of the most popular camping destinations in New Zealand, and the most popular place for overnight ‘free camping’,” the QLDC report says.

It said the total number of overnight campers over 2024 was 7,794, although the data only captures freedom campers who use the Campermate app.

The report recommends that QLDC develop a new Freedom Camping Bylaw as the most appropriate way of addressing the perceived problems with freedom camping in the district.

Last year the High Court quashed QLDC’s 2021 Freedom Camping Bylaw, leaving the district without freedom camping restrictions - apart from restrictions under the Reserves Act regarding temporary and permanent accommodation, and the national Freedom Camping Act 2011 which requires that vehicles be certified self-contained to freedom camp. 

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Councillors will consider the report at Thursday’s meeting in Queenstown.