Welcome to New Zealand's most comprehensive database of freely available camping information. This is the only travel map of its kind in NZ.
THIS CAMPSITE WILL BE CLOSED ON THE NIGHT OF THE 17TH OF FEB 2024 DUE TO ROUND THE BAYS. IF YOU PARK HERE ON THE 17TH YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LEAVE UNTIL AROUND 1PM ON THE 18TH OF FEB.
Wellington City welcomes Certified self-contained vehicles only
52 - designated Freedom Camping parks (4-night max. stay per calendar month)
Park only in a designated freedom camping park (refer maps on-site & app photo)
If parks are FULL, please leave and stay in an on-street park.
Must display a current certified self-contained warrant card
If your vehicle is not certified self-contained you need to stay in a campground.
FREE on-street parking in the Central City 2000 hrs – 0800 hrs Monday – Sunday (good option if
arriving late).
On-street parks with toilets nearby:
Shorland Park
Scorching Bay
Lyall Bay
Worser Bay
Cog Park – Evans Bay
Hataitai Beach
DON’t stay in an area where freedom camping is not permitted. Camping is not permitted in any
WCC Reserves, Coastal Areas, Parks/Play Areas or Sports field carparks.
Breaching the Public Places Bylaw 2022 maybe subject to a $400 infringement
13.1 - A person must not camp in an area which freedom camping is prohibited
13.4 - Camping is prohibited on all land managed under the Reserves Act 1977 and
Wellington Townbelt Act 2016
Freedom camping in a tent on public land is prohibited.
Park Ranger’s monitor sites and recreational carparks daily including public holidays. If you breach
the Freedom Camping Bylaw you could receive a $400 fine.
Still unsure call 04 499 4444 anytime to clarify
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Wellington City CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Wellington Region ▷ Wellington |
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Categories |
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Operating Season And Hours |
This campsite will be closed on the night of the 17th of Feb 2024 due to Round the Bays. If you park here on the 17th, you won't be able to exit the carpark until 1pm on the 18th of Feb. |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Overnight Camping Site Cost |
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Overnight Camping Site CostWhat is the approximate per-person cost to camp or park your vehicle overnight? Free Camping It costs nothing to stay overnight. In general this means that you should not expect any facilities. |
Overnight Stay Rules |
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Overnight Stay RulesWhat are the accommodation rules for overnight stays at this campsite? Self-contained motorhomes only Overnight stays are only permitted if your vehicle is certified as being 'self-contained'. The vehicle must display the "Responsible Camper" sticker. |
Maximum Stay Duration |
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Maximum Stay DurationHow many consecutive days can you stay overnight at this establishment? 4 nights You are permitted to stay at this campsite for up to four nights in a row. Maximum of 4 nights in any single calendar month |
Water Supply |
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Water SupplyIs there fresh water available? Water supply available A supply of fresh water is available. |
Shower |
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ShowerIs there a shower at this location? No shower No shower is available. |
Dump Station |
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Dump StationDump stations allow the safe disposal of sewage and greywater from self-contained vehicles. Does this site have a dump station? Dump station available There is a dump station available at this location for the safe emptying and disposal of waste water from recreational vehicles. |
Booking Required |
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Booking RequiredIs it necessary to book a campsite in advance in order to stay overnight? First Come, First Served Sites are allocated in a first come, first served basis. Get in early for the best spot. |
Large Vehicle Access |
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Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. |
Vehicle Access |
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Vehicle AccessCan vehicles drive in? Vehicle accessible This location is accessible in a vehicle. |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Campfire Rules |
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Campfire RulesWhat are the rules for open air fires? Fires prohibited There is a total fire ban -no fires are permitted. |
Toilet |
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ToiletIs there a toilet available? Public toilet There are toilet facilities available to the general public. |
✓ Great location for city and ferry
✓ Clean and available toilets
✓ Free overnight parking
✓ Easy bus access to downtown
✓ Safe area with other campers
𐄂 Fills up very quickly
𐄂 Noisy due to road and airport
Free car park close to the centre of Wellington.
Awesome spot, heaps of parks but very busy.
Many places but that makes it very crowded.
Very central, very noisy, very crowded.
Really nice location for your campervan!
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
---|---|---|---|
10/10 | 22 |
|
16% |
9/10 | 21 |
|
15% |
8/10 | 47 |
|
35% |
7/10 | 27 |
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20% |
6/10 | 12 |
|
9% |
5/10 | 5 |
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4% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 1 |
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1% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 1 |
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1% |
3.0/5
This car park is convenient if you’ve got a ferry the next day as it’s only about a 15-20 minute drive away from the port.
I wouldn’t stay here more than one night though. We didn’t get the best of sleep because of how cold it was but we didn’t find it that noisy compared to what others have said. It does seem like a rat race to get to the car park because there aren’t that many spaces. We arrived at 3.30pm on a Sunday in November and managed to nab the very last spot at the end tucked behind a massive motorhome. It looked like it wasn’t a spot but upon closer inspection, you could see the faded white line across the yellow line (we were a bit concerned at first about parking here as we had heard how strict they are with fines but had no issues because it is a parking spot albeit not well marked). We could only park in this space because we’re a small campervan so it does seem like the car park would be better suited to campervans only as the spaces aren’t that big. The toilets are in the car park which is great but there are only 2 of them and you can tell they’re regularly used by those in the car park and the public because they’re not the cleanest. Overall, it’s ok for one night, it’s free and we felt pretty safe.
Reviewed 14 days ago
4.0/5
Although freedom camping is mostly permitted in on street parking in Wellington it feels more secure to be with other campers.
It's a bit of a walk to the centre of town from here though! Was full when I arrived at 6pm but I was able to street park and move when it freed up in the morning. It's laid out like a normal carpark so campers are pretty jammed in. Very windy!
Reviewed about 1 month ago
4.0/5
Nicht besonders hübsch aber zentral.
Als wir ankamen waren schon alle Plätze belegt und wir sind weiter gefahren
Reviewed about 1 month ago
4.0/5
The only free camping in Wellington on a Saturday night, so unsurprisingly a v busy car park.
We arrived at 11.30am and got one of the last slots. Convenient for catching the early ferry the next day. We took an Uber in the afternoon up to Zealander so we wouldn’t lose our space, too far to walk to town. Clean well lit toilet.
Reviewed 27 days ago
3.5/5
Plus points for the handy location and size.
However the significant number of spaces fill up very quickly. We got one of the last spots about 5.30pm although this was during kids holidays. There’s a bin and two toilets. Toilets always very busy but were clean. Long walking distance from Wellington CBD but not impossible to do. Not very close to any shops in walking distance so stock up before you get there. Lots of vehicles leaving early hours of the morning and also bright lights from streets lights. Decent enough if you just need a stop over before the ferry to South Island. Also lots of parking spaces along the road if it’s full.
Reviewed 2 months ago
4.0/5
This campsite is fine for a free site, nothing fancy of course.
It's basically just a parking lot with 2 relatively clean public toilets. It's close to shops and restaurants. Even now in early spring it filled up pretty fast. Especially when a ferry gets canceled. About a 15 to 20 min drive to the ferry terminals.
Reviewed 2 months ago
5.0/5
In Wellington gibt es nicht sonderlich viele Möglichkeit zu campen.
Die Stadt hat mit dem Platz in der Marina jedoch einen guten Rückzugsort für Camper geschaffen.
Besonders hervorzuheben ist, dass man, wenn der Parkplatz voll ist, auf öffentlichen Straßenland (solange dies beispielsweise durch zeitliche Begrenzungen nicht untersagt ist) stehen kann. Das konnten wir selber nicht glauben und haben uns telefonisch noch mal bei der Stadtverwaltung rückversichert und diese haben das bestätigt.
Reviewed 7 months ago
4.0/5
This free area is just perfect for exploring the city and most of all just a 10 minute drive to the ferry terminal.
It’s very popular and fills up fast but parking on the road side if it’s full is allowed.
The toilet block is modern but sadly has been abused by people who obviously have no respect. It is reasonable and I think cleaned daily.
Reviewed 8 months ago
3.5/5
Well located car park, about 5km from city centre Clean flushing toilets and dump station at the other end of the car park.
Limited spaces from late afternoon onwards.
Reviewed 8 months ago
4.0/5
OK campsite- everybody's squeezed in, middle of the center, has flush toilet but no privacy at all.
Also, super full super fast.
Reviewed 8 months ago
3.5/5
Parking slots near the habour for at least 20 vehicles, bit noisy due to the road and airport near by, but best free location to explore Mt Victoria and Wellington City.
6 clean public toilets in the area plus dump station, no shower
Reviewed 9 months ago
2.5/5
Nice to have somewhere so close to the City.
Lots of spaces but they fill up fast. Really frustrated as we woke up to a ticket stating we are not self contained certified when we have all the correct paperwork and the sticker on full display… no one else around seemed to have tickets.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
3.0/5
This car park is convenient if you’ve got a ferry the next day as it’s only about a 15-20 minute drive away from the port.
I wouldn’t stay here more than one night though. We didn’t get the best of sleep because of how cold it was but we didn’t find it that noisy compared to what others have said. It does seem like a rat race to get to the car park because there aren’t that many spaces. We arrived at 3.30pm on a Sunday in November and managed to nab the very last spot at the end tucked behind a massive motorhome. It looked like it wasn’t a spot but upon closer inspection, you could see the faded white line across the yellow line (we were a bit concerned at first about parking here as we had heard how strict they are with fines but had no issues because it is a parking spot albeit not well marked). We could only park in this space because we’re a small campervan so it does seem like the car park would be better suited to campervans only as the spaces aren’t that big. The toilets are in the car park which is great but there are only 2 of them and you can tell they’re regularly used by those in the car park and the public because they’re not the cleanest. Overall, it’s ok for one night, it’s free and we felt pretty safe.
Reviewed 14 days ago
4.0/5
The only free camping in Wellington on a Saturday night, so unsurprisingly a v busy car park.
We arrived at 11.30am and got one of the last slots. Convenient for catching the early ferry the next day. We took an Uber in the afternoon up to Zealander so we wouldn’t lose our space, too far to walk to town. Clean well lit toilet.
Reviewed 27 days ago
4.0/5
Although freedom camping is mostly permitted in on street parking in Wellington it feels more secure to be with other campers.
It's a bit of a walk to the centre of town from here though! Was full when I arrived at 6pm but I was able to street park and move when it freed up in the morning. It's laid out like a normal carpark so campers are pretty jammed in. Very windy!
Reviewed about 1 month ago
4.0/5
Nicht besonders hübsch aber zentral.
Als wir ankamen waren schon alle Plätze belegt und wir sind weiter gefahren
Reviewed about 1 month ago
3.5/5
Plus points for the handy location and size.
However the significant number of spaces fill up very quickly. We got one of the last spots about 5.30pm although this was during kids holidays. There’s a bin and two toilets. Toilets always very busy but were clean. Long walking distance from Wellington CBD but not impossible to do. Not very close to any shops in walking distance so stock up before you get there. Lots of vehicles leaving early hours of the morning and also bright lights from streets lights. Decent enough if you just need a stop over before the ferry to South Island. Also lots of parking spaces along the road if it’s full.
Reviewed 2 months ago
4.0/5
This campsite is fine for a free site, nothing fancy of course.
It's basically just a parking lot with 2 relatively clean public toilets. It's close to shops and restaurants. Even now in early spring it filled up pretty fast. Especially when a ferry gets canceled. About a 15 to 20 min drive to the ferry terminals.
Reviewed 2 months ago
5.0/5
In Wellington gibt es nicht sonderlich viele Möglichkeit zu campen.
Die Stadt hat mit dem Platz in der Marina jedoch einen guten Rückzugsort für Camper geschaffen.
Besonders hervorzuheben ist, dass man, wenn der Parkplatz voll ist, auf öffentlichen Straßenland (solange dies beispielsweise durch zeitliche Begrenzungen nicht untersagt ist) stehen kann. Das konnten wir selber nicht glauben und haben uns telefonisch noch mal bei der Stadtverwaltung rückversichert und diese haben das bestätigt.
Reviewed 7 months ago
4.0/5
This free area is just perfect for exploring the city and most of all just a 10 minute drive to the ferry terminal.
It’s very popular and fills up fast but parking on the road side if it’s full is allowed.
The toilet block is modern but sadly has been abused by people who obviously have no respect. It is reasonable and I think cleaned daily.
Reviewed 8 months ago
3.5/5
Well located car park, about 5km from city centre Clean flushing toilets and dump station at the other end of the car park.
Limited spaces from late afternoon onwards.
Reviewed 8 months ago
4.0/5
OK campsite- everybody's squeezed in, middle of the center, has flush toilet but no privacy at all.
Also, super full super fast.
Reviewed 8 months ago
3.5/5
Parking slots near the habour for at least 20 vehicles, bit noisy due to the road and airport near by, but best free location to explore Mt Victoria and Wellington City.
6 clean public toilets in the area plus dump station, no shower
Reviewed 9 months ago
4.5/5
Car park with clean public toilets which stay open all night.
Lots of spaces but does fill up quickly. Good access to supermarkets and usually small town shops. Close to bus links to central Wellington but we walked along waterside. Took about 90 mins but the sun was shining and it was a pleasant view.
Reviewed 9 months ago
3.5/5
Arrived Saturday about 5pm all spaces taken.
Parked on the road instead as did many other late comers. No issues and handy for restaurants and the ferry
Reviewed 10 months ago
4.5/5
Nice car park on the bay.
Toilets available. Better ger there early in the summer.
Reviewed 10 months ago
5.0/5
Amazing location by the water especially in a capital city.
Almost an hour walk from the city but also the beautiful seafront. Fresh water and grey water disposal available. Toilets pretty good for freedom camping.
Reviewed 10 months ago
5.0/5
Fantastic place to stay whilst staying in Wellington.
Nearby buses give access into the center. Found it very difficult to get a space past lunchtime so arrive early.
Reviewed 10 months ago
4.0/5
We got the last spot at 6pm after arriving by ferry, but the next night there were open spots all night.
Bathrooms and trash cans. Felt safe and very convenient -- easy bus into town (or a long but pretty walk). Patrolled daily to check for Self Contained stickers.
Reviewed 12 months ago
3.5/5
If the campsite is full, call the onsite number for assistance and alternative accommodation.
Given that this spot is consistently busy and fills up quickly, finding a place is a matter of luck. The toilets are well-maintained, and there's a nearby shower for $3.20. It's relatively quiet and suitable for a couple of nights. I recommend using the bus for convenient transportation into the city.
Reviewed 12 months ago
4.0/5
Great spot to stay before catching an early ferry.
Ultimately just a car park and very full, but has public toilets, dump station, quiet overnight.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
5.0/5
Il faut en revanche y arriver tôt car il est rapidement rempli !
Super freecamp avec toilettes propres et proches des emplacements
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Carpark with plenty other campervans around so felt safe.
But out of town but easily accessible by bus. Toilets in car park which were semi clean. Lovely view of marina.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.5/5
No trouble finding a space in an allocated bay at 23:00 at night in August.
Really handy after arriving mg by ferry. Toilets in good condition. We stayed one night then freedom camped on the roadside nearer central Wellington the following night so we could walk back from the city centre but this park is preferable if you don’t want to move your vehicle by 08:00 in the morning.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.5/5
A great place to overnight in Wellington.
Got the last spot as it is a very popular place to stay. Public toilets a very short distance away. Nice view over the marina. A very convenient location.
Reviewed over 1 year ago and experienced in May 2023
5.0/5
Lovely camping site.
Lucky to get the last spot after 11.30pm ferry.Two clean toilets. A bit noisy from traffic and wind. No complaint for a free site so close to city. Dump site just nearby is handy. Love it!
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.0/5
The car park was almost full in June so get there early if you want to be guaranteed a spot.
Toilets are clean but there can be a lineup. Can be a bit noisy with cars driving down the street
Reviewed over 1 year ago
3.5/5
Large car park that filled up even in late May.
Toilets okay, clean visually but very smelly. Nice view of the harbour and showers and grocery store a short walk away.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.0/5
All good spot!
Really close to the airport if you have an early flight or are going somewhere for just a few days. Left my van here whilst in Auckland for a day - felt very safe as lots of other campers around and came back to an untouched van! Didn’t have my self containment card displayed in my windshield and the rangers left a note telling me to move on instead of fining me (which was nice) so remember to display your card! Your self contained sticker on the back will not suffice!!
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.5/5
The perfect spot to stay at!!
There is limited spaces so it’s best to get there early! It is right by the road and near the airport so it got a bit noisy. It has two toilets which are really nice and clean! Definitely the best spot to stay at, just get in early and go for a walk along the water just so you secure a spot like we did! Beautiful city!
Reviewed over 1 year ago
2.5/5
Nice to have somewhere so close to the City.
Lots of spaces but they fill up fast. Really frustrated as we woke up to a ticket stating we are not self contained certified when we have all the correct paperwork and the sticker on full display… no one else around seemed to have tickets.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
4.5/5
Free car park close to the centre of Wellington.
You can stay for 4 nights in a given calendar month and can stay in all the spaces to the right of the entrance. We stayed for 4 nights and it felt safe.
Clean toilets with flushing toilets and dump station in the main marina car park.
We went to the nearby rec centre and didn’t have to pay to use their showers.
Can get quite windy but that’s Wellington.
Reviewed over 1 year ago