Accommodation ▷ Camping Grounds ▷
Basic Campsites
Camping with just the bare essentials in some of the most beautiful locations across NZ. Expect a non-flush toilet that's intermittently serviced. Anything more is a bonus.
The Sweet Spot Between Comfort and Wild
Basic facility camping is where campervanning in NZ really earns its keep. You're not glamping, and you're not roughing it completely - you've got a non-flush toilet (sometimes) and not much else, but what you get in return is access to some genuinely ridiculous locations. The DOC campsite network is the backbone of this. Places like Cascade Creek on the Milford Road sit you right inside Fiordland with a 45-minute rainforest walk to Lake Gunn next door. White Horse Hill puts you in the heart of the Mt Cook action when everyone else has to drive back to town. That alone makes it worth the booking.
The Ones Worth Going Out of Your Way For
A few spots keep coming up as genuine favourites. Kidds Bush Reserve on Lake Hawea is a real beaut, though not suitable for larger campervans. Moke Lake near Queenstown gets overlooked, probably because of the gravel road - which means you'll actually find space there. Up in the Nelson Region, the quieter Abel Tasman campsites at Anapai Bay and Mutton Cove are harder to reach but sit next to two of the best beaches in the park. There are good options scattered across the West Coast too - Gillespies Beach near Okarito has that 360-degree thing going on with the Tasman Sea on one side and the Southern Alps on the other. Beach fire and camp chairs territory.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
Smelly toilets are part of the deal at most DOC sites - honest heads-up. The popular ones like White Horse Hill fill fast, so book ahead and watch the weather forecast closely since most DOC bookings can be amended a day or two out for free. First-come-first-served sites like Albert Town near Wanaka are more relaxed. And if you're on the West Coast, some of the most memorable spots - like Punakaiki Sunset campsite - are worth the little detour off the main road.
Basic Camping Campsites
453 items with the highest ranking score first, showing page 1 of 16.
North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷
Home Bay, Motutapu Island Campsite
Hauraki Gulf Marine Park
5 4 reviews
Camping NZ App
All the great camping sites on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.
North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷
Te Haruhi Bay Camping Ground
Shakespear Regional Park
4.9 25 reviews
North Island ▷ Bay of Plenty ▷
4.8 19 reviews
