Camping and campervans

To protect our environment we have different rules depending on if you are staying in a tent, car or campervan.

If you are camping in a tent or sleeping in a vehicle without facilities, you need to stay in a camping ground that has facilities you can use.

If your campervan is certified self-contained, with a toilet, wastewater and rubbish facilities on board, you may freedom camp in some areas in Christchurch, Akaroa and Bank Peninsula.

Council-operated camping grounds

Our campgrounds offer a range of different experiences from small, relaxed seaside sites to larger fully serviced holiday parks. All our campgrounds welcome different ways of camping, from tents to campervans.

Visit a camping ground:

• Duvauchelle Holiday Park(external link)
• Okains Bay Camping Ground(external link)
• Pigeon Bay Camping Ground(external link)
• Spencer Beach Top 10 Holiday Park(external link)

 

Know where to camp

The map below shows you where you can and can’t freedom camp, as well as camping grounds, dump stations, rubbish and recycling facilities, and public toilet locations.

This map shows where freedom camping is prohibited or restricted by the Council’s Freedom Camping Bylaw. The bylaw only applies to land under the Council's control or management (not to private land or land managed by other agencies - for example, the Department of Conservation prohibits freedom camping at Godley Head).