Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025 / Ture ā-Rohe mō te Noho Puni Korehere 2025 will come into effect on 1 December 2025.

QLDC Community Services General Manager Ken Bailey said the new bylaw aims to balance community concerns about freedom camping while staying within the requirements of the Freedom Camping Act.

“This new bylaw strengthens our ability to manage freedom camping activities across the district to ensure areas remain safe, protected and accessible to everyone,” said Mr Bailey.

“Having a bylaw in place over summer, along with a team of ambassadors to help visitors understand and comply with the new rules, is key to ensuring visitors continue to enjoy the freedom camping experience responsibly with respect for our communities and our environment.”

The following rules will apply under the 2025 bylaw:

• Freedom camping is prohibited in urban areas. That means no camping in on-road parking spaces such as parallel or angle parks.
• Freedom camping in certified self-contained vehicles is allowed in 15 designated carpark sites across the district (which contain a total of 141 spaces). Camping in these areas is only permitted if the specific conditions for each site are followed.
• Camping in certified self-contained vehicles is permitted on rural roads such as off-road laybys, however, a range of specific bylaw conditions must be met – including how close a vehicle can park to the road.

There are further restrictions for QLDC reserves and private land outside of the bylaw:

• Most Council reserves are prohibited for camping under the Reserves Act. Freedom camping at the Luggate Red Bridge Reserve will continue to be allowed, subject to conditions set out on signage located at the reserve.
• The bylaw does not manage freedom camping on private roads and does not regulate freedom camping on any private land.

QLDC’s summer ambassadors will be visiting freedom camping spots across the district from December to share information on the new rules and how to camp sustainably. They’ll also be promoting local serviced holiday parks and Department of Conservation campsites and encouraging campers to make the Tiaki promise to care for Aotearoa New Zealand.

QLDC officers are now rolling out a comprehensive communications and education programme for the 2025/26 summer period to raise awareness of the new bylaw and where and how freedom camping will be permitted across the district.

Mr Bailey encouraged campers to check the interactive Responsible Camping Map to understand the rules at each location.

“There is new signage at these locations with QR codes that allow campers to check-in to the designated spaces. Also available is a dashboard that shows freedom camping site availability to allow campers to plan ahead,” he said.

“We know most of our visitors want to do the right thing and will camp with care. In saying this we do acknowledge the range of concerns that came through community feedback, and we’d like to reassure residents that we’ll be monitoring sites, acting on poor behaviour and using enforcement when necessary.”

Urgent issues can be phoned into the Council 24/7 on 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) and 03 443 0024 (Wānaka). Less urgent issues can be reported to services@qldc.govt.nz or via the Snap Send Solve app.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• To see where and how the Bylaw applies and learn more about camping in the district head to www.qldc.govt.nz/responsible-camping.
• To view the interactive Responsible Camping Map showing designated freedom camping sites, areas that are prohibited for camping, public facilities and serviced holiday parks and Department of Conservation campsites across the district go to www.qldc.govt.nz/responsible-camping-map
• More information about the Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025 / Ture ā-Rohe mō te Noho Puni Korehere 2025 can be found at www.qldc.govt.nz/bylaws or by contacting your local Council office.
• Fines for breaching the Freedom Camping Bylaw or the Freedom Camping Act start at $400.
• Fines for camping on QLDC reserves or breaching conditions at the Luggate Red Bridge Reserve site are $800.
• Council approved a variation of parking restrictions at carparks within Queenstown, Frankton and Lake Hayes, to enable overnight camping in spaces designated for restricted freedom camping under the QLDC Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025 at 27 November meeting. To view the Council report please go to www.qldc.govt.nz/council-meeting
• View the October media advisory detailing the Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025 being adopted in Queenstown Lakes District at www.qldc.govt.nz/2025/october/25-10-10-freedom-camping-bylaw-2025-adopted-in-queenstown-lakes-district/
• The 15 restricted areas where freedom camping is permitted, subject to a set of conditions specified for each area are:
  • Boundary Street Carpark, Queenstown (15 designated spaces)
  • Gorge Road Carpark, Queenstown (2 designated spaces)
  • Industrial Place Carpark, Queenstown (6 designated spaces)
  • Lakeview Carpark, Queenstown (10 designated spaces)
  • Gray Street Carpark, Frankton (4 designated spaces)
  • Queenstown Events Centre Carpark, Frankton (9 designated spaces)
  • Howards Drive Carpark, Lake Hayes (3 designated spaces)
  • Hansen Place Carpark, Arrowtown (3 designated spaces)
  • Gibbston Highway/SH6 Carpark, Gibbston (2 designated spaces)
  • Glenorchy Domain Carpark, Glenorchy (3 designated spaces)
  • Kingston Road/SH6 Carpark (50 designated spaces)
  • Wānaka Recreation Centre Carpark, Wānaka (18 designated spaces)
  • Beacon Point Road Carpark, Wānaka (3 designated spaces)
  • Allenby Place Carpark, Wānaka (3 designated spaces)
  • Camp Hill Road Carpark, Hāwea (10 designated spaces)
• The conditions to use the designated spaces in the carpark sites state you must:
  • use a certified self-contained motor vehicle
  • arrive after 6.00pm and leave before 8.00am (note times vary for some sites)
  • ensure any motor vehicle, camping equipment and personal items
  • are fully contained within one of the designated marked spaces
  • not stay more than 2 nights within any 30 day period,
  • and not return to any of the marked spaces within a 30 day period
  • remove all waste
  • not light any fires outside of the motor vehicle
  • follow all daytime parking restrictions.

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