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Responsible Camping Map
Where you can freedom camp responsibly in the Queenstown Lakes District.
Responsible Camping Map
QLDC's Freedom Camping Bylaw comes into effect as of 1 December 2025. Below is an interactive map showing designated freedom camping sites, areas that are prohibited for camping and public facilities. It also shows serviced holiday parks and Department of Conservation campsites across the district.
Responsible camping sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Spaces cannot be prebooked. After securing a space, campers must check in using the QR code provided at the location. This helps keep others informed when the site reaches capacity. For real-time availability, you can also view the QLDC Responsible Camping Site Availability Dashboard - see below.
The Queenstown Lakes District is an extremely popular destination for freedom camping, and free sites can fill up quickly - please have a backup plan in case sites are full. If designated freedom camping sites are full, check out other camping options which range from fully serviced holiday parks to Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites.
Freedom camping on other reserves managed by Department of Conservation may be restricted or prohibited. Freedom camping is not permitted anywhere on Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) land in the Queenstown Lakes region.
Responsible Camping Site Availability
A dashboard that shows freedom camping site availability to allow campers to plan ahead.
Freedom camping restricted sites
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)
Please see the interactive Responsible Camping map for site locations.