Have your say on freedom camping
The future of freedom camping in Queenstown Lakes is now out for public consultation.
Under the new draft bylaw, freedom camping would be banned on most roads within the built-up urban areas, such as town centres, residential areas and retail centres, but would be allowed on rural roads, including in laybys.
Some 158 other spaces would be set aside for people to sleep overnight in any vehicle with its own toilet, in 15 specified areas in the district. The freedom campers would not be allowed to light fires or leave any waste, and could only stay for limited amounts of time.
Formal submissions opened yesterday and close on Friday, 8 August.
Freedom camping has exploded in popularity over the last few decades, from about 10,000 visiting the district back in 2008 to 123,000 in 2018 before the pandemic years.
But Queenstown Lakes District Council's previous bylaw was successfully challenged by the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association, with the High Court ruling the near-blanket ban was based on shaky evidence.
That created something of a free-for-all last summer, with campers lining urban roads, such as Park Street downtown, moving QLDC to step in and ban overnight parking there altogether. It had also been banned at the Events Centre.
"The results of the consultation will be considered by a hearing panel made up of councillors and will help to inform any changes to the draft bylaw ahead of it being adopted," a QLDC spokesperson says.
"The bylaw is expected to be finalised and in place before summer 2025-2026."
The draft bylaw does not propose to regulate freedom camping on any reserve land or privately owned land.
Camping on reserves, other than Luggate Red Bridge, is not permitted under the Reserves Act 1977, while freedom campers can only use private land with the permission of the landowner.
"Those interested in the freedom camping proposals are also encouraged to attend either one of two public drop-in sessions being held in Frankton and Wānaka next week," the spokesperson says.
"Those who cannot make these events are welcome to attend an online webinar held in late July."
Public drop-in sessions will take place at:
- Queenstown Events Centre 5pm-7pm on Monday, 14 July
- Wānaka Recreation Centre 5pm-7pm on Tuesday, 15 July.
- The online webinar will take place at midday on Monday 28 July. Details and registration information for the webinar are available on the Let’s Talk engagement platform and below.
Here are some links:
QLDC Draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025
Interactive Map of Prohibited and Restricted Freedom Camping Areas
