Freedom Camping in the Queenstown Lakes District

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Consultation has concluded.

Submissions on the draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2021 closed at 5.00pm on Friday 3 September 2021.

Formal submissions made on the draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2021 can be read here.

The draft bylaw is similar to the existing Freedom Camping Control Bylaw 2019, with a number of proposed changes around areas where freedom camping is prohibited.


Following a comprehensive site by site assessment of 105 Council-administered sites where freedom camping could potentially occur, QLDC is proposing a number of new areas to prohibit freedom camping in.

Proposed areas to prohibit freedom camping:

  • Coronet Peak Road/Skippers Canyon Road (to Skippers Saddle)
  • Crown Range Road
  • Precipice Creek Road Reserve
  • Moke Lake Road
  • Rafters Road
  • Motutapu Road Track End
  • Hāwea Flat township
  • Whitechapel Reserve

These areas will be in addition to prohibiting freedom camping from occurring within residential and built up areas.


We’re also proposing a number of locations to allow restricted freedom camping, which would allow certified self-contained vehicles to use these areas.

Proposed areas to allow restricted freedom camping in certified self-contained vehicles:

  • Gibbston Reserve carpark
  • Glenorchy Domain carpark
  • Camphill Road carpark
  • Morven Ferry Reserve
  • Luggate Red Bridge Reserve

The proposed restricted sites will have a maximum number of carparks (except for Luggate Red Bridge Reserve) available for certified self-contained vehicles, along with a maximum stay of two nights at each site.


Make a submission:

Submissions on the draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2021 closed at 5.00pm on Friday 3 September 2021.

Formal submissions made on the draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2021 can be read here.

Submissions on the draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2021 closed at 5.00pm on Friday 3 September 2021.

Formal submissions made on the draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2021 can be read here.

The draft bylaw is similar to the existing Freedom Camping Control Bylaw 2019, with a number of proposed changes around areas where freedom camping is prohibited.


Following a comprehensive site by site assessment of 105 Council-administered sites where freedom camping could potentially occur, QLDC is proposing a number of new areas to prohibit freedom camping in.

Proposed areas to prohibit freedom camping:

  • Coronet Peak Road/Skippers Canyon Road (to Skippers Saddle)
  • Crown Range Road
  • Precipice Creek Road Reserve
  • Moke Lake Road
  • Rafters Road
  • Motutapu Road Track End
  • Hāwea Flat township
  • Whitechapel Reserve

These areas will be in addition to prohibiting freedom camping from occurring within residential and built up areas.


We’re also proposing a number of locations to allow restricted freedom camping, which would allow certified self-contained vehicles to use these areas.

Proposed areas to allow restricted freedom camping in certified self-contained vehicles:

  • Gibbston Reserve carpark
  • Glenorchy Domain carpark
  • Camphill Road carpark
  • Morven Ferry Reserve
  • Luggate Red Bridge Reserve

The proposed restricted sites will have a maximum number of carparks (except for Luggate Red Bridge Reserve) available for certified self-contained vehicles, along with a maximum stay of two nights at each site.


Make a submission:

Submissions on the draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2021 closed at 5.00pm on Friday 3 September 2021.

Formal submissions made on the draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2021 can be read here.