Top-rated campgrounds in New Zealand
Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park
1. Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park
100%
(10)
Queenstown · 71 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Set in the picturesque valley of Arthur’s Point, with central Queenstown just a short drive away, Queenstown TOP 10 Holiday Park offers a peaceful alpine escape close to all the action. Wide, leafy grounds and mountain views in every direction create a relaxed base for travellers looking to unwind after a day of adventure.
The park features large sites with plenty of space to spread out, alongside modern communal facilities including clean bathrooms, well-equipped kitchens, laundry areas, free Wi-Fi, and BBQ spaces. Cabins and other accommodation options are also available for travellers wanting a little more comfort while staying close to nature.
You’re perfectly positioned for some of Queenstown’s best experiences: just 15minutes from Coronet Peak for winter skiing, within walking distance of popular attractions in Arthur’s Point, and an easy drive to jet boating, lakeside walks, cycle trails, and the iconic Queenstown dining scene. It’s the ideal alternative to the bustle of town – close enough for convenience but set apart for calm.
Toilets
Showers
Full hookups
from
NZ$71
/ night
Fox Glacier TOP 10 Holiday Park
2. Fox Glacier TOP 10 Holiday Park
100%
(11)
Fox Glacier · 112 sites · RVs, Lodging
Surrounded by rainforest, alpine peaks, and the dramatic landscapes of Glacier Country, Fox Glacier TOP 10 Holiday Park offers a welcoming base for travellers seeking the wild beauty of the West Coast. Hard-surface sites and an informal tenting area are set across open, scenic grounds, many with views towards Fox Glacier and Aoraki/Mt Cook.
Everything is close and easy here — sites sit within a short walk of clean communal bathrooms, hot showers, a well-equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, and free Wi-Fi. Cabins and self-contained units provide comfortable options while still soaking up the alpine atmosphere.
Wander through lush rainforest, visit mirror-calm Lake Matheson, stroll the rugged West Coast beach, or head toward the glacier valley itself. Local cafés and small village comforts round out an ideal stay for adventurers and nature lovers. Whether you’re chasing sunrise over the Southern Alps, hiking through ancient forest, or simply enjoying the silence of glacier country, Fox Glacier TOP 10 puts you right at the heart of it.
Toilets
Showers
Full hookups
from
NZ$61
/ night
Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park
3. Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park
100%
(11)
Whitianga · 342 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Just a short walk from one of New Zealand’s most famous beaches, Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park offers spacious powered and unpowered sites surrounded by native bush and landscaped grounds. From here, you can wander down to the shore, dig your own natural hot pool in the sand at low tide, and soak in the warm mineral water with the sound of the waves rolling in.
The park has a relaxed, family-friendly feel, with generous sites perfectly suited to tents, caravans and motorhomes — including all-weather options for larger vehicles — as well as a wide selection of cabins and villas.
Facilities at the park are many and varied: a year-round heated pool complex with soaking pools, modern communal kitchens, clean amenity blocks, an on-site shop, laundry, BBQ areas, EV-charging (trickle-style, outside peak season only) and a playground for younger guests. All of this combines with the bush setting and ocean-front access to deliver a comfortable, nature-centred stay without compromise.
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from
NZ$63
/ night
Dune Lakes Lodge - Retreat & Horses
4. Dune Lakes Lodge - Retreat & Horses
South Head · 1 site
Dune Lakes Retreat & Horse Inspired Learning Centre is nestled on the wild South Kaipara Head Peninsula, just 60 minutes from Auckland CBD, yet it feels far removed from everyday life. Set among ancient sand hills, pristine wetlands, native bush, and the calm waters of Lake Kereta — a rare freshwater dune lake — this is a landscape shaped by deep time, quiet balance and wonderful for safe swimming.
The South Kaipara Head is an ancient sand barrier separating the vast Kaipara Harbour from the Tasman Sea. Between the dunes, groundwater has gathered over thousands of years to form freshwater lakes and wetlands that filter water, support rich biodiversity, and create a profound sense of calm.
Guests may choose from a range of camping sites — some nestled near the wetlands, others more open with wide skies and lake views. Facilities include excellent water quality, toilets, and showers. Accommodation includes the Flying Horse Barn with three studio rooms at $150 per night per room, and a cabin available for $100 per night (bring your own linen/towels etc or $25 extra per stay for supplied linen for all accommodation)
To the west lies the dramatic Muriwai / Rangatira coastline with sweeping Tasman Sea sunsets. To the east is the sheltered Kaipara Harbour, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and a vital feeding ground for marine life and migratory birds such as godwits, knots, plovers, and terns. A quiet lagoon to the north shelters swans, ducks, pūkeko, paradise shelduck, kingfisher, fantail, warbler, and silvereye.
At dawn, birdsong fills the air. At dusk, frogs rise in chorus, and from deep within the reedbeds the rare Australasian bittern calls — a nationally threatened bird whose presence signals an intact wetland.
The retreat is also home to a free-roaming herd of horses at the Horse Inspired Learning Centre. The horses are free-roaming, barefoot, unridden, and without covers. Mindful, non-riding interactions grounded in Natural Horse Friendship and Equine-Assisted Learning sessions are available by arrangement at $250 per morning session)
A place to rest, reflect, and reconnect — where land, water, wildlife, horses, and quiet beauty meet.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from
NZ$84
/ night
Forest & Bird Sanctuary
5. Forest & Bird Sanctuary
South Island · 1 site · Tent, RV
Kia ora! / Hello!
We’re situated just five minutes from the main town — but you’d never know it.
Surrounded by native New Zealand forest filled with birdsong, the property overlooks the local mountain ranges, offering peace and privacy in a beautiful natural setting.
We’re in the process of establishing organic food forests and vegetable gardens, creating a space that’s both sustainable and serene.
Enjoy our stainless-steel, wood-fired hot tub, which uses purified rainwater — no chemicals added.
There’s free Wi-Fi, purified drinking rainwater, power hookups, and a compost toilet available for guests.
This is a place to relax, reconnect, and immerse yourself in the beauty of the West Coast, with plenty of nature adventures nearby.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from
NZ$43
/ night
Kaikoura TOP 10 Holiday Park
6. Kaikoura TOP 10 Holiday Park
100%
(8)
Kaikōura · 103 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Nestled in one of New Zealand’s most dramatic coastal towns, Kaikōura TOP 10
Holiday Park offers sheltered powered and non-powered sites for caravans,
motorhomes and tents, along with a wide range of cabins for travellers wanting
extra comfort. Set among landscaped grounds and framed by sweeping mountain vistas, it’s a peaceful, modern base for exploring this maritime wonderland.
Choose from grass or gravel sites depending on your setup, each positioned close to clean, well-maintained communal facilities. Free Wi-Fi, spacious kitchens, modern amenities and newly added hot tubs make it easy to relax at the end of the day — whether you’ve been out on the water or wandering the peninsula.
Kaikōura is famous for its wildlife encounters, from whale watching and dolphin
tours to seals lounging along the coastline. Add in coastal walks, local seafood,
and sunrise over the mountains, and you’ve got a spectacular setting for your stay. Kaikōura TOP 10 puts all of it within easy reach while offering comfort and calm when you return.
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from
NZ$63
/ night
Carters Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
7. Carters Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
100%
(10)
Westport · 111 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Welcome to the West Coast’s dramatic coastline, where sandy beaches meet lush
rainforest and mountain backdrops. Carter's Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park offers a
relaxed, seaside setting with powered and non-powered sites interspersed with
cabin accommodation in spacious, park-like surrounds.
Just steps from a gentle swimming beach, the park also offers hot tubs for hire,
modern communal bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and all the conveniences you need to unwind comfortably. Free unlimited Wi-Fi across the site means you
can stay connected even while enjoying the slow pace of the coastline.
Whether you’re exploring the wild beauty of Cape Foulwind, visiting the nearby seal colony, cycling the Kawatiri Coastal Trail, or discovering the charm of nearby
Westport, Carters Beach TOP 10 is a welcoming spot to relax at the end of each day— a classic West Coast stay with both comfort and character.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from
NZ$86
/ night
Seaviews Pataua
8. Seaviews Pataua
Whangarei · 1 site · Tent, RV
Cabin available 50 acres native virgin NZ bush swimming pool hot tub paddock kayaks river close to surf beach.
Float benneath the stars, see morepork, wood pidgeons, hear kiwi bird, fishing kayaks river to secluded beach, 1hour long native bush walk 500year old kauri trees privacy spring drinking water and so much
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Showers
from
NZ$73
/ night
Pohutukawa Cabin @ Karikari Lodge.
9. Pohutukawa Cabin @ Karikari Lodge.
Karikari Peninsula, NZ · 1 site
The Pohutukawa Cabin is part of our Guest House space. The Cabin is private and self contained there are no shared facilities. The Pohutukawa Cabin is to the rear of Karikari Lodge and overlooks the beautiful and treasured Karikari Bay. You have free use of the SUP (Stand up paddle boards) and Bodyboards.
Toilets
Showers
Wifi
from
NZ$161
/ night
Top-rated campgrounds in New Zealand
Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park
1. Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park
100%
(10)
Queenstown · 71 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Set in the picturesque valley of Arthur’s Point, with central Queenstown just a short drive away, Queenstown TOP 10 Holiday Park offers a peaceful alpine escape close to all the action. Wide, leafy grounds and mountain views in every direction create a relaxed base for travellers looking to unwind after a day of adventure.
The park features large sites with plenty of space to spread out, alongside modern communal facilities including clean bathrooms, well-equipped kitchens, laundry areas, free Wi-Fi, and BBQ spaces. Cabins and other accommodation options are also available for travellers wanting a little more comfort while staying close to nature.
You’re perfectly positioned for some of Queenstown’s best experiences: just 15minutes from Coronet Peak for winter skiing, within walking distance of popular attractions in Arthur’s Point, and an easy drive to jet boating, lakeside walks, cycle trails, and the iconic Queenstown dining scene. It’s the ideal alternative to the bustle of town – close enough for convenience but set apart for calm.
Toilets
Showers
Full hookups
from
NZ$71
/ night
Fox Glacier TOP 10 Holiday Park
2. Fox Glacier TOP 10 Holiday Park
100%
(11)
Fox Glacier · 112 sites · RVs, Lodging
Surrounded by rainforest, alpine peaks, and the dramatic landscapes of Glacier Country, Fox Glacier TOP 10 Holiday Park offers a welcoming base for travellers seeking the wild beauty of the West Coast. Hard-surface sites and an informal tenting area are set across open, scenic grounds, many with views towards Fox Glacier and Aoraki/Mt Cook.
Everything is close and easy here — sites sit within a short walk of clean communal bathrooms, hot showers, a well-equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, and free Wi-Fi. Cabins and self-contained units provide comfortable options while still soaking up the alpine atmosphere.
Wander through lush rainforest, visit mirror-calm Lake Matheson, stroll the rugged West Coast beach, or head toward the glacier valley itself. Local cafés and small village comforts round out an ideal stay for adventurers and nature lovers. Whether you’re chasing sunrise over the Southern Alps, hiking through ancient forest, or simply enjoying the silence of glacier country, Fox Glacier TOP 10 puts you right at the heart of it.
Toilets
Showers
Full hookups
from
NZ$61
/ night
Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park
3. Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park
100%
(11)
Whitianga · 342 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Just a short walk from one of New Zealand’s most famous beaches, Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park offers spacious powered and unpowered sites surrounded by native bush and landscaped grounds. From here, you can wander down to the shore, dig your own natural hot pool in the sand at low tide, and soak in the warm mineral water with the sound of the waves rolling in.
The park has a relaxed, family-friendly feel, with generous sites perfectly suited to tents, caravans and motorhomes — including all-weather options for larger vehicles — as well as a wide selection of cabins and villas.
Facilities at the park are many and varied: a year-round heated pool complex with soaking pools, modern communal kitchens, clean amenity blocks, an on-site shop, laundry, BBQ areas, EV-charging (trickle-style, outside peak season only) and a playground for younger guests. All of this combines with the bush setting and ocean-front access to deliver a comfortable, nature-centred stay without compromise.
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from
NZ$63
/ night
Dune Lakes Lodge - Retreat & Horses
4. Dune Lakes Lodge - Retreat & Horses
South Head · 1 site
Dune Lakes Retreat & Horse Inspired Learning Centre is nestled on the wild South Kaipara Head Peninsula, just 60 minutes from Auckland CBD, yet it feels far removed from everyday life. Set among ancient sand hills, pristine wetlands, native bush, and the calm waters of Lake Kereta — a rare freshwater dune lake — this is a landscape shaped by deep time, quiet balance and wonderful for safe swimming.
The South Kaipara Head is an ancient sand barrier separating the vast Kaipara Harbour from the Tasman Sea. Between the dunes, groundwater has gathered over thousands of years to form freshwater lakes and wetlands that filter water, support rich biodiversity, and create a profound sense of calm.
Guests may choose from a range of camping sites — some nestled near the wetlands, others more open with wide skies and lake views. Facilities include excellent water quality, toilets, and showers. Accommodation includes the Flying Horse Barn with three studio rooms at $150 per night per room, and a cabin available for $100 per night (bring your own linen/towels etc or $25 extra per stay for supplied linen for all accommodation)
To the west lies the dramatic Muriwai / Rangatira coastline with sweeping Tasman Sea sunsets. To the east is the sheltered Kaipara Harbour, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and a vital feeding ground for marine life and migratory birds such as godwits, knots, plovers, and terns. A quiet lagoon to the north shelters swans, ducks, pūkeko, paradise shelduck, kingfisher, fantail, warbler, and silvereye.
At dawn, birdsong fills the air. At dusk, frogs rise in chorus, and from deep within the reedbeds the rare Australasian bittern calls — a nationally threatened bird whose presence signals an intact wetland.
The retreat is also home to a free-roaming herd of horses at the Horse Inspired Learning Centre. The horses are free-roaming, barefoot, unridden, and without covers. Mindful, non-riding interactions grounded in Natural Horse Friendship and Equine-Assisted Learning sessions are available by arrangement at $250 per morning session)
A place to rest, reflect, and reconnect — where land, water, wildlife, horses, and quiet beauty meet.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from
NZ$84
/ night
Forest & Bird Sanctuary
5. Forest & Bird Sanctuary
South Island · 1 site · Tent, RV
Kia ora! / Hello!
We’re situated just five minutes from the main town — but you’d never know it.
Surrounded by native New Zealand forest filled with birdsong, the property overlooks the local mountain ranges, offering peace and privacy in a beautiful natural setting.
We’re in the process of establishing organic food forests and vegetable gardens, creating a space that’s both sustainable and serene.
Enjoy our stainless-steel, wood-fired hot tub, which uses purified rainwater — no chemicals added.
There’s free Wi-Fi, purified drinking rainwater, power hookups, and a compost toilet available for guests.
This is a place to relax, reconnect, and immerse yourself in the beauty of the West Coast, with plenty of nature adventures nearby.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from
NZ$43
/ night
Kaikoura TOP 10 Holiday Park
6. Kaikoura TOP 10 Holiday Park
100%
(8)
Kaikōura · 103 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Nestled in one of New Zealand’s most dramatic coastal towns, Kaikōura TOP 10
Holiday Park offers sheltered powered and non-powered sites for caravans,
motorhomes and tents, along with a wide range of cabins for travellers wanting
extra comfort. Set among landscaped grounds and framed by sweeping mountain vistas, it’s a peaceful, modern base for exploring this maritime wonderland.
Choose from grass or gravel sites depending on your setup, each positioned close to clean, well-maintained communal facilities. Free Wi-Fi, spacious kitchens, modern amenities and newly added hot tubs make it easy to relax at the end of the day — whether you’ve been out on the water or wandering the peninsula.
Kaikōura is famous for its wildlife encounters, from whale watching and dolphin
tours to seals lounging along the coastline. Add in coastal walks, local seafood,
and sunrise over the mountains, and you’ve got a spectacular setting for your stay. Kaikōura TOP 10 puts all of it within easy reach while offering comfort and calm when you return.
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from
NZ$63
/ night
Carters Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
7. Carters Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
100%
(10)
Westport · 111 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Welcome to the West Coast’s dramatic coastline, where sandy beaches meet lush
rainforest and mountain backdrops. Carter's Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park offers a
relaxed, seaside setting with powered and non-powered sites interspersed with
cabin accommodation in spacious, park-like surrounds.
Just steps from a gentle swimming beach, the park also offers hot tubs for hire,
modern communal bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and all the conveniences you need to unwind comfortably. Free unlimited Wi-Fi across the site means you
can stay connected even while enjoying the slow pace of the coastline.
Whether you’re exploring the wild beauty of Cape Foulwind, visiting the nearby seal colony, cycling the Kawatiri Coastal Trail, or discovering the charm of nearby
Westport, Carters Beach TOP 10 is a welcoming spot to relax at the end of each day— a classic West Coast stay with both comfort and character.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from
NZ$86
/ night
Seaviews Pataua
8. Seaviews Pataua
Whangarei · 1 site · Tent, RV
Cabin available 50 acres native virgin NZ bush swimming pool hot tub paddock kayaks river close to surf beach.
Float benneath the stars, see morepork, wood pidgeons, hear kiwi bird, fishing kayaks river to secluded beach, 1hour long native bush walk 500year old kauri trees privacy spring drinking water and so much
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Showers
from
NZ$73
/ night
Pohutukawa Cabin @ Karikari Lodge.
9. Pohutukawa Cabin @ Karikari Lodge.
Karikari Peninsula, NZ · 1 site
The Pohutukawa Cabin is part of our Guest House space. The Cabin is private and self contained there are no shared facilities. The Pohutukawa Cabin is to the rear of Karikari Lodge and overlooks the beautiful and treasured Karikari Bay. You have free use of the SUP (Stand up paddle boards) and Bodyboards.
Toilets
Showers
Wifi
from
NZ$161
/ night
The best camping in New Zealand with hot tubs guide
Where to go
Northland (North Island)
This stretch of land north of Auckland is the birthplace of both Māoridom and modern New Zealand. Campsites in the Bay of Islands offer modern amenities and services, while seaside sites in the relatively unpopulated Far North region do justice to the phrase "winterless north."
Waikato (North Island)
Just south of Auckland, Waikato may be known for its cows, but this is also where you'll find some of the most dynamic camping in the region, including riverbanks and caves lit up at night with glowworms, surf beaches, and the bays and inlets of the Coromandel.
Bay of Plenty & Hawke's Bay (North Island)
Kiwifruits, wineries, and seafood are just part of what makes these two regions so plentiful. In addition to beachfront camping sites, you'll also find farm stays and further inland, camping among the misty mountain peaks of Te Urewera or beside the steaming geysers at Rotorua.
Ruapehu (North Island)
Within the volcanic heart of the North Island, the Ruapehu region also marks the start Whanganui River, with its headwaters in Tongariro National Park. Lava flows have defined this landscape, yet you can also park your motorhome among lush green rainforest.
Tasman/Nelson & Marlborough (South Island)
After a ferry ride from Wellington, you'll arrive to the northern end of the South Island, where these Tasman and Marlborough are known for their gold-hued beaches (especially in the aptly named Golden Bay and Abel Tasman National Park), plus kayaking, wineries, endless coastline, and native bush.
West Coast (South Island)
New Zealand's West Coast is known for being both wild and wet. It lives up to both descriptions, but it isn't all rain and gloom. Here, you'll find glaciers that nearly touch the sea, native rainforest, windswept beaches, and some of the country's most remote campsites.
Canterbury (South Island)
From the turquoise lakes of Mackenzie Country and the snow-capped peaks of Arthur's Pass to the braided rivers that cross the plains, Canterbury is as big as it is diverse. Want to camp beachside, riverside, oceanside, mountainside, lakeside, or even cityside in Christchurch? Find it all in Canterbury.
Otago (South Island)
Otago's urban centre of Queenstown is known for hustle and bustle, but it's easy to find yourself totally immersed in wilderness after just a short drive. With massive lakes, rushing rivers, and high mountain peaks, there's no shortage of adventure or camping grounds in the country's adrenaline capital.
Fiordland & Stewart Island (South Island)
Fiordland National Park is one of New Zealand's most remote regions—yet it's also one of the most visited. The postcard-perfect Milford Sound is what lures many here, but for those who have time to camp for a few nights, it offers unparalleled wilderness opportunities starting from Te Anau.