Camping in New Zealand with climbing

From Māori maraes to volcanic landscapes, New Zealand offers some of the most diverse camping in the world.

Popular camping styles for New Zealand

2 top campgrounds in New Zealand with climbing

Cliff Top Cottage

2 sites · Lodging3 acres
Quaint cottage. Sleeps up to 6. 800m away from the iconic Vinegar Hill. Just 3 minutes off SH1, on a quiet road, perfect rural escape. Let me help make going away easy, just bring your clothes, toiletries and food, and you are good to go! We're more than a place to stay! Get immersed in our country life, ride the heritage cycle trail, play some golf, swim and fish in the river, ride our ponies or stay in with our selection of games! Plus we offer yoga, massage and beauty therapy! On our land, we have a variety of different animals, at the moment, six ponies, 9 sheep, two goats, five chickens, a pig, a dog and a cat. We are also blessed to have an orchard. Bedroom 1: can sleep three, double bunk bed with a single above, large side table and in wall shelving to store your belongings Bedroom 2: can sleep 3, set of single bunks and a single bed, with side tables for your belongings. All bedding is provided. We also have a portacot and bedding (in bedroom 1 - under bed and in cabinet). Kitchen: The cottage has pretty much everything to meet your cooking needs there is a bench top oven with two hot plates, an electric frying pan, BBQ and a microwave. Plates, bowls, pots, cups, cutlery, utensils etc all provided. Tea, coffee, sugar, milo, a jug and a 4-slice toaster provided too and a small variety of cereal options. Tomato sauce, mayo, margarine, cooking oil, salt, pepper, curry, mixed herbs and some toast spreads are also provided. Bathroom and Laundry: Contains, shower, toilet and vanity. Good pressure. Towels, facecloths, bathmat and hand towels provided. You will also find the first aid kit here too! Body wash available also. Washing machine and washing powder provided at the cottage. Dryer access can be arranged over at the house. Clothes horse and small line for use too. If you need them, cleaning supplies are in the laundry cabinet, a mop behind the washing machine and a vacuum cleaner behind the couch. Lounge and dining: Lounge and dining is in the front room. Lounge suite, coffee table and dining table that seats 5. Also a selection of books, games, puzzles and children's toys, which we will be forever adding to. We also have a high chair you can assemble, this is behind the couch in the lounge. Please note there is no TV and limited cell phone signal unless you are with Spark. No wifi at cottage, can use at house if needed. Extra Info: * Heating provided via heat pump * A carport at the back of the cottage is an extra space to use, especially if it were to rain, great space also for storing bikes/horse gear/dog crates etc. * Picnic table, outdoor chairs and sun umbrella provided, rain umbrellas too. Check out the small shed behind the cottage for extra things like this. * A few golf clubs available if you wanted to check out our local course * In the wee shed off the carport you will find swing ball, golf clubs, a mini tramp and inside there are toys, balls and a Pétanque set. * In the future plan to have plenty of bikes and life jackets, watch this space!
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from 
NZ$44
 / night
Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Camping in New Zealand with climbing guide

Overview

Ask a Kiwi what defines New Zealand (Aotearoa), and you'll get markedly different answers depending on where they hail from—even if they only grew up hours apart. That may be because New Zealand crams diverse landscapes and experiences into its 268,021 square kilometres. You can sleep at Māori maraes, park your campervan at the foot of active volcanoes, unroll your sleeping bag metres from the sea or deep in the rainforest, or pitch a tent at the foot of snow-capped mountains. Kiwis love road trips thanks to an extensive network of frontcountry, backcountry, and even urban camping areas. Freedom camping in New Zealand is also widespread, with free camping sites sometimes even equipped with flush toilets and hot showers. Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites and holiday parks can be found in even the most remote corners of the country, while local hosts are among the most welcoming you’ll find anywhere in the world.

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.

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