New Zealand's spectacular outdoor spaces are a taonga (treasure) that we all share. Responsible camping ensures these places remain beautiful for future generations. This guide covers the unwritten rules of camping in NZ — the etiquette every camper should follow.
Leave No Trace — The Seven Principles
Leave No Trace (LNT) is the gold standard for outdoor ethics worldwide. In New Zealand, the principles are promoted by DOC and outdoor organisations. Follow these seven principles every time you camp:
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Check DOC website for campsite status, track conditions, and alerts
- Know the fire season status and any local restrictions
- Carry appropriate gear for NZ's changeable weather
- Book ahead for Great Walks and popular campsites
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Use established campsites — don't create new ones
- Camp at least 50 metres from lakes, rivers, and streams
- Walk on tracks even when muddy (widening tracks damages vegetation)
- In sensitive alpine areas, stick to rock and snow surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
- Pack it in, pack it out — carry all rubbish home with you
- Use toilet facilities where available. Otherwise, bury human waste in a cat hole at least 15–20 cm deep, 50 metres from water
- Carry out toilet paper and sanitary items — they take years to biodegrade
- Use dump stations for campervan greywater and toilet cassettes (never empty onto the ground)
4. Leave What You Find
- Don't pick native plants, flowers, or fungi
- Don't take stones, shells, sand, or wood from beaches or forests
- Leave historic sites and cultural artefacts undisturbed
- Don't carve into trees or rocks
5. Minimise Campfire Impacts
- Use a camping stove for cooking instead of lighting a fire
- If you must have a fire, use established fire rings — don't build new ones
- Only use dead and downed wood (never break branches off trees)
- Burn all wood to ash and drown fire completely before leaving
- Never light a fire during a total fire ban — penalties are severe
6. Respect Wildlife
- Observe wildlife from a distance — never approach or feed animals
- Store food securely — hung from a tree or in sealed containers in your vehicle
- Keep pets under control or leave them at home (pets are not allowed in many national parks)
- Be especially careful around nesting birds — many NZ birds nest on the ground
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- Keep noise down, especially after 8 pm
- Respect other campers' space and privacy
- Control dogs — keep them on leads in campsites and on tracks
- Yield to others on walking tracks (uphill walkers have right of way)
- Keep campsites tidy — nobody wants to arrive at a mess left by the previous camper
Fire Bans & Seasons
New Zealand has a fire season system managed by Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ):
- Open fire season: Fire permits not required for campfires (but check local council rules)
- Restricted fire season: You need a fire permit to light a fire outdoors
- Total fire ban (prohibited season): No outdoor fires at all — including campfires, BBQs with solid fuel, and some gas cookers
Check the Check It's Alright website (checkitsalright.nz) before lighting any fire. Enter your location to see current fire restrictions. Fines for breaching a fire ban start at $2,000 and can reach $300,000 in extreme cases.
Wildlife Protection
New Zealand's wildlife is unique, ancient, and vulnerable. Many species — like the kiwi, kea, yellow-eyed penguin, and whio (blue duck) — are endangered and protected by law.
- Never feed kea — these alpine parrots are intelligent and curious. Feeding them makes them dependent on humans, damages their health, and leads to them being destroyed. A fed kea is a dead kea.
- Keep food sealed — weka (woodhen) will steal anything shiny or edible from an unsecured tent or campsite.
- Beach camping and penguins — if camping near penguin habitats (Catlins, Oamaru, West Coast), don't use bright lights near the beach at night during nesting season.
- No dogs in national parks — dogs are prohibited in most national parks and on many public conservation lands because they prey on native birds.
Respecting Māori Culture & Sites
- Many campsites are on or near sites of cultural significance to Māori
- Do not enter or climb over pā sites, urupā (burial grounds), or wāhi tapu (sacred sites)
- Respect rahui (temporary bans) — these may be in place for cultural reasons after a death or to restore resources
- Treat waterways with respect — they are wai tapu (sacred) to Māori
Campervan Etiquette
- Don't park overnight in residential areas or outside someone's home
- Use designated dump stations — never empty greywater onto streets or parks
- Keep generators turned off after 8 pm (check local rules)
- Don't run your engine all night for heating — it disturbs other campers and pollutes
- Leave freedom camping spots cleaner than you found them
The Golden Rule of NZ Camping
Take only photos, leave only footprints. Simple to remember, vital to practice. New Zealand's natural environment is world-famous for a reason. Every responsible camper plays a part in keeping it that way.