Freedom camping in Wellington

General rules for freedom camping

A person must not freedom camp in an area in which freedom camping is prohibited, as identified in Schedule One: Restricted and Prohibited Areas for freedom camping (4.41MB PDF).

Camping is prohibited on all land managed under the Reserves Act 1977 and Wellington Town Belt Act 2016.

Freedom camping is restricted in all other Wellington areas, as identified in Schedule One: Restricted and Prohibited Areas for freedom camping (4.41MB PDF).

The restrictions that apply to freedom camping in all areas are:

• A motor vehicle must be a certified self-contained motor vehicle to freedom camp.
• A motor vehicle or a tent or other temporary structure must not stay in any one area for more than four consecutive nights in any calendar month.
• A motor vehicle or a tent or other temporary structure must not freedom camp within 500 metres of an area in which it has already been freedom camping for four consecutive nights in any calendar month.

If you breach the Public Places Bylaw 2022 you could receive a $400 fine.

If you're still unsure about where you can freedom camp, please call us on 04 499 4444 anytime.

Where can I freedom camp in Wellington?

Restricted camping on public land is allowed in Wellington City for self-contained vehicles only.

Free sites in Wellington City

• Evans Bay Marina car park  (52 designated parks)
• Te Kopahou Visitors Centre car park  (16 designated parks, not suitable for vehicles over 7m or caravans)
• On-street parking – just keep within any time limits if any are in place.

Free sites in Porirua

• Ngāti Toa Domain
• Bradey's Bay Park
• Onepoto Esplanade Reserve
• Motukaraka Point Reserve

Paid overnight parking options in Wellington City

• Barnett Street car park on the Wellington waterfront is available to freedom campers with self-contained vehicles for $30 per 24 hours. (Note: Because this area is used by the Harbourside Market on Sunday mornings, you can't park at Barnett Street car park overnight on a Saturday.)
• Cuba Street Motorhome Park (electricity only), 25 Garrett Street, Te Aro, Wellington
• Capital Lodge Motor Inn Wellington , 1 Newlands Road, Newlands

Other paid overnight parking options in the Wellington region

• Camp Elsdon , 18 Raiha Street, Elsdon, Porirua
• Camping - Battle Hill , Porirua
• Camping - Belmont Park , Lower Hutt
• Top 10 Holiday Park , 95 Hutt Park Road, Moera, Lower Hutt
• Camping - Kaitoke Regional Park , Upper Hutt
• Harcourt Holiday Park , 45 Akatarawa Road, Upper Hutt
• Kiwi Holiday Park , 45 Akatarawa Road, Upper Hutt
• Kapiti Holiday Resort , 16 Beach Haven Place, Paraparaumu Beach, Kāpiti Coast

Places you can't camp

Camping is not permitted in an area on any land managed under the Reserves Act and Wellington Town Belt Act. This includes a number of:

• reserves
• coastal car parks
• sports fields car parks
• play area car parks.

Read section 13 of the Public Places Bylaw 2022 to find out more.

Public dump stations

Wellington's purpose-built stations for responsible disposal of waste and sewage are located at:

• Evans Bay Marina, 517 Evans Bay Parade, Hataitai
• Ngauranga Gorge

Fines

Freedom camping offences may be subject to an infringement notice (Section 27(6), Freedom Camping Act 2011) and a fee of $400.

What to do if you receive a fine

If you receive an infringement notice from an Enforcement Officer, you can pay the fee online using your credit card (use the Camping payment type) or at one of our Council service desks.

Pay camping infringement fines

Disputing an infringement

You can dispute a freedom camping infringement by emailing parkranger@wcc.govt.nz or visiting a Council service desk.

Please provde:

• your name
• the name of the issuing officer (the park ranger)
• the infringement number
• when and where the infringement was issued.

Information on how to dispute a fine is on the back of your infringement notice.

Please note that it is up to freedom campers to know the rules around freedom camping and we will only issue a waiver in special circumstances.