Freedom Camping

Southland District Council allows freedom camping at several sites. They are:

  • Colac Bay/Oraka Township - up to 2 days on the Colac Foreshore Road (between the boat ramp and shelter shed). For self-contained vehicles only.
  • Dunsdale - up to 3 days on Dunsdale Recreation Reserve.
  • Fortrose Township - up to 2 days on land beside Moray Terrace and up to four months per calendar year on land on Boat Harbour Road.
  • Haldane - up to 28 days per calendar year on Weirs Beach Recreation Reserve.
  • Manapouri - overnight only in the area beside the Hillside Manapouri Road Bridge over the Whitestone Stream.
  • Nightcaps - overnight only on land beside the racecourse.
  • Orepuki - up to 28 days per calendar year on road reserve at the Monkey Island Picnic Area.
  • Otautau - up to four days on the grassed picnic area in the Alex McKenzie Arboretum.
  • Thornbury - up to 28 days per calendar year on the Aparima Bridge Reserve.
  • Waikawa Township - overnight only on the Waikawa Recreation Reserve.

Council encourages campers to be careful and considerate. It is important that you

  • Be tidy and always leave the area clean.
  • Dispose of all waste water at a dump station. Dump station location information is available from visitor centres.
  • Limit generator use between 8am and 9pm.
  • Always drive along formed tracks.
  • Always use toilets provide.
  • Use biodegradable cleaning products and wash in a container away from the water.
  • Protect native plants and animals.
  • Consider the rights of others.
  • When using a motorhome or caravan outside a conservation campsite, it must be self-contained.

For more information, please go to the Council's Camping Bylaw 2007.

For more information and help, please visit the New Zealand Freedom Camping Forum.

Alongside this, the online the "I Respect NZ" campaign provides website users with a camping map that locates thousands of camping grounds and information on their facilities and costs. 

Map of where freedom camping is allowed in Southland

About this page

First added: 22 April 2009
Last updated: 18 July 2011

Who to contact

Click here for Requests for Service.

Or, If you would like to discuss a matter on this page, feel free to contact us:

Southland District Council
P.O. Box 903
Invercargill 9840
Phone: 0800 732 732
Fax: 0800 732 329
emailsdc@southlanddc.govt.nz Like us on FaceBook