Camping guides
Finding caravan parks New Zealand: complete guide
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You’ve hired the caravan, designed your itinerary and are ready to explore New Zealand! Now it’s time to find your New Zealand caravan park.
Like neighbouring Australia, New Zealand’s open space, beautiful scenery and stunning coastlines make it the perfect country for # vanlife holidays – what better way to see it than from a home away from home chosen according to your own needs? Make the most of it with overnight stays at campsites to rest and rejuvenate in comfort before hitting the road to your next destination… and by following our guide to finding caravan parks in New Zealand.
(This guide assumes you want to connect to services while on your caravan trip; if that’s not on your agenda, see our guide tofree camping in New Zealand.)
What to consider when looking for a caravan park
Everyone’s holiday is different and so is everyone’s idea of their perfect caravan park. You might want a small, peaceful, adult-oriented caravan park deep in quiet countryside… or a big, lively holiday park with swimming pools, evening entertainment and lots of other activities and facilities.
Cost is obviously a consideration too, particularly if you want a caravan holiday where you stay in a caravan park every night rather than free camping.
Here are a few things to take into account:
Setting: do you prefer a caravan park by the beach, close to a city, near a major attraction…?
Cost and facilities: somewhere to park up overnight and connect to services, or a comfortable well-equipped park to stay at for a few days?
Transport and road availability: caravans are touring vehicles, meaning you can leave your van on-site and use your touring car to explore the region; if so, you may not want to spend significant time every day reaching the main road. Or you might opt to take public transport if you’re near a city – are stops and routes nearby?
Accessibility: not just of transport and roads – will someone in your party need disabled-access showers and toilets, for example? Is the park swimming pool set up for easy access for wheelchair users?
Overall vibe: busy family-friendly or quiet no-frills park, or something in between?
Types of New Zealand caravan parks – Privately owned holiday parks
The main advantage of holiday parks is their range of services and facilities. Expect to find kitchens, hot showers and powered sites at most, plus playgrounds, swimming pools and other leisure options at some. As you might expect, these parks are more expensive than government-managed sites (see below), averaging around $30—$50 per night.
Find holiday parks in New Zealand at:
Top 10 Holiday Parks group : click a countrywide map to browse 50 caravan parks, and join the group for caravan park discounts in New Zealand and Australia.
Kiwi Holiday Parks : 30+ caravan parks with discounted stays for members; many parks are geared towards families.
Holiday Parks New Zealand: dozens of parks across both islands, again with discounted stays for members.
New Zealand tourism – holiday parks
Our list of the best free camping apps for iPhone and Android users!
Types of New Zealand caravan parks – Department of Conservation (DoC) parks
For caravanning more on the wilderness side, New Zealand’s DoC manages low-cost campsites on government-managed land and in national parks. Some campsites are even free to stay at, as long as your camping vehicle is fully self-sufficient (has a toilet and a shower).
Facilities vary atDoC campsites, but all are in beautiful locations and all have toilets as a minimum. The 200+ DoC campsites are grouped into the following categories:
Basic: with toilets and water; access may be via road or boat. Price: free.
Standard, Scenic and Serviced campsites: all three types have toilets, water supply and vehicle or boat access, and may have barbecues, fireplaces, cold showers and picnic tables. Serviced campsites will have hot showers. Price: $6—$15 per adult;full information here.
Great Walk campsites: 50+ campsites near New Zealand’s Great Walks (except for the Milford Track and Paparoa Track). Fees from $6—$20 per adult;full information here.
Types of New Zealand caravan parks – Auckland Council and others
Auckland Council runs a range of campsites in its region, including the scenic Tawharanui camping ground. Facilities and prices vary: search by using the Auckland regional map.
New Zealand campground apps
For free and paid campsites:
Campable (NB: homepage says for camping and motorhome stays, but several listed parks have sites suitable for caravans.)
New Zealand campground Facebook pages
Looking for specific recommendations? See our guides to New Zealand’s top caravan parks on the North Island and South Island, our our guide to the best caravan parks for families.