Motorhome parking costs: complete pricing guide

There’s one burning question on everyone’s mind when they budget for a road trip around New Zealand - how much does it cost to park a motorhome?

There are five different types of places where you can park your campervan or motorhome in New Zealand. The cost of parking your motorhome in each place differs based on the amenities available:

• Holiday Parks

• Powered Sites: $35-40 per night

• Non-powered Sites: $25-35 per night

• Department of Conservation Campsites: $0-20 per night

• Local Council Campsites: $0-10 per night

• Freedom Camping Sites: Free

• Long-term Storage Sites: $25-300 per month

Below, we breakdown the costs for each so that you can calculate your costs for each night before you hit the road.

If you really want to get some bang for your buck, be sure to check out the amazing motorhomes available for hire on Camplify. Our site helps you to find your perfect van based on your needs and your budget. Within seconds you can find the motorhome that you have always dreamed of road tripping in!

How much does it cost to park a motorhome?Holiday parks

Cost

On average, it costs $35-40 per night to park your motorhome at a powered holiday park site in New Zealand. Comparatively, it costs about $25-35 per night to park at an unpowered site.

Benefits

If you are willing to pay higher fees for access to better facilities, a holiday park is the perfect place to park your motorhome.

New Zealand is renowned for having some of the best holiday parks in the world. Your road trip can be made a whole lot easier if you make the most of the amenities on offer (which is, funnily enough, one of our motorhome tips for beginners).

Of the 400+ holiday parks scattered around New Zealand, almost all of them provide the following amenities:

• Hot showers and flush toilets

• Laundry facilities (normally coin-operated)

• Communal lounge areas

• Communal kitchens and BBQs

• Free WiFi

Booking

If you are travelling around New Zealand during busy periods (i.e. school holidays or public holidays), we strongly recommend that you make a booking well in advance of arriving. Otherwise, it will most likely be ok to arrive without a booking.

If you’re wondering which holiday park to choose, Top 10 Holiday Parks consistently score solid reviews and normally offer the best facilities. However, you should always do a quick Google search before booking. And if you want to make your trip even more comfortable, make sure that you also research the best motorhomes for hire in New Zealand.

Department of Conservation (DoC) campsites

Cost

The average cost of parking your motorhome in a DoC campsite ranges from $0-20 per night depending on the site's classification.

Benefits

If you only want access to basic amenities, it is cheaper to park your motorhome at a DoC site. Plus, DoC campsites are located in National Parks and other nature reserves, so you get to enjoy some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery whilst you’re at it!

DoC campsites are classified by the amenities available. The more amenities available, the higher the cost of the campsite:

• Basic Campsites (Free) - Drop toilets and water from a tank, stream or lake.

• Backcountry Campsites (Fees vary) - Drop toilets, a water supply, picnic tables, cooking shelters and fireplaces.

• Standard Campsites ($8 per adult) - Basic Campsite amenities plus cold showers and/or rubbish bins. Powered sites may be available for an additional $3 per adult.

• Scenic Campsites ($15 per adult) - The same amenities as Standard Campsites but normally located in more scenic areas. Powered sites may be available for an additional $3 per adult.

• Serviced Campsites ($20 per adult) - Flush toilets, hot showers, tap water, cooking benches, rubbish collection, laundry facilities and more. Powered sites may be available for an additional $3 per adult.

Booking

You are allowed to park your motorhome overnight at the majority of DoC sites if signage says camping is allowed.

Bookings are sometimes required, particularly if the campground is popular. When planning your stay, look at the DoC website to check whether a booking is needed.

Those sites that don’t require pre-booking will likely operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Simply pay the warden or leave your payment in the deposit box upon arrival.

Council campsites

Cost

On average, it costs $0-10 to park your motorhome at a council campsite.

Benefits

If you are looking for very basic amenities and low fees, you should consider parking your motorhome at a council campsite.

Most regional, city and district councils offer basic campsites. These often include public parks and car parks where the only amenity available is a toilet.

Each council has different regulations that apply whilst camping. Normally, you can only park your motorhome at a council campsite for 1-3 nights. If you want to avoid a fine, always check the council regulations online beforehand.

Booking

You can find council campsites by checking the council’s website.

Usually, these sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis and a booking is not required. However, if a booking is needed, it can be made through the council website.

Freedom camping

Cost

It is free to park your motorhome at a freedom camping site.

Benefits

If you want to park your motorhome for free and only need access to basic amenities, a freedom camping site might be the right choice for you.

Nearly all of New Zealand’s freedom camping sites are located in breathtakingly beautiful areas. However, at the majority of these sites, you will only have access to very basic amenities such as drop toilets and tap water.

There are also strict rules and regulations in place at all freedom camping sites. You should only park your motorhome in areas where signs state that overnight camping is permitted. Further, you must ensure that your vehicle is self-contained and meets the Caravan Self Containment Certification standard. Failing to abide by the freedom camping rules can result in a NZ$200 on the spot fine.

Check out our Beginners Guide to Freedom Camping for more information on:

• Finding freedom camping sites

• Ensuring that your vehicle is self-contained

• Rules and regulations around freedom camping

Booking

Bookings are not normally required for freedom camping.

Time to hit the road in a rental motorhome!

Now that you know how much it costs to park a motorhome, it’s almost time to bring your plans to fruition and hit the road!

But before you go, be sure to subscribe to the Camplify newsletter below. We’ll send you interesting articles and detailed itineraries that help you plan your future road trips. Plus, we dish out some amazing tips to make your life on the road even easier and more enjoyable.