Freedom Camping Bylaw Update

Responsible camping spaces to protect our places

QLDC has prepared a draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025 that's now open for public consultation. The draft bylaw has been informed by a robust technical assessment that identified and examined which areas of the district need to be protected. It includes provisions to manage freedom camping on land controlled or managed by QLDC (and some Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Authority land) to protect the areas, access to the area, or the health and safety of visitors to the area. 

What the draft bylaw proposes

The draft bylaw proposes 15 restricted freedom camping areas on public land, where freedom camping would be allowed but subject to conditions specific to each area.

These conditions aim to ensure responsible camping behaviour, including arrival and departure time limits, only using specified parking spaces, leaving no waste, lighting no fires, and a requirement for vehicles to be certified as self-contained with a toilet and grey water facilities.

The areas are primarily in existing carparks and include 43 parking spaces in the Upper Clutha ward, 5 in the Arrowtown ward, and 110 in the Whakatipu ward. In addition, other than Luggate Red Bridge, reserves will continue to be prohibited for freedom camping under the Reserves Act 1977.

The draft bylaw permits freedom camping on most rural roads, including on-road parking spaces and off-road laybys, as long as campers follow specified conditions including how far the vehicle is from the road.

Meanwhile, freedom camping would be prohibited on most roads located within the district’s built-up urban areas including any on-road vehicle parking spaces (such as parallel and angle spaces). This would include residential, town centre, commercial, and other business areas. Camping cannot occur on private roads without the permission of the landowner.

The decision to consult the community was approved at a full Council meeting on Thursday 26 June, with the consultation period to run from Tuesday 8 July to Friday 8 August 2025.

Get involved and help ensure freedom camping is well managed

We'd like to hear your thoughts on what we’re proposing, what we’ve got right or what you would change, and any other ideas you may have to help ensure we manage freedom camping appropriately.

To find out more and make a submission head to letstalk.qldc.govt.nz. Here you can read the draft bylaw, statement of proposal, and view maps of areas where freedom camping is proposed to be prohibited and restricted.

Want to talk to someone about the draft bylaw?

We’ll be hosting community engagement sessions to share more information about what’s being proposed, answer any questions you may have, and take your feedback if you’d prefer to share it in person.

Public drop-in sessions:

• Monday 14 July between 5.00pm-7.00pm at Queenstown Events Centre
• Tuesday 15 July between 5.00pm-7.00pm at Wānaka Recreation Centre

An online webinar will take place at midday on Monday 28 July. Details and registration information for the webinar will be available on the Council’s Let’s Talk webpage.

Formal submissions close on Friday 8 August 2025 and the results of the consultation will be considered by a hearing panel made up of councillors to help inform any changes to the draft bylaw ahead of it being adopted. The Freedom Camping Bylaw is expected to be finalised and in place before summer 2025-2026.

Ngā mihi,
Abbey Mocke (she/her/ia) | Community Associations Relationship Manager

DDI: +64 3 441 1829    | M: 027 281 0628
E: abbey.mocke @qldc.govt.nz