Camping in Central Otago - Be Responsible

• Only camp in areas designated for camping and official campgrounds - you must follow all site rules.
• Do not camp in urban areas or townships.
• Do not light fires
• Use facilities (toilets and rubbish bins) where provided.
• Do not wash dishes, clothes or yourself in any river or lake.
• Remove all rubbish and recycling (please dispose of at a Transfer Station or Recycling Centre)
• Respect and enjoy our environment.
• Be considerate of all users, do not block access to any track, road or waterway.

Are you Self Contained?​

A self-contained vehicle must meet the national Caravan Self Containment Certification standard. You’ll need to be able to live in it for 3 days without getting more water or dumping waste. It must have:

    a toilet
    fresh water storage
    waste water storage, and
    a rubbish bin with a lid.

A plumber or gasfitter needs to check if your vehicle meets the requirements. If it passes they will give you a warrant and sticker certification to display on the front of your vehicle and the rear of your vehicle.

Still not sure, ask?

If you’re still not sure where you can camp, or require assistance with finding the right option then please contact a Central Otago i-SITE. There are four i-SITE locations in Alexandra, Cromwell, Ranfurly and Roxburgh. P: 03 262 7999 E: visitorcentre@codc.govt.nz

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Central Otago Camping Grounds & Holiday Parks

Camping grounds and motor camps usually have a range of options available including power and non-powered sites for tents and campervans some may also offer cabins and tourist flats. All properties provide communal kitchens, toilets, showers and laundries as well as a variety of additional on-site facilities and services.

Department of Conservation Campsites

The Department of Conservation provides campsites in many locations throughout New Zealand. The campsites are usually quite basic, offering 'back to nature' style accommodation and facilities. A full list of camp sites in the Otago Area can be found on the DOC website.

Waste Disposal and Dump Stations

You can find a dump station in most campsites throughout Central Otago. If you are not staying at the campsite there may be a small charge for the use of their dump station. However for your convenience some petrol stations and other free public access locations provide dump station facilities as well. See below for a list of Central Otago Dump Station locations