Marlborough's council sites take certified self-contained vehicles only, with one exception: cyclists using the Awatere Valley Road may tent at Blairich Reserve. The council's table lists 11 places, from Renwick Domain with 20 spaces to Lansdowne Park, where a night is allowed only from Monday to Thursday. Stays are one or two nights, and no council site is listed in Picton itself.
The bylaw and the vehicle rule
The Marlborough District Council Responsible Camping Control Bylaw 2022 was adopted in March 2023 and covers land the council administers. The council's page says it provides for camping by self-contained vehicles only at all sites, with the exception of Blairich Reserve, where tenting by cyclists using the Awatere Valley Road is allowed.
The page ties this to the national law, which on council land generally requires a certified self-contained vehicle. Vehicles with a portable toilet no longer qualify, and a green warrant is the only one that counts since 7 June 2026. The council asks all campers to use commercial campgrounds, DOC camps and its responsible camping sites.
- Self-contained vehicles only
- Tents: cyclists at Blairich Reserve only
- Green warrant since 7 June 2026
The council's sites
The council's table gives each site's vehicle spaces, nights and permitted times. Renwick Domain car park takes 20 vehicles for two nights between 6pm and 9am, and Wynen Street car park in Blenheim has the same two nights and the same 6pm to 9am window. Taylor Dam Reserve takes 10 vehicles for two nights, Opouri Road (Carluke Domain) takes 6 for two, and Lansdowne Park in Blenheim takes 4 for one night, Monday to Thursday only.
Three sites allow one night only: Lansdowne Park, Alfred Stream at Rai Valley with 5 spaces and Renwick Dog Park off Foxes Island Road with 5. Blairich Reserve on Awatere Valley Road, Lake Elterwater near Grassmere and Wash Bridge Reserve on State Highway 63 are listed for two nights with no space count.
| Site | Vehicle spaces | Nights | Permitted times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wairau Diversion, near Blenheim (temporary area) | Not stated | 2 | Not stated |
| Renwick Domain car park, Renwick | 20 | 2 | 6pm to 9am |
| Wynen Street car park, Blenheim | Not stated | 2 | 6pm to 9am |
| Lansdowne Park, Blenheim | 4 | 1 | Monday to Thursday only |
| Taylor Dam Reserve, Blenheim | 10 | 2 | Not stated |
| Blairich Reserve, Awatere Valley Road | Not stated | 2 | Not stated |
| Lake Elterwater, Grassmere | Not stated | 2 | Not stated |
| Opouri Road (Carluke Domain) | 6 | 2 | Not stated |
| Alfred Stream, Rai Valley | 5 | 1 | Not stated |
| Renwick Dog Park, off Foxes Island Road (SH 6) | 5 | 1 | Not stated |
| Wash Bridge Reserve, State Highway 63 | Not stated | 2 | Not stated |
- Two nights at most sites
- One night at three
- Check the permitted times
Check the campsite before you park
The Wairau Diversion
The Wairau Diversion near Blenheim is listed as a temporary responsible camping area. The council's update of 16 June 2026 says it will remain available for freedom campers until further notice, and that there is no access to the day stay area until construction in that area is finished.
A temporary site can close with little warning, and the table gives it two nights with no space count. Read the update on the council's camping page the week you travel, and keep Renwick Domain or Taylor Dam Reserve as the next choice.
- Temporary site, until further notice
- Day stay area closed during construction
- Check the page the week you go
Picton and the Sounds
The council's table has no site in Picton or the Marlborough Sounds. Arriving off the Cook Strait ferry, the nearest listed places are Blenheim's and Rai Valley's, about a drive away, so a late sailing needs a holiday park or a DOC campsite booked ahead.
The ferry guide covers booking a campervan crossing, and the Picton to Christchurch route guide takes the Kaikōura coast south. The council keeps its camping number, 03 520 7400, for reports of camping in places that are not permitted.
- No listed council site in Picton
- Book a park or DOC site for ferry nights
- Report problems on 03 520 7400
Fines
A breach of the bylaw is an infringement offence. The council's page notes that the original $200 fee became $400 or more under the 2023 law, and the national regulations put most freedom camping breaches at $400, a missing warrant card at $200 and damage or waste at $800.
A third night at a two-night site is over the limit, and the one-night sites leave no slack at all. Plan the move before the first night starts.
- $400 for most breaches
- $800 for damage or waste
- Do not repeat a site beyond its nights
DOC campsites in Marlborough
DOC runs far more of the region's camping than the council does. KiwiCamping's DOC data (11 August 2026) lists 44 campsites in Marlborough, 20 of them bookable online through DOC, 10 listed as free, with adult nightly rates from $10 to $27. Whites Bay Campsite is the largest with 67 sites, and the region has 60 DOC huts.
The DOC campsites guide covers how to book, and a holiday park is the practical choice for power. For the Sounds and the high country, DOC's campsites are the alternative to a council car park.
- 44 DOC campsites
- 10 free
- Whites Bay is the largest
Using KiwiCamping around Marlborough
KiwiCamping maps Marlborough's DOC campsites and huts with their fees and facilities, holiday parks and bookable stays. The 11 council sites are not in it, and its freedom camping information is DOC's notices on conservation land, so use the council's page for Renwick, Blenheim and Rai Valley.
A trip can run from the ferry through Marlborough to Kaikōura, each night dated, with a note for the fallback and the weather for the leg. Place details, saved places and guides load from the phone without signal; map tiles, routing, weather and photos need reception. Free to download, with in-app purchases.
- Council sites: use the council's page
- Date the ferry night
- Place details work offline
Places along the way
Check before you go
Rules and conditions change. Recheck the official source and the page for your exact park or campground before departure.
Common questions
How many freedom camping sites does Marlborough have?+
The council's table lists 11, including a temporary area at the Wairau Diversion near Blenheim. They are around Blenheim, Renwick, the Awatere Valley, Lake Grassmere and Rai Valley.
Can I camp in a tent in Marlborough?+
Not at the council's sites, with a single exception: cyclists using the Awatere Valley Road may tent at Blairich Reserve.
Is there a freedom camping site in Picton?+
None is listed in the council's table. Ferry arrivals should book a holiday park or a DOC campsite for the first night.
How many nights can I stay at Renwick Domain?+
Two nights, between 6pm and 9am, with space for 20 vehicles.
Find a legal night
Know where you can stay tonight.
Free to download. BookIt holiday parks and tours are free to browse and book; DOC campsites, huts, dump stations, the in-app guides and trip planning need the Premium pass.
KiwiCamping is an iPhone app. There is no Android version.
