Is It Safe to Camp and Campervan in New Zealand?

Crime and theft from vehicles

Violent crime against travellers is rare, and campgrounds, holiday parks and freedom camping sites are quiet places on the whole. The problem that does recur is opportunistic theft from parked vehicles, mostly at carparks and trailheads in busy tourist areas, where a rental car or campervan with luggage on show is an easy target.

Take your passport, wallet, laptop and phone with you or lock them out of sight, and never leave bags on the seats. Do not leave a vehicle's contents visible while you walk for the day, and do not assume that a rental logo on the door makes a van a lower-risk target. If your vehicle is broken into, report it to the police on 105 for a non-emergency report, which your insurer will want.

Driving is the biggest risk

For most visitors the road is the real danger. New Zealand roads are narrow and winding, many are single lane over bridges, and a large share of tourists are driving on the left for the first time in a vehicle they do not know. Fatigue after a long flight makes it worse, and a campervan is taller, heavier and slower to stop than a car.

Keep days short, stop often, and do not drive straight after landing. Stay on the left, give way as the signs say and let faster traffic pass at the pull-outs provided. The left-side driving guide covers the rules, and the driving day planner helps you set a distance that suits your vehicle and your energy.

Weather, rivers and the cold

The weather changes quickly, and the alpine and coastal areas get heavy rain, strong wind and cold nights even in summer. Rain brings slips and flooded roads, and rivers that are a trickle in the morning can be impassable by afternoon. Check the MetService forecast and any warnings each day, and move if the forecast says a river, slip or high wind will catch you in a bad spot.

Never drive through a flooded ford or a swollen river, and do not camp on a river flat when heavy rain is forecast. The river crossing safety guide explains why, and the severe weather guide covers warnings and what to do when one is issued. Pack a warm layer and a waterproof jacket for any trip, because the temperature can fall several degrees in an hour.

Earthquakes, tsunami and volcanoes

New Zealand sits on a plate boundary, so earthquakes are normal and most are too small to feel. If a strong earthquake shakes you for a long time, or you cannot stand, move to high ground straight away without waiting for an official warning: long or strong, get gone. The earthquake and tsunami guide explains the signs and the evacuation routes.

Active volcanoes and geothermal areas need the same respect. Tongariro, Ruapehu and Whakaari have alert levels published by GeoNet, and DOC closes tracks and campsites when the risk rises. Stay on marked paths in thermal areas, because ground that looks solid can be scalding. The volcanic safety guide covers alert levels and closures.

Wildlife, sandflies and water

There are no snakes and no large predators. The animals that cause trouble are small: sandflies, which bite on the West Coast and in Fiordland and are a nuisance more than a danger, wasps in late summer, and kea, which can tear gear in the mountains. The sandflies guide has repellent and clothing advice. Stock and wildlife on rural roads are a bigger concern for a driver than any animal at the campsite.

Tap water is safe almost everywhere in towns and at most campgrounds, but water from streams and untreated tanks can carry giardia, so treat it by boiling or filtering. Keep food stored properly, because it protects you and the wildlife.

Camping safely: campsites, fires and heaters

Choose a campsite you can read in daylight, ideally one with other vehicles around, and park facing out so you can leave quickly. Lock doors at night, trust your instincts about a spot, and move if it feels wrong. Solo travellers, including women travelling alone, camp across the country without trouble, and the main precaution is the same as anywhere: do not publish where you will be sleeping in real time.

Never run a gas heater or a barbecue inside a closed vehicle or tent, because carbon monoxide can build up while you sleep, and keep a window open for ventilation. Check the fire danger and the campfire rules for the area before lighting anything, as fire bans are common in summer.

Tramping, emergencies and insurance

For walks and tramps, follow the Outdoor Safety Code: choose a trip that suits the whole group, learn about the weather, tell someone your plans, take enough food and clothing, and know your limits. Mobile coverage is patchy in the hills, so a locator beacon, which you can hire, is worth it for anything remote. In an emergency call 111 for police, fire and ambulance.

New Zealand's ACC scheme covers accidental injury for visitors but not illness or repatriation, so buy travel insurance before you fly. Read what it says about campervans, adventure activities and driving, and keep the policy number somewhere you can reach without signal.

Planning safer stops in KiwiCamping

In KiwiCamping you can keep the safety basics beside your plan. The app maps DOC campsites, huts and holiday parks with filters for campervan access and facilities, and a trip shows the distance between each stop and the forecast at each place, so a bad forecast at one stop is visible before you drive there. It does not replace official weather warnings, emergency alerts or road closures, so check MetService and NZTA as well.

DOC campsites and huts are booked on DOC's own pages, and the app itself is free to download, with in-app purchases.

Places along the way