Evans Bay Marina Self-Contained Camping, Wellington: Rules and Spaces

Review note, 24 September 2026: Wellington City Council's camping page, bylaw and site-map documents could not be reopened. Local limits below retain the 13 September source-check date. Reconfirm site access, vehicle length and current signs with council before travelling; these are not live availability details.

Yes, you can freedom camp at Evans Bay Marina for free, but the rules are tight. Freedom camping at Evans Bay Marina is only for certified self-contained vehicles no greater than 7 metres long. You can stay up to four consecutive nights in a calendar month, and only in the designated parks at the south end of the marina car park.

The rules here come from Wellington City Council. Since 7 June 2026, only green-warrant certification is recognised where certified self-containment is required. For how certification works, see our New Zealand freedom camping guide, and for other options around the capital, see freedom camping in Wellington.

Evans Bay Marina camping rules

The local source review on 13 September 2026 recorded:

Rule	What the council says
Who can stay	Certified self-contained vehicles only
Vehicle length	No greater than 7 metres long
Where	The south end of the marina car park only
Spaces	52 designated parks
Maximum stay	No more than four consecutive nights in a single calendar month
Moving on	After four consecutive nights, you can't freedom camp within 500 metres of that area again in the same calendar month
Cost	Free
Fine for breaking the rules	$400

The council lists 52 designated parks, and you can stay no more than four consecutive nights in a single calendar month. The four-night limit and the 500-metre rule come from clause 13 of the Public Places Bylaw 2022, and the site limits come from the bylaw's Schedule One.

Where exactly to park

Evans Bay Marina is at the south end of Evans Bay in Wellington Harbour. The council says the marina is reasonably close to Wellington's central, southern and eastern suburbs, and the airport is a short drive away.

Only the south end of the marina car park, where Evans Bay Parade meets Cobham Drive, is open for freedom camping, and camping everywhere else in the marina complex is prohibited. On the Schedule One map, the camping parks are shown at the southern end near the intersection, and the rest of the car park and marina buildings are marked as a prohibited area. Park in the designated spaces and follow the signs on site.

Don't confuse Evans Bay Marina with Balaena Bay. The Balaena Bay car park, further along Evans Bay Parade between Oriental Bay and Evans Bay, is a prohibited freedom camping area.

Dump station

Wellington City Council runs a public dump station at Evans Bay Marina, 517 Evans Bay Parade, Hataitai. It's one of two council dump stations for waste and sewage. The other is at Ngauranga Gorge.

Facilities: plan to be self-sufficient

The council's freedom camping information doesn't list toilets, showers or drinking water for campers at Evans Bay Marina. The council's marina page lists toilets, showers and fresh water among the marina's facilities, but doesn't say whether freedom campers can use them. Arrive with full fresh water, empty tanks and room for rubbish, and plan to rely on your vehicle's own toilet. That's what self-containment is for.

The marina is a working boat facility, with berths and boatsheds, and the nearby Evans Bay Yacht Club operates a travel-lift and hardstand. Keep to the designated parks and leave the rest of the car park for marina users.

If Evans Bay Marina is full

The council lists a few alternatives:

Option	Cost	Notes
Te Kopahou Visitors Centre car park, western end of Owhiro Bay Parade	Free	16 designated parks for self-contained vehicles, in marked spaces only. The council says it isn't suitable for vehicles over 7 metres or caravans.
On-street parking	Check signed charges	Confirm both parking and camping permission; a legal daytime space is not automatically an overnight option.
Barnett Street car park	Confirm current tariff	Check current operator rules and market/event exclusions before planning an overnight stop.

For options farther afield, check the relevant council rather than applying Wellington City's limits across the region. Our campsite comparison and packing list help prepare a campground alternative.

If you get a fine

The council says freedom camping offences can lead to an infringement notice with a $400 fee. You can dispute a notice by emailing parkranger@wcc.govt.nz or visiting a council service desk. The council says it only waives fines in special circumstances, and it's up to campers to know the rules.

Before you go

• Check your self-containment certification is current. Without it, you can't freedom camp here.
• Measure your vehicle: the limit here is 7 metres.
• Count your nights: no more than four consecutive nights in a calendar month.
• Fill your fresh water and empty your tanks, and don't count on public facilities.
• Use the designated parks at the south end only, and stay out of the rest of the marina complex.
• Have Te Kopahou or a paid site as a backup.
• Confirm the current rules with Wellington City Council (04 499 4444) before you go.