Freedom Camping in Wellington: Rules, Allowed Sites and No-Camping Areas

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.

In Wellington City, a motor vehicle must be certified self-contained to freedom camp, and no vehicle or tent can stay in one area for more than four consecutive nights in a calendar month. Camping is banned on land managed under the Reserves Act and the Town Belt Act unless a management plan permits it. The earlier council review lists two designated free sites, at Evans Bay Marina and Te Kopahou. On-street parking requires a separate check of camping permission as well as parking conditions; a legal daytime parking space is not automatically an overnight stop.

This page covers Wellington City Council's rules. Since 7 June 2026, only green-warrant certification is recognised where certified self-containment is required. For how certification works nationally, see our New Zealand freedom camping guide.

Choose between a city stop and a regional campground

Your plan	First comparison	Avoid assuming
A short Wellington City stay in a certified vehicle	The dated Evans Bay and Te Kopahou site information below, followed by current council confirmation	That either has a vacant space, fits every vehicle or includes marina facilities
Tent camping or a vehicle that cannot use a designated city site	Wellington campsites and holiday parks	That the city's vehicle rules permit a tent, or that a regional campground is in central Wellington
A ferry arrival, departure or late check-in	A confirmed overnight arrangement and a separate terminal plan	That a sailing reservation grants permission to sleep in a nearby car park
A walk before continuing north	Korokoro Dam's approach options and a separate overnight base	That the dam, park entrance or trail parking is a campsite

Check actual vehicle length and any trailer with the relevant site or operator before arrival. A map point does not establish turning space, entry clearance or an available marked bay. For a campground backup, compare the recorded stay types and facilities, then confirm directly rather than treating directory information as a reservation.

The national vehicle guidance, reopened on 12 October 2026, explains certification and designated exceptions; it does not decide Wellington site access. The city council page remained unavailable on this retry, so the local-rule date is unchanged. Use the North Island itinerary to plan the onward journey without extending a local overnight limit.

Wellington City freedom camping rules

The rules are in clause 13 of the council's Public Places Bylaw 2022. The council updated the freedom camping rules and adopted them on 14 December 2023, to line up with the Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Act 2023.

• A motor vehicle must be a certified self-contained motor vehicle to freedom camp.
• A motor vehicle, tent or other temporary structure must not stay in any one area for more than four consecutive nights in any calendar month.
• After four consecutive nights, you can't freedom camp within 500 metres of that area again in the same calendar month.
• Camping is prohibited on all land managed under the Reserves Act 1977 and the Wellington Town Belt Act 2016, unless a management plan allows it.
• Some areas have further restrictions or are prohibited under Schedule One of the bylaw.

Breaching the freedom camping rules in the Public Places Bylaw 2022 can mean a $400 fine. If you're unsure where you can camp, the council says you can call 04 499 4444 at any time.

Where you can freedom camp in Wellington City

The council's two designated free sites are Evans Bay Marina car park, with 52 designated parks, and Te Kopahou Visitors Centre car park, with 16.

Option	Cost	Details from the council
Evans Bay Marina car park, Hataitai	Free	52 designated parks at the south end of the car park. Self-contained vehicles no longer than 7 metres.
Te Kopahou Visitors Centre car park, western end of Owhiro Bay Parade	Free	16 designated parks in marked spaces only. Not suitable for vehicles over 7 metres or caravans.
On-street parking	Check signed charges	Parking payment and time limits are separate from camping permission; do not assume a street is free or eligible.
Barnett Street car park	Confirm current tariff	Check current operator rules and market/event exclusions before planning an overnight stop.

At Te Kopahou, camping is prohibited everywhere outside the car park's marked spaces, including the roadside verge outside the entrance.

Where you can't camp

Camping is prohibited on all land managed under the Reserves Act 1977 and the Wellington Town Belt Act 2016, which includes a number of reserves and coastal, sports field and play area car parks.

Schedule One of the bylaw also maps these prohibited areas:

• Central city: Civic Square, Glover Park, Te Aro Park, Midland Park, Central Railway Station, Post Office Square, Waitangi Park, Frank Kitts Park, Cobblestone Park, Memorial Park (Te Puke Ahu), Basin Reserve and Canal Reserve.
• Balaena Bay: the car park on Evans Bay Parade between Oriental Bay and Evans Bay.
• Evans Bay Marina: everywhere in the marina complex outside the designated area at the south end of the car park.

Tents

The council's page says restricted camping on public land in Wellington City is for self-contained vehicles only, and it doesn't list any free tent sites. The four-night limit in the bylaw also applies to tents. If you're tenting, a paid campground is the safer choice. The council's list of paid overnight options in the wider region includes camping at Battle Hill Farm Forest Park, Belmont Regional Park and Kaitoke Regional Park, but check that your chosen site takes tents before you go.

Elsewhere in the Wellington region

Wellington City permission does not carry across into Porirua, Hutt City, Upper Hutt or Kāpiti Coast. Check the relevant land manager for your exact stop. This review does not establish current site capacities or fees in those districts.

For a tent or a stay needing guaranteed facilities, compare campground types and confirm a booking directly. Use the packing list to prepare water storage, sanitation supplies and weather protection.

Dump stations

The council lists two public dump stations for waste and sewage:

• Evans Bay Marina, 517 Evans Bay Parade, Hataitai
• Ngauranga Gorge

If you get a fine

The council says freedom camping offences can lead to an infringement notice with a $400 fee. You can pay online or at a council service desk. To dispute one, email parkranger@wcc.govt.nz or visit a service desk with your name, the issuing officer's name, the infringement number, and when and where it was issued. The council says it only waives fines in special circumstances.

Before you go

• Make sure your vehicle has current self-containment certification. Without it, you can't freedom camp in Wellington City.
• Check your vehicle length: Evans Bay Marina is limited to vehicles up to 7 metres, and the council says Te Kopahou doesn't suit vehicles over 7 metres or caravans.
• Count your nights: four consecutive nights in one area per calendar month is the limit.
• Avoid reserves, Town Belt land, coastal and sports field car parks, and the central city parks listed above.
• Check market and event exclusions before considering Barnett Street.
• Confirm a campground backup before arrival in case the designated sites are full.
• Confirm the current rules with Wellington City Council before you go. Local details are from the 13 September source review and require reconfirmation.