DOC Campsite Pass: Prices, Exclusions and Is It Worth It?

The DOC Campsite Pass pays eligible camping fees; it does not reserve a campsite. It can make sense for repeated DOC camping, but the useful comparison is your actual eligible nights, not the length of your holiday. Prices and conditions below were checked on 12 October 2026; reconfirm them with DOC before paying.

Price and eligibility

DOC's pass page listed these prices for one year from your selected start date:

Age	Listed pass price, NZD
Adult, 18 and over	$295
Child/youth, 5-17	$147.50
Infant, 0-4	Free

The pass is individual, not a vehicle or family pass. The terms make it non-transferable and require adults to purchase through their own accounts. It can cover eligible tent, campervan or caravan stays; it does not change a site's access rules.

Choose the start date carefully: the terms require it within 30 days of purchase and do not allow later modification. A pass cannot be applied retrospectively to an existing booking. Read cancellation conditions before buying rather than assuming the annual product remains refundable.

Check exclusions before counting nights

Check the exact campsite and dates against DOC's exclusion list before counting savings. Some exclusions are year-round; others are seasonal.

Example checked on 12 October 2026	Pass limitation
Great Walk campsites	Excluded
Campground cabins, cottages, baches, lodges and bunkhouses	Excluded
Kapowairua/Spirits Bay, Rarawa Beach and Tapotupotu	Excluded
Wentworth Valley and Twelve Mile Delta	Excluded
Totaranui, Momorangi Bay, Pelorus Bridge and Peel Forest	Excluded 26 December to 8 February inclusive
Kerr Bay	Excluded 19 October to 30 April inclusive

This is a selection, not the complete list. Closed campsites and seasonal campsites outside their open season are also excluded. A familiar DOC name is not enough to establish eligibility.

For every planned night, record the campsite, date, occupants, ordinary fee and any charge still payable with the pass. Keep holiday parks, excluded dates and free camps separate. Our booking guide helps turn that list into reservations.

A worked value comparison

Compare only nights you realistically expect to use, then subtract charges still payable. The calculation for one person is:

Net saving = eligible nightly fees avoided - pass purchase cost - additional pass-related charges.

For a source-backed benchmark, White Horse Hill listed NZ$20 per adult night and accepted the pass when checked. At that rate, NZ$295 divided by NZ$20 is 14.75: the fifteenth eligible night takes ordinary fees above the adult pass cost.

Eligible nights at that listed rate	Ordinary fees	Difference from $295 pass
10	$200	Nightly payment costs $95 less
15	$300	Pass costs $5 less
20	$400	Pass costs $105 less

These are calculations, not an itinerary or a recommendation to stay at White Horse Hill for that duration. The pass permits only seven nights within a 30-day period at any one campsite. Use equivalent eligible nights across sites or different periods, respecting each site's maximum stay. Lower nightly fees, excluded nights and changed plans reduce savings; calculate each family member separately.

Booking and remaining charges

At bookable campsites, enter pass holders and non-pass holders correctly and complete a reservation before occupying a site. At self-registration sites, register on arrival; the pass does not secure space. Keep your pass, identification and booking confirmation accessible offline, as required by the terms.

Powered sites can still incur charges. DOC's overview and detailed terms differed on the youth surcharge when checked, so confirm the applicable amount with DOC and use the booking total. Do not assume a zero camping fee also covers parking, activities or other services.

Before you buy

• Mark every proposed night as eligible, excluded or still unconfirmed.
• Recalculate with the current fee for each person, including approved discounts.
• Check the start date and cancellation terms before using the pass to book.
• Confirm actual bookings and keep a lawful alternative for full or closed sites.
• Add the documents to your camping checklist.