Our guide to the best South Island campgrounds

There’s nothing like a road trip to remind you what freedom looks like. The freedom to choose your own adventure. The carefree nature of travelling with absolutely everything you need (including comfy beds). The sounds of nature soothing you to sleep at night or gently nudging you awake in the morning.

When you travel with Star RV, your home-on-wheels gives you access to a road trip travelled exactly your way. No hurried tour schedules. No activities you’d rather skip. No early morning alarm calls (unless you want them). Just New Zealand’s iconic natural wonders outside your motorhome window, beckoning you with an incredible day ahead.

With hundreds of campgrounds across the Te Waipounamu South Island, choosing the best ones can be challenging. Fortunately, you can rely on the road trip experts for advice. We’ve chosen our 12 favourite South Island campgrounds by category to include on your next adventure from our Star RV Christchurch or Queenstown motorhome branch. If your dog is welcome (they are in select Star RV vehicles with pre-booking and a fee), you’ll see the handy paw symbol.🐾

You’ll find some of the places listed below are freedom camping spots. Freedom camping allows those in a self-contained vehicle (all Star RV motorhomes are self-contained) to stay for free in designated areas. Yes, free. The New Zealand Tiaki Promise for travellers asks you to tread lightly, leave no trace, be respectful, and travel with an open heart and mind. This is especially important when freedom camping.

Best South Island beach campground: Punakaiki Beach Camp

Heading to the beach on any Kiwi road trip is a must. With 15,000 kilometres of South Island coastline, choose between gorgeous near-empty stretches of broad sandy beaches, a range of surf-friendly shores, and wild, untamed regions.

Our favourite South Island beachside campground is Punakaiki Beach Camp on the upper West Coast. The dramatic limestone cliffs, vast beaches, nearby rivers, and proximity to hiking trails make this a top-rated stay.

Check out the iconic Pancake Rocks and blowhole, and enjoy water sports like fishing, swimming, surfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. You may even have a Hector’s dolphin for company.

For natural lovers, explore Paparoa National Park (the 3-day Paparoa Track is an underexplored soul-enriching route) or stand in awe of the glowworms at Punakaiki Cavern.

The dramatic cliffs that frame this stunning beachside campground upgrade an away-from-it-all feeling. Book ahead if you’d like one of the 30-powered spots.

Best riverside South Island campground: Pelorus Bridge Campsite

With so many snow-capped mountains, there are amazing rivers across the South Island to camp beside. Our top pick is Marlborough’s Pelorus Bridge Campsite, a former Māori settlement.

A Department of Conservation (DOC) site, Pelorus Bridge Campsite is an idyllic spot to switch off, located between Blenheim and Whakatū Nelson in Marlborough. The towering trees offer more privacy than most campgrounds, with the crystal-clear Pelorus River providing a soothing soundtrack. Bookings are essential for the 14 powered and 40 non-powered sites. You’ll love the onsite washing machine.

Besides swimming in the rather brisk Te Hoiere Pelorus River, you can kayak, fish, or hike the Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve Walks. Bring or rent a mountain bike in Nelson for the epic Maungatapu Track. Fun fact, the Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve was the filming location for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Best Romantic South Island Campground: French Pass Campsite

If you’re travelling with a special someone, camping in a special place is an excellent way to dial up the romance. Especially when you visit a remote beachfront village on the tip of the Marlborough Sounds peninsula. Our Polaris 2 motorhome is our pick for a perfect couple’s getaway vehicle.

Remote is no understatement. The small French Pass Campsite is three hours from Picton, a small Marlborough town and gateway to the legendary 72-kilometre Tōtaranui Queen Charlotte Track. Besides a smattering of other campers, your other company will be offshore: dolphins, bronze whaler sharks, and stingrays call this region home. Take a boat trip to D’Urville Island, too.

The no-frills DOC French Pass Campsite has 18 non-powered sites, so book ahead and stock up for your stay. Pack some solar-powered fairy lights to enhance the camping romance further.

Best Cruising South Island Campground: Milford Sound Lodge

When travelling the southern end of the South Island, Piopiotahi Milford Sound is a must-do. Most people day trip to Milford from Queenstown, limiting their time around the fjord’s jagged peaks, still waters, and native wildlife. For a more immersive experience away from the crowds, stay at Milford Sound Lodge, it’s the area’s only campground.

The Milford Sound Lodge is in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed region. Secluded and serene, a stay gives you time to soak in the Milford Sound’s serene atmosphere. With only 20 powered sites, bookings are essential. Bring supplies or take a night off cooking at the onsite restaurant.

Besides cruising or kayaking within Milford Sound, you can also trout fish, snorkel, and even scuba dive. Look for visiting mammals like seals, dolphins, and even the occasional wayward orca and whale. Hike the trails through alpine and fjord scenery, including part or all of the 4-day Milford Track.

Best Night Sky South Island Campground: Lake Tekapo Holiday Park 🐾

Camping under a brilliant starry night sky activates awe, gratitude, and a sense of perspective. There’s no better place to experience Aotearoa New Zealand’s starriest of starry night skies than in the Mackenzie Basin. It’s the country’s only designated International Dark Sky Reserve. If you’re lucky, you may even see Aurora Australis (Southern Lights).

Freedom camping in the Mackenzie Basin is ideal due to minimal light pollution. Lake Wardell and Lake Opuha are two popular spots, though there are eight freedom camping spots. If you’d prefer facilities (and free Wi-Fi), consider a front-row powered site at Lake Tekapo Holiday Park where the turquoise lake views are so blue they seem photoshopped.

Spend your days swimming, walking, biking or fishing, For a soothing soak, head to the hot pools at Tekapo Springs. An astronomy and Māori culture night sky tour is a top regional activity.

Best South Island Campground for hiking: White Horse Hill Campground

There’s something magical about spending a night or two in the presence of Aoraki Mount Cook. Once the training ground of Sir Edmund Hillary for his famed Mount Everest summit, Mt Cook attracts visitors keen to explore this remote South Island region.

Wake up in alpine paradise at the White Horse Hill Campground. While facilities are basic, the views are anything but. There are sixty non-powered sites with reservations required; arrive before midday to secure the best spots.

Activities around White Horse Hill Campground include hiking past icebergs and glaciers on the mesmerising 10-kilometre Hooker Valley Track. Plus, you can glacier kayak, take a scenic helicopter flight, and ski New Zealand’s longest run on the Tasman Glacier.

Best Dog-Friendly South Island Campground: Twelve Mile Delta Campsite 🐾

Why leave your furry loved ones at home when they can travel with you? Exploring Aotearoa with your four-legged friend upgrades your adventure. It’s not only Star RV that lets you travel with your dog; many campgrounds will let you bring them along, too.

One of our favourite dog-friendly South Island campgrounds is the Twelve Mile Delta Campsite, only 15 minutes from Queenstown (and our Star RV Queenstown motorhome branch). With scenic Lake Wakatipu on your shores and the craggy Southern Alps peaks around you, expect to feel at peace with the world. With 100 unpowered sites, this DOC campground is available on a first-come, first-served basis only.

Dog-friendly hiking trails include Mount Creighton and Bob Cove’s Trails. Other popular activities include boating, swimming, fishing, and mountain biking. For Lord of the Rings fans, Twelve Mile Delta was the filming location for Ithilien Camp.

Best Child-Friendly South Island Campground:

Our Polaris 6 motorhome is ideal for family getaways as it sleeps six. Knowing where to go with the kids can be far more challenging as you have a few more factors to consider (including entertainment).

We rate the well-established Tasman Holiday Parks for family stays. It’s only 10 minutes from our Star RV Christchurch branch and 15 minutes from downtown Õtautahi Christchurch. Their extensive facilities keep everyone happy. The children’s play areas, water slide, jumping pillow and arcade game centre translate to parental peace. Travellers also love the direct bus to central Christchurch to avoid city parking.

Nearby, New Brighton’s broad sandy beach and blissful salt-water He Puna Taimoana Hot Pools make for a fabulous excursion. We also recommend dolphin-watching to see Hector’s dolphins in the wild, a trip on the Christchurch tram, and punting on the Avon River.

Best Lakeside South Island Campground: Lake Pukaki Reserve – The Pines

The peace and tranquillity of lakeside camping is hugely popular, and with over 4,000 lakes across New Zealand, you’re spoilt for choice. Most of the country’s largest lakes are in the South Island, as well as the top six deepest lakes.

While there are ample amazing places to spend a night or two in a Zen-like state, we recommend The Pines Camp at Lake Pukaki Reserve. Feeling gratitude is common when waking to the glacier-blue waters at the foot of Aoraki Mount Cook. And best of all? It’s a freedom camping site, so there’s no fee for this luxury view!

Activities around Lake Pukaki include stargazing, lake walks, boating, kayaking, and salmon and trout fishing. In winter, the Roundhill Ski Area is just over an hour away.

This is a first-come, first-served site, so arrive early for the best spot, especially as it’s now the only legal freedom camping site around the lake. There are no facilities here (and no drinking water), so BYO everything for your stay.

Best In-Nature South Island Campground: Ashely Gorge Holiday Park 🐾

With 78% of New Zealand uninhabited and the South Island home to only 23% of the population, it’s easy to escape into nature on your road trip.

Pick up your motorhome hire in Christchurch and drive inland 50 minutes to Ashley Gorge Holiday Park. This harmonious riverside hidden gem, on the Canterbury plains, is nestled amid the local Oxford farmers and winemakers. The soothing sounds of the Ashley Gorge River and nighttime hoots from the native morepork make this a heavenly stay.

Besides refreshing river swims and fishing, you can also walk the Ashley Gorge Loop Trail and nearby Giants Walk path to the giant redwood trees. Active visitors love kayaking, rafting, golf, and mountain biking, too. For a more mellow stay, dine at Blackhouse Vineyard and Tram Road Wines, taking away a bottle of their finest back to your motorhome for drinks under the stars.

While dogs are welcome at Ashley Gorge Holiday Park, there are only four dog-friendly sites, so book ahead.

Best South Island Campground for wildlife: Weir Beach Reserve 🐾

If you love wildlife, you’ll relish your time in Otago’s Catlins. Dramatic, wild, and home to native wildlife wonders, freedom camp at Weir Beach Reserve. This beachside reserve is metres from a large estuary and rolling country hills.

Just up the road at Curio Bay, see the world’s rarest penguin, the yellow-eyed penguin plus meander on the Living Forest Walkway. It’s thought to be the only place in the world where you can find direct descendants of the 200-million-year-old Petrified Forest. Close to Curio Bay, swim at Porpoise Bay and watch for Hector's dolphins; they’re often seen close to shore in summer.

Note, have the utmost respect for the land and locals at this campground. It's no longer listed on freedom camping sites, but it’s still accessible for responsible self-contained travellers who leave no trace.

Best South Island Campground for Surfers: Purakaunui Bay Campsite 🐾

For surfers and those who love wild beaches, stay at Purakaunui Bay Campsite, also in the Catlins. Lovingly known as PK Bay, this is a top South Island surf spot and is close to other incredible beach breaks.

The DOC Purakaunui Bay Campsite has 40 non-powered sites (bookings essential) with the ocean on one side, and towering cliff faces on the other. Fur seals and New Zealand sea lions call this part of the world home, as well as Hector’s dolphins and penguins.

Other nearby activities include a walk to the three-tiered Purakaunui Falls, a stop by Jacks Blowhole, and the panoramic 360-degree views at Nugget Point. Balclutha is your nearest town (a 45-minute drive), so pack everything you need for your stay.

Whether you’re looking for a short getaway or a freedom-fuelled extended journey, we’re excited to support your Aotearoa New Zealand road trip goals.

Start planning your adventure today.

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