Freedom camping in Kāpiti

Kilometres of stunning coastline and the captivating backdrop of Kāpiti Island make Kāpiti a must-visit destination for freedom travellers. It's the perfect stopover going to or from Wellington, with a series of coastal communities only an hour's drive north of the Capital.

Did you know there are nine designated responsible camping sites along the Kāpiti Coast for campers with fully self-contained motorhomes to enjoy?

Freedom camping or 'parking up'

Fully self-contained vehicles (meaning they must have their own toilet and waste-disposal facilities) are welcome to stay at our nine well-signposted designated sites around the Kāpiti Coast.

Permits are not required, but to enhance campers' stay and experience please:

be considerate of residents and other campers
remove all rubbish, including solid and liquid waste
provide evidence your vehicle is self-contained, if asked by a council officer
abide by all council bylaws including camp fires and barbecue use, noise and animal control.

For campers who are not self-contained, Kāpiti has several holiday parks that offer a wide range of facilities. Ōtaki Forks also has facilities and allows non-self-contained freedom campers – visit the Department of Conservation website to read more about this campsite.

Responsible Camping is all about caring for our spectacular environment as much as we do. Responsible Campers leave no trace and help keep our communities and the natural environment free from pollution and waste.

Locations

The table and map below show Kāpiti freedom camping sites, what facilities are available at each one, and how long you are able to stay. The number of freedom camping vehicles welcome at each site ranges from one to six, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Location	Sites available	How long can I stay?
North Bank, Ōtaki River, Ōtaki Beach	6	48 hours
Field Way, Waikanae Beach	2	24 hours
Waimea Road Carpark, Waikanae Beach	2	24 hours
Waikanae Park, Park Avenue	2	24 hours
Waikanae River Mouth, Tutere Street	4	24 hours
54 Marine Parade (opposite), Paraparaumu Beach	2	24 hours
62 Marine Parade (opposite), Paraparaumu Beach	2	24 hours
69 Marine Parade (opposite), Paraparaumu Beach	2	24 hours
Raumati Beach, Matatua Road Carpark	3	24 hours

Map

Waste disposal

Campers can dispose of their toilet/shower waste at the following Council affiliated location:

Ōtaki Refuse Transfer Station (Riverbank Road Ōtaki PDS)
1 Riverbank Road
Ōtaki

Other commercial locations include:

Mobil Amohia St, Paraparaumu
BP, 108 Kāpiti Road.

Note: these commercial locations are not owned or managed by Council, and are outlined on this page for user convenience only. Please contact the site manager regarding any maintenance.

Compliance

We monitor our freedom camping sites and encourage Responsible Camping, which is all about caring for our spectacular environment as much as we do. Responsible Campers leave no trace and help keep our communities and natural environment free from pollution and waste.

Remember freedom camping isn’t just for visitors to enjoy – if you feel like a change of scenery, check out one of our spots this summer!

Review of freedom camping legislation

The Self-Contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Bill is being considered by the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee. The Select Committee is looking at whether to change the Bill, and is expected to report back to Parliament in early March 2023.

Find out more at Freedom camping changes, on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's website.