Where you sleep shapes the trip
DOC campsites for the views, holiday parks for the long shower. Most NZ motorhome trips use both — these are the two we send people to most.
There are two ways most motorhome travellers sleep in New Zealand: at a Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite — basic, often $10-15 per person, almost always somewhere worth photographing — or at a holiday park, where you get power, hot showers, a kitchen and a laundry for $50-80 a night. Picking the right mix depends on the vehicle, the time of year, and how much energy you have left at the end of a driving day. The hubs below cover both.
DOC CAMPSITES Department of Conservation campsites
Run by DOC. Basic facilities, low cost, almost always in scenery. Pay-on-arrival or self-register. Vehicle-size friendly varies site by site.
See DOC campsites
HOLIDAY PARKS NZ holiday parks (Top 10, TASMAN, independents)
Powered sites, hot showers, kitchen, laundry, dump stations. Book ahead in summer. Often the right call after a long driving day.
See holiday parksThe bigger question is which mix works for you
Most travellers do roughly half-and-half. Couples on a 4-berth lean towards DOC and freedom-camping; families with kids lean towards holiday parks. We'll suggest a mix that fits your route.
Want a planner to map out where you'd sleep each night?
Send us your dates, vehicle preference, and party size — we come back with a night-by-night stays plan that mixes DOC sites and holiday parks for your route.