The South Island is well known for its incredible views. Turn a corner, and it changes, with different mountains springing into view, snow-capped and rugged all year round. One of the best ways to soak up even more of these magnificent views is to spend the night out there with the mountains. These South Island DoC (Department of Conservation) campgrounds really know how to deliver on the views and serenity, showing you how spectacular the outdoors are in the morning and evening light.
Surrounded by mountains, parked up next to crystal-clear rivers or lakes, listening to the native birds and watching the wildflowers sway in the breeze. You just can’t get better than that. But then you see the light slowly changing, and the sky is ablaze with a magnificent sunset. And once the blazing sky cools into dusk, you’ll soon see the stars twinkling and the moon lighting the mountains in a shimmering glow.
Whether you have a van or a tent, these campgrounds are truly a highlight of any South Island road trip! We’d even go as far as to say that they are some of the best places to go if you truly want to see Aotearoa in all its stunning splendour. So pack your best mug, grab a cosy blanket, and be prepared for the best night’s sleep you’ve ever had under the stars!
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Before we jump into this handy list of the best DoC campgrounds on the South Island, let us give you a money-saving hack for your trip. We have included the cost per person per night to stay at these DoC sites, and whilst the cost isn’t really that high for a campground site, it does still add up. Our best advice is to figure out how long you will be in New Zealand and get yourself a DoC campground pass for that time.
If you are staying at a few campsites, you’ll notice the savings very quickly. There are heaps of DoC sites on the South Island; you’ll practically be staying at them for free before you know it. We kept track of the DoC sites we stayed at in a year, and the annual pass ended up saving us a total of $838! And honestly I think it would be slightly higher than that because we did get a little lazy with recording the sites we stayed at towards the end of the year. So please look into the DoC passes here; it really is worth it!
Lake Sylvan
Cost: $18 per adult per night.
Best For: Peaceful nights in the back country
Additional: Online bookings are required prior to arrival. You can use your DoC pass here.
This is one of the most peaceful campgrounds we have ever stayed at. Nestled amongst the mountains of Glenorchy and sitting on the banks of the Routeburn River. We stayed here before doing part of the Routeburn Track as a day walk and for a couple of days afterwards as well. It’s the perfect place to unwind and disconnect from the bustling life of Queenstown.
When we stayed, the bridge across the river was damaged, so we couldn’t walk to Lake Sylvan. But as of October 2025, the bridge is fully restored! So be sure to head out to the lake while you are here. Even if you don’t plan on doing any walks in the area, this is a great campground to visit for some quality relaxation and fresh mountain vibes. The babbling river just behind the campground really adds to the serenity, giving you everything you could ask for from a campground.
Pelorous Bridge
Cost: $25 per adult per night, with an increase in price to $27 during peak season between the 26th of December and the 8th of February.
Best For: Hot showers! When we stayed, this was included in the camp fees, but the DoC website now says it’s $1 for 4 minutes, which is still really good. You can also get a powered site here at no extra charge with your DoC pass!
Additional: DoC passes can be used here except for between the 26th of December and the 8th of February and must be booked online to avoid paying an extra $10 if booked by campground staff.
This is by far the fanciest DoC campground we stayed at, and we used our DOC pass, which made it feel free! We got hot showers and a powered site at no extra cost to our already paid-for DoC pass. That meant we could use our microwave and air fryer in the van! That is a luxury like no other. To add to the hot showers and fancy dinners is the beauty of camping under the trees and being right in the bush itself. With some great walking tracks, stunning swimming spots at the river and even a waterfall or two, we had an amazing few nights here not having to move the van at all! We stayed at the powered-site section called Maungatapu, which has fewer camping spots and is really nestled in the trees.
We highly recommend getting campsite number 50, as you have trees between you and your neighbouring campsites, making it feel like you have the entire forest all to yourself. This site is further away from the main campground area and doesn’t have its own kitchen facilities but still has hot showers and toilets along with fresh water. So really it has everything you will need in a campervan with the added bonus of fewer people and more trees!
Otto/McDonald’s
Cost: $18 per adult per night
Best For: Close to Franz Josef Glacier on the banks of Lake Mapourika.
Additional: DoC passes can be used here year-round. Bookings need to be made online prior to getting to the campground. There is no signal here, so make sure you book before you arrive! We watched countless people rock up and try to book, only to have to leave to get a signal and come back after the booking was made.
A great place to use as your base for exploring the Franz Josef area. It is about 18 minutes from the town itself, making it the cheapest way to stay in the area if you don’t have an NZMCA membership. It’s a relatively busy campsite but still peaceful and pleasant to stay at. It’s really nice being so close to the lake, and you can walk along the shore or go for a little dip really easily. The facilities here are clean and include flushing toilets!
The campground is split into two, with one side being the Otto side and the other the McDonalds’ side. We stayed at the McDonalds section, as it is bigger and the campervan sites don’t back onto tent sites as they do in the Otto side of the campground. You are further away from the waterfront on the McDonalds’ side, though, so they both definitely have their advantages.
White Horse Hill Campsite
Cost: $20 per adult per night
Best For: Mountain views and starry nights.
Additional: DoC passes can be used here year-round; bookings need to be made online before arrival.
The very first DoC campground we stayed at on the South Island of New Zealand has become our all-time favourite. We’ve stayed here on countless different occasions, in different seasons, with and without friends; it’s amazing every time! Tucked into Hooker Valley with incredible views of Mt Sefton behind you and the valley in front, this is such a picture-perfect place to camp. It can get really busy in summer, but in winter it’s a little quieter because the cold keeps a lot of people away.
If you do come in winter, pack extra layers and an extra blanket or two to keep you warm at night! From the campground you have access to all the incredible walks of the Aoraki Mt Cook area, including Hooker Valley, Mueller Hut, Kea Point and a track that takes you up to Mt Cook village. So you can park up for a few nights and really make the most of wandering this incredible mountain terrain. Be sure to step outside at night to make the most of the dark sky and enjoy the stars too.
Kidds Bush Reserve
Cost: $15 per adult per night
Best For: Quiet lakeside camping
Additional: A DoC campsite pass can be used year-round at this campground. Bookings must be made online
Sitting on the shores of Lake Hāwea rests this peaceful little campground. With mountains surrounding you and the clear crisp waters of the lake in front of you, this campground is well worth the gravel drive out to it. It does get narrow in places, but we managed in our campervan just fine. Anything much bigger would be harder, but we have seen caravans out here, so it is doable. It’s a great spot not too far from Wānaka and was always out back up if the freedom camp in town was too full.
We have heard it can get busy here, but we always got a spot the day of with no hassle. It’s along the drive from Wānaka to the West Coast, making it a great part of your West Coast road trip. Tiff would always have a little swim in the lake no matter the time of year when we were here. The water is just so inviting, and the surrounding mountains make it even harder to resist going for a swim. It’s a truly picture-perfect little slice of paradise.
Deer Flat
Cost: $18 per adult per night
Best For: Our favourite campground on the road to Milford Sound.
Additional: DoC passes can be used here but must be booked online before arriving at the campsite.
We stayed at every single campground on the Milford Sound road, and this was by far our favourite of all of them. It’s a little further away from the Milford Sound pass, which makes it one of the quieter campgrounds. Sitting right on the banks of the Eglington River, the camping spots are well spaced out so you feel as if you have the entire valley all to yourself. Come during spring, and the fields are full of the iconic purple and pink lupins, adding some extra magic to this already stunning Fiordland campground. Do yourself a favour and spend longer than a day in the Milford area by at least staying one night at this campground.
Purakaunui Bay
Cost: $15 per adult per night
Best For: Beachside camping and a base for waterfall chasing in the Catlins.
Additional: A DoC campsite pass can be used at this campground but must be booked prior to arrival as there is no signal here.
Dramatic coastal views await you at Purakaunui Bay Campground. Tumbling cliff faces and crashing waves mix with a river outlet and a grassy field in which you can park up or pitch a tent. There wasn’t a lot of flat ground when we came here, but we managed to grab the last level spot on the edge of the grassy area. The views of the beach and cliffs in the distance are truly stunning, but the biggest novelty was the view we woke up to. Opening the curtains on a crisp morning to find the van surrounded by a flock of sheep was not what we expected to find. It was quite fun to sit and drink our morning cup of tea and coffee surrounded by cute little sheep bleating and baaing away.
Klondike Corner or Moana Rua (Lake Pearson)
Cost: $15 per adult per night
Best For: High-country lake views
Additional: DoC passes can be used here but must be booked online.
A great stop along Arthur’s Pass in the high country of Canterbury. This little campsite does get busy, so we recommend getting here earlier in the afternoon to jag a good spot. We’ve set up our hammock amongst the trees on the edge of the lake and spent a beautiful afternoon enjoying the fresh mountain air, swinging in the trees. We then emerged from our van at night to watch a stunning moonrise with the rest of the campground, which was a truly special moment of collective awe.
Something that we have found happens time and time again when camping in Aotearoa. Whether it’s an especially beautiful sunset, moonrise or even on the rare nights you get to see the aurora. Experiencing these moments of beauty with your fellow campers is truly special and one of our favourite things about these precious outdoor spaces. This collective moment of awe was made even more special by the fact we had Tiff’s cousin staying with us, and it was her very first night camping outdoors in Aotearoa.
Kōhaihai
Cost: $10 per adult per night
Best For: The campground at the end of the West Coast road
Additional: a maximum of two consecutive nights’ stay. DoC passes can be used here but must be booked online prior to arrival.
It feels like you have stepped back in time when you reach the end of the west coast road here at Kōhaihai. With towering nīkau forests and dramatic coastlines, you feel a world away from civilisation and all the worries of everyday life. It’s a beautiful place to come and unwind in on the rugged west coast. The campground is at the mouth of the Kōhaihai River and just behind the small sand dunes leading to the beach. Due to large swells and currents, this isn’t a swimming beach, but it does make for a great spot to sit and watch the sunset. Behind the waves in the nīkau forest are some beautiful walks, from short walks and day hikes to overnight tramps on the Heaphy Track. We stayed a couple of nights here so we could see the surrounding area and soak up the rugged beauty.
Marfells Beach
Cost: $15 per adult per night
Best For: Beach side camping in the Marlborough region
Additional: DoC pass can be used here but must be booked online prior to arrival
If lighthouses are your thing, then you need to stay at this campground! This is where the beach track to Cape Campbell Lighthouse starts. It’s the only way to access the lighthouse and is a decent trek up the beach to get there. Be sure to time the tides right, as access to the last part of the beach, to the lighthouse, is cut off at high tide. Even if you don’t make the trek out to the lighthouse, it’s worth spending a night or two at this beachside campground. You can see the sparkling waters from your site and enjoy that calming ocean air.
Our favourite spots at this campground were down the end where you can park side-on to the beach. This is in our opinion the best way to park to maximise the stunning views out of your van windows. It’s a beautiful calm beach to walk along, and it stretches out for miles. Nathan tried to fish here a couple times, but all he ever managed to catch was some seaweed. Tiff had more success picking up the odd bit of rubbish and scored Nathan a discarded lure and some extra fishing line!
Please Leave No Trace
As always, when out in nature, be sure to practise ‘leave no trace’. Anything that goes into the campground with you comes out as well (this includes apple cores and any type of food scraps). Be sure to keep to the designated campsites so you don’t disturb the fragile ecosystems surrounding the campground. Please leave rocks, sticks and plants as you find them. Please don’t take anything but photographs and leave with nothing extra but memories. We like to go one step further on leave no trace by making sure we pick up any rubbish we see at the campground; sometimes people slip up and forget to pick up after themselves, or things get accidentally left behind. If you see something that doesn’t belong and are equipped to pick it up and correctly dispose of it, please do!
Keen for more inspo? Be sure to check out:
- Trash On Our Travels: How To Reduce Your Waste And Pick Up Rubbish On The Road
- Don’t Make The Same Van Life Mistakes We Did!
- Snorkelling Hacks for Beginners
