Rules for camping

• Casual camping or freedom camping in the district, is a stay of more than two nights. This requires a camping permit which can be purchased from the South Waikato District Council offices or the district’s Information Centres. 2011-12 permit fee is $35.00.
• The permit is valid for a maximum stay of four weeks in one location in any three month period during the year July to June.
• Overnight parking does not require a permit and is limited to the reserves indicated. All vehicles parking overnight must be fitted with a minimum three days toilet and grey water capacity and all rubbish must be removed from the site on departure.
• All toilet and grey water disposal must be at a Council approved dump point. These are located in Tokoroa, Putaruru and Tirau.
• Overnight parking shall only be in areas identified for such purpose and those asked to move on shall comply with any request from an authorised officer of Council.
• No permanent or semi-permanent structures are permitted.
• A minimum distance of three metres is required between each tent/campervan in case of fire.
• No open fires are permitted. Gas cookers or gas BBQs only are allowed.
• All dogs must be restrained at all times to ensure the safety of other campers and the owners are responsible for the removal of their dogs' waste.
• The riding of motorbikes in the reserve where others are camping is not permitted.

Permits

The permit is for a period of four weeks (28 days) in total and one permit is required for each vehicle at a camp site (maximum of six people can be covered by a permit). At the time of purchase each permit holder will be issued with four official rubbish bags which will be collected from the authorised dumping point at each of the reserves on the following days:

• Dunham Point - Monday, Wednesday, Friday
• Whakamaru Reserve - Monday, Wednesday, Friday
• Jones Landing - Monday, Friday
• Little Waipa - Monday, Friday

This is from mid December to mid Feburary. Public toilets located at each reserve are available for the use of visitors and campers.

Permit charge is for the collection and disposal of rubbish, provision of toilets and reserve maintenance. Additional official rubbish bags are available from the Council offices and various retail outlets.

More information:

If you would like to know more about Freedom Camping in the South Waikato contact: Parks & Property Manager (07) 885 0340

info@southwaikato.govt.nz  Information Centres Tirau (07) 883 1202 Putaruru (07) 883 7284 Tokoroa (07) 886 8872