Choosing the best camping grounds in Dunedin comes down to how close to the city you want to be and what you need on site. Camping grounds in Dunedin range from a large beachside park at St Kilda to small family run motor camps on the coast and a lakeside park at Waihola, south of the city, all with powered sites, tent sites, cabins and shared kitchens. Dunedin Holiday Park sits beside St Kilda Beach, while Portobello Village Tourist Park is out on the Otago Peninsula.
1Dunedin Holiday Park & Motels
Dunedin Holiday Park and Motels is on Victoria Road in St Kilda, beside St Kilda Beach and a short drive from the city centre. The park has more than 60 accommodation units alongside 65 powered sites and a number of unpowered tent sites, so it takes everything from a tent to a three bedroom motel booking. It suits families, couples and solo travellers who want a camping base within easy reach of central Dunedin, the beaches and the Otago Peninsula.
Services
- Powered sites for campervans, caravans and motorhomes
- Unpowered tent sites for traditional camping
- Cabins in a range of sizes, sleeping two to six guests
- Studio, two bedroom and three bedroom motel units
- A 12 bedroom lodge with private ensuites, accommodating up to 50 guests
Highlights
- Beachside position at St Kilda, a stroll from the St Clair waterfront cafes
- Two communal kitchens with dining areas, plus a TV lounge with SKY TV
- Free unlimited guest WiFi throughout the park
- Dump station, free electric BBQ area, playground and a large jumping pillow
- Camp store and a public bus stop into the city centre directly outside the gate
Location & Contact
Name: Dunedin Holiday Park & Motels
Address: 41 Victoria Road, St Kilda, Dunedin 9012
Phone: 03 455 4690
Website: dunedinholidaypark.co.nz
2Portobello Village Tourist Park
Portobello Village Tourist Park is a small, family run holiday park on Hereweka Street in Portobello, in the heart of the Otago Peninsula. It has 30 powered sites with their own power and water connections, 26 spacious unpowered grass sites and one cabin, set in a quiet spot surrounded by native birdlife. It suits campers who want a peaceful peninsula base within walking distance of Portobello village.
Services
- Powered sites with individual power and water connections
- Unpowered grass sites for tents, cars and campervans
- A double cabin with heating, with bedding and linen hire available
- Dump station and grey water disposal on every powered site
Highlights
- Otago Peninsula setting, a short stroll from Portobello village and its cafe
- Fully equipped communal kitchen with pots, pans, crockery and cooking utensils
- Complimentary hot showers, with an accessible toilet and shower in each block
- Sheltered BBQ area with a picnic table, and a TV area with a DVD library at reception
- Free Wi-Fi across the campground and coin operated washing machines and dryers
Location & Contact
Name: Portobello Village Tourist Park
Address: 27 Hereweka Street, Portobello, Dunedin 9014
Phone: 03 478 0359
Website: portobellopark.co.nz
3Waikouaiti Beach Motor Camp
Waikouaiti Beach Motor Camp is a coastal camping ground on Beach Street in Waikouaiti, just off State Highway 1 and about 35 minutes drive north of Dunedin. Hosts Robert and Margaret run flat, grassed powered and non-powered sites plus four basic cabins, in park-like grounds next to the beach, the estuary, the sports fields and the forest. It suits families and travellers after either a short stop-over on the highway or a longer beach holiday.
Services
- Powered sites for motorhomes, campervans, caravans and tents
- Non-powered tent sites in park-like grounds near the beach
- Four cabins for two to four people, with bedding and a kitchenette
- Caravan rental and long term caravan storage
- Park over property spaces for NZ Motor Caravan Association members
Highlights
- Five minute walk to the white sand beach and the Waikouaiti River
- Communal kitchen and dining room, with a covered outdoor seating area
- Seasonal camp store and a children’s play area on the grounds
- Dump station for campers and a coin operated laundry
Location & Contact
Name: Waikouaiti Beach Motor Camp
Address: 186 Beach Street, Waikouaiti
Phone: 03 465 7432
Website: waikouaiti-motorcamp.co.nz
4Lake Waihola Holiday Park
Lake Waihola Holiday Park is on Waihola Place beside Lake Waihola, roughly 30 minutes south of Dunedin and just off the main highway. Owners Peter and Nicky run it as a family friendly campground with powered sites, unpowered tent sites and eight cabins, a short drive from Dunedin International Airport. It suits people heading out of Dunedin for a weekend on the water, and travellers wanting a first or last night stop before flying.
Services
- Powered sites for caravans, tents, campervans and buses
- Unpowered sites for tents and self contained campervans and buses
- Eight cabins for one to three guests, with all bedding supplied
- Shared kitchen, laundry and hot showers for campers
Highlights
- Lakeside setting on a 9 square kilometre lake used for kayaking, jet skiing, fishing, sailing and windsurfing
- Waterfront section of the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail runs along the lake at Waihola
- Playground on the grounds, with hot showers and WiFi included in the nightly rate
- Dogs accepted under a managed policy following HAPANZ guidance, with leads and proof of registration required
Location & Contact
Name: Lake Waihola Holiday Park
Address: 10 Waihola Place, Waihola 9073
Phone: 03 417 8908
Website: lakewaihola.co.nz
Camping Grounds in Dunedin at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Dunedin Holiday Park & Motels | Beachside position at St Kilda, a stroll from the St Clair waterfront... |
| Portobello Village Tourist Park | Otago Peninsula setting, a short stroll from Portobello village and i... |
| Waikouaiti Beach Motor Camp | Five minute walk to the white sand beach and the Waikouaiti River |
| Lake Waihola Holiday Park | Lakeside setting on a 9 square kilometre lake used for kayaking |
How to Choose the Right Camping Ground in Dunedin
- Decide how far from the Octagon you want to be. St Kilda and Portobello are short drives, while Waikouaiti and Waihola sit around half an hour out on the highway.
- Check whether you need a powered site, and whether that site includes its own water and waste connections for a caravan or motorhome.
- Look at the kitchen and bathroom facilities, since smaller motor camps share a single communal kitchen and ablution block.
- Confirm cabin details before booking. Some cabins include bedding and a kitchenette, others charge for linen hire and are not self contained.
- Ask about dump stations, dog policies and NZ Motor Caravan Association park over property rates if any of those apply to your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dunedin Camping Grounds
How much does a night at a camping ground in Dunedin cost?
Rates are usually charged per person per night rather than per site. Unpowered tent sites in the area start at around $18 to $28 for one adult, powered sites at around $22 to $30, and cabins run from roughly $73 to $120 depending on size and the number of guests. Children are charged at a lower rate and infants are often free, so always check the park’s own rates page for the season you are travelling in.
Do I need to book, or can I just turn up?
It depends on the park and the season. Parks with motel units and cabins take online bookings year round and fill early over summer. Smaller lakeside and coastal camps will often take a site booking on arrival outside busy periods, but ringing ahead is safer over Christmas, New Year, Easter and long weekends.
Which camping grounds are closest to the part of Dunedin I want to visit?
For the surf beaches, the St Kilda park on Victoria Road is right beside St Kilda Beach and has a bus stop outside the gate for trips into the city centre. For the albatross colony, Larnach Castle and the peninsula beaches, Portobello puts you in the middle of that stretch. Waikouaiti sits north on State Highway 1 and suits arrivals from Oamaru or Christchurch, while Waihola sits south, near Dunedin International Airport and the road towards Balclutha.
Can I camp anywhere in Dunedin, or only at a holiday park?
Freedom camping in Dunedin is controlled by a Dunedin City Council bylaw that sets out where self contained and non self contained vehicles may stay overnight, and the rules differ by reserve and by season. Check the council’s freedom camping information before parking overnight anywhere that is not a holiday park or motor camp. See the Dunedin City Council freedom camping page for the current sites and conditions.
Are dogs allowed at Dunedin holiday parks?
Some parks take dogs and some do not, and those that do ask you to declare the dog when you book. Conditions typically include a short lead at all times, proof of registration and vaccination, cleaning up immediately, and no animals inside cabins or communal buildings. Confirm directly with the park before you arrive with a dog.
What facilities should I expect at a Dunedin motor camp?
Expect a communal kitchen with cooking equipment, hot showers and toilets, a coin operated laundry, a dump station for motorhomes and outdoor space for children. Larger parks add a TV lounge, a BBQ area, WiFi and a shop on site or next door. Smaller camps are deliberately basic and clean rather than resort style, which is reflected in the nightly rate.
When is the best time of year to camp near Dunedin?
December through March is the warmest and busiest stretch, and coastal sites book out over the Christmas and New Year period. Spring and autumn are quieter and some parks run lower off peak rates. Coastal Otago weather changes quickly, so pack for wind and rain whatever the season.
What should I check if I am travelling in a campervan or caravan?
Check that the site has a powered hook up suited to your vehicle size, and ask about the dump station and grey water disposal. Several parks offer NZ Motor Caravan Association park over property rates for members. If you are hiring, the rental company will confirm whether the vehicle is certified self contained, which affects where you can legally stay overnight outside a camping ground.
How We Chose the Best Camping Grounds in Dunedin
Every business in this guide was found by searching for camping grounds in Dunedin, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Dunedin, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.