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Christchurch is a city not to be missed on your road trip. It could be the start of your NZ tour if you fly into South Island, or a continuation of your epic all New Zealand road trip. You'll soon see that there are lots of budget & free campsites in the Christchurch area. Perfect for a relaxed start of your road trip.
Christchurch or Ōtautahi in Maori, is located on South Island’s East Coast. The Spaceships Christchurch depot for your South Island campervan hire is just over 2kms from the airport, on what we call rental car strip: Mustang Park is the area next to the airport where almost all car rental and campervan hire companies are located.
Just landed? Re-charge before taking off on your road trip
Christchurch is a fantastic place to visit, either at the beginning, during or at the end of your campervan trip around New Zealand. The Garden City provides a relaxed and easy start (or end) of any road trip. You’ll notice that as overseas visitor, arriving at Christchurch airport is a breeze. Custom & immigration services are done much faster than at a huge airport like Auckland International. Less time queuing at the airport is more time to spend in the city… Or on the road if your plans are to pick up your campervan and start driving straight-away,
If you’ve just flown in to Christchurch to begin your journey around New Zealand, we always recommend making sure you’re refreshed and ready to hit the road. If you’re coming in from Europe or North America, it’s a long flight into New Zealand, so it’s a smart plan to take a break and rest.
There are hotels and hostels close to the airport and Spaceships depot, but if you want to get the feel of van life straight away, the Tasman Holiday Park just 7kms and 10 minutes from our depot is a great place to get to know your Spaceship. It will give you the chance to rest and then stock up with some supplies before you venture into the outer space of South Island, and with free Wi-Fi on site, check in with the folks back home.
Experience Christchurch (Ōtautahi)
Christchurch has a timeless feel with colonial architecture, punts on the River Avon gliding through the city, trams offering city tours and beautiful open spaces like the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park. There’s a modern vibe too, with excellent shopping, and a bar and cafe culture alongside its historic charm.
See this list of all things to do in Christchurch and how to score a great deal on popular activities, for example:
- Christchurch 3 Attractions Combo Pass - the best deal in town, giving you access to three of Christchurch's top attractions
- Christchurch Gondola for a scenic ride up to the summit of the Port Hills, providing breathtaking panoramic views of the city, the Canterbury Plains, and the Southern Alps
- Christchurch Tram, a historic and charming way to explore the city. The tram tour takes you through the central city, highlighting key landmarks and providing informative commentary about Christchurch's history and culture
Christchurch is also your gateway to Canterbury and the rest of South Island. Canterbury is a land of stunning natural beauty and home to plains, lakes, mountains and glaciers. As well as cosmopolitan Christchurch, see New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo, or explore the Tasman glacier. Swim with dolphins or go whale watching at Kaikoura. It’s a place with so much to offer, so here is a brief guide to some of our favourite campsites around Christchurch and beyond into Canterbury.
DOC campsites in Christchurch area
“What’s up, Doc?” You may remember Buggs Bunny’s famous catchphrase, but it wasn’t about camping in New Zealand! DOC campsites can be found throughout NZ and are managed and run by the Department of Conservation. They are committed to helping to protect conservation land and the environment, nature, history and culture of New Zealand.
DOC has over 300 campsites set in natural environments like forests and by lakes and coasts. There are various categories, ranging from Basic, Standard and Back Country to Serviced, Scenic and Great Walk campsites, which are located along Great Walk trails. Some of these campsites are free, others have low prices. If you are staying a while in NZ, you can get a 30 day pass which works out at better value.
Discover DOC campsites and get back to nature
Use the free camping app to help find campsites on your route. You’ll find DOC sites and all other campsites & holiday parks, along with other info like facilities available, travellers’ reviews as well as where the nearest dump stations and supermarkets are.
Awaroa/Godley Head Campsite: WWII history
45 minutes and 25kms south east of Christchurch brings you to the stunning peninsula of Awaroa Godley Head. This dramatic outcrop of rock sits on 120m high cliffs looking out over the South Pacific ocean. On one side of the peninsula is Lyttleton Harbour while the north side has the interesting name, Taylor’s Mistake.
Poor old Captain Taylor of The Volga beached his American ship there in 1858 but goes down in history as the man who got the wrong bay – he was making for Lyttleton Harbour, but went the wrong side of Godley Head to the place that now forever bears his name – and navigational error – Taylor’s Mistake. Talk about being named and shamed!
Like all good urban myths though, there are 2 other Taylors who may have a claim to the name and mistake. The first was Chief Officer Taylor of the Gwalia, who took charge of his barge after his captain had thrown himself overboard in an alcoholic fit, while the other Taylor was captain of the American schooner, Catherine, both of whom also reputedly landed in the wrong bay. Maybe a place to avoid if you’re called Taylor…
The strategic position was the site of a World War 2 coastal defence battery, and the walk around the Awaroa/Godley Head Loop Track takes in the remains of the defence site with spectacular coastal views.
Awaroa/Godley Head is a DOC Standard campsite with 25 unpowered pitches and must be booked in advance.
Lake Pearson (Moana Rua) Campsite: lakeside camping
Lake Pearson Moana Rua Campsite is another Standard DOC campsite in a spectacular lakeside setting in the Craigieburn Forest Park. It’s around 115kms and a 1 and ¾ hour’s drive inland from Christchurch, so still within easy reach for your first or last night’s stay. Booking is required via the DOC website.
Surrounded by mountains, lakes and rivers, this camp ground gives you the chance to explore the Waimakariri River and basin and is a hiker’s paradise, with a huge choice of trails nearby ranging from the 1 hour Coal Pit Spur Track, the 8 hour breathtaking Avoca Valley Track or a section of the longer Cass-Lagoon Saddle Track.
Lake Pearson campsite: easy to reach & sleep close to the lake. Great place any time of the year (winter as well)
Waihi Gorge Campsite: gateway to Geraldine
Waihi Gorge campsite is set on the banks of the Waihi River surrounded by lowland forest. It’s a Standard DOC site with 40 unpowered pitches and booking is required. From Christchurch, it’s about 150km or a 2 hour drive through Rolleston, Rakaia and in the direction of Geraldine, before heading inland for another 20kms to the camp ground.
It’s definitely worth getting to know Geraldine! It’s a charming rural town on the way to Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook. It has a vibrant artisan local food scene including the Geraldine Cheese Co, Barkers' famous jams & fruit spreads and wonderfully named Humdinger Gin made with locally grown botanicals including rosehips and sloe berries.
Nice & relaxed stay at Waihi Gorge campsite
Deer Valley Campsite: hiking and hot springs
Deer Valley Campsite is a small standard DOC campsite. This 10 unpowered pitch site is at the foot of a beech forest next to the Lewis River, in the heart of the Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve. The Lewis Pass is the most northerly of the three main passes over the Southern Alps. Deer Valley is about 190kms/2.5 hours north of Christchurch through Rangiora and Hanmer Springs on State Highway 7, so still well located for a first night away from Christchurch or the last night before returning.
Deer Valley Campsite in winter
Climb up to Lewis Tops for dramatic mountain views, or take the more accessible Lake Daniel track with a man made path for a 3 hour walk. There are loads of hikes to choose from in Lewis Pass, and you can soothe those tired legs in a number of natural hot pools in the reserve. Silvia Flats is the most accessible, just a 5 minute walk from SH7, where there are 4 linked pools at the river bed.
If you prefer something a little more organised, Hanmer Springs is about 70kms before Lewis Pass, and has a choice of activities. Get wet & wild at the Thermal Pools & Spa, which has water slides, rapids and a pool as well as hot pools. Take a white-knuckle jet boating ride or go white water rafting, or explore the forests on foot, horseback, mountain bike or quad bike.
Free campsites in the Christchurch area
Freedom camping or free camping in or near Christchurch, is that possible. Yes it is! Open the free camping & road trip app - it's our favourite - and you'll find the following free campsites... Well there are lost more campsites, we just picked our faves close to Christchurch.
West Oxford Reserve: free camping by The Eyre River
Head about 55kms (40 minutes) west of Christchurch towards the town of Oxford, which is on the edge of the Canterbury Plains. It has been awarded the “most beautiful village” and is an excellent Dark Sky destination for star gazing.
The West Oxford Reserve is a free camp ground (with an optional $5 donation towards the Oxford Community) with flat, grassy unpowered pitches in a peaceful setting with mature shady trees close to the Eyre River. It’s also an easy walk to the nearby town of Oxford to stock up with supplies for the road.
Being so close to Christchurch, it’s useful for your first stop or last night, a great place to experience NZ's camping experience one last time before returning your Spaceship to the depot in Christchurch.
So many great campsites - budget & free - to find in the Christchurch area
Christchurch is a great launchpad for your road trip
Christchurch is the perfect relaxed start to your South Island adventure. The number of airlines serving Christchurch airport has increased enormously - can you hear the savings of lower prices? - yet it’s still a breeze to get through the formalities of arriving in New Zealand (sorry Auckland, it just takes longer at your airport).
And our favourite campsites will give you the chance to rest after landing in New Zealand. It’ll be a relaxed start of your NZ road trip.There are so many budget or free campsites to find in the Christchurch area. Great for a relaxed start of your road trip or your chance to sleep in great places, in the middle of nowhere at the end of your trip right before returning your Spaceship.
When you select a Spaceships campervan for your NZ road trip, you’ll know there are no extra fees as one-way travel is included (book your trip as a one-way roadie to Auckland), an extra driver can be added for free, the kilometres you can drive is unlimited and there are no card fees when you pay online. Secure your self-contained or non-self-contained campervan now and explore New Zealand from Christchurch.