Travellers looking to make use of the country's freedom camping spots are being urged to do so responsibly.
There will be significantly lower numbers of international freedom campers this year, but there will still be a need to educate locals who want to freedom camp. Photo: 123RF
Despite the closure of borders to overseas visitors, councils and travel destinations are still expecting a busy summer ahead.
The government has invested $8 million this year into the Responsible Camping Project, the fourth year they have done so.
The project invests in initiatives to ensure freedom campers are given the facilities and access to information so they know where and how to camp.
Different councils receive the money, to use how they see fit. This year's allocation includes funding for toilet and ablution facilities; rubbish and waste management; and monitoring and enforcement.
Queenstown Lakes District Council's Responsible Camping Project has used the money to recruit eight freedom camping ambassadors.
The ambassadors are people who are paid to go around different freedom camping spots and provide information about the exact rules for each campsite, how long they can stay, where else in the area they can go, and what rules come with each council.
The director of the Council's Responsible Camping Project, Craig Gallagher, said in the past, they have found campers to be cooperative.
"We really want the campers to be doing the right thing, and we've found over our research and especially through our ambassadors, that campers do want to do the right thing.
"They want to make sure they're not littering the campgrounds that don't have bins. Over the years, we've been able to educate that and bring that through."
The number of international travellers on the road and at campsites will be at significantly lower levels this year, but there will still be a need to educate those who are looking to freedom camp, he said.
"We know that Kiwis are travelling - people who have never got in tents or campervans," he said.
"It's amazing they are getting out and doing that and supporting the local economy.
"We are just there to educate those people, in the same way we educated the international [travellers] prior."
