Campervan Campsites Near the Glaciers: Holiday Parks and DOC Sites

Quick summary: Campervan travellers have a good choice of places to stay near New Zealand’s glaciers. Franz Josef and Fox Glacier townships have holiday parks with powered sites, and DOC campsites sit beside lakes and in the forest along State Highway 6. At Mount Cook, the White Horse Hill campground sits beneath the peaks, with full-service holiday parks in Twizel. This guide covers the best places to park a campervan or motorhome on each side of the Alps.

At a glance
Franz Josef	Holiday parks in the township; DOC sites at Lake Mapourika and nearby
Fox Glacier	Holiday parks in the township; DOC sites at Gillespies Beach and Lake Paringa
Haast Pass	DOC sites at Pleasant Flat and Cameron Flat
Mount Cook	White Horse Hill DOC campground; holiday parks in Twizel
Power	Holiday parks only; DOC sites are unpowered
Book ahead	Summer, especially at Franz Josef and White Horse Hill

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Where can you stay near the West Coast glaciers?

Place	Type	Why stay
Franz Josef township	Holiday parks	Walk to flight bases, hot pools and cafés
Lake Mapourika	DOC campsite	Lakeside camping in the forest, north of Franz Josef
Ōkārito	Community campground	A coastal hamlet beside the lagoon
Fox Glacier township	Holiday parks	Close to Lake Matheson and flight bases
Gillespies Beach	DOC campsite	A remote beach at the end of an unsealed road
Lake Paringa	DOC campsite	A calm lake south of Fox
Haast	Holiday park	Services at the end of the pass

Where can you stay at Mount Cook?

Place	Type	Why stay
White Horse Hill	DOC campground	At the start of the Hooker Valley Track, beneath the peaks
Twizel	Holiday parks	Full services, around 65 km away
Lake Pukaki	Lakeside camping areas	Self-contained vehicles, where permitted
Lake Tekapo	Holiday parks	Around 105 km away, with hot pools nearby

Should you choose a powered site or a DOC campsite for an RV near the ice?

Mix them. A holiday park in Franz Josef or Fox gives you power, hot showers and a short walk to the flight bases, ideal for the nights before a heli-hike. DOC campsites offer peaceful, scenic stays beside lakes and rivers, but with simple facilities and no power, so arrive with charged batteries and a full water tank. A pattern of holiday park, DOC site, holiday park works well.

What about freedom camping?

Near the glaciers, overnight stays outside campgrounds are allowed only at a handful of sites, generally for certified self-contained vehicles, where Westland, Mackenzie or Queenstown Lakes councils or DOC allow it. The glacier townships themselves have very limited options, so a holiday park is usually the better choice near the flight bases. Our sister site explains how freedom camping works across New Zealand.

What should you know about West Coast campsites?

• Sandflies are common, so keep screens closed and bring repellent.
• Rain can be heavy, so choose a site with good drainage and avoid low ground near rivers.
• Dump stations are at holiday parks and in the larger towns; empty tanks before remote stretches.
• Booking is wise in summer, especially for White Horse Hill and the Franz Josef holiday parks.

For campsite types nationwide, our sister site compares DOC sites, holiday parks and club parks.

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Frequently Asked Questions