Our Best Eco-Friendly Christchurch Camping Spots

Camping in New Zealand is an experience that you must experience! Looking up at the sky full of stars at night and waking up to the view of beautiful alpine views. There’s no better way to travel New Zealand than by campervan, staying at sustainable camping spots and discovering sustainable activities around these destinations.

Wanting to go camping near Christchurch in New Zealand and keep your trip sustainable? Here is our list of the top sustainable camping spots for your next road trip! 

Awaroa/Godley Head  

The Department of Conservation are a government agency charged with conserving New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage. They have a webpage that shows all their campsites that offer a “back to nature” style camping experience. 

One of those found on their website is the Awaroa/Godley Head Campsite. It is a 40-minute drive from Christchurch and there are 25 non-powered sites.  

There are lots of activities to discover on and around the headland such as: 

• Exploring the WWII coastal defence battery site 
• Mountain biking  
• Swimming and surfing at Taylors Mistake Beach nearby 
• Walking and tramping  

White Horse Hill 

White Horse Hill is a further drive away from Christchurch at 4 hours, however it is a campsite you must visit when travelling the South Island of New Zealand. There are 60 non-powered sites and within the campground there is shelter for cooking, toilets and water from taps.  

Get out amongst nature and explore the many walking tracks and hikes to choose from, starting from the campground. An easy walk is the Hooker Valley Track, a 3-hour return trip. If you walk along the track at dawn, you’ll get a view of the first rays of dun creeping over the Southern Alps, the perfect start to an adventurous morning! 

Marfells Beach

Enjoy a coastal drive north along the east coast of the South Island to Marfells Beach. The Marfells Beach Campsite is a great location right next to the sea and there is plenty of New Zealand’s native wildlife. There are 41 non-powered sites, with facilities including cold showers, toilets, water from tap (boil before use).  

Some activities that are amongst nature are fishing from the shore or out on the water, and walking track starting from the campsite which goes along the Clifford Bay Coastline and out to Cape Campbell Lighthouse.  

Some other sustainable camping spots that aren’t found on the Department of Conservation website include: 

Akaroa 

Visit Akaroa, the most French town in New Zealand. There are lots of French heritage and colonial architecture to explore throughout the town.  

The Akaroa Top 10 Holiday Park is a 1 hour 20-minute drive from Christchurch. They are committed to sustainable tourism. They have many accommodation options including powered sites for campervans.  

An activity that is eco-friendly is going on a guided kayaking tour with Akaroa Kayaks. Kayaking is the best sustainable activity as there is no noise, no engines, no crowds and no pollution. You’ll be able to witness protected conservations full of native birds and see some of New Zealand’s marine life up close.  

Other activities in Akaroa include hiking, history tours, stargazing, wine tours, the list goes on! 

South Brighton  

The South Brighton Holiday Park is an environmentally friendly holiday park, also being the closest seaside park to Christchurch, only a 20-minute drive into the city centre. It is within walking distance of the beach, perfect for a swim, surf and to relax in the sun. A 5-minute drive north along South New Brighton Beach is the New Brighton Pier, a popular destination for fishing. 

The South Brighton Holiday Park are committed to developing facilities in an environmentally friendly way and encouraging the use of efficient power use and recycling.  

Choosing sustainable camping options when travelling New Zealand will you help minimise the impact on the environment, promote environmental conservation and reduce your carbon footprint. Visiting these sustainable camping spots near Christchurch listed above will point you in the right direction of choosing sustainable travel on your next road trip adventure! 

Get you ready for you campervan roadtrip and check out the latest deals on campervan hire in Christchurch.

Wanting to discover more sustainable camping spots? Check out our Sustainable Camping Spots in New Zealand article.

To learn more about sustainable travel in New Zealand, check out our How To Travel New Zealand Sustainably article.