Nationwide
Choosing a DOC campsite: facilities that change what you pack
Compare DOC campsite facility levels, water supplies and access so you can choose a suitable site and bring the equipment you actually need.
The word campsite can mean hot showers and a kitchen, or a patch of ground with a toilet and untreated water. DOC's facility categories help narrow the choice, but the individual site page tells you what to bring.
Know the main facility levels
- Serviced: more facilities, usually including hot showers and a kitchen or cooking shelter.
- Standard: basic toilets and a water supply, with other facilities varying by site.
- Basic: very limited facilities; expect to be largely self-sufficient.
- Backcountry: reached as part of an outdoor trip, with simple facilities and water that may come from a stream.
Check the details that affect your packing
Confirm vehicle access, booking requirements, drinking-water treatment, cooking facilities and rubbish disposal. A water symbol does not necessarily mean treated drinking water. Great Walk campsite bookings do not generally include use of the nearby hut's facilities.
Match the site to the trip
For a first weekend, I would prioritise straightforward access and toilets over an impressive view. Make a short comparison: drive time, facilities, exposure, activities and total cost. If the site has no cooking shelter, your meal plan still needs to work in rain. If it has no rubbish service, leave space in the car to take everything home.
Read next: A camping checklist for your first NZ campsite stay.
Sources and photo credit
Information checked 29 September 2026.
Photo: AlasdairW. Original photograph; CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for web display.
