Where Can You Have a Campfire in New Zealand?

One of the questions we’ve heard a lot since bringing ArcMate to New Zealand is:

“But where can you actually have a fire in NZ?”

And after digging into the rules, the answer isn't as simple as “you can't.”

There are plenty of places around New Zealand where campers can still enjoy a fire. The important part is understanding where you're camping, the rules of the property and the current Fire and Emergency New Zealand fire season.

In fact, some of the most fire-friendly camping we've found isn't necessarily at the big holiday parks. It's at smaller privately owned campgrounds, farm stays and independent camps where sitting around the fire is still very much part of the camping experience.

Can you have a campfire in New Zealand?

Yes — but there isn't one rule covering every campsite in New Zealand.

Before lighting a fire you need to consider:

• the current Fire and Emergency New Zealand fire season

• whether the landowner or campground allows fires

• local council rules

• whether you're on public conservation land

• the type of fire you're using

Fire and Emergency New Zealand specifically recognises fire pits, fire bowls and braziers, including fires contained in a portable container above ground.

During a Restricted Fire Season, these can be an authorised fire type without a permit when all of the required safety conditions are met. During a Prohibited Fire Season, wood-burning fire pits, fire bowls and braziers are prohibited.

That means a Restricted Fire Season doesn't automatically mean that every campfire or portable fire pit is banned.

You still need permission from the campground or landowner and must comply with all other applicable rules.

Private campgrounds where campfires are part of the experience

We've started putting together a list of smaller and privately owned NZ camping locations where published information indicates that campfires, fire pits or braziers are permitted or provided.

Always contact the campground before travelling and check the current fire conditions.

Campground	Area	Type	Published fire information	BYO portable fire pit?
Quinney's Bush Camp	Nelson/Tasman	Private campground	Campfires and charcoal BBQs permitted unless there is a local fire ban. Fires must be in concrete fire pits or braziers.	Check with campground
River Bends	Te Kuiti, Waikato	Small private campsite	Private campsite listing includes a small fire pit / fires as an amenity.	Check with host
Blue Spur Farmstay	Hokitika, West Coast	Private farm campsite	Campfires permitted by request. Campfire space and firewood available.	Check with host
Hubbys Retreat	Morrinsville, Waikato	Small private farm camp	Campfires listed as an available amenity.	Check with host
Clearbrook Farm	Waikato	Private farm camp	Fire pit/campfire experience advertised.	Check with host
Tapapa Station	Waikato	Small private camp	Campfires listed as an amenity.	Check with host
River Rock Fitness Farm	Ōtaki/Kāpiti Coast	Small private farm camp	Appears in campfire-friendly private camping listings.	Check with host
Slobadogavich Acres	Raglan, Waikato	Small private camp	Appears in campfire-friendly private camping listings.	Check with host
Peketā Campground	Kaikōura	Private campground	Wood fire pits advertised as part of the campground facilities.	Check with campground
Ross Beach TOP 10	West Coast	Private holiday park	Fire pits/campfire use advertised subject to conditions.	Check with campground
Lake Brunner Motor Camp	Moana, West Coast	Private motor camp	Fire pits listed amongst campground facilities.	Check with campground

Campground information can change. Inclusion in this table means we found published information indicating that some form of campfire/fire-pit use is available — it does not mean ArcMate has received permission for guests to use an ArcPit at that property.

A great example: Quinney's Bush

Quinney's Bush is a great example of why the statement “you can't have campfires in New Zealand” isn't quite right.

Their current FAQ specifically states that campfires and charcoal BBQs are allowed unless there is a local fire ban.

Their campground policies go even further, explaining that campfires or BBQs must be used in concrete fire pits or braziers.

That's exactly why it's important to check the rules of the individual property rather than assuming fires are prohibited everywhere.

What about small private and farm camps?

Across New Zealand there are smaller farm camps, private camping properties and independent sites where having a fire remains part of the experience.

For example, River Bends near Te Kuiti is a private campsite surrounded by native forest and river, and its listing includes a small fire pit.

Blue Spur Farmstay near Hokitika specifically tells campers they can have a campfire, with a designated campfire space and firewood available by request.

These smaller properties can have completely different rules from large commercial holiday parks or DOC campsites.

What does a Restricted Fire Season mean?

This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions.

New Zealand has three fire-season settings:

Open Fire Season
Fires may generally be lit without a Fire and Emergency permit, although campground, landowner, council and conservation-land rules still apply.

Restricted Fire Season
Some fires require permits, while certain authorised fire types can still be used when their specific safety requirements are followed.

Prohibited Fire Season
Certain fire types — including wood-burning fire pits, fire bowls and braziers — cannot be used.

For fire pits, fire bowls and braziers during a Restricted Fire Season, Fire and Emergency's requirements include keeping the fire area under 1m², keeping it at least three metres from combustible material, containing escaping embers or ash where necessary, having a suitable means of extinguishing the fire within five metres and never leaving it unattended.

What about charcoal cooking?

There's another important distinction.

Fire and Emergency treats charcoal barbecues and grills used for cooking separately from recreational wood-burning fire pits.

Charcoal barbecues and grills are currently listed as an authorised fire type during both Restricted and Prohibited Fire Seasons, provided their safety requirements are met.

However, campground, council, landowner and conservation-land rules still apply.

So never assume that because charcoal is permitted under the national fire-season rules, it is automatically permitted at your campground.

Can I use my ArcPit?

The ArcPit is a contained, portable, above-ground fire pit and cooking system.

Whether you can use it at a particular campsite depends on how you're using it, the current fire season and the rules of the property you're staying on.

Before using your ArcPit:

1. Check the current fire conditions with Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

2. Check the campground's own fire rules.

3. Ask whether guest-owned portable fire pits or braziers are permitted.

4. Check any local council requirements.

5. Follow all required fire-safety distances and precautions.

If the campground says it allows campfires, don't automatically assume that means you can bring your own fire pit. Some locations require campers to use designated or campground-supplied facilities.

Help us build New Zealand's ArcPit-friendly camping map

We're continuing to research private campgrounds, farm stays and independent camps across New Zealand where campers can still enjoy cooking and sitting around a fire.

And we'd love the NZ camping community to help us build the list.

Know a campground that allows campers to bring their own raised or contained fire pit?

Send it through to us.

Our goal is to build a genuinely useful directory of ArcPit-friendly camping locations across New Zealand — so before your next trip, you know where you can camp, cook and enjoy the fire.

Because for us, some of the best camping memories still happen around one.