Last updated October 2026
Fortrose has two Southland District Council freedom camping sites on Moray Terrace, about 38 km east of Invercargill in a straight line. They have different rules. The green site is open all year for stays of up to two days in any 30-day period, and the council’s site page sets no self-containment rule for it.
The blue site is for certified self-contained vehicles only and is open just from 1 August to 30 November each year, so it is closed from December through July. The council’s map shows a public toilet at 46 Moray Terrace.
Practical Information
- Address
- Moray Terrace, Fortrose (toilet at 46 Moray Terrace)
- Distance from the city
- About 38 km from Invercargill (straight line)
- Green site
- Open all year; up to 2 days in any 30-day period
- Blue site
- Certified self-contained vehicles only; open 1 August to 30 November
- No camping
- The area shaded red on the council’s map
- Toilet
- Fortrose public toilet (council map)
- Dogs
- On a leash in the camping area
- Fires
- No open fires; gas cookers allowed
- Generators
- 8am to 9pm only
- Cost
- Free
About the Fortrose Camping Areas
Fortrose is a settlement east of Invercargill, and both of its camping sites are on council land off Moray Terrace. The council’s Fortrose page has a map with three coloured areas: a green site, a blue site and an area shaded red where nobody may camp.
Check the map before you park so you end up in the right place for your vehicle and the time of year.
The council’s interactive map groups Fortrose with its tents-allowed camping areas, and the toilet listed for the site is at the same spot. There is no water, power or shower listed, and no dump station in the settlement, so arrive with full water tanks and empty waste tanks.
The council lists no fee or booking system for either site.
The Two Sites
The green site
The green site is the year-round option. You can freedom camp there for no more than two days in any 30-day period. The site page sets no self-containment rule for it, which matches the tents-allowed label on the council’s map.
The blue site
The blue site is for certified self-contained vehicles only, and only between 1 August and 30 November each year. Outside those dates, it is closed, which covers the whole of summer.
The council describes a certified self-contained vehicle as one with its own water supply, sink and toilet, a waste tank and a rubbish container, with a current self-contained warrant displayed in the window. Since 7 June 2026, that means the green warrant and a fixed toilet; the old blue sticker and portable toilets no longer qualify.
District Rules and Waste
Southland District Council’s Freedom Camping Bylaw 2015 applies at both sites. Open fires are not allowed, though gas cookers and gas barbecues are. Dogs must be on a leash in the camping area, and generators may only run from 8am to 9pm. Across the district, you can’t freedom camp for more than one month in any three months.
For emptying tanks, the council’s map shows a camper van dump station at Tokanui, about 11 km east of Fortrose in a straight line, with others at Edendale and Wyndham. The bylaw is under review, and formal public consultation is planned for late 2026, so check the Fortrose page for any changes before you travel.
Where to Learn More
Southland District Council: Fortrose: the map of the green, blue and red areas and the rules for each.
Southland District Council: Freedom camping interactive map: toilets, dump stations and every council camping area.
Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board: Self-contained vehicles: how to get the green warrant for the blue site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I freedom camp at Fortrose?
At two council sites on Moray Terrace, shown in green and blue on the council’s Fortrose map. Don’t camp in the area shaded red.
Is the blue site open in summer?
No. It is open only from 1 August to 30 November each year, for certified self-contained vehicles.
How long can I stay on the green site?
No more than two days in any 30-day period.
Can I camp in a tent?
The council’s map lists Fortrose as a tents-allowed area, and the green site has no self-containment rule. The blue site is for self-contained vehicles only.
Is there a toilet?
Yes. The council’s map shows the Fortrose public toilet at 46 Moray Terrace.
Where is the nearest dump station?
Tokanui, about 11 km east in a straight line. There are also council dump stations at Edendale and Wyndham.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, on a leash in the camping area.
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