Last updated November 2026
Okains Bay Camping Ground is a camping ground run by Christchurch City Council at 1357 Okains Bay Road, on the eastern side of Banks Peninsula, about 39 km from Christchurch in a straight line. It is one of the council’s own camping grounds, and the camp’s website says it trades under that name for the council.
Tents and campervans share the camp sites, set among native trees or close to the ocean, and there are two cabins as well.
Facilities include toilets, coin-operated showers, shared kitchens, a laundry, a playground, a BMX track and a dump station, but there is no drinking water, so the camp asks you to boil water for three minutes or bring your own. Book and pay online first, as you need your licence plate number on the booking to get through the gate.
Practical Information
- Address
- 1357 Okains Bay Road, Okains Bay, Banks Peninsula
- Distance from the city
- About 39 km from Christchurch (straight line); the council puts it at about 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive
- Sites
- Camp sites for tents and campervans, plus two cabins
- Booking
- Online, paid in full when you book
- Gate
- Entry by the licence plate number on your booking
- Facilities
- Toilets, coin-operated showers, shared kitchens, laundry, playground, BMX track, dump station
- Water
- No potable water: boil for 3 minutes, or bring your own
- Dogs
- No dogs
- Fires and generators
- Not allowed
- Managed by
- Christchurch City Council (trading as Okains Bay Camping Ground)
About Okains Bay Camping Ground
Okains Bay is one of the camping grounds Christchurch City Council runs itself, and it is not a freedom camping site: you book a site and pay for it. That makes it an option for people the council’s freedom camping rules leave out.
Camping in a tent, or in a vehicle without certified on-board facilities, isn’t allowed anywhere on Banks Peninsula outside a camping ground, but here both are welcome.
The camp sites are spread among native trees or close to the ocean, and the camp offers a downloadable site map. Campers share the kitchens and bathrooms, and the showers are coin-operated. A laundry, a playground and a BMX track round out the facilities.
The camp’s website describes swimming and the beach as the main draws, and notes that Okains Bay has places of historic interest. It also points to other attractions on Banks Peninsula within an hour’s drive.
Camp Sites and Cabins
The camp sites take a tent or a campervan. The camp doesn’t publish how many sites it has, so check availability on the booking page for your dates.
There are two cabins. The Kereru Ensuite Cabin has a double bed and a set of bunks, sleeps four, and comes with linen, bedding and towels, a private bathroom and shower, a fridge-freezer and kitchen utensils.
The Tui Cabin has a double bed and sleeps two, with a private bathroom and shower, a fridge-freezer and basic kitchen utensils. Both can be booked online.
Water, Dogs and Camp Rules
The water supply at Okains Bay is not potable. The camp asks you to boil it for three minutes before drinking, and to bring your own drinking water if you can.
Dogs, fires and generators are not allowed. Management can ask anyone to leave at any time for breaking the rules or for behaviour it considers socially unacceptable. The camp has its own dump station, so self-contained vehicles can empty their tanks before they leave.
Booking, Cancellations and the Road In
Bookings are made online. You choose your dates and the number of adults, children aged 5 to 14 and children aged 0 to 4, and the full amount is charged to your card. Add your licence plate number, because the gates open for booked vehicles.
If you cancel within seven days of arrival you pay one night plus a $20 cancellation fee; earlier than that, a $20 fee is taken from your payment. There are no refunds for bad weather, late arrivals or leaving early, and bookings through a third party such as a travel agent are non-refundable.
The council warns that some Banks Peninsula roads are narrow, steep or unsealed, with few places to turn. Check the NZTA journey planner for conditions before you set off. Tsunami evacuation zones for Banks Peninsula changed in October 2026, so it’s worth checking the council’s tsunami map for the bay too.
Where to Learn More
Okains Bay Camping Ground: the council-run camp’s own site, with bookings, cabins, the site map and camp rules.
Christchurch City Council: Camping and campervans: the council’s camping grounds, freedom camping rules for Banks Peninsula and the camping map.
Christchurch City Council: Tsunami evacuation zones and routes: the current zones for Banks Peninsula bays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs Okains Bay Camping Ground?
Christchurch City Council. The camp’s website says the council trades as Okains Bay Camping Ground.
Do I need to book?
Yes. Book and pay online, and include your licence plate number, which you need to get through the gates.
Can I camp in a tent?
Yes. The camp sites take tents as well as campervans.
Is there drinking water?
No. The water isn’t potable, so boil it for three minutes or bring your own drinking water.
Are dogs allowed?
No. Dogs, fires and generators are not allowed at the camp.
Is there a dump station?
Yes. The camp lists a dump station among its facilities.
Are there cabins?
Yes, two: the Kereru Ensuite Cabin, which sleeps four, and the Tui Cabin, which sleeps two. Both have a private bathroom.
How far is it from Christchurch?
About 39 km in a straight line, or about 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive according to the council.
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