FAQs for Guests

Getting started

Booking

Messages and your host

During your stay

After your stay

Help

Getting started

What is Campable?

Campable is a New Zealand booking site and app for staying on private land: farms, orchards, vineyards, lifestyle blocks, clubs and more. Hosts are locals who share a spot for your campervan, motorhome, caravan or tent, and you book and pay through Campable.

What do I need to use Campable?

A free Campable account. You can search and book on the website (campable.com) or in the Campable app for iPhone and Android. It's free to join; you only pay for the nights you book.

Are Campable sites the same as campgrounds?

No, and that's the point. Each place is private and different: often you'll be the only vehicle there, you're staying with locals, and many hosts offer something extra, like a farm tour, fresh eggs or local tips.

Not every place has campground facilities, though. Use the filters to find places with what you need (toilet, shower, power, water, pets and more), and check each site's details before you book.

How do I find places to stay?

  • Search by place name or browse the map.
  • Browse by region, for example campable.com/camping/northland or campable.com/camping/canterbury.
  • Browse our collections of favourite places, at campable.com/collections.
  • Looking for tonight? campable.com/deals/tonight shows places with a last-minute deal.

Every listing has its own web address, campable.com/stays/place-name, so it's easy to save or share.

Where is Campable available?

Across New Zealand, from Northland to Southland.

Booking

What's the difference between Instant Book and Request to Book?

  • Instant Book: you book and your stay is confirmed straight away. Your card is charged 14 days before the stay (or when you book, if the stay is less than 14 days away).
  • Request to Book: you send the host a request with a short message about yourselves. The host accepts or declines, and you're only charged if they accept. A request that isn't answered expires (usually after 24 hours, sooner if the stay is close). If the stay is less than 14 days away, we place a hold on your card while the host decides; the hold is released if they decline or don't reply, or if you withdraw.

Some bookings become requests automatically, for example if you're bringing pets to a place where pets are "by arrangement".

Do I have to say who's coming?

Yes. When you book, tell us how many people are coming (including children) and whether you're bringing pets, with a short description of them. Each site shows how many people the price includes; some hosts charge for extra people, and each host chooses whether children count. Pets are never charged, but the host decides whether they're welcome.

Which vehicles can stay?

It depends on the place. Hosts choose which vehicle types fit (campervan, motorhome, caravan, car and tent, housebus, large American motorhome), and can set a maximum vehicle length. Check the site's details, and add your vehicle to your Campable account so it can be checked against each place's rules.

What about self-containment?

Each host chooses who can stay:

  • Certified self-contained only: your vehicle needs a current green self-containment warrant.
  • Certified, or with a portable toilet you use: you carry a portable toilet, use it, and empty it at a dump station, never on the host's land.
  • Everyone: the host has a toilet you can use.

Record your vehicle's self-containment in your Campable account. If your vehicle doesn't meet a host's rule, we'll warn you or stop the booking before you pay.

Can I pitch a tent beside my motorhome?

Only if the host says so. Some places welcome tents (look for "car and tent" in the vehicle types); otherwise ask the host before you book.

Is it safe to pay through Campable?

Yes. All payments go through Stripe, our secure payment provider. Campable never sees or stores your full card number. Please never pay a host in cash or by bank transfer instead: every booking is paid through Campable, which is what keeps you covered by our cancellation terms.

When is my card charged?

  • Instant Book: your card is charged 14 days before the stay. If you book less than 14 days before, it's charged when you book. The booking screen shows the exact charge date before you confirm.
  • Request to Book: nothing is charged unless the host accepts. If the stay is more than 14 days away, your card is saved and, once the host accepts, charged 14 days before the stay. If it's less than 14 days away, we place a hold on your card when you send the request: it's charged when the host accepts, and released if they decline or don't reply, or if you withdraw.

Your card must still be valid on the charge date. If you cancel before your card has been charged, there's nothing to pay.

What if my card expires before I'm charged?

If your card will expire before the charge date, we'll warn you when you book and again before the charge. Update your card under Account before then. If it still hasn't been updated on the charge date, the booking is cancelled and the night is released.

Can I use a voucher?

Campable sometimes runs voucher offers with our hosts. If you have one, follow the instructions that came with it.

What if I need to cancel?

You can cancel on the website (under My Trips) or in the app (under Bookings). On the website you choose which nights to cancel and see what you'll get back before you confirm. Each night counts separately:

  • 6 or more days before the night: full refund, less the card-processing fee.
  • 1–5 days before: 50% refund (after the card fee).
  • On the day: no refund.

If your card hasn't been charged yet (the stay is more than 14 days away), cancelling costs nothing.

Peak season (20 December to 15 January, and holiday weekends from January to Easter) is different. If you cancel a peak night less than 14 days before, there's no refund unless another guest books your site for that night. Then you get it back, less the card fee.

If a host cancels, you always get a full refund. See our Cancellation Policy for the details.

Messages and your host

Can I ask the host a question before I book?

Yes. Use Message the host on the listing, on the website or in the app. Before a booking, phone numbers, emails, addresses and links are automatically hidden in messages. That keeps your booking, payment and cancellation terms protected.

What happens after I book?

You'll get a booking confirmation by email and a notification in the app. Once your stay is confirmed you'll have:

  • the host's private arrival instructions: the exact entrance, gate codes, where to park and who to contact
  • the host's welcome video, if they've made one
  • your Campable messages with the host, where contact details are no longer hidden

Say hello to your host with a quick message, and have a read of our Rules of Etiquette.

Should I greet my host?

A friendly "hello" is always a good start. Some hosts love a chat; others are at work or away. Their listing says which, so you know what to expect.

How do I handle places without mobile coverage?

  • You'll need an internet connection to book, so plan ahead.
  • Many listings show each site's mobile coverage. If it's patchy or none, save the directions, arrival instructions and your host's details before you lose signal.
  • Carry a paper map as a back-up; coverage can drop out unexpectedly.

What does "Checked by a Campable Pathfinder" mean?

Campable Pathfinders are locals who find great places to camp and help hosts set up their listings. A listing with this badge has had a Pathfinder check it.

During your stay

Can I light a fire?

Only if the host allows it. Each site shows its fire rules (no fires, fire pit, BBQ only, or depends on the fire season). Always check the current fire season at checkitsalright.nz, and ask your host if you're unsure.

Are there dangerous animals in New Zealand?

New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world when it comes to animals. A few things to know:

  • Don't approach farm animals; you could scare them.
  • In spring, ewes and their lambs can lose each other, so please don't disturb them.
  • Cows with calves can be very protective and may threaten you if you get close.
  • Watch out for magpies in spring; they may swoop as you walk or cycle.

What should I be aware of on a farm?

  • Look out for (and don't fall into!) ponds, troughs, creeks, rivers and effluent ponds.
  • Leave gates as you found them.
  • Keep away from electric and barbed-wire fences and working machinery.
  • Don't climb structures or trees.
  • Ask your host before exploring.

Hosts list the hazards on their property in their listing and arrival instructions, so read them before you arrive.

After your stay

How do I leave a review?

After your stay, go to Bookings on the website or in the app, choose the stay, and select Review Booking. Your host reviews you too.

Reviews are double-blind: neither of you sees the other's review until you've both written one, or 14 days after check-out, whichever comes first. So be honest!

Do hosts review guests?

Yes. Hosts rate guests on leaving the site clean, following the house rules and communication. Guests with consistently low ratings from hosts need to send a request (rather than instant booking) for future stays.

My host was awesome. How can I say thanks?

A thank-you and a great review mean a lot. Kiwis don't usually expect tips, but if you're feeling generous, a bottle of wine goes down well!

I'm not happy, but I don't want to leave a bad review

Thanks for saying so. Talk to your host first, or tell us: there may be an explanation, or your host may not have known and will be quick to put it right. We'd rather work with you to fix it.

Help

How do I contact Campable?

Message us in your Campable thread in Messages (on the website or in the app), or email support@campable.com.

Happy travels!

The Campable Team