posted by Paul Briggs on Feb 15

“No more warnings, it will now be instant fines “, warned Clive Gedes, the Mayor of Queenstown, located on the South Island of New Zealand, along the picturesque Lake Wakatipu. More than 60 warnings a day are given to thoes new tourists named “Freedom Campers” seen getting back to nature and sleeping in picnic sites, carparks and laybys with no toilet facilities and where it is strickly prohibited.
They seem to have ignored the numerous NO Camping Signs and worst of all they are leaving human waste behind. Freedom camping is banned in the 10km around Queenstown and the signs are pretty clear. Not surprising, the response from all the freedom campers, 3 News approached, claimed to have left anything but footprints. However ask any local resident and they have a very different story.