More than 500 people camping in the district between the end of January and the start of March were surveyed by Central Otago District Council staff. The survey findings were made public last week.
Council business development manager Jonno Gadd said people staying at sites other than camping grounds were interviewed by staff.
There was no way of knowing how many freedom campers the district hosted in a year, so it was impossible to say how the survey sample related to the total number of campers, but "it represents a good chunk of the people camping in Central Otago over summer", he said.
"Freedom camping has been a contentious issue and the information from this survey will put us in a better position to make good decisions for ... the district." One of the surprises was how long people stayed and how much money they spent.
If they were on holiday, they stayed an average of six days. If they were passing through the district, they stayed three days, and if they were working in the area they camped 26 days on average.
The largest number of visitors were from the upper North Island, followed by campers from Europe. Half were on holiday and the rest were either passing through the area or working in the district.
The combined expenditure in the district of the campers surveyed was almost $200,000, which worked out at $35 a day per camper.
While many campers said they would welcome a council policy on freedom camping, they also staunchly defended their right to camp as part of "the Kiwi way of life," Mr Gadd said.
Campers were not asked about waste disposal, but were asked where they found information on waste disposal.
"It was decided that asking people if they relieved themselves in the bushes wasn't a useful approach."
Domestic visitors mostly relied on service stations and the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association guide for information about dump sites for campers in self-contained vehicles.
Those surveyed asked for more dump stations in the district and also for more public toilets and rubbish bins at picnic places.
Some campers felt they had a better appreciation and cared more for the environment than the residents, Mr Gadd said.
The survey information will be used by the council when it finalises its camping bylaws
Camper survey
• More than 500 freedom campers surveyed
• Majority New Zealanders
• Combined expenditure by campers surveyed about $200,000
• Each camper spent about $35 a day
• Half on holiday, the rest passing through or working in area Average stay two weeks
• 70% had visited area before (including international visitors)
• Sites found by word of mouth, or by passing them
• More freedom camping in Cromwell basin than around Alexandra Main sites Lowburn, Weatherall Creek (near Clyde) and Molyneux Park (campervan site)
• No direct question asked about waste disposal
