The New York-based couple, who were travelling this week in a non-self-contained van, said apps they were using showed spots in the Waitaki district where camping was allowed.
But when they arrived in the district, which last year introduced a bylaw restricting camping to vehicles with toilets, they found notices at three sites stating they could not.
They kept travelling and ended up at the Dunedin City Council’s Ocean View camp site, a facility they said was "great".
When informed of the proposed bylaw that would ban vehicles such as theirs, a hired van with a bed, fridge and cooking facilities, Mrs Fisher said, "I don’t love it".
The couple were travelling through the south for a couple of weeks, and had family in the North Island.
They had paid for facilities such as showers at camping grounds as they went.
She was aware of some people’s opposition to freedom camping, and the need to responsibly dispose of waste where necessary.
The couple had visited areas where others did not.
Mrs Fisher said her preference for a freedom camping site was one away from urban areas, so locals would not be affected by the campers.
