Penny: Proudly New Zealand made.

Penny and KiwiCamp was born right here in Aotearoa New Zealand — built with 100% New Zealand ownership, funding, and intellectual property. What started as a local idea to solve a local problem has grown into a nationwide platform helping communities and travellers coexist in a more sustainable way.

The Problem

Like many Kiwis, we saw first-hand the strain that freedom camping and over-tourism were placing on New Zealand’s most beautiful places. Councils were struggling to manage facilities, locals were frustrated, and visitors often had no easy way to contribute fairly to the cost of keeping our country clean and welcoming. It wasn’t anyone’s fault — there is simply a lot to do and there wasn’t an effective, affordable system to manage it.

The Spark

The idea first took shape at Riverlands Roadhouse a truck stop in Blenheim. We had simple coin-operated showers and laundry machines, but before long, freedom campers began using the facilities in large numbers. As someone who had spent years travelling and freedom camping myself — long before it even had a name — I didn’t want to turn them but I needed a better way to accommodate  them.

That challenge became the seed of a bigger vision: a digital system that could make low-cost, self-managed camping possible without expensive staffing or complex administration.

A Personal Journey

Before starting the company, I had spent years travelling and camping around New Zealand and overseas, traveling with tents and in a bus and embracing the freedom of the open road. Those years gave me a deep respect for travellers and the unique spirit of the camping community.

After settling back in New Zealand and running my truck stop, I saw both sides of the story — the needs of operators and the challenges of travellers. It was during this time that I met my wife, who arrived one day at the truck stop — and eventually became part of the journey that continues today. We’re now married with three children and still happiest when we’re outdoors, exploring, and meeting others who share our love of travel.

The Solution

From those humble beginnings, we built a platform designed to manage campsites digitally — reducing costs, automating access, and giving both councils and private operators the tools they need to run sustainable, fair, and user-friendly facilities. What began as a personal project at a truck stop has evolved into a New Zealand innovation helping to protect and enhance the way we travel.

Where We Are Now

Today, our technology operates at over 50 sites across New Zealand, providing facilities for both tourists and locals alike. We primarily focus on supplying the technology that empowers operators to manage their own camps more efficiently — but we’ve also expanded into managing and operating sites ourselves, putting our ideas into real-world practice.

Every site is a reflection of our core mission: to make camping more accessible, sustainable, and connected for everyone — freedom campers, campgrounds, families, local communities and councils.