The number of freedom campers in the Queenstown district has dropped by up to 90 per cent in some areas since councils were given the authority to issue $200 fines for camping in restricted areas on or near the road.
About 500 fines have been issued by Queenstown Lakes District Council staff patrolling 30 hot spots in the region since the Freedom Camping Bill came into effect in September.
Between 15 and 25 fines were being issued daily.
The act was brought in as a response to public concerns over littering and waste left behind by freedom campers.
Community services general manager for the council Paul Wilson told NZ Newswire recent monitoring had found three freedom campers in some areas which had previously attracted up to 30.
"It has been a significant improvement on previous years but we are still having a lot of folk freedom camping," he said.
"People are now worried they might get caught. You can get a room in quite a nice hotel in Queenstown for $200."
Mr Wilson said there were plenty of places for freedom campers to legally park up for the night but these were outside of towns and campers required toilet facilities in their vehicle.
Councils and the Department of Conservation can also issue a $10,000 fine for serious breaches such as dumping waste.
A Department of Conservation spokesman said freedom camping in rural areas was a "non issue" in Queenstown.
The act defines freedom camping as camping within 200 metres of a road, road end or the low-water line of the sea.
NZN