Law & Regulations

New Zealand's first caravan: luxury without a toilet

27.04.2026 20:46 1 min 2 sources

Otago Daily Times Online News ENG + 1 more

New Zealand's first caravan: luxury without a toilet — © Otago Daily Times Online News

In 1926, New Zealand's first caravan was built on a Morris truck chassis. Owner Mrs. Eglington equipped it with a kitchen, bedroom and bathtub, but no toilet. A century later, sanitation issues in freedom camping remain a problem.

In 1926, New Zealand's first caravan was built on a Morris truck chassis. Owner Mrs. Eglington invested £300 in the chassis and engine, £140 in the bodywork, and £20 in furnishings. The caravan, measuring 13 feet long, 6 feet 9 inches wide, and 9 feet high, included a kitchen, a bedroom with three beds, and a full-sized bathtub. However, as the press notes, there was no toilet. The family planned to visit all scenic spots in the country, and before leaving Dunedin, the caravan was opened to the public for a small fee benefiting Caritas Hospital.

Nearly a century later, the lack of sanitary facilities in freedom camping areas remains acute. During the summer season, 122 complaints were registered at the Beacon Point Rd freedom camping area in Wanaka, including cases of defecation in nearby bushes. 1,620 litres of rubbish were recorded, along with daily complaints about human feces. The local council cannot take action outside the designated site due to a 2024 High Court decision limiting jurisdiction. Authorities are considering legislative changes and a pilot project with a barrier and paid amenities at the Luggate Red Bridge site.

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