The Department of Conservation - or just DOC - is a government agency that is taking care of and conserving New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage. They run & manage more than 200 campsites throughout New Zealand and these are often located in amazing & remote locations.
For overseas travellers, you can compare DOC with these similar institutions in your country.
🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇨🇭 Ministerium für Naturschutz
🇳🇱 🇧🇪 Staatsbosbeheer
🇫🇷 🇨🇭 🇧🇪 Département de la conservation
DOC Campsite Pass
The Department of Conservation (DOC) also runs the DOC Campsite Pass which is like a subscription / prepayment of heaps of DOC campsites throughout New Zealand. With this camping pass or DOC membership you pay once and stay at a DOC campsite for a year.
Remember, you can only use the pass for up to 7 nights in a 30-day period at one campsite. The pass is valid for 365 nights from the start date, so you don't have to purchase a certain number of nights but you must book campsites online.
Important: The pass is per person, not per vehicle. Everyone in your group who wants to use the pass needs their own.