CAMPING THE KIWI WAY

For the first time we had a camp up event 7–9th March for those wanting to try the Havelock Mussel Festival. We stayed at the Waves Camp (above) just out of Havelock.

Local members met up with the Canterbury ‘caravan train’ heading to the Nelson Tāhunanui camp on the Friday and were comfortably set up by mid afternoon under the large Redwood trees on site enjoying fine weather.

The forecast for the next day was for possible showers later in the day but we will come back to that.

The Waves camp is a rustic but ample country camp with a number of permanents, limited power points, and oodles of unpowered space available and there were many spots filled with all types of campers, caravans, buses and tents.

Shiela and her helper Nathan offered a shuttle service to the festival and the feedback of those who attended enjoyed the day, however the event enjoyed a very large attendance and there were long wait times with some food in short supply early in the day, but it was tasty and enjoyable.

And then the rain came. Heavy at the start from about 2.30pm then easing off till about 5.30pm.

The All Points members made a call and after checking some local venues went on to Canvastown and enjoyed country pub fare and a game of pool. Behind this establishment is a freedom camp spot for self contained vehicles, unpowered, dog friendly on a lead, that we are considering for the event next year, so put it on your calendar and watch the All Points Camping events tab for March next year.

We all packed up with a fine morning dawning and parted ways, the ‘caravan train’ heading off to Ōkiwi Bay and the others to the comforts of home until the next adventure.