CAMPING THE KIWI WAY

A good day’s camping starts using a thermette to boil the water for coffee and for its small fire to then make toast.

A thermette is not only a great way to boil water, but it is also a really easy way to start a fire. A thermette is essentially a kettle with a chimney up the middle of it. The advantage is its internal cone chimney shape makes a natural heat updraft to promote the starting of a fire and also it quickly heats the water in the thermette. 

To use your thermette

• Stuff some scrunched up newspaper in the separate base compartment that comes with the thermette. Orientate the side vent of the base to catch the breeze. 

• Place the water-filled thermette on top of the base. Drop twigs down the thermette’s chimney and light it.

• Add more twigs as they burn. This is the easiest way to light a fire in the morning.

• Once the thermette water boils (indicated by boiling water bubbling out the filler hole) lift the thermette off its base and away from the fire.

• Lift the base away with a stick leaving a small fire to use to make toast.

• Add some more wood to your fire as required and if you have a rack (maybe an old oven rack) balance it over the fire on three or four rocks and you are ready to place your bread on the rack to make toast while you enjoy your first coffee of the day.