CAMPING THE KIWI WAY

While we travel in a country beset by discontent, we can lift our eyes to the hills, and see the enduring beauty and majesty of the country we live in. The long view.

Someone asked why the free places don’t look as wonderful as the photos she had seen, and the answer is we choose where to look, where to snap, and what to share. 

We aren’t blind to the rough, but we focus elsewhere. We might be parked in a line-up of other campers, but we can still look to the hills, the lake, the sea, the clouds or the magnificent night sky (p11, p15). 

Our new freedom camping laws are a dog’s breakfast; plenty of scope for discontent. But unless (or until) there is an opportunity to take positive action, we can feast our eyes on those hills and skies and share the pleasures of camping far and wide. ◊

Tiaki mai, tiaki atu, Miriam Richardson, Editor

The Lindis Crossing freedom camping spot, Central Otago is a very nondescript bit of land — rabbit holes, weeds, scrubby plants struggling to survive. 

But behind are those magnificent hills. The fabulous dusk sky.

Images: ©2024 Miriam Richardson