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I’ve met a nice group of friends, who mix happily and include everyone
Teeming at Terako Downs
Julie Adam — the Kite Lady
Not bothering much about the forecast warning for rain over Labour Weekend, I loaded up the camper, with clothes, food and my two dogs, and off we went to Terako Downs. The roaring rivers on the drive up through the Amuri region suggested that there had been quite a bit of rain in the mountains, but the sun was shining and it was going to be a long weekend with gorgeous views and good people.
Terako Downs is situated in North Canterbury on the Inland Road between Waiau and Kaikōura. This is one of my favourite drives. There are no villages or shops en route, just mixed-use farmland, braided rivers and mountains. From Waiau, the road is a little hilly and windy with some tight corners, but well signposted — as long as you know 25kph means go really slow! After Mt Lyford, the scenery opens up, with views across big open river valleys, before arriving at the coast just south of Kaikōura, where the sea goes out to the horizon. Terako Downs is only 18km from Waiau, just south of the Mt Lyford Village. If you’re coming from Kaikōura, the trip is 64km, which takes about an hour.
I hadn’t been to the Terako Downs site before, and was really looking forward to it. It is clearly signposted on the road, with a gate leading into a rambling grassy site (no hard stands, but good firm ground, even after all the rain), with trees, quirky fences and bridges over a drain to navigate. It’s not all level, but there’s plenty of level ground. There’s bush and birdsong around, as well as chickens and, to my dogs’ delight, feral rabbits! Below the campsite is a river with a swimming hole, which would be fabulous in summer — but we weren’t ready for that this Labour Weekend.
Vans, motorhomes and people of all shapes and sizes arrived over the Friday, and, after setting up camp, we all gathered under the shade of a large gazebo and outdoor covered area by an old corrugated iron barn, which was the campsite ‘clubrooms’.
Exploring inside this building was a delight, with a kitchen area (microwave and electric kettle), plenty of armchairs, table and chairs, and a big log burner keeping the space very toasty. There was a door leading through to another bigger space. The building, inside and out, was filled with an eclectic collection of memorabilia, creating a fun museum — clearly reflective of our wonderful hosts’ (Fritz and Debbie) personalities and lives.
As the sun went down, the fairy lights in the trees and on fences came on, creating a fun and colourful outlook in the darkness — although most of us were gathered around the fire inside, where the chatter and stories went on until bedtime.
Saturday brought rain, so most of us gathered around the fire again or laid low in our own spaces doing the things we like to do. A few brave souls with dogs attached the leads, and went off along the road, or down through the paddocks to explore. Some campers even headed off to Kaikōura for the day to check out the shops and restaurants. Back at my camper after our morning walk, the dogs dried out on the bed and watched the other campers through the windows (Dog TV!), while I spent time with an audiobook and knitting.
On Saturday night, there was music. People brought guitars, ukuleles, tambourines, shakers and song sheets. A stage and sound system was set up and the extroverts performed — some even trying out a bit of line dancing. We all joined in and the rain on the roof kept up the rhythm.
Sunday morning, and the sun came out glorious and warm — and to show a new river had appeared, where the day before there had been a dry drainage ditch running through the campsite. This provided a bit of entertainment as our host took off her trousers to get in and clear grass clippings blocking a pipe under one of the wee bridges to let the water clear. Out of the water, at least, the temperature wasn’t freezing!
But the rain came back in the afternoon, and we retreated again to the fire. A screen and projector were set up where the music had been, and we were able to pick from a good variety of DVD movies. A great excuse to snuggle into a comfy chair with a blanket and sit back, knit and relax.
The following morning brought sunshine again, and after a session under the gazebo to talk about our weekend and make our farewells, we all packed up at a leisurely pace and headed on to our next adventures, or to home.
The All Points camping weekends I’ve attended so far have all been really friendly and laid back. I feel I’ve met a nice group of friends, who mix happily and include everyone. There’s always snacks and drinks shared and no time pressure. Linda seems to manage to include an extra treat, whether it’s a cream tea, or a pot luck meal, and ensures everyone is made welcome. I’m looking forward to the next one — and should be dried out by then! ◊
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10 summer 2024
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