CAMPING THE KIWI WAY

I am a keen night photographer, and when I go away to dark sky areas, my motorhome is my transport as well as my accommodation. I often stay at permitted camping locations (often NZMCA eg Tekapo or DOC) rather than campgrounds but usually go to better sites to take photos for better foregrounds, compositions, etc, and these are often not right next to the parking area, eg Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti. 

I’m just waiting to get a freedom camping fine as some official will decide that I’m camping when I’m actually parked using my RV as my means of transport, particularly in busy places like Queenstown, Tekapo or Wanaka. I’ve considered making a big sign to put on my windscreen/side door saying “Taking nightscape photographs, NOT camping”! Queenstown was always apparently bad for ticketing empty motorhomes and campers parked on the street when they were in fact empty and the occupants were staying in a hostel or with family/friends and they had to jump through all sorts of hoops to prove they were not camping, difficult when staying with family and there are no bookings or payments to use as evidence! I guess all you can do is stay at places where you pay for the night and present any receipts as evidence that you were not in fact, camping, and take photos of your vehicle at the campsite when you get there as future evidence of your overnight stay!

Preparing to freedom camp

This offence of “preparing to camp” is going to open a big can of worms. What’s the difference between cooking dinner or an evening walk at a nice spot, and “preparing to camp”? If I’m staying somewhere with a reserved site and its not so nice I will often go elsewhere and return to the campsite later in the evening. Those of us who use a RV as our transport when away from home will be unfairly discriminated against here. I’m sure if I was in the car doing my night photography it would not be an issue.