CAMPING THE KIWI WAY

Places to stay.

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Freedom campers, both international and domestic visitors, face frustration with the proposed bylaw restrictions in the Queenstown Lakes District. Many campers simply refuse to go there.

Find out which warrants are valid for freedom camping, Summer 2025/26.

Tucked away on a side road off SH5 (near Reporoa), is this free hot pool.

Your stories are our stories. Take the photos, and tell us all the small stories as well as the big ones. Changing to 3 issues a year.

A beautiful and remote part of the country. Our flying trip, which covered many kilometres, left a real appetite to head back into this fascinating area.

Love spring road trips. I was going to walk to the end of the valley… On a wild beach. Four of us went camping. Happy Friday. Who’s camping? Home for the next week. Final winter camp at Lake Tekapo

Considering the forecast I got off lightly with no rain, (Mon–Thu) but there were 30km/h+ winds off Lake Wanaka so I did not put up my 270° Batwing awning this trip.
35,000 steps and some cold sunny days. Love spring road trips. Ice on the windscreen overnight. ©2025 Andrew Morton

I was going to walk to the end of the valley but I forgot to pack my tramping boots, the avalanche warning signs kind of put me off as well. Temple Valley. ©2025 Tony Kissel

Winter nights — wouldn’t you love to be cosy and snuggled up on a wild beach listening to the wind whip the waves?

We are the only ones here, apart from the sandflies… Still plenty of skin left for them to feast on tomorrow. Wooded Gully, North Canterbury. ©2025 Linda Butler

Penultimate winter camping weekend. Thanks Carterton District Council for a multi-use, free site. Expecting 1°C tonight.

Lake Ohau. A tad chilly in the mornings.

Happy until ‘severe weather’ hit at 5am this morning. Snow on mountains, not on my tyres, which is how I like it. -5.7°C.
Snow on Monday night, stunning days to walk 40,000 steps, up to the Mt John Observatory & back a couple times. Spring camping here I come.

On a recent club camp I did a wee survey of the parked vehicles, caravans, motorhomes, buses and others to observe the water supply and disposal systems.

Our friend Jean Roger said she used old plastic milk bottles to make a simple solar shower. We have just tried this on our sailing holiday and it works brilliantly.

I am having one winter camp each winter month. This was my third, in August.

In March my bus went into the Rigs’n Things hospital for some major surgery. The operation was done by Dr Chris with the utmost care and to a very high standard.

I wanted to share some photos from my travels around the South Island last winter. I do love the winter down here, with lack of crowds and the snow on the mountains being two of my favourite things.

One of the hardest things to do is to know when enough is enough, and when it’s time to pack up and leave. The very best time is just before the weather event hits.

It had been quite some time since I had been to Canterbury and the thought of meeting up with fellow club members, that I hadn’t seen for many months, appealed.

There is something happening for the entire family over this family-orientated weekend.

Here are my whimsical maintenance tips from my bus Keltic Star.

Nine severe weather forecasts in Canterbury.

Lightning frightens, but lightning risk in RVs is very low. That risk however is far from random. Here’s how to reduce it yet further.

DOC charges for parking at four South Island sites. Do your bit for nature. Remediated mine becomes a Reefton attraction.

Spring and summer bring a great array of fresh vegetables. Ingredients like fresh ginger, lime, sesame oil, red curry paste and lemon bring fresh flavours to curries, salads and side dishes.

Lucy’s gluten-free scones, crustless quiche, zero carb chicken bread loaf , home made butter: Kiwi gold.

Close to Waihi, Waihi Beach and Katikati this is a prime campground.