Toilet and shower tent. ©2024 Gary Hitchcock

When you are out camping you notice beautiful and obscure things. ©2024 Gary Hitchcock

Another pilgrimage to the Waitaki lakes this morning, marking the start to the camping season.

The outdoor art and sculpture exhibition is accompanied by food, music, and lots of family fun. The most recent festival was in 2021.

We spent Monday night at The Maritime Museum at Paeroa and freedom camped at Ray’s Rest the next night before heading in to Thames for Steampunk.

The proposals, should they go ahead, will not achieve the outcome Nash intends and they are not workable. There is no identified benefit to any sector of the NZ leisure camping industry or to local authorities.

Is that e-bike right for you? Many New Zealanders are now moving to e-bikes and they definitely have health advantages while being cheap to operate and maintain.

Are you a mainstream traveler, always following the main highways or are you a diversionist, taking that chance to detour from the main route to explore and maybe encounter something new or different? On our recent trip north we decided to veer from the main flow of traffic and take a left turn.

Back in the days — Circa 2008. That caravan was damned heavy behind the bike.

Heading up to the top of the North Island to see Cape Reinga is on most people’s bucket lists. For those who enjoy a bit of camping, finding that perfect spot to stay is an added bonus. Finding two such places is something special. Tapotupotu DOC campsite. Matauri Bay Holiday Park

Smaller rural communities should be welcoming these thousands of travellers with open arms.

NZ Lifestyle Camping supports a national network of more than 160 self-containment testing officers throughout NZ and is committed to supporting the NZ leisure camping industry.

Societal harm caused by the new self contained motor vehicles legislation. With change there always consequences. While some changes are positive and beneficial sometimes consequences cause a degree of harm.

Several hundred campers, locals and visitors met at Bulls Domain in March for the first CampFest. An inclusive camping event for all types of camper with live music and market stalls.

The annual festival is a mix of small to very large artworks, sculptures with mainly a rural theme, put together using all manner of bits and pieces from shearing blades to bike tyres.

What you need to know if you are currently self-contained, currently certified self-contained, planning to be self-contained, not self-contained, or wanting to freedom camp, now the law has changed.

The new self-containment regulations that the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board are trying to implement have more bumps, twists and turns than the North Island Saddle Road.

On the 31 December 2023 our inclusive, national camping club will be 8 years old. The All Points Camping Club was officially launched 31 December 2015. It’s been a journey and a half.

With a national network of more than 170 self-containment testing officers, NZ Lifestyle Camping supports the NZ leisure camping industry

I go camping for my mental health. Bev and I have done this for over 25 years. I’m not happy with the NZ Government interfering with my choice of leisure time by restricting how I go camping.

7 days a week, NZ Lifestyle Camping works to support NZ campers and the commercial vehicle industry that require certified self-containment

Choose from an independent national network of more than 150 self-containment testing officers.

No matter which direction you are coming to Camp Fest from, there are many worthwhile, interesting places to explore and enjoy. North, South, East or West, or just a short distance from the Camp Fest venue there are some great opportunities to take a break and check out something a bit different.

NZ Lifestyle Camping’s network of more than 150 testing officers offer self-containment testing for all types of campers

An independent national network for self-containment certification

After close to 30 years of camping, firstly with a NZ-made 1970’s classic caravan followed by a luxurious UK Bailey Senator, it was a hard choice to get a caravan that would meet our needs.

An independent national network for self-containment certification.

We would give the Taupō District council a 7 out of 10 for their updated Freedom Camping Bylaw.

An independent national network for self-containment certification.

As this magazine goes to print we are waiting to hear the government select committee’s recommendation on the bill introduced by Stuart Nash MP.