CAMPING THE KIWI WAY

We bring you travel stories, tips, wonderful places to visit, insight into political changes, some solid information, a puzzle, light reading, serious reading and some fun browsing.

NZ is a camping culture This makes us who we are, connects us to our environment like nothing else

Kaitoke saw over 700 campers on Waitangi weekend.

On shanks’s pony, in kayaks, boats, bikes, cars, vans, caravans, pop tops, tear drops, motorhomes, we have spread out over the summer, loving our country.

Tautuku Hut is a lesser-known DOC hut in the Catlins. It is short and sweet, making it a great first overnight tramp for families. Myself and another mama picked this as our first overnight tramp with our babies.

Camping events on this Autumn

Festivals where you can stay, that are on this Autumn (and a bit beyond)

Hold on a minute, we are campers and have most of the items required to survive the first few days of an emergency without outside assistance.

We love our little caravan not just for holidays but for other emergency get-a-ways, should the situation call for it.

Vans can be SMALL but MIGHTY resources. Orange Sky are providing shower and laundry services to many in flood-affected areas right now.

Ten hours into a power cut with this cyclone .... THEN I remembered I've got full batteries in Mavis! Cheine Matheson

A storm over the DOC Homestead campsite near St Bathans, Central Otago. ©2023 Tony Kissel

I rode on a trailer being towed along a long sandy beach. I squashed a few sandflies and went to bed blissfully happy each night.

I was invited to spend the New Year with friends at their crib at Papatowai.

Mavis bringing in the New Year at Pahoia Beach, Bay of Plenty. © 2023 Cheine Matheson

Who and how many are freedom camping?

Their title: “Freedom campers pinged”. A prime example of poor and emotive reporting.

Our trip to the Bridge to Nowhere, on the Whanganui river, will always be a special memory that I share with my 84 year old mother.

I see a lot of really big setups on Facebook, so I thought I'd share my 'small' kayak camping setup for the weekend.

Yep, simple is good. Tony Dennerley

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

Eight days so far; 1300km in the car plus 216km on the mountain bike, and 45 days to go.

For me it's not the destination

Where to stay if you are heading to or from Bulls. For CAMP FEST, or just to visit Bulls.

Rangatikei spreads from the western white sand beaches through river escarpment up to the Central Plateau.
It is fed by two major State Highways, SH1 and SH3, three major river systems and part of Te Araroa — New Zealand’s Trail.

Want NZ? See Westport

With an electrically powered ventilator, SOG removes odours coming from the toilet eliminating the need for toilet chemicals.

It was a great two weeks at Waihora Domain in Motukarara. Linda Butler.

Here's Mavis hosting the family at Pahoia Beach Park. A must visit place for animal lovers. Bay of Plenty. Cheine Matheson

The new Driftaway camping ground at Frankton in Queenstown. I have stayed in a car, and in a tent. Dogs are welcome. There are bbqs, a playground, breathtaking views, swimming in the lake and a hot tub for adults.

South Arm, Lake Manapouri, in March. DOC. Tony Kissel

Many of the small historic towns around New Zealand are becoming ghost towns and will be lost to us forever unless, we, the traveling community, do something about it.

From a small van to a large bus, there are thousands of commercially or home-built vehicles on our roads, providing travellers with all the necessary comforts of living, while they are also self contained.

I love the freedom that carrying an ultralight tent provides, it empowers you to camp wherever your legs can take you.

I am currently helping my daughter build her own camper as she wants to take a gap year and see our beautiful country. Crispian

My ride from Rangiora around the South Island had been interrupted near Hokitika, but I was determined to restart it.
I chose to do that at Sheffield and head west from there over Porters and Arthurs Pass.

If it was that easy, everyone would do it.

Back at Motukarara under the lovely trees on a hot day.

MarshmaMallows by the fire.

I woke to a misty morning at Mavora Lake camp. I repacked the Toyota Estima and drove the dusty gravel road to Walter Peak Station.

Recipes for Rocks and Gravel, Paneer and Vege Curry and Tuna Pasta. Camp cooking when the fresh food is running out.

Marty toasting marshmallows in the rain.

Quinney’s Bush camp: ‘5th wheeler best in camp’.

Kekerengu

Bylaws differ between regions of Aotearoa New Zealand, and do not exist in almost half of all council districts.
Bylaws are created by local authorities — regional and district councils — to manage public land and facilities.

We grab any chance to pack the Toyota Estima and the dog and just go.

Fill in the blanks: South Island Lakes.

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.

I found the APC decal and first thing I did was to place it on the back of my camper van. Another thing I can tick off.

A weekend exploring the Waihopai Reserve in Marlborough.