CAMPING THE KIWI WAY

Articles related to government activity, and camping in action.

Fire circle on a still Autumn night. Magical. 
©2024 Bette Cosgrove

We enjoyed Autumn
The dangers of carbon monoxide
Composting and coddiwompling
RV businesses and services

Interesting way to launch boats. ©2023 Dave Adamson

Like many hobbies and interests you can keep it simple or get into it seriously.

Now it is winter most fire bans are off, though the lure of outdoor fire is not as strong.

The beauty of belonging to a camping group is we get to camp at amazing private venues.

Disposing of empty small LPG canisters, calculating the rear axle load for rear bicycle racks, iOverlander.

What is in store for us this winter.

A beautiful place for Autumn colours and snow on the mountains, yet surprisingly mild, at least this year.

What started out as a pay-for-what-you-need set of camper facilities has evolved.

Autumn snow behind Lake Wardel, a free camping spot near Twizel, McKenzie Country. ©2022 M Richardson

Understanding how to visualise the contour lines represent may help you to determine the terrain ahead.

Roads, weather, fire, electricity, LPG, CO, when walking

Recent news from the Department of Conservation

Places that provide poor-weather activities onsite or nearby.

For a leisurely trip from Alexandra to Cromwell, enjoy these freedom camping spots along the way.

Comfort Zone is one of those properties you will just want to keep coming back to.

Find a camping event you can participate in.

What’s on around the country.

There are 28 DOC sites in the area shown in the map. How many have you been to?

Need something done on your camper? Need self-containment? A national online register.

Wherever you are in the country, find people to help.

NZ’s inclusive, friendly, camping club.

We enjoyed Autumn
The dangers of carbon monoxide
Composting and coddiwompling
RV businesses and services

A clickable list of all the articles

If you do not want to freedom camp you do not need the new green warrant. The existing blue standard and blue warrant is still acceptable for all other places that require certified self-containment (so far).

Certified Blue before 7/7/23, and not expired. Fixed or portable toilet.
Certified Blue before 7/7/24, and not expired. Fixed toilet only.
Green Warrant

I have been enjoying following along on Facebook the many campers who aren’t intimidated by the season and are planning to continue camping in Winter.

NZ’s independent national network for self-containment certification.
With a national network of more than 170 self-containment testing officers

Three years ago we decided to trade the hustle and bustle of everyday life for the open road. ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan

Autumn stories from around New Zealand

On the cycle trail at Bannockburn. ©2023 Andrew Morton

Just met a 75 year old lady on an electric folding bike in the middle of nowhere. ©2024 Stephen Wood

Quite happy to have taken the tour and not my truck up Skippers Canyon. ©2024 Trisha Fisk

You may be surprised to learn when you are and aren’t actually freedom camping

The seven requirements

Well, how’s this for a welcome back into the Mackenzie Basin! — Longslip Station, Lindis Pass. ©2024 Shellie Evans. ckw.nz/shellie-fb

Martin got the winning photo of the birds last weekend. Fantail. ©2024 Martin Butler

There are multiple fixed toilet options to meet your space and budget.

Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Greg's Eye: ckw.nz/gregs-eye

A fabulous Clydesdale wagon ride one winter at Erewhon. ©2024 M Richardson

The new regulations require all black waste tanks to be vented, including those tanks that are part of a cassette-type toilet.

The top of Dansey’s Pass (935 metres) looking out toward Oamaru 50 kms in the distance. ©2024 Tony Kissel

Got run off the road last weekend. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson

Campers enjoying a local rugby game at Mt Somers. See p31. ©2024 Linda Butler

Today was an early start to ballooning in Canterbury. ©2024 Tony Knights. Ballooning Canterbury

Articles from this issue and earlier issues on self-containment and freedom camping: changes, what to do, what to be ware of.

Lots of beautiful vintage buses and trucks in the morning mist ©2024 Rv and Tiny House Living NZ

My stew is bubbling on the fire... ©2024 RV and Tiny House Living NZ

Time to start heading back south after weeks cycling. Bike packed for this afternoon’s bus trip. ©2024 Stephen Wood

A nice walk to the top of the Ahuriri Valley, I had the place to my self. ©2024 Tony Kissel

I’m about to swap out my portable toilet for a composting waterless toilet in my camper van.

Glendhu Bay camping ground ©2024 M Richardson

When you decide to move camp to a sunnier spot mid morning. ©2024 Beverley Stoneley

©2024 David Liddall

Take phone to a beautiful lake-edge perch... © 2024 M Richardson

Well some days it makes no difference at all how much solar you have on the roof. ©2024 Allan Henderson

The weather was getting colder and we were keen to have warm evening meals.

I have fond memories of camping in the Hakatere Conservation Park, near Ashburton in the South Island. ©2024 Fiona Thomson

The problem is that RV owners are not taking risks sufficiently seriously. Here’s the facts.

Cycle camping with a teardrop and a fly. ©2024 Andrew Morton

Ray’s Rest. It never disappoints. More p11©2024 Greg Lokes FB: Gregs Eye ckw.nz/gregs-eye

Packing the van for a weekend at the Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival 2024. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove

I was parked up alone at the Pupu Hydro Power Scheme carpark on a Winter morning. ©2024 M RIchardson

Travelling alone and walking alone has risks and being in places with no mobile coverage has its risks.

UK caravan floors sometimes get spongy or soft. I found the repair job relatively simple to carry out.

Using electricity safely while camping requires some basic knowledge. This article explains some of the science behind this.

Them: Please close the gate. ©2024 Dave Adamson

Six solo camping women gathered beside the camp fire one autumn evening at the Viking Odyssey Weekend in Norsewood.

"What an awesome bunch of happy campers. Fabulous weekend, weather was great, company great."

Winter tips never go out of date.

An elephant seal down in the harbour this afternoon. ©2024 Tony Kissel

Easy, effective and safe, relatively affordable and easy to self-install.

Sundown, Tucks Bay, Coramandel.

Recently when we were traveling south from Whangārei on State Highway 1, we spotted a sign for Waipu Caves. It was a spur of the moment decision to investigate further, as we turned onto a gravel side road.

It’s too big for a chair and it’s not moving in the water so I can only guess it’s another tent blown away, full of belongings.

Our family owns a 24ft (7.3 metre) trailer sailer. It is a bit like a floating caravan and we have had many camping holidays on the water.

Food supplies can be supplemented with fishing when your caravan floats.

To make caravan fridges work as claimed, and draw less energy, is cheap, simple and easy. Many can be transformed. This article shows how.

Sedgemere Track is only open for six weeks of the year...

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Tinned chickpeas are a useful thing to keep in your caravan cupboard. As well as being tasty they are a good source of protein. Here’s a couple of recipes you could use them in.

I just tried making pizza in the Omnia Oven. It looks and smells good, just have to wait for it to cool down and stop bubbling!

Clean your gear. Works underway to reopen Morere Hot Pools. More than 10,000 wild goats removed in a national competition. Nature as therapy is the focus of a new guide. DOC report shows short adventures trending for travellers. Ōparara Basin waharoa unveiled. A sea lion/pakake mum swam 60 kilometres inland. Checking a week-old Albatross chick, Tairoa Heads.

Coleman model 1 stove.

Delightful to chat with Alan and Joyce on a glorious summer’s day at Little Waipa reserve. Joyce was setting out the table and chairs in a sunny spot overlooking the Waikato River after a chillyish night with temperature inside the caravan at a brisk 11º.

Some caravanners are connecting a 230 volt power supply, via a lead, that is “coiled on a reel”, which is not completely “uncoiled” from the cable drum.This is not good practice. Here is why.

There are many ways to have a summer camping holiday, and everyone has their own reasons for choosing where they camp, how they camp and who they camp with.
Some folk choose to go where they can shed their clothes along with the stresses and worries of every day life.

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In January, 70 adults and 25 young people took part in an All Points camp at the Whanganui Intermediate School for the Whanganui Vintage Weekend.
They camped in a mix of caravans, tents, motor homes and small vans and many camped as family groups or with their friends.

Our All Points Camping NZ park and camp was at the Waihopai Community Centre and Reserve, 16km away from Marlborough’s iconic wine and food event.

Between them they have over 240 years of camping experience.

Got to sing with these amazing girls — Karen Clarke & Tina Turley. AWESOME.

North Island. South Island. Free, low cost and paid.

Just a 15min drive from the Whangarei you’ll find Land of the Lotus – Water Gardens and Banana Park. A must stopover for all garden lovers.

The perfect private park out of Bannockburn. On the top of a ridge looking down to Cromwell one side, Carricktown the other, it’s a windy spot with dramatic views, dramatic weather and the history of the valley is dramatic as well.

Camping events in Autumn.

A suite of Facebook groups from NZ Fun Adventures to encourage you outdoors.

These events either offer overnight parking or the local area provides options.