Camping The Kiwi Way, Spring 2023

The full list of articles and stories

By and for campers

Grandad’s Grandad’s caravan

A caravan travels through five generations.

Our two granddaughters will grow up going camping with Granddad’s Granddad’s caravan.

The Homestead, St Bathans

I’ve been enjoying a few days away at one of my favourite spots, The Homestead Campsite near Saint Bathans.

The Homestead Campsite

Editorial

Uncertain times, but enjoy our country to the max.

make the most of our camping opportunities, whatever they are

Building a connected NZ camping and tourism industry

To ensure a sustainable recreational camping industry related interest groups need to be more engaged and appreciative of the issues each group faces.

There is underlying energy and enthusiasm

At the beach

10 Tips for safe caravan towing

Here are 10 tips for safe towing: caravans and their tow vehicles have much the same accident rates as other forms of motor transport, their main type of accident, jack-knifing, however, is different.

Their main type of accident is jack-knifing

The only ones at Lake Pukaki

I can’t believe we are the only ones at Lake Pukaki tonight. So incredibly grateful to have captured these skies.

So incredibly gratefu

Lake Monowai campsite

Our small family of 3 set up camp in a quiet and secluded paradise in the heart of Fiordland National Park

our most favourite freedom camping site yet

Why not stop and stay a while?

Introducing Stop and Stay, where to stop when travelling and camping in NZ — use it, share it, add to it.

a growing, nationwide, Stop and Stay listing for campers and travellers

Easy-to-make flat breads — Recipes for camping

These recipes come from the fabulous book New Zealand Backcountry Cooking by Paul and Rebecca Garland.

On the BBQ or in a frying pan

Cooking with fire

NZ Fun Adventures was pleased to see so many outdoor enthusiasts join with us for this, now annual, event in our events calendar.

So many outdoor enthusiasts Cooking with Fire

Pros and Cons of full time family travel

We get heaps of people message us and ask about the pros and cons of travelling full time so we thought we’d put pen to paper and share the highs and lows of full time travel with kids

We don’t see this adventure ending for many more years

More cold season tips

Sharing our best hacks which made life so much easier on a recent Matariki vanning trip.

Made life so much easier

A small, beautiful cassette toilet

There is a cassette toilet in that beautifully crafted cabinet.

Winter adventures

Winter doesn’t mean the end of camping adventures! Instagram

Freedom camping & self-containment status, spring 2023

The short version

Things have changed

Freedom camping: who does what

The structure of the self containment system.

Update: Self-containment and freedom camping changes

The Government’s recent changes to Freedom Camping and self-containment certification are now being implemented. These changes mean that over the next 18 to 24 months new regulations may impact your freedom camping.

Testing officers and councils have a lot to work through over the next few months to manage and apply the multiple systems.

Freedom camping under the new law

There are new penalties and some exemptions. Are you homeless, or making a lifestyle choice? Who gets fined and how they are notified. The law is vague. Councils and enforcement officers have to make it work.

Issues in making this real

Cooking on the road: planning food for…off the road

A 4-day camp adventure at Lake Tarawera Hot Water Beach, a long way from roads and power: how to manage the food?

I decided to pre-prepare the meals then flat pack freeze them

Thinking about your overnight park

Do you park your camper facing outwards? (Quick evac if needed.) Or just how you feel?

Seasoned campers do all these things naturally...

The Desert Road

The Desert Road On our first road trip with our new caravan. We made it successfully from Wellington to Whangarei.

New caravan

Freedom inside the fence

We were looking for a freedom park for the night, but following the recommendation of friends we came here, through the big gates, to this pest-free reserve and we discovered it was so much more than a parking spot.

It’s own electric tripwire surveillance system

Small town: Waiau

A small, North Canterbury, gem of a town, with friendly, welcoming locals, walks, exhibits, cycle rides, shops and free overnighting. Perfect for a couple of nights. Or more.

A gem of a town

Small town New Zealand: Find the words Puzzle

From North and South Islands see how many you recognise.

Have you been there?

A small paint kit, a few good brushes…

I have found that it is the obscure, forgotten little places that hold the most interest and subject material for paintings and rewarding experiences.

The obscure, forgotten little places

This is the story of three types of self-contained vehicles…

Baby Bear, Mama Bear and Papa Bear campers

Three bears and no porridge

The Aeropress: quality coffee with an easy clean up

No more sloppy grinds in the bottom of the waste bucket. No more looking for bushes to throw them under.

Your perfect cuppa, and compact in the cupboard

A Classic

Geraldine Classic Caravan Club

Classic

Mobile cell towers

Ever wondered where the nearest cell tower is?

Two uses

The saying goes that everything you take in your motorhome should have 2 uses.

Around my own back yard

I’ve always dreamed of travelling around my own back yard in a van and I finally did!

My solo adventure began on my 20th birthday

The smallest church

We visited New Zealand’s smallest church.

Yaktrax

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference to quality of life.

One of the better $40 I’ve spent.

Why Caravans roll over… and how to prevent it

An explanation in detail of every aspect of tow vehicle and caravan stability.

A simple way to assess the likely stability of your own rig

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