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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.

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.