Articles from summer campers around New Zealand. Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 CONTENTS PDF BUY INDEX Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 CONTENTS PDF BUY INDEX CELEBRATING SUMMER Celebrating Summer Six pages of stories from around the country and the season. Read More We made it to Curio Bay Well we made it to Curio Bay on Monday afternoon, after an 8¾ hour drive. Read More The dogs had visitors The dogs had visitors at Knottingly Park and Arboretum camp. Read More Foray into paradise I can’t really take in how gorgeous the McKenzie Basin is. Read More I could live like this forever I could live like this forever. Read More Three adults, three kids & five dogs We settled on Lake Opuha for our latest trip. Read More Not FREE but truly freedom at its best SH 35 is a magical journey. Put it on your list. Read More Love Woodville Ferry Reserve Love Woodville Ferry Reserve, hardly anyone here. Read More Hammock time Hammock time, Tokomaru Bay Read More So thankful After 21 days #vanlife freedom camping… Read More In two minds In two minds about posting this as it was so wonderful to have had it all to ourselves (the way I like it this side of Xmas!) for 3 nights! But its such a cool place I can’t not share and recommend it. Read More Enjoying the shade Great place to enjoy the shade. Orton Bradley Park. Read More Peaceful Fortrose A beautiful peaceful place, Fortrose, in The Catlins. Read More Escape to Papatowai After the chaos of Christmas our frazzled nerves needed restoring. We threw a few supplies into the campervan and headed for the healing calm of Papatowai. Read More Eclectic bunch What an eclectic bunch of lovely people camping all sorts of ways. Read More A lovely long weekend away at Lake Ōhau I’ve just had a lovely long weekend away at Lake Ōhau in my little Wanda. Read More We had a great stay at Tokomaru Bay Our camp was right on the beach looking directly out to where the sun would rise. Read More Family camping… part of my DNA Family camping… part of my DNA for 60 years. Read More Two nights (again) at our local reserve Two nights (again) at our local reserve… Waitohi Bush Reserve … great place to just unwind and listen to the bellbirds. Read More Home for the next few weeks Ruataniwha Conservation Park. Read More A small, perfectly formed bikepacking trip Haven’t done a huge amount of biking this summer, but sometimes all it takes is a small, perfectly formed bikepacking trip to rekindle the love. Read More Heading to The Burt Well after a week of covid and still not a lot of energy I decided bugger it and I’m heading to The Burt Read More Haere ra Haere rā everyone. Shame we can’t stay longer. Read More Truly a Summer to remember Currently on night 23 of this 86-night trip. In Murchison next week I celebrate my 250th night since getting my teardrop. Read More Christmas at Lake Aniwhenua Christmas at Lake Aniwhenua, with 6 others, all old friends from around the North Island Read More

Issue 12, Winter 2025 Bringing you places to go, things to do, challenges to face. And the many, varied and inspiring stories from New Zealanders enjoying the outdoors. Buy a copy, subscribe for a year, read online or read the pdf online. Read Subscribe PDF ISSN 2815-827X (Online) ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) Send your articles to: editor@campingthekiwiway.org Issues PROMOTE CAMPING Promote your club, group or event Camping the Kiwi Way is an initiative to share and promote the enjoyment and positive benefits of camping in Aotearoa New Zealand. NZ is truly the land of milk and honey with huge tracts of bush, and rolling valleys perfect for exploring and camping. NZ campers have a passion for enjoying the outdoors, for relishing the breathtaking scenery and opportunity to travel and explore other regions. Traveling and camping responsibly, spending on food and activities while being sociable and friendly are the trademarks of the NZ recreational camper. Let's celebrate! Be Proud to be a Camper #proudtobeacamper #campingthekiwiway Support camping Bumper stickers Take photos on your travels and write some captions. Share: #campingthekiwiway Share you stories and photos in this magazine. Make a submission on government changes Clean up the rubbish: take a photo > add a hash tag > post it Facebook/ Instagram #kiwicampers #cleanedupbyfreedomcamper #sortingoutyourshit #leavenotrace Tell your MP how the changes will affect you Buy bumper stickers Send your photos, captions, stories to: editor@campingthekiwiway.org NZ's national, inclusive camping club All Points Camping Club of NZ is proud to be the principal sponsor of: Camping the Kiwi Way magazine Stop and Stay NZ Send your photos, captions, stories to: editor@campingthekiwiway.org Join All Points Camping

Articles from Autumn campers around New Zealand. Winter 2024 ISSUE 8 CONTENTS PDF BUY INDEX Winter 2024 ISSUE 8 CONTENTS PDF BUY INDEX AUTUMN GOLD AUTUMN GOLD Autumn stories from around New Zealand Read More On the cycle trail at Bannockburn On the cycle trail at Bannockburn. ©2023 Andrew Morton Read More Folding electric bike in the middle of nowhere Just met a 75 year old lady on an electric folding bike in the middle of nowhere. ©2024 Stephen Wood Read More Skippers Canyon Quite happy to have taken the tour and not my truck up Skippers Canyon. ©2024 Trisha Fisk Read More Longslip Station Well, how’s this for a welcome back into the Mackenzie Basin! — Longslip Station, Lindis Pass. ©2024 Shellie Evans. ckw.nz/shellie-fb Read More Fantail Martin got the winning photo of the birds last weekend. Fantail. ©2024 Martin Butler Read More Fire circle Fire circle on a still Autumn night. Magical. 
©2024 Bette Cosgrove Read More Clydesdales at Erewhon A fabulous Clydesdale wagon ride one winter at Erewhon. ©2024 M Richardson Read More Greg's Eye at Rays Rest Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Greg's Eye: ckw.nz/gregs-eye Read More Got run off the road Got run off the road last weekend. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson Read More Ballooning in Canterbury Today was an early start to ballooning in Canterbury. ©2024 Tony Knights. Ballooning Canterbury Read More The top of Dansey’s Pass The top of Dansey’s Pass (935 metres) looking out toward Oamaru 50 kms in the distance. ©2024 Tony Kissel Read More Rugby at Mt Somers Campers enjoying a local rugby game at Mt Somers. See p31. ©2024 Linda Butler Read More Beautiful vintage buses and trucks Lots of beautiful vintage buses and trucks in the morning mist ©2024 Rv and Tiny House Living NZ Read More To the top of the Ahuriri Valley A nice walk to the top of the Ahuriri Valley, I had the place to my self. ©2024 Tony Kissel Read More A wrap Time to start heading back south after weeks cycling. Bike packed for this afternoon’s bus trip. ©2024 Stephen Wood Read More My stew is bubbling My stew is bubbling on the fire... ©2024 RV and Tiny House Living NZ Read More Hakataramea Pass ©2024 David Liddall Read More Only getting in 123 Watts Well some days it makes no difference at all how much solar you have on the roof. ©2024 Allan Henderson Read More Moving camp When you decide to move camp to a sunnier spot mid morning. ©2024 Beverley Stoneley Read More Glendhu Bay, Lake Wanaka Glendhu Bay camping ground ©2024 M Richardson Read More The phone is beautiful Take phone to a beautiful lake-edge perch... © 2024 M Richardson Read More Packing the van for Booktown Packing the van for a weekend at the Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival 2024. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Read More Lake Wardel Autumn snow behind Lake Wardel, a free camping spot near Twizel, McKenzie Country. ©2022 M Richardson Read More ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 8 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF CONTENTS Issue 12, Winter 2025 Editorial > Come Camping > Stop and Stay > Contribute > About > Cover image: Honeymoon: by the time they got to Lindis Pass they had snow to deal with. ©2025 Graeme Leslie Table of contents ISSUE 12 Read CHILLY CHILLY CHILLY OUT THERE Read South Island caravan adventure Read Wāhine on Water | Sea Kayakers (WoW SK) Read Love Taupō Read Now we have the power to go off-grid Read Just some more pics from Onearo Read Portable power stations Read Stuck! Read Mains electricity & your caravan, for dummies Read SIx days in the high country Read Campfest is coming to the South Island! Read The Camping Train Read The All Points Camping Club of NZ Read Bringing the caravan up to the new self-containment level Read Self-containment warrant cards Read Winter camp, Portobello, June Read Parking brakes and perils Read Rollercoaster Read Winter camp Invercargill, July Read Winter in the Tararuas for first time trampers Read Winter tramping food Read A honeymoon, in a caravan, in winter, in 1960 Read Weather, climate and camping: editorial Read DOC update Read Colac Bay Read Warming winter food Read Making the toast off-grid – use gas Read Frost Read Stopping, Staying, Skiing Read Things that go bump in the night Read Vulnerable roads… Read New Zealand Lifestyle Camping Read Bluff Farm Read Matariki weekend camp Read Come Camping Read Winter at Miranda Holiday Park Read HUH ! Cracked it! Councils & Government Read Self-containment warrant cards Read Love Taupō Read Vulnerable roads… Read Weather, climate and camping: editorial Read Bringing the caravan up to the new self-containment level Self-containment & Freedom Camping Read Self-containment warrant cards Read Love Taupō Read Weather, climate and camping: editorial Read Stuck! Read Colac Bay Read Now we have the power to go off-grid Read Things that go bump in the night Read Bringing the caravan up to the new self-containment level Read Portable power stations Read A honeymoon, in a caravan, in winter, in 1960 Read The Camping Train Read New Zealand Lifestyle Camping

12 Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption vulnerable_H_kelly-fox-TE AHU A TURANGA.webp GO TO Chilly chilly chilly out there good, weather-related news Vulnerable roads… Miriam Richardson Te Ahu a Turanga In good, weather-related news, the road replacing the Manawatu Gorge, Te Ahu a Turanga, has opened, making the arduous crossing over the Tararuas to and from the Wairarapa a thing of the past; again. It has been about 8 years since the road through the Manwatu Gorge closed, and it was a huge work to make a wholly new road along a different route. After all that time and all that effort, it seems surprising that it is a 15 minute journey from one end to the other (or did my friend exaggerate?). Thankfully the government has decided not to toll this road. The road has paths for walking and cycling with fabulous views. On the Wairarapa side there is the Woodville Ferry Reserve (free) in the Manawatu Gorge, with access to the river and to walking tracks, and the Woodville Campground ($) in Woodville itself, a town worth a leisurely visit. On the Palmerston North side of the hill there is the Ashhurst Domain Campground ($), set amongst trees near the river. The Ō taki Gorge Road After 5 years facing doom, closed to both walking and driving, the Ōtaki Gorge road has reopened. It is a narrow road, one lane in parts, and was closed by huge slips on Blue Bluff (middle). It leads to one of only two drive-in DOC campsites in the region. The road has opened only as far as the caretakers cottage, well short of the campground (as of July), returning access to a swing bridge entrance to the Tararua Forest Park, and a lovely picnic area. The DOC Ōtaki Forks Campsite ($) (above), is expected to reopen at Labour weekend. Its 150 campsites are unpowered and tents are allowed. Flush toilet. Boil tap water. Wheelchair accessible. Dogs on a leash. No fires. Walk, tramp, swim, kayak, canoe, fish, or just read you book and star gaze at night. 🏕️ Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 4

11 autumn 2025 Autumn 2025 ISSUE 11 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption Fishing in the twilight at the Otaki River mouth. ©2025 Miriam Richardson GO TO Here & there last summer Adjusting to the new rules Editorial: and so we go on Miriam Richardson The challenges of changing government policy and regulations are easing, with the extension to the freedom camping self-containment transition end date to 2026. We have 12 more months to meet the new requirements if we want to freedom camp (see p2). At the same time it less clear, on private property, whether the old ‘blue’ certification is as welcome as the new ‘green’ certification. Around the country the ‘social licence’ for freedom camping is under pressure. Local councils and regions are updating their bylaws in response to government policy changes. This requires consultation with their locals who are less and less keen to see freedom campers at their local scenic spots. Very few councils are now providing for tents or for those who are not self-contained. This is very sad for many families and younger NZers who can’t afford purpose-built vehicles. Councils seem inclined to create restricted areas for freedom camping which results in a ghetto effect which is less pleasant for campers and more unsightly and intrusive for locals. Setting a low vehicle limit at a site leads to predictable problems as those driving from 2, 3, 4 hours away have no idea how many are already occupying limited spots, and squeeze in later — where else can they go? Setting particular car parks, has its own problems as many camping vehicles are not car-sized and there is a fire hazard for closely crammed camping vehicles. Time limits: Stop for a meal in Kaikōura after 5pm will get you a freedom camping fine. Some councils say leave by 7am, 8am, 9am — sheesh! not all campers are young! Have your say when council’s consult, and so camping voices can be heard. If we don’t no-one else will. Tiaki mai, tiaki atu, Miriam Richardson, Editor Up Up 11 Autumn 2025 , p 4

12 Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption Self-contained- blue-H.webp GO TO Chilly chilly chilly out there If you want to freedom camp.... Self-containment warrant cards Which warrant cards are valid? Certified Blue before 6/23, any toilet OK to freedom camp on public land† until 7 June 2026 (or until your card expires, if earlier). Certified Blue before 6/24, fixed toilet OK to freedom camp on public land† until 7 June 2026 (or until your card expires, if earlier). Certified Blue portable toilet You may not freedom camp on public land. Certified Green (fixed toilet only) OK to freedom camp on public land†. All cards are valid on private or commercial properties, crown land that isn’t LINZ or council-controlled, club sites, organised events and anywhere payment is made, unless they choose otherwise. † What is ‘public land’? Land managed by district and local councils. Can include land otherwise controlled by NZTA, LINZ or DOC. Currently LINZ has 5 FC areas and the new law applies. The new law applies to DOC sites that require self-containment. The government has extended their transition period: some blue warrant cards will be acceptable until 7 June 2026. Check above to see if your warrant card holds good for freedom camping. ckw.nz/linz ckw.nz/doc-csc Get your vehicle self-contained Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 2

12 Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption love-taupo_H_sunday-market.webp GO TO Chilly chilly chilly out there 7 out of 10 Love Taupō Gary Stoneley We would give the Taupō District council a 7 out of 10 for their updated Freedom Camping Bylaw. Some things need more consideration but with options for both self-contained and non self-contained campers it’s a vast improvement. If it is not orange, then it is ok to feedom camp. Check their website for the rules. Being able to park up, do your shopping, enjoy a drink and meal at a central location, spending money in the town centre is a huge plus. There are still multiple commercial campgrounds for those wanting such facilities. It’s now a more affordable and inviting stopover for anyone wanting to do things like lake cruises and enjoy the cafés, restaurants and shops. 🏕️ Images: lovetaupo.com Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 2

8 Winter 2024 Winter 2024 ISSUE 8 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption editorial-MNR_0991_H.webp ©2024 M Richardson GO TO Autumn Gold keep warm, keep camping, keep enjoying Editorial Miriam Richardson 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. I have been perched at the campground in Glendhu Bay, plugged in to power while I work on this magazine, enjoying day after day of beautiful weather and stunning views, while the North Island has been cloudy, buffeted by wind, and fairly damp. I am not sure if this is a charmed spot or I have just been lucky. It has been a pretty grim time for people who want to freedom camp, having to work hard to find practical solutions within the flawed regulations. You will find some articles here on how to meet the toilet requirements for the new green warrant. There is a possibility there might be relief from the bizarre requirement to drill a hole in your toilet cassette and your vehicle. Holding off might save $ (and defer payment of the $120 government self-containment levy). There are more vehicle inspectors for the green warrants, though still not enough. You might be lucky enough to find one in your area. The government has announced an increase in the visitor levy on tourists. So far it has wasted all it collected this way on enforcement — if it created more facilities the need for enforcement would be less, but there is no impetus, either locally or nationally to improve or increase facilities for these, our most lucrative tourists. As we head in to winter, keep warm, keep camping, keep enjoying and caring for our lovely country. Tiaki mai. Miriam Richardson Image: Glendhu Bay, Wanaka, ©2024 M Richardson Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 4

12 Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption bring_H_cara-2264.webp GO TO Chilly chilly chilly out there A big challenge was the toilet. Bringing the caravan up to the new self-containment level Lance and Robyn Jones I have been working on our 17 foot caravan to bring it up to the new requirements for freedom camping. A big challenge was the toilet. We purchased a CHH toilet, all the accessories for it and the caravan compartment door for the cartridge removal. A local vehicle inspector with Lifestyle Camping (who happens to be a flatmate) was advising and when the problem of cutting the hole in the side of the caravan came up he had a look, the spot would have been the location of an upright support for the caravan and possibly supporting the window as well. We looked at options and came up with the idea of mounting the toilet on runners fixed to the floor. This allowed the toilet to be slid forward to access the cartridge without a hole in the body of the caravan. I obtained a pair of 500mm triple action runners from the local Bunnings store, we sat the toilet on a piece of plywood, marked and cut out a profile piece matching the toilet base and screwed the ply to the top of the runners, then fitted the toilet onto the ply and the runners in place on the floor, we had to locate the runners 50mm from the wall to give the required space to access/remove the cartridge with ease. I built a cabinet around the toilet and this folds back against the wall exposing the toilet when required and when closed, serves as either a table or a seat. We had to cut down the sofa to allow room for the toilet. The squab was also cut down and the cover resized; also the back board was altered. The setup works perfectly and the self-containment standard was achieved without compromising the side of the caravan. 🏕️ Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 21

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Editorial Miriam Richardson When I began assembling this issue I came up against a dilemma. If I focused on the many wonderful summer camping stories, the government might be able to use this magazine to say the slipshod new freedom camping self-containment laws and regulations were not spoiling things for New Zealand campers. Sadly, the changes are bringing restriction, distress, anxiety, and insoluble dilemmas for many of us ( p20 ). To give a balanced picture, I have included the serious stuff, putting it on the left pages while we celebrate summer on the right-hand pages. Match your side to your mood. Many campers, who will soon be barred from freedom camping, have used this summer to enjoy it while they can. Until their self-containment certificates run out or the government’s deadlines arrive, they can continue to freedom camp. Some regions are failing to follow the law during the transition period, which has given campers a needlessly stressful time. ( p18 ). ( Check p6 to see what your particular blue warrant allows you to do, and for how long.) Check out page 8 for suggestions on how to manage over the transition period, if you want to freedom camp. The new laws bring in a raft of new offences: I thought we might need to actually know what they are, so you will see them in “ordinary” language on page 12 . Since it is now an offence to “prepare to freedom camp” as evidenced by “parking”, consider having a notice for your dashboard to let enforcement officers know what you are intending to do ( p14 ). Once they get trained in mind-reading we wont need these notices, but until then… Can you do your bit to shake up the powers-that-be? If commonsense was going to prevail we wouldn’t have a problem now. We need to apply political pressure to persuade politicians to be sensible. See page 16 for some options. Many voices may bring action, while lone voices will be ignored. Add your voice, if you can. At the same time as pondering the challenging thought of taking political action (shudder) to protect freedom camping, take heart from the many wonderful stories from summer campers. All over the country people have been out and about and enjoying the dry and the heat, tolerating the wind and the wet, and making the most of it. Read all about it. Read on… Tiaki mai. This magazine is brought to you by All Points Camping Club of NZ & NZ Lifestyle Camping Articles in this issue on the freedom camping law changes: Predictable problems with the new CSC green warrant system (p2) Editorial (p3) Self-containment warrant cards: Which one is yours? (p6) So you want to freedom camp (p8) What is ‘self-contained’, anyway? (p10) Enforcement of freedom camping rules (p12) I am not freedom camping' cards (p14) Do your bit: Task of the week (p16) No more freedom camping (p16) Kaikōura: the freedom camping Wild West (p18) Hey NZ Govt? You are messing with my mental health (p20) 7 days a week (p21) Celebrating Summer (p5) GO TO Celebrating Summer How to inspire without sweeping things under the carpet? Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 4 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

9 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 ISSUE 9 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Mackenzie Country, winter 2024. Cows crossing the bridge, Ohau B Canal, Mackenzie Country, August. ©2024 M Richardson Roll on summer. Editorial Editor We have had a mild winter, not so good for skiers, but really good for campers, and we head through spring into summer looking at a good forecast ( ckw.nz/niwa-1024 ), with a just a bit of risk of some heavy rainfall events. Cows crossing the bridge, Ohau B Canal, Mackenzie Country, August. ©2024 M Richardson As we continue on our journey towards the new horizon our governments have given us for camping in a Kiwi way, we are buoyed by the ingenuity that is enabling vehicle campers to meet the new self-containment requirements, while tent campers are only now becoming aware how the new law is shrinking their choices. Councils now have to create bylaws if they are to allow non-self-contained camping within their region, and many do not seem to feel any obligation to cater to the needs of tent campers at all. Meanwhile, NZMCA, while rescuing some publicly-owned camping grounds from neglect, is failing to rise to the challenge of supporting all NZ campers, when managing a public facility (more next issue). All Points Camping has a great list of camps coming up (p36), and if you are new to camping, check the ‘soft start’ suggesrtions from their Stop and Stay list (p34). Share your camping stories with us: successes and challenges too— lets keep each other inspired as we explore and enjoy New Zealand. ◼️ Tiaki mai, tiaki atu Miriam Richardson, Editor Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 4