2 Summer 2022 Summer 2022 ISSUE 2 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up Freedom camping, November 1964 Graham Leslie Up One of my first memories of camping was at ‘Spec Creek’. You won’t find it on a map — it was just some little creek on the side of the road, somewhere in Central Otago, where our car (an old 1930 Model A Ford) broke down. There was nothing there. Mum and Dad built a dam of stones to make a bit of a swimming area (knee deep) where we floated around on Lilos. I don’t know how long we stayed there. Maybe a week, as car parts had to come from Auckland. The weather was good, and I remember it as a legendary holiday. The things memories are made of. Take your children camping: they will never forget it. Adrienne Leslie (mother) with Rhonda and Graham. Photos ©2022 Graham Leslie Up Up Freedom Camping Just some little creek on the side of the road in Central Otago, where our car broke down. Adrienne Leslie (mother) with Rhonda and Graham Adrienne Leslie (mother) with Rhonda and Graham ©2022 Graham Leslie Rhonda Leslie at Spec Creek ©2022 Graham Leslie Freedom Camping Just some little creek on the side of the road in Central Otago, where our car broke down. Adrienne Leslie (mother) with Rhonda and Graham 1/4

Summer 2023 ISSUE 6 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up Rv & Camper services Up Find rv and camping services. Any relevant business can list; it is free. Anyone can recommend a business to add to the list. No endorsement is implied. The thumbs up shows people you can ask, if you are stuck. Their local knowledge can help you find the service you need. North Island listings South Island Listings Up Up RV-Business-Services_MW.webp RV-Business-Services_MW.webp 1/1

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing giving new life to portable toilets Revolutionizing Kiwi camping with Fix’n’Rail Mustafa Pasha Kiwi Camping Culture Meets Innovation Camping is an iconic part of New Zealand’s lifestyle— a cherished time for reconnecting with nature, spending nights under starry skies, and exploring the rugged beauty of Aotearoa. However, as the Kiwi camping community grows, so does the challenge of balancing outdoor enjoyment with regulations and environmental sustainability. Fix’n’Rail, an inventive new solution developed right here in New Zealand, is designed to make portable toilet systems easier, safer, and legal. What is Fix’n’Rail? a simple solution with big impact Approved by NZ Lifestyle Camping, this innovation helps those looking to upgrade to meet New Zealand’s new self-containment regulations for freedom camping, that require that campervan toilets are permanently fixed. The Fix’n’Rail bracket gives campers a way to secure their existing portable toilet in place. The portable toilets that are supported by this device are: Rocktrail, 145, 365, 165 Dometic, Seaflo, and Burnsco. Durable, lightweight, and easy to install Crafted from resilient materials, the Fix’n’Rail bracket is lightweight, durable, and designed for easy installation. Simply mount it in your chosen space, snap in your portable toilet, and you’re ready for the open road! This ease of use means that seasoned campers, as well as newcomers, can install it without hassle or professional help, allowing you to focus on the adventure ahead. Sustainability and the circular economy The design behind Fix’n’Rail supports a circular economy by giving new life to portable toilets that may otherwise end up in landfills. Rather than purchasing new equipment to comply with regulations, campers can use Fix’n’Rail to repurpose their current toilet, reducing waste and conserving resources. It’s a small step that contributes to a larger movement of eco-conscious camping. Where to get Fix’n’Rail Available directly from MystEnterprise.com ( ckw.nz/fix-n-rail ), the first batches land in NZ in December. Final thoughts Fix’n’Rail is more than just a product— it’s a movement towards sustainable camping practices that allow Kiwis to experience the best of New Zealand’s landscapes while preserving their natural beauty for generations to come. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a full-time vanlifer, Fix’n’Rail brings you closer to a sustainable camping lifestyle that doesn’t compromise on comfort or convenience. So, if you’re looking to step up your eco-conscious camping game, Fix’n’Rail is here to help— one secure toilet at a time! ◊ Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 12

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption The bridge at the road-end of the Hollyford Valley, Fiordland ©2024 Graham Leslie The bridge at the road-end of the Hollyford Valley, Fiordland ©2024 Graham Leslie Sand dunes at Kawhia ©2024 Graham Leslie Family bushwalk, Punakaiki, West Coast. 2006 ©2024 Graham Leslie Alice and her brother Tom playing in the surf at Kawhia, 2009 ©2024 Graham Leslie Ahh. A step. Little things, like small steps up to a kitchen, gravel paths or high bench tops can make it impossible for someone who uses a wheelchair or a walking aid to access camp facilities independently. ©2024 Graham Leslie Alice and her brother Tom camping at Morison’s Bush ©2024 Graham Leslie Arriving at Morison’s Bush ©2024 Graham Leslie My set up at All Points camp at the Whanganui Vintage weekend ©2024 Graham Leslie Alice cooking dinner on the BBQ at Ohiwa. ©2024 Graham Leslie GO TO Springing Making a campsite accessible involves more than installing accessible toilets Making camping more accessible for everyone Alice Leslie The All Points Camping Club promotes ‘inclusive camping’ or making camping available to all who want to camp. This includes enabling families with young children, disabled people and older people to have positive camping experiences. Many campsites advertise their facilities as ‘accessible’ but from my experience this is often not the reality. Little things, like small steps up to an accessible bathroom, gravel paths or high bench tops can make it impossible for someone who uses a wheelchair or a walking aid to access camp facilities independently (and sometimes even with assistance). Likewise, campgrounds often have hidden challenges for people who have sight or hearing impairments. Many disabilities such as autism are invisible. Making a campsite accessible involves more than installing accessible toilets. Camping has been a huge part of my life Kia ora, I’m Alice. I’m an adult wheelchair user and camping has been a huge part of my life since I was a baby. As I get older the need for accessible campsites is becoming more important so I can carry on camping. Growing up I was very fortunate to have a great family and good friends to help me when access was tricky. We had a running joke in the family that some things are accessible; others are inaccessible and many things are ‘Alice accessible’. This is because I rely (or have relied) heavily on the able-bodied people around me to do things like lift my wheelchair over obstacles or push my chair on difficult surfaces. Much of my camping experience has been at our whanau’s favourite spot — Morison’s Bush in the Wairarapa. I have camped here in tents under large manuka trees on the banks of the Ruamahanga River for the last 30 years. Along with my brother and cousins I played on the grass and riverbank and swam in the river. I am very comfortable camping here as I know what to expect even although there are minimal facilities. We bring our own portapotti and toilet tent. Being able to get out into nature and go places that I would not physically be able to reach on my own is such a joy and privilege. Ninety percent of my childhood memories are from spending time in nature, going on bush walks and camping. Camping and being in nature resets my mental health and I love getting away from the busyness of life and commitments. I am a person who loves being physical as much as I possibly can — wheeling in the bush, swimming in the sea or whatever else I can try. Having accessible facilities and camping areas can only enhance the experiences of nature-loving wheelchair users like me. In recent years my dad has built a removable sleeping platform that fits into the back of my car. Its not a big car but I’m small and the boot door opens sideways. We put a car tent over the back of the car and there is room in here for my wheelchair and portapotti. I now take my own camping vehicle to whanau camps at Morison’s Bush and also have joined in some All Points camps. Accessibility is more than removing physical barriers Disabled people come in all shapes and sizes and have different impairments and requirements. I am small as well as being a wheelchair user so it’s often hard for me to reach the soap or hand dryer in accessible bathrooms. Michelle contacted me to tell me about her accessibility needs. They are quite different from mine. She is autistic and has found that there are definitely some camping facilities that are more or less accessible to her than others. Michelle points out every autistic person is different. She is really sensitive to sensory inputs and can get overwhelmed very easily with people, lights, sounds etc. Like me, Michelle loves camping because it can get her away from busy environments and explore beautiful parts of New Zealand. She told me she loves the peace and stillness of the outdoors, enjoys the fresh air and loves walking and cycling. Michelle enjoys camping in her parents’ small campervan because she struggles with changes and needs to have routine. With the campervan she can have the stress once, as she adjusts from her routine at home to van life. The campervan provides Michelle with a safe place wherever she goes and all her things are with her. She doesn’t have to move from the car to different accommodation, back to the car again, back to the accommodation or to new accommodation and so on. Campgrounds can be quite challenging for Michelle. She usually camps when it’s less busy, avoiding summer and other school holidays. Bathrooms are the hardest part of campground for Michelle. Her family can cook in their van and her travelling companions are the ones who go into the kitchen for drinking water or other things they need. But the bathrooms are unavoidable. With lots of people, hand driers, people talking, fans, harsh lighting and sometimes even music playing she finds using campground bathrooms can be overwhelming and distressing. Accessible bathrooms tend to be a lifesaver for Michelle. Sometimes the lighting is adjustable and there’s generally no background noise from music, hair dryers, hand dryers and voices. Just because someone doesn’t look disabled there can be valid reasons by the need to use accessible facilities and they don’t owe anyone an explanation or information about their disability. Being anxious about camping and facilities Throughout my life I have always felt anxious in the weeks before going away on a camping trip. This is because I don’t know what accessibility challenges I will come across in the new spaces I will be in and what adaptations I will have to make on a daily basis. Once I arrive at a place and have checked out the facilities then my anxiety tends to lessen. Michelle told me that because of an incident in a bathroom during her last camping trip she is really anxious about the bathrooms for her next camping trip. She is also anxious about the facilities when she arrives and she often gets a family member to accompany her to campground bathrooms. Evaluating the accessibility of camping facilities Over the years, I have used a wide variety of campgrounds around both the North and South Island. As a family we developed many workarounds to the challenges of less-than-accessible campground facilities. However, sometimes these were embarrassing for me, such as people coming into the toilet block when I had to leave my wheelchair in the doorway of a toilet cubicle because it wouldn’t fit through the door, so the cubicle door had to stay open. As a result of my 30 years of camping experience I’ve put together this list of nine things that can make a campground less-than-accessible for a wheelchair user. Where there is a lip or step up into facilities like kitchens and toilets. Doors that are too heavy or doorknobs that are too high to reach from a wheelchair. Benches, sinks and surfaces that are too high. Appliances and cooking facilities, like the oven or microwave, that are out of reach. Soap dispensers and hand driers that are installed too high to reach. Doors that pull in towards a wheelchair user are tricky. Steep ramps up into facilities. Facilities that are too far away from the area where people are camping. Spaces inside facilities that are too small or cramped to move around in a wheelchair. But as I have already mentioned, disabled people are not a homogeneous group and have differing needs. Physical access is only a challenge for some of us. It would be great to hear from other disabled people who camp about what they enjoy about camping and their stories of camping. ◊ Images ©2024 Graham Leslie More Rueben, Lynne and Charlie’s camping story Dannevirke campground goes accessible Making a campsite accessible involves more than installing accessible toilets Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 24

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption South Island lakes: fill in the blanks Rhonda Marshall Fill in the blanks Download a printable pdf Solution Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 29

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Recipes for camping Margaret Earle and Graham Leslie Rocks and gravel for 4–6‡ Our kids and their friends invented this recipe (pictured) when they were teenagers camping at Kaitoke on a wet, long weekend (pictured). They often cooked it over the fire, but it can also be made in a camp oven (or a large pan with a lid) on a gas cooker or in a hooded BBQ. Ingredients 1–2 onions, chopped Bacon and/or sausages (the best sausages are the cheap ones) 1 Tbsp oil 3 cans of baked beans Bag of scone mix 1 tin of creamed corn Method Make dumplings by putting a tin of creamed corn in a bowl and adding enough scone mix to make a stiff dough. If the mixture becomes too dry add a small amount of milk or water. Form the dough into small balls and put aside. Put camp oven to heat on cooking fire or gas cooker. Add oil to camp oven. Fry onion, bacon and sausages for a few minutes. Add baked beans and stir through. When the mixture is warm put the uncooked dumplings on top of the baked beans and put the lid on the camp oven. Turn the gas down to low or put the camp oven on a cooler part of the fire. Leave to simmer gently until the dumplings are cooked through. Be careful that the baked bean mixture doesn’t burn while the dumplings are cooking. Paneer and vege curry for 4–5‡ I came across this recipe when I was looking for a vegetarian meal to dehydrate for tramping. It is tasty and the veges listed can be substituted for whatever is available. Paneer is used a lot in Indian vegetarian recipes. You will find it in most supermarkets. It will keep for some weeks in a fridge so is a good source of protein when most of the fresh ingredients have been eaten. In this recipe, the paneer is cubed and fried before being added to the other ingredients. This makes it crisp and flavoursome. Ingredients Cooking oil 1 onion diced 3 cloves of garlic or 1–2 tsp minced garlic 1 Tbsp grated ginger root 1 tsp garam masala 400g tin diced tomatoes ½ cup vege stock (½ tsp powdered stock + ½ cup water) 1 tsp brown sugar 1 pinch of chilli flakes 1 cup pumpkin,chopped into small cubes or kumara or carrot 1 red capsicum, diced 2 courgettes, diced 3 cups baby spinach 300g paneer, cubed Method Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a large pan. Add onion, garlic and ginger and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened. Add garam masala and stir. Add tomatoes, stock, brown sugar, chilli flakes, capsicum and pumpkin. Simmer until pumpkin is soft and liquid is reduced. Add courgettes and spinach and cook until wilted. While curry is cooking heat more oil in another pan. Brown paneer on all sides. Add to curry before serving. Serve with rice. Tuna pasta for 4–5‡ This recipe can be cooked entirely from tinned food so it can be made when all the fresh food has run out. Ingredients 1 onion, sliced, if available 2 cloves of garlic or 1 tsp of crushed garlic, if available 1 Tbsp oil 1–2 whatever vegetables are available (eg, mushrooms, courgettes, beans, capsicums). If no fresh veges are available, then freeze dried peas can be used: cook them separately and add with the tuna. 450g tin of tuna in spring water, drained 2 tins of diced tomatoes in juice 1 tsp dried basil 1 tsp dried oregano Handful of olives (optional) Salt and pepper Dried pasta such as spaghetti, spirals etc Grated parmesan or tasty cheese, if available Method Heat oil in a medium sized fry pan. Add onion and/or garlic (if using) and fry until slightly starting to brown. Stir in carrot and cook for 3–5 minutes. Add tinned tomatoes and bring to boil. In a separate pot boil the water for the pasta. Add sufficient pasta to feed those eating the meal. Add veges that require the most cooking. Continue to stir regularly and gradually add all the veges. Add the veges that require the least cooking last. Add drained tuna, basil and oregano. Stir well and cook until veges are desired softness. Add olives (if using) and salt and pepper to taste. Serve sauce over cooked pasta. Top with grated cheese (if using). ‡ Depends how many vege you cook, how many it will serve Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 25

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Mountain biking Andrew Morton If it was that easy, everyone would do it. I’ve fallen off the mountain bike, been stung on the lip by a bee, my van, rear sliding door has packed a sad and I can’t access my fridge! Lots of riding: one day a 600m climb, followed by two day-rides of 7hr and a 3hr ride on third day. It’s been cold up here in the Central North Island, in Summer, much to my surprise: snow. At least six days of torrential rain! But I would not swap this for anything, the light, the colours, the experiences, the people you meet, are priceless to me. Sure reminds me just how lucky I am to live in the south (Southland). Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 23

4 Winter 2023 Winter 2023 ISSUE 4 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up Kiwi Burn Hut Loop Track, Mavora Lakes Kayla Laatz Up Many trampers have vouched that Kiwi Burn Hut is a popular and great option for families, so we thought we’d check it out and put it to a true family-friendly test. With my toddler (and his dada) in tow, we set out to do the full Kiwi Burn Loop Track and spend one night at the hut halfway through. Walking to Kiwi Burn Hut Right at the start of the walk we faced one of the coolest features (in my opinion) of the track, the Kiwi Burn swing bridge. A chain metal bridge spanning approximately 15 metres across and standing at least 10 meters high over the gushing Mararoa River. Not at all for the faint of heart! Signs state only one person at a time should cross the bridge, and when you’re on it I think you’ll agree. I was nervous to cross while carrying an extra 20kg of toddler + backpack with me, but I figured it was better for me than my much taller partner to cross carrying it all. A bit wobbly going across, and a bit unsettling viewing the patches in the chain link as you’re right in the middle, but we did it! After crossing the bridge, a DOC sign details the 3 walking tracks that intersect at this point: Left to Kiwi Burn Hut (1hr 30min), forward to Kiwi Burn Loop Track (3hr 30min), or right to South Mavora Lake (2hr 30min). We decided to take the shorter route to Kiwi Burn Hut first and went left. Since I was carrying such a heavy load, my walking pace was a little slower than the suggested times shown on the sign. The first hour of the walk is super easy and even a bit peaceful, taking you on a flat walk along the Mararoa River and through the Snowdon Forest. A few small streams crossed the path along the way, but were really easy to cross without getting wet feet. With the sound of running water most of the way and the bird chirps coming from above, there were heaps of talking points to keep our young one mentally engaged and entertained. Besides the nearby river at the start, this track is totally safe to let toddlers tot around on too. Before we even started to work up a sweat, we were out of the forest and entered an open, flat grassy clearing. We followed the path stamped down into the knee high grass and the orange triangle markers. We crossed the very windy Kiwi Burn a few times as we rounded to the left of the clearing. Just as I began to think about the lack of shade and the scorching sun on us, we saw something amazing. The top of the hut finally came into view. I was shocked to see it so soon, as we truly hadn’t walked for long at all. It was a very welcome sight though with a cranky, hungry toddler on my back. After an hour and a half of easy walking, we had made it to Kiwi Burn Hut. Kiwi Burn Hut Kiwi Burn Hut overlooks a large, open valley filled with grassy wetlands surrounded by lush green mountains. There’s lots of room for little ones to safely play both inside and out. Behind the hut is a small, shallow stream which is great fun for kids on a hot summer’s day. Inside the hut we were pleased to find two separate bedrooms, each with 6 wooden bunks. We didn’t have the hut to ourselves, so this really eased my mind having the privacy of a separate room in case our little guy didn’t sleep so well that night. A luxury you don’t often get! The kitchen has a spacious bench top for preparing meals, a sink with running water (fed by the rain water tank outside) and a wood-fired stove. The stove could potentially be a hazard to young ones who don’t yet understand the concept of heat or fire, but there’s plenty of room inside to keep them far enough away from it. Outside we found 3 metal fire pits covered with a metal grill, perfect for grilling up meat or late night smores! Back to the Carpark from Kiwi Burn Hut From Kiwi Burn Hut you have two options to get back to the parking area. The shorter route, returning on the same track you came in on (1hr 30min) or the longer route, walking the full loop track back (2 hours). We were curious about what more views the full loop track offered, so opted to take the longer path to the left. Right away we lost sight of the path, but every few minutes we spotted a tiny orange triangle peeking up out of the 1.5 metre high grass. At times it didn’t even feel like we were following a track anymore, just stamping our own way forward. Not only was it hard to constantly dodge sharp grass from poking both mine and my child’s eyes, we also had to avoid tons of prickly weeds scattered throughout the bushes. Lastly, there were a ton of small streams hidden under the wet, dewy grass that were impossible to see until you had already stepped in (or nearly tripped over) them. Wet boots, wet pants, blisters, no shade cover and the very bumpy terrain underfoot made this section quite unenjoyable for us. When my son wanted a break from the carrier, we had to keep pushing forward because there weren’t many suitable spots to put him down for at least an hour and a half. It was mentally tough, and for a while there I think we all regretted the choice to take the long way back to the car. But we were so relieved to re-enter the forest again that we quickly forgot about the tricky section now behind us. After another hour of easy, peaceful walking through the forest, we arrived back at the swing bridge. Overall, it took us just over 4 hours to complete the full Kiwi Burn Hut Loop Track. We all agreed that we did not wish to ever repeat the wetlands portion of the walk again, but would happily return to the hut via the shorter walking track. Despite the tough walk on day two, the chance to easily stay overnight in Mavora made it all worth it. The final verdict is in: Kiwi Burn Hut is the perfect hut for families with young children. Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 12.5 km Trail Type: Loop Elevation Gain: 300 meters Time: 4 hours Hut Coordinates: 45°21'18.7"S 168°05'27.4"E Mountain Mamas NZ is an online community of New Zealand based mamas with a love of the great outdoors. mountainmamasnz.com instagram.com/mountainmamasnz facebook.com/mountainmamasnz Up Up The final verdict is in: Kiwi Burn Hut is the perfect hut for families with young children. The first hour of the walk is super easy and even a bit peaceful, taking you on a flat walk along the Mararoa River and through the Snowdon Forest. Photos: ©2023 Kayla Laatz. Mountain Mamas NZ The Kiwi Burn Swing Bridge. Right at the start of the walk we faced one of the coolest features (in my opinion) of the track, the Kiwi Burn Swingbridge. A chain metal bridge spanning approximately 15 metres across and standing at least 10 meters high over the gushing Mararoa River. Not at all for the faint of heart! Photos: ©2023 Kayla Laatz. Mountain Mamas NZ Back at the swing bridge After another hour of easy, peaceful walking through the forest, we arrived back at the swing bridge. Photos: ©2023 Kayla Laatz. Mountain Mamas NZ The first hour of the walk is super easy and even a bit peaceful, taking you on a flat walk along the Mararoa River and through the Snowdon Forest. Photos: ©2023 Kayla Laatz. Mountain Mamas NZ 1/11 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) editor@campingthekiwiway.org

2 Summer 2022 Summer 2022 ISSUE 2 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up EVENTS — Festivals and Shows Up 38 EVENTS — Festivals and Shows EVENTS — Festivals and Shows These events offer an opportunity for people to overnight while they attend. Some are restricted to certified self contained vehicles, some restrict or ban pets. Check the event website for details. December ‘22 Sanctuary Sounds Music Festival 2–4 Dec: Takapau, Central Hawkes Bay sanctuary-sounds.co.nz January Revitalise 2–4 Jan: By Fiordland National Park Music, organics, healing, and sustainability — a revitalized vision for a better world. revitalize.nz Wairarapa Music in the Country 6–8 Jan: Near Featherston, Wairarapa Great live music, atmosphere and experience. tauherenikau.co.nz/music/ Egmont Country Festival 6–8 Jan: New Plymouth, Taranaki A relaxed weekend with music. ckw.nz/egmont-country-festival Motueka Country Music Festival 7–8 Jan: Motueka, Tasman ckw.nz/motueka-country-music-festival Marton Country Music Festival 13–15 Jan: Marton, Horowhenua martonfestival.nz Katikati Avocado Food & Wine Festival 14 Jan, Sat: Katikati, Bay of Plenty Great food, the best of wines, lively entertainment and more. katikatiavofest.co.nz Kumeu Classic Car & Hotrod Festival 20–22 Jab: Kumeu, Auckland Celebrate all things Classic Car/Hot Rod related kumeuhotrodfestival.co.nz Whanganui Vintage Weekend 20–23 Jan: Eclectic vintage themed events and attractions. whanganuivintageweekend.nz Wheels in Wanganui 22 Jan, Sunday: A family day out, raising funds for St Johns. FB: ckw.nz/wheelsinwanganui Festival 1 27–30 Jan: Karapiro, Waikato Music, art & community. Like the rhythm of a pulsing heart… ckw.nz/festival-1 Auckland Folk Festival 27–30 Jan: Kumeu, Auckland aucklandfolkfestival.co.nz Edendale Crank Up 28–29 Jan: Edendale, Southland One of NZ’s biggest annual vintage machinery event roars into action. edendalevmc.co.nz February Niagara Falls Bluegrass & Roots Festival 4–5 Feb: Catlins, Southland Musicians from throughout NZ converge on the Niagara Falls Café, for a weekend of toe-tapping goodness. niagarafallscafe.co.nz Burt Munro Challenge 8–12 Feb: Invercargill & Bluff Make an offering to the God of Speed. burtmunrochallenge.co.nz Waimakariri Country Music Festival 10–12 Feb: Rangiora, Canterbury countrymusic.org.nz Lions Club of Ashburton South Island Motorhome Show 11–12 Feb: Ashburton, Canterbury Buy, sell, or view vehicles; commercial and private sellers, camping equipment, food stands and fun!Social campers are welcome. southislandmotorhomeshow.co.nz Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival 17–18 Feb: East Taratahi, Wairarapa wairarapaharvestfestival.co.nz Mandeville Fly In and Steam Festival 18–19 Feb: Mandeville, Southland Be transported to an age of open cockpit flight and steam-powered railway journeys. experiencemandeville.nz Wings over Wairarapa 2023 24–26 Feb: Masterton 70 aircraft including vintage, military, jets, helicopters, aerobatic displays, and much more! Fantastic ground displays and activities for small and big kids alike. wings.org.nz March Selwyn Sounds 4 Mar, Saturday: Lincoln, Canterbury Brilliant music; fantastic food trucks selling delicious food from around the world. selwynsounds.co.nz North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival 5 Mar, Sunday: Waipara, North Canterbury Enjoy an eclectic range of food stalls, a diverse selection of North Canterbury wine, quality live music and family friendly entertainment. ncwineandfood.co.nz 121 Festival 2023 10–12 Mar: Tauherenikau, Sth Wairarapa A 3 Day Dance Odyssey fuels your creative expression through art, music, and culture. 121festival.co.nz Hokitika Wildfoods Festival 2023 11 Mar, Saturday: Hokitika, West Coast A celebration of the West Coast's unique wild food and lifestyle, with premier entertainment. wildfoods.co.nz Havelock Mussel and Seafood Festival 11 Mar, Saturday: Havelock, Marlborough Enjoy fresh mussels, King Salmon, and Pacific Oysters, with great kiwi music and entertainment. havelockmusselfestival.co.nz CAMP FEST 17–19 Mar: Bulls Domain, Rangitikei A weekend of camping, craft and trade stalls, workshops and entertainment. See the camping entry on p38. route54.org/campfest Covi Motorhome, Caravan & Outdoor SuperShow 17–19 Mar: Auckland supershow.co.nz Repco Beach Hop 22–26 Mar: Whangamata, Bay of Plenty beachhop.co.nz George Begg Festival 30 Mar–2 Apr, Thursday: Invercargill The party vibes of the 1960s and 1970s for petrolheads, party people and families. georgebeggfestival.nz April Kimbolton Sculpture Festival 1 Apr, Saturday Kimbolton, Rangitikei An outdoor art and sculpture exhibition: sculpture from off the farm, about and of the land. All-day entertainment, country food, coffee, bar, free family fun, laid back music, lots of give-it-a-go things to do. Suitable for all ages (accompanied young people are free). See the camping entry . ruralart.nz Up Up Revitalise 2–4 Jan: By Fiordland National Park Music, organics, healing, and sustainability — a revitalized vision 
for a better world. Wairarapa Music in the Country 6–8 Jan: Near Featherston, Wairarapa Great live music, atmosphere and experience. Kimbolton Sculpture Festival 1 Apr, Saturday Kimbolton, Rangitikei An outdoor art and sculpture exhibition Revitalise 2–4 Jan: By Fiordland National Park Music, organics, healing, and sustainability — a revitalized vision 
for a better world. 1/24

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing And people wonder why I like camping Tony Kissel And people wonder why I like camping.◊ ©2024 Tony Kissel Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 8

The Desert Road On our first road trip with our new caravan. We made it successfully from Wellington to Whangarei. BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up The Desert Road Margaret Earle The Desert Road On our first road trip with our new caravan. We made it successfully from Wellington to Whangarei. ©2023 Margaret Earle Up Up Up New caravan 1/0

1 Spring 2022 A North Island freedom-camping adventure Up Shoshanna Shand After my South Island trip, I decided I wanted to road trip the North Island and go all the way up to Cape Reinga. For me, freedom camping in the car was the best way to do it. I found some couch cushions at the recycling centre, sewing them together formed a perfect bed in the back of the car. I folded down the back seats, leaving one side with the car seat in it. This left enough space for the baby to sleep behind. I bought a gas cooker from Mitre 10 and was set to go. I also had a “pee” jug makeshift toilet which did the trick for emergencies. I had saved up $1000 and had my regular benefit payments weekly. I was still paying rent for my flat back in Nelson but I had about $300 a week to live on for food and fuel. I booked a ferry ticket for the 8th of October. I had a six-week window to do this, with no commitments. I felt so excited, yet nervous embarking on this trip. I worried about money and how it was all going to work. I didn’t plan ahead much, the extent of my plan was to go up one side and come down the other. A week before we were booked to go on the ferry, I dropped a heavy piece of wood on my toe and broke it. Ouchies. It felt okay to walk and I had a moon boot on to protect it from wild toddler and other stuff. We drove from Nelson onto the Interislander and had a cruisy trip over. I was having to hop all over the place juggling a toddler, a broken toe and all our gear. I drove straight up to Woodville to stay with some friends who gave us a horrible vomiting bug. Great start to the trip. Once recovered we headed on up to Napier where we stayed with some lovely friends, felt so classy not camping in the car. We explored Te Mata Peak which was so beautiful. We drove to the top instead of walking because why walk when you can drive). We carried on to Taupo and found a freedom camping spot near Huka Falls. This was my first proper experience of freedom camping since the Catlins. It was a cold night. I found out the gas doesn’t work when it’s really cold, so we ended up having a half-cooked dinner. That night was so cold for Spring, I wasn’t expecting it. We explored Huka Falls which was beautiful! We then drove to Rotorua for the night. We stopped in at Kerosene Creek for a swim, it was super pretty and warm but the toddler wasn’t a fan. In Rotorua we stayed at this really cool wee dinosaur park holiday park. I needed to do washing and have showers etc so it was great to freshen up. We only stayed a night in Rotorua, I wasn’t feeling the vibe, so we left the next morning and drove up the Coromandel. We skipped the Mount; I didn’t realise it was such an iconic place. I felt anxious I wouldn’t have enough time to get up to Cape Reinga before I had to go home. Turned out in the end I had plenty of time! Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove The next day was a big one, we explored Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. If I did it again I would make sure to spend a whole day at Cathedral Cove. Being a true Kiwi, I walked down the steep track to the cove in bare feet carrying my 14 kg toddler in the carrier on the front and my backpack on the back. I ran into a couple on Cathedral Cove beach. I asked them to take photos of us. We got talking, they were so lovely and helped me carry the toddler and our stuff back up to the bus at the top of the very steep hill. One important thing to know about Cathedral Cove is you have to walk a lot more or take a bus from the car park in town. I was late finding somewhere to stay that night. I checked out the Campermate app and found some place to park up. To Auckland The next day was a beautiful one, we drove all the way up the coast admiring the amazing views. I was going to stop at a place just outside of Auckland where you can camp with self-contained or non-self-contained, the place is called Omana Clifftop Campground. When I arrived late in the day, I realised it was owned by Auckland Regional Council and you needed to book ahead and to get a key. I didn’t really know what to do because it was late, the toddler was tired out and we needed to stop for the night. At the carpark before the campground there was a freedom camping spot but only for self-contained vehicles. There was also a toilet at the carpark . So I decided to just risk it and stay the night. I felt soooo anxious about getting caught or getting into trouble over being somewhere I shouldn’t be. At around 9pm when the babe was fast asleep and I was up on my phone the security guy came around checking the car park. My heart was beating so fast and I felt like ohhh nooo im gonna get into trouble crap! He came over to my car and started writing down stuff on his phone. I got out of my car and said “hi” explaining that it got late, and I needed to stop for the night and apologised, asking if there was somewhere else I could park for the night. He was SO nice and told me I had to leave in the morning which I was happy to do of course, and let me stay the night because of the baby being fast asleep. It was such a tricky thing because I didn’t want to purposefully break any laws or rules, but it’s also dangerous to drive when fatigued and the next freedom camping spot was about half an hour away that I could find. That was quite a small but big adventure for us. We drove up to Auckland the next morning and stayed with friends exploring around Karekare and Piha. I’m not a big fan of big cities so I headed up to Whangarei heads. Whangarei You can camp at the carpark at Whangarei Heads without a self-contained vehicle so yay for us. We camped a night there and loved meeting another lovely older campervanning couple, a German guy who was camping out of his car too. I love meeting new people, especially travelers they are always so friendly. We went for a swim first thing in the morning. It was one of my favourite places in the north. On to Cape Reinga After Whangarei Heads we drove up to Paihia and stayed at the Top 10 Holiday Park which was a nice wee stop to recharge devices and do a load of cloth nappies. Then it was only a wee drive up to Cape Reinga. My goal. My dream. It felt surreal as I was driving up the last leg of the road. To the very end of New Zealand. Where the Maori believe the spirits of the dead travel on their journey to the afterlife, to leap off the headland and climb the roots of the 800-year-old pohutukawa tree and descend to the underworld to return to their traditional homeland of Hawaiki. We hung around the lighthouse for a while soaking up the surreal vibes. Eventually it was time to cruise, I found the Te Paki sand dunes and we spent the rest of the hot afternoon climbing to the top of the sand dunes and back down again, eventually the toddler got tired and requested we go back to the car. I went searching on the Campermate app for a place to crash the night. I found a DOC campground, Spirit Bay where we could camp for the night. It was FULL of campers, a long weekend I forgot about. We found a space though and parked for the night. We watched the sunset on the beach, I put the toddler to bed and jumped into the freezing cold showers that we were lucky to have at this campground. I collapsed into our car camper bed exhausted but feeling ecstatic that I had reached the Cape and survived camping with my toddler. The next day was beautiful and sunny (so blessed with good weather up in the Far North). I wanted to find 90 Mile Beach. Google maps, of course, lead me on a goose chase up a gravel road with no reception. My fuel tank was running low and I was getting stressed out. I got back onto the main road and found a fuel station to fuel up at (not many fuel stations up there so make sure if you’re going up far north to fuel up when you can). Driving back south I passed the sign for 90 Mile Beach and did a big face palm. I don’t know why on earth Google maps wouldn’t take me straight there. Oh well. 90 Mile Beach This was my favourite place I think in the north. I drove my Toyota Wish onto the sand dunes and had so much fun driving down the beach. (Definitely do not drive on the beach like me unless you’re in a four wheel drive.) I cooked up a feed of instant noodles then parked my car closer to water. That was a bit of a mistake because a wave came up and almost killed my car. I panicked and tried to drive it up the beach but it was bogged, I tried again slower and yes! It moved. Heart attack moment averted. I drove back up the beach and we had made some new friends near Cape Reinga so stayed there for a night. Next day we went to Rainbow Falls which was beautiful and crowded, long weekend vibes. Such an incredible waterfall to visit though, so highly recommend it. West coast We cut across from the east coast to the west coast and drove through the amazing kauri forest stopping in to visit big old Tane Mahuta. I found a camp for the night called Glinks Gully which was such a cool spot, no reception and right on the beach, low cost campground with hot showers available for a token and a kitchen area to use. We walked up a track to a gentle cliff overlooking the open ocean of the rugged west coast. We drove back to Auckland for a night and stayed with a new friend we made along the way. Only one night because we had booked for a Hobbiton tour, which is near Hamilton, for the next day. Hobbiton The Hobbiton tour is expensive but WELL WORTH IT. Two hour guided tour around the set, and then a stop at the wee pub for a complimentary pint afterwards. Hamilton, Kawhia We stayed in Hamilton for the night parked in someone’s driveway (they invited us to). Explored the Hamilton Gardens the next day and then drove down to Kawhia, Hot Water Beach was pretty cool. We turned up just after someone had left, so I soaked in the hot water while the toddler reminded me he wanted to go back to the car, and played in the sand. The Oparau Roadhouse hosts freedom campers so we stopped there for the night. The owners were so friendly and gave me lots of local tips and recommended we visit Marokopa Falls so we did the next day and it was amazing! Taranaki Next stop Taranaki. I had my best friend living in the Naki and we stayed with her for almost a week just recouping after a busy few weeks travelling. The mountain was amazing, we tried walking up the mountain but it was so cloudy we turned back. Then the sun came out and the clouds moved so we could see the peak. What a magnificent mountain. Southwards On to Palmerston North to stay with more good friends for a week. I quite liked Palmy. It was chilled and friendly. I had itchy feet though and didn’t wanna stay around for too long. We had our ferry booked so had to keep moving. Driving down the west coast of the north island now we stayed on Otaki beach where technically only self contained campers are allowed but according to locals everyone camps there anyways. I had my makeshift toilet to use anyways so it wasn’t a bother. We watched the sun set and just chilled out on the beach, I went for a quick swim the next morning. A local mum saw me share on my Instagram and invited me to her cafe for a chai which was so lovely. BY: Shoshanna Shand PHOTOS: ©2022 Shoshanna Shand Up Up Up Spring 2022 ISSUE 1 BUY PDF CONTENTS I love meeting new people, especially travellers; they are always so friendly. On the Interislander We drove from Nelson onto the Interislander and had a cruisy trip over. Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove The next day was a big one, we explored Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. If I did it again I would make sure to spend a whole day Dawson Falls On the Interislander We drove from Nelson onto the Interislander and had a cruisy trip over. 1/6