I have found that it is the obscure, forgotten little places that hold the most interest and subject material for paintings and rewarding experiences. BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up A small paint kit, a few good brushes… David Liddall From the time I left school I was compelled to travel, hitchhiking everywhere (including Asia) till getting my licence at twenty-five, thereafter owning a succession of vehicles that doubled as campers, the longest owned of these being a 1972 pop top Kombi van, used daily for about 28 years. Prior to turning 50 I bought my current bus, a Mitsubishi Fuso, 7,500kg, 7.5m land sailing boat, built by a boat builder with very good design and functionality. Also dating from my school days was my interest in drawing and painting, and after initially trying oil and ink, once I discovered quality water colour paint, I was hooked, especially with it’s portability. Being able to carry a small paint kit and a few good brushes, all that’s needed is some good watercolour paper and a little pot of water and you have the means of expressing a memory or reproducing or creating a wonderful scene, something that will remain long after I’ve shuffled from this mortal coil. My travel and painting passions were put aside for periods of my life as I pursued a career in nursing, working in a variety of areas, surgical nursing, including a few years as a scrub nurse in theatre (Whangarei) psychiatric (Seaview Hospital, Hokitika and Whangarei) emergency care (Whangarei) and lastly, night RN in a MetLifecare facility at Mt Maunganui (my home town). After thirty years I took early retirement, largely financed by the sale of my Kombi (it seemed too ridiculous to tow a campervan behind a campervan) and I moved to Northland to be closer to my son and grandkids, locating at the little coastal community of Whananaki. Finding a source of print production I sold a number of prints to people I’d met passing through the campground and other local places. 19 years on the road: my current road trip Late in 2022 I left Northland to visit my brother in Thames and Coromandel, exploring right to Fletcher Bay, the outer tip of the peninsula. The clouds were ominously massing after New Year and I got out of that vulnerable peninsula in the following days, heading back north. Seeing the devastation behind and ahead, I spontaneously turned around and headed south instead (retirement is such a liberating state of being, to allow such decisions) stopping at Taumarunui when I heard the following weekend was ‘Republic Day’ at Whangamonoma, deep into the Forgotten World Highway. I came up with the idea of using my bus as a gallery, attaching paintings along the side with magnets. So paying my stall fee, I set up beside the whip cracking and log splitting exhibits. It was a wonderful experience and bought back the sense of community that was common in my childhood. I sold a painting and got another commission which took me to Opunake and the wonderful Mt Taranaki (that is usually still called Mt Egmont by the locals). With the delays to ferry services I spent longer in Wellington than expected but had lots of fun painting scenes around the city and did another commissioned work. Due to the sailing cancellation I spent a couple of nights at the Evans Bay Marina freedom camping area, to find lots of others in the same position, over seventy vans there that first night, and due to the excessive numbers some parked in the centre, between the two outside allocated spaces. In the morning the efficient council issued $150 fines to everyone parked outside the lines; nice to see bureaucracy doesn’t rest, even during a national transportation crisis. Being very aware of the environmental disaster moving toward us, I’ve determined to reduce my carbon footprint as much as I can, though I have given a lot of thought to the rationale of travelling at all, but our footprint exists regardless of where we exist, so I endeavour to spend longer in interesting places off-grid and independent (fortunately my bus is independent of external input if the sun is shining) rather than dashing hither and yon, and have found that it is the obscure, forgotten little places that hold the most interest and subject material for paintings and rewarding experiences. My favourite places so far are found in the high country of Central Otago and the upper West Coast, especially north of Karamea, such lush subtropical bush and coastal locations, and the Ida Valley. I am drawn to place names like Drybread and Blackball, getting to know the locals of Seddonville, and the muffins at Gentle Annie. I’ve been privileged to leave artwork in many places in my wake and hope they bring pleasure, however for most of this journey, I’ve done what I call my ‘cafe paintings’, taking my travel brushes and paints with a little watercolour pad to a cafe, have breakfast or a muffin and tea or coffee while I sketch out a scene from my phone, and do a miniature painting. They take about forty minutes and are very pleasurable to paint. Over the following few days I decide who to send it to, put a stamp on the back, write a thoughtful note to my friend or family member then post it off. To date I’ve done nearly forty such paintings. One friend receiving one, was told by his post lady she’d never delivered an original painting before. It’s a fabulous way to share my journey with others, and imagine the surprise they get receiving a little painting in the post. Maybe you’ll get one one day. Contact David: david@ckw.nz ‘Republic Day’ gallery on the bus, Whangamomona Up Up Up The obscure, forgotten little places Click on the gallery for a full size view Bus gallery, Whangamomona Stopped at Taumarunui, I heard the following weekend was ‘Republic Day’ at Whangamomona, deep in the Forgotten World Highway. I came up with the idea of using my bus as a gallery, attaching paintings along the side with magnets. So paying my stall fee, I set up beside the whip cracking and log splitting exhibits. It was a wonderful experience and bought back the sense of community that was common in my childhood. I sold a painting and got another commission which took me to Opunake and the wonderful Mt Taranaki (that is usually still called Mt Egmont by the locals). Port Tarakohe Hokitika Bus gallery, Whangamomona Stopped at Taumarunui, I heard the following weekend was ‘Republic Day’ at Whangamomona, deep in the Forgotten World Highway. I came up with the idea of using my bus as a gallery, attaching paintings along the side with magnets. So paying my stall fee, I set up beside the whip cracking and log splitting exhibits. It was a wonderful experience and bought back the sense of community that was common in my childhood. I sold a painting and got another commission which took me to Opunake and the wonderful Mt Taranaki (that is usually still called Mt Egmont by the locals). 1/4

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption A dump mate Use our Dump Mate! Emptying the cassette with a Dump Mate, is a very quick and clean operation. Silicone grease CRC silicon grease for the rubber seals. A DIY tool for opening the cassette You can take the top right out of the cassette to give it a really good clean inside. Dont leave it behind Leave the Dump Mate bag in your cassette locker to remind you not to leave your Dump Mate behind. Hints and tips on toilet cassettes Heather McMurdo Through our own experience, and also from talking to many people while demonstrating and selling our Dump Mates, we have picked up a few ideas to make things easier and cleaner. Empty often When we first started motorhoming, we tried to use every public toilet we could, because this would make our cassette last longer before we had to empty it, a job that John did not look forward to. This just seemed silly to me, when we had our own nice bathroom to use, but then I wasn’t the one emptying the cassette. Anyway, once we had our Dump Mate, this was no longer a problem, and we now empty every second day. We have noticed that this alone keeps the cassette much fresher, rather than trying to make it last four or five days. After-trip care When we get home from a trip away, John always half fills the cassette with warm water and a scoop of Napisan (or equivalent) and keeps it in the garage, giving it a shake every time he walks past it. Then he rinses it out, puts a dash of chemical in it and small amount of water. A ventilation kit We don’t really need to use a chemical, as we have fitted a Thetford Ventilation kit (similar to a SOG unit). This has a fan that ventilates through the floor, so we have no nasty smells in our motorhome any more. I can highly recommend it. We must have tried every toilet chemical on the market, and none really worked, (although to be fair, they probably lost their effectiveness after a couple of days). We still put a dash in the cassette as we have a few bottles to use up. Clean the inside of the cassette Every now and then, John takes the top right out of the cassette and gives it a really good clean inside. He has even designed a small tool to unscrew the top so as not to put too much pressure on the plastic. See sidebar. He also uses CRC silicon grease on the rubber seals. Use our Dump Mate! Emptying the cassette with a Dump Mate, is a very quick and clean operation. If we are emptying our grey water as well, we start this running first, and then do the cassette. Because we are putting the Dump Mate in the sewer pipe, and there is no spillage, there is no risk of contaminating your grey water hose. By the time you have emptied your cassette and rinsed it a few times, the Dump Mate is clean, and you just shake the water off, and pop it back in it’s bag. Then you can pack up your grey water hose, and both jobs are done. There is no mess, and the dump station (and your feet) are clean. This is a real bonus if the water pressure at the dump station is poor, or there is no hose. Use the cassette air-lock release button We have been surprised to hear, when demonstrating, that many people do not realise that their cassette has a button on the top, at the back to allow air flow. As you raise the back of the cassette to empty, hold the button in: you will find it empties much more smoothly. How not to forget to take your Dump Mate with you Another little tip is to leave the bag for the Dump Mate in your cassette locker when you take your cassette out. This will mean when you put the cassette back, you will see the bag and it will remind you to make sure you have your Dump Mate with you. You don’t want to leave it at the dump station. Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 29

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Mag-F-0923-CTKW.webp By and for campers Camping the Kiwi Way, 5, Spring 2023 Editor Camping the Kiwi Way 5: spring 2023 ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) | ISSN 2815-827X (Online) Table of contents • Editorial • For councils and government Come camping • Stop and Stay Contribute • About Cover image: Lake Monowai. ©2023 Kayla Laatz Featured content Grandad’s Grandad’s caravan Because we had a newborn, my parents-in-law offered us the caravan. 10 Tips for Safe Caravan Towing The same accident rates, but the main reason, jack-knifing, is different. Why not stop and stay a while? Where to stop when travelling and camping in NZ—use it, share it, add to it. Pros and cons of full time family travel PROS: You get to spend a lot of time as a family. CONS: You spend a lot of time as a family. Update: Self-containment and freedom camping changes RV & Camper business services: Self containment, LPG work, electrical work, motorhome work & more. Table of contents 2 Freedom camping under the new law 4 Editorial 4 Freedom camping & self-containment: status, Spring 2023 4 Freedom camping: who does what 5 Grandad’s Grandad’s caravan 7 Cooking on the road: planning food for off the road 8 The Homestead, St Bathans 9 10 Tips for safe caravan towing 9 Why Caravans roll over… and how to prevent it 10 Building a connected NZ camping and tourism industry 10 Lake pukaki 11 Lake Monowai campsite 12 Why not stop and stay a while? Introducing Stop and Stay 14 Cooking with fire 14 Easy-to-make flat breads 15 Pros and Cons of full time family travel 16 More cold season tips 16 A cassette toilet in a van 18 Update: Self-containment and freedom camping changes 20 Thinking about your overnight park 21 Freedom inside the fence 22 PUZZLE: Small town New Zealand 23 Small town: Waiau 25 A small paint kit, a few good brushes… 26 This is the story of three types of self-contained vehicles… 26 A classic 29 Mobile cell towers 29 The Aeropress 29 Two uses 30 Around my own back yard 32 The smallest church 32 Yaktrax 33 Events — Camping 34 Events — Festivals and shows 35 RV & camper business services About Camping the Kiwi Way © 2023 All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc Editor: Miriam Richardson editor@campingthekiwiway.org campingthekiwiway.org Published quarterly by All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc & NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd Order or subscribe Printed copies including postage:$44 for a year (4 issues)$13.50 for a single copyeditor@campingthekiwiway.org Read it online or get a PDF ckw.nz/spring2023 Subscribe for an email link to each issue: editor@campingthekiwiway.org Advertising editor@campingthekiwiway.org See ckw.nz/advertising Front cover: Lake Monowai, Fiordland p11 . ©2023 Kayla Laatz Share your stories If your group or club is promoting NZers enjoying our great outdoors, we would like to share your stories. Tenting, caravanning, motorhoming, van camping, bike camping, hiking and more. • Camping photos and stories. • Club stories and photos. • Upcoming events that include camping. • Opinion pieces on camping issues. • Technical / helpful articles. Photos 1mb or more in size. Email words and (separate) images: editor@campingthekiwiway.org Contributions close Nov 1 for the Summer issue For late-breaking articles talk to the editor. Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 3

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Mark it on your calendar NZ Cheese Festival Marty Ireland The 2024 Cheese Festival was held again in Marlborough, at the Clos Henri Vineyard, and will do so again next year around early Oct (to be confirmed).( site live soon: nzcheesefest.nz ) Besides a great selection of well-priced food venders, there was also a variety of specialty foods including cheese, mushrooms, paté, cured meats, sweet treats, wine, beer. And we had ‘Music on the Green’ to relax to. The festival has pre sales and gate sales, $20 for general admission; $30 includes attendance at any of the half-hour classes such as cooking with cheese, making cheese and matching with wine and beer. (You can upgrade on-site on the day.) There are also premium masterclasses (that sold out ahead of time this year) — if that interests you, mark an earlier date in your calendar. This year there were limited free on-site overnight parks for self-contained vehicles the night before, day and night of the event.This needs to be arranged beforehand with a local contact. There are local campgrounds, a POP (park over property), there is a bus service available from town and there is free parking among the vines. Mark it on your calendar: Marlborough, October 2025. Cheese and Cheers! See the gallery Photos: ©2024 Marty Ireland Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 15

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Sea Lion As there were expectant mother sea lions on the sand, waiting to give birth, we took shelter from the sun with a stroll through the trees on The Old Coach track alongside the estuary. ©2024 Heather Auckram The Catlins To avoid the volumes of holiday traffic on SH1, we took the slower-paced Southern Scenic Route from Fortrose and were glad we did. ©2024 Heather Auckram Tautuku Bay As we approached Papatowai the road wound through bush covered hills and came out at the must-stop Florence Hill lookout. The view is picture perfect; golden sands of Tautuku Bay, white surf, the expanse of a blue Pacific Ocean. ©2024 Heather Auckram DOC camp The DOC camp is a bush framed camp tucked behind the local store. ©2024 Heather Auckram absolute bliss Escape to Papatowai Heather Auckram 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. To avoid the volumes of holiday traffic on SH1, we took the slower-paced Southern Scenic Route from Fortrose and were glad we did. There was pure scenic magic round every bend; farms, quaint cottages, sea, wetlands, bush, sealed and unsealed roads and hardly any people. As we approached Papatowai the road wound through bush covered hills and came out at the must-stop Florence Hill lookout. The view is picture perfect; golden sands of Tautuku Bay, white surf, the expanse of a blue Pacific Ocean. The DOC camp is a bush framed camp tucked behind the local store. Dogs allowed. You need to book online and there are no designated sites. The next day started with blue skies and went from hot to hotter. As there were expectant mother sea lions on the sand, waiting to give birth, we took shelter from the sun with a stroll through the trees on The Old Coach track alongside the estuary. It’s the original route the horse-drawn coaches took after coming off the beach. The Lost Gypsy Gallery and the local store both make great food, with the store having fuel and supplies too. I could get no wifi signal on the Spark network. I simply had no choice but to just enjoy the disconnection from the world beyond the hills and just breathe. Absolute bliss. Thank you Papatowai from a fully restored human. n Photos ©2024 Heather Auckram Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 11

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption DOC campsites 1: In the north how many have you visited? DOC campsites 1: In the north: Fill in the spaces Rhonda Marshall DOC campsites 1: In the north: Fill in the spaces Rhonda Marshall There are more than 200 DOC sites throughout New Zealand, 34 in the north. Over the next issues the puzzles will travel from North to South. Download a pdf of the game In the grid, fill in 15 different DOC sites from the list on the right. One site will run vertically and the others will run horizontally across the grid. The puzzle does not have gaps between the words., eg., Puriri Bay > PuririBay. Billygoat Basin Booms Flat Broken Hills Cable Bay Catleys Dancing Camp Dickey Flat Fantail Bay Fletcher Bay Hotoritori Kahikatea Kapowairua Maitai Bay Otamure Bay Pandora Port Jackson Puketi Puriri Bay Raetea North Rarawa Beach Shag Stream Stony Bay Tapotupotu Totara Flat Trestle View Trounson Kauri Park Twilight Uretiti Beach Urupukapuka Bay Waikahoa Bay Waikawau Bay Wainora Wentworth Valley Whangaiterenga How many have you visited? Download a solution pdf See the solution Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 42

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption What a difference a day makes Trevor Karton What a difference a day makes. 27 October 2024. ◊ ©2024 Trevor Karton Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 11

4 Winter 2023 4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption In the Winter issue Editor ‘ Let’s go south for a few weeks ’ ‘How many weeks?’ ‘Eight.’ ‘How about six?’ Greenies on the road : Managing food scraps. Winter's here : Some of our most glorious times camping have been in the winter season. Tips and tricks. Before the cyclone : Freedom Camping Eastern Hawke's Bay, Winter 2022. Kiwi Burn Hut Loop Track : We put it to a family-friendly test: with my toddler (and his dada) in tow, we set out. Self containment changes in brief RV & Camper business services : Self containment, LPG work, electrical work, motorhome work & more. Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 3

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption 2-FBwix-cover-2-22-CKW.webp This issue is kindly sponsored by the 
All Points Camping Club of NZ and 
NZ Lifestyle Camping. Camping the Kiwi Way, 2, Summer 2022 Editor Table of contents • Editorial • For councils and government Come camping • Stop and Stay Contribute • About Cover image: Gore Bay. ©2024 M Richardson Buy a copy, subscribe for a year's worth of copies, read it on paper, read it here or read the pdf. The choice is yours. Only $12 a copy delivered, $36 for 4 issues. BUY We bring you travel stories, tips, wonderful places to visit, insight into political changes, some solid information, a crossword: light reading, serious reading and some fun browsing. Enjoy Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 1

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Best pullout kitchen at Campfest 2024 ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Best pull-out kitchen at Campfest Bette Cosgrove Best pull-out kitchen at Campfest ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 31

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Pick and pedal Gary Stoneley Is that e-bike right for you? Many New Zealanders are now moving to e-bikes and they definitely have health advantages while being cheap to operate and maintain. E-bikes allow travellers to park up and get on their bike to explore areas they might usually not get to while keeping their fitness up and catching some good old vitamin D. E‑bikes, battery-powered bicycles, have evolved quite a lot from the early days but with prices ranging anywhere from a thousand dollars to upwards of six thousand dollars how do you choose the bike that is best for you and your budget? I’m not a hardened cyclist and neither is Beverley, my wife, but for several years we have considered purchasing e‑bikes. We have been to many shows and visited many bike shops, tried out our friends’ and show models and watched the prices fluctuate against our limited budget. When Covid-19 came along demand and prices of e‑bikes climbed considerably. It took us a while to decide what was right for us but in the end the purchases were an easy choice. How do you make the right choice, first time round, on purchasing an e‑bikes? What will you use it for? One of the most important things to consider is what you will use the e-bike for and how often, keeping in mind that this could change. If you are only going to use the bike around town then an urban e-bike with limited features will be more suitable than one designed for riding over gravel and travelling rural trails. Some bikes are only suitable for urban riding and generally come with smooth tyres and without suspension. Others are more of a crossover, good for urban riding but with chunky tyres, suitable for occasional off-road riding. How much power assistance do you want? My personal preference is for an e-bike that requires you to still do the hard work with a wide choice of motor assistance. Some e‑bike riders prefer a bike where you only need to pedal occasionally, with the hand throttle giving you all the power and speed that you need. Will you be transporting the e-bike from place to place or will it be permanently kept at one place? If transporting it, how much space do you have to store it on or in your vehicle? What kind of bike rack would the bike need? How would it fit on your vehicle? In some cases a folding e‑bike may be an advantage, so it can be put in the boot or camper rather than mounted on the back (do try it out before buying, to make sure the folded bike actually fits). How far do you want to ride in one go? How far you can go on a single battery charge depends on the size and quality of the battery and how much pedalling you do and how much the bike engine does. Ask the seller how far the bike’s battery should be able to go. Each bike and battery will be different. Also check out how long it needs to be plugged in to fully charge. How much are you prepared to pay? For a couple getting into e-bikes for the first time you could easily spend $2,500 to $10,000 on your first two e-bikes. In NZ bike shops most e-bikes start around $3,400. For smaller folding bikes, or purchasing online, they can be considerably less than $2000. Check out online and instore specials for a bargain or use a discount membership card e.g. All Points Camping Club / Torpedo 7 to get year-round savings. Our experience We bought our e‑bikes in two steps and got some terrific deals by shopping online, but there are risks in this and you need to make sure the bike you are ordering will be suitable for your size and weight. Bev’s lime green urban bike was the first purchase which we scored for under $1000 and was a test run before we spent more money. It came with mudguards, carrier and front basket with the option of three levels of power-pedal assistance or simple pedal-free power. The bike also came with good tyres for a bit of off-road use. After taking this bike away for a camping weekend, two of our friends decided to purchase this model. My e‑bike was purchased initially because I could not keep up with Bev on my mountain bike. After an online search we found an Australian electric mountain bike for $1400. Both bikes are proving their value and we now travel around with them exploring towns, cycleways and on trails rated as ‘moderate level of difficulty’. We have added a few accessories like cell phone holders and mirrors but for under two and a half thousand dollars we have purchased two new e‑bikes that meet our needs, improve our fitness levels and we still have money in the bank. We could have spent so much more and for a first time purchase. Perhaps next time we might buy that $5000 bike but for now we can cycle along merrily. When travelling, check local information for urban and trail cycleways. There is a Facebook group for motorhomers who go cycling (see p36). There are also a variety of cycling apps that you can download on your phone to find and track your next cycling adventure. Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 17

3 Autumn 2023 3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Festivals & Shows Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 35