2 Summer 2022 Summer 2022 ISSUE 2 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up Articles from Collyn Rivers Collyn Rivers Up Battery capacity “Cabins and RVs should have the maximum solar capacity feasible. This ensures batteries will charge fast and deeply even with intermittent sun.” Collyn Rivers. Read the article: ckw.nz/battery-capacity Lithium-iron batteries in RVs Lithium-iron batteries in RVs – they are safe to use. They deliver a lot of energy and pack a lot of power but need specialised knowledge to use safely and reliably. Here’s the how and why for the LiFePO4 (lithium-iron) variety. Collyn Rivers. Read here: ckw.nz/lithium Lithium-ferro phosphate (LFP) batteries – a lithium battery rival The two battery types share some similarities but differ in high-energy-density, long life-cycles, and safety. The use of lithium-ferro phosphate (LFP) in batteries increases the choice of chemicals for battery production and reduces reliance on the more expensive, and difficult to produce, lithium hydroxide. Collyn Rivers. Read here: ckw.nz/lithium-rival Collyn Rivers' 2004 4.2 litre TD Nissan Patrol and TVan each had their own self-contained solar system. (Photo rvbooks.com.au ) Up Up electric-battery-rv_m.webp electric-battery-rv_m.webp 1/1

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Fortrose Photos ©2024 Sheryl Moffat Fortrose Photos ©2024 Sheryl Moffat Fortrose Photos ©2024 Sheryl Moffat Fortrose Photos ©2024 Sheryl Moffat Peaceful Fortrose Sheryl Moffat A beautiful peaceful place, Fortrose, in The Catlins. n Southland. ©2024 Sheryl Moffat Free camping here with a non-fixed toilet will be impossible after the law changes. GO TO Celebrating Summer Free camping here with a non-fixed toilet will be impossible after the law changes. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 9 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

Summer 2025 ISSUE 13 BUY PDF Contents Click on image for full view and caption camp-shower-5-H.webp camp-shower-1.webp camp-shower-2.webp camp-shower-3.webp camp-shower-5.webp GO TO as the seasons change it works brilliantly A simple camp shower Graham Leslie Our friend Jean Roger said she used old plastic milk bottles to make a simple solar shower. We have just tried this on our sailing holiday and it works brilliantly. Fill some empty 2 litre plastic milk bottles with some clean water (clean enough to wash in at least). Leave these sitting around in the sun for a while. On the boat we filled them before we left port. Pre-prepare some additional milk bottle container tops with holes in them. I drilled about 10 holes in each top to make a shower rose. When you want a shower (like when you have just got out of the salty ocean) change the standard top on your milk bottle to your one with holes. The bottle has a convenient handle and you can direct the water exactly where you want it. No need to suspend a heavy 10 or 20 litre solar shower or fiddle with an annoying plastic tap. No water is wasted as you have total control to direct water as you want it. A two-litre bottle appeared to be enough to get wet, soap up, and wash off afterwards. If needed I reckon you could even add a bit of heated water if required. 🏕️ Images: ©2025 Graham Leslie Up Up Summer 2025 , p 10

11 autumn 2025 Autumn 2025 ISSUE 11 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption Woke to fog in Morrinsville this am. Where’s summer? Crazy. Yesterday it was 28° here, I melted. ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke GO TO Here & there last summer Woke to fog Maggie O’Rourke Woke to fog in Morrinsville this am. Where’s summer? Crazy. Yesterday it was 28° here, I melted. Off to Te Aroha today for a massage then Opal Hot Springs campground tonight for a treat. ©2024 Maggie O’Rourke Up Up 11 Autumn 2025 , p 9

Summer 2025 ISSUE 13 BUY PDF Contents Click on image for full view and caption spring-four-camping-2_H.webp spring-four-camping-1.webp spring-four-camping-3.webp GO TO as the seasons change We are the only ones here, apart from the sandflies… Four of us went camping. Linda Butler We are the only ones here, apart from the sandflies… Still plenty of skin left for them to feast on tomorrow. Wooded Gully, North Canterbury. ©2025 Linda Butler Up Up Summer 2025 , p 7

2 Summer 2022 Summer 2022 ISSUE 2 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up Hints and tips on toilet cassettes Heather McMurdo Up 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 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. Dont leave it behind Leave the Dump Mate bag in your cassette locker to remind you not to leave your Dump Mate behind. A dump mate Use our Dump Mate! Emptying the cassette with a Dump Mate, is a very quick and clean operation. 1/4

Summer 2025 ISSUE 13 BUY PDF Contents Click on image for full view and caption SS_Athenree-_20250902_090853.webp SS_Athenree-_20250902_090905.jpg SS_Athenree-_20250727_215332.webp SS_Athenree-_20250727_215048.webp SS_Athenree-_20250727_215015.webp SS_Athenree-_20250727_215131.webp GO TO as the seasons change Finalists for the 2025 Holiday Park of the Year STOP and STAY Athenree hot springs and campground Maggie O’Rourke Near Waihi, Bay of Plenty. Hot pools all year around is a treat if you stop and stay at Athenree Hot Springs and Holiday Park. This is the first campground I’ve been too that offers this many free nights: stay 4 pay 3 or stay 7 pay 5. With a max stay of 7 weeks this is a great winter stay-over. Close to Waihi, Waihi Beach and Katikati this is a prime campground. They offer an All Points Camping discount on nightly rates if you aren’t staying long enough for their special deal. There is a shuttle service to Waihi and Katikati; Waihi Beach RSA will do pickups and drop off; and a local taxi driver is available (talk to reception). This is a pet-friendly camp though there are restrictions over Christmas and Easter. The owners/management and staff are awesome and treat you like you’re not just a guest. Just recently after 100km plus strong winds, they rang everyone in campers and caravans to check if they were okay — I’ve never before been to a campground who would do that. This is true service, thanks Peter and Belinda. This camp was one of the finalists for the 2025 Holiday Park of the Year. Cabins, motels and camping sites are available. Facilities are clean and they offer hot-pools, shop, kiosk with coffee and pies, TV room, laundry, dump-station, kitchen and bathroom of course, and they are pet-friendly.There is a children’s playground across the road; kayaks and bike buggies are available for hire. Do not book online, contact them directly for all discounts and availability. Site fees (Oct 2025): Adult $28, children $19 per night. Don’t forget to show your APCNZ card to receive your discount. Cabins from $95; there’s a dog friendly cabin. Check their Facebook pages and website for cabin deals. Camp sites only: April through to November, excluding school and public holidays: choose either the club discount or these special deals. Stay 4, pay 3 — Stay 4 nights on one camp site and only pay for 3. Stay 7, pay 5 — Stay 7 nights on one camp site and only pay for 5. n athenreehotsprings.co.nz 1 Athenree Road, Athenree, 
Bay of Plenty 07 863 5600 Photos: ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke 🏕️ Up Up Summer 2025 , p 30

2 Summer 2022 Summer 2022 ISSUE 2 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up Pick and pedal Gary Stoneley Up 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 1/1

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing DOC update DOC How to be a low impact camper Get the most out of your stay at a DOC campsite, minimise your impact and respect people, wildlife and places. Image: Camping on the Whanganui Journey © Laura Honey | DOC ckw.nz/doc-camping Time to get out and explore Tairāwhiti “We’ve got some beautiful spots on our doorstep waiting to be explored,” says DOC Senior Ranger Moira Lee. “Te Kuri Walkway in Gisborne, Cooks Cove Walkway in Tolaga Bay, and the DOC campground in Anaura Bay are all open for visitors. IMAGE: Anaura Bay © Moira Lee | DOC ckw.nz/tai-rawhiti-24 | ckw.nz/east-coast-24 DOC Northland readies for a busy summer DOC is gearing up for a busy summer, with thousands of campers expected to flock to popular Northland campsites. Northland’s DOC campsites have always been a favourite for summer holidaymakers, offering unique experiences from coastal views to tranquil bush settings. We encourage people to plan ahead and book early where possible, especially during peak times and be aware of the rules in place to protect these special places. No dogs. Image: Mimiwhangta Campground with campers © DOC ckw.nz/doc-northland-24 Lighting fires on public conservation land Find out when and where you can light fires at huts, campsites and in the backcountry on public conservation land. Image: Christina Wray | Creative Commons ckw.nz/doc-fires Meat the G.O.A.T Wild goat meat is one of the most lean and high-protein meats. In the National Wild Goat Hunting Competition DOC teamed up with Cazador restaurant to share some tasty wild goat recipes. Image: DOC © Cazador restaurant cazador.co.nz | ckw.nz/goat-recipes Leave Denniston relics where they lie DOC has a simple message for locals and visitors to top West Coast tourist destination and Tohu Whenua site Denniston — “leave Denniston relics where they lie.” Image: Denniston relics © DOC` ckw.nz/relics Celebrating 10 years of West Coast Marine Reserves The main intent of marine reserves is as areas for scientific study. But they have also been celebrated as places to enjoy the natural environment, and as a kind of insurance against the impacts that people can have on the sea. They are a place where fish and other sea life can grow, sustaining local habitats and breeding stocks. Each of the reserves has unique features. ckw.nz/wc-10yrs | ckw.nz/wc-marine | Image: ©DOC Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track becomes New Zealand’s 11th Great Walk Hump Ridge Track is a 3-day loop over sub-alpine tops and around rugged coastline in southern Fiordland. It opened as our 11th Great Walk on 25 October 2024. Image: ©DOC ckw.nz/11th-great-walk | ckw.nz/hump-ridge-24 | ckw.nz/hump-ridge-book Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 44

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing never underestimate the kindness of strangers We got bogged: “Because it’d be funner,” he said Craig Nelson Well. There we were. Bogged. How did we get here and how did the intrepid road trip travellers, Mr and Mrs N. come to be bogged at the Clark Valley Recreation Area, before Murchison on State Highway 6, in the South Island of New Zealand? Where did all this — road trip — exploring the country — lark come from anyway? All good questions. We need to go back in time, a time before we knew that Covid19 was a thing, a time when facemasks were those yellow things that might fall in an “unlikely event” from the overhead panel on an aircraft. Let us go back to 2019 BC (before caravan), and we, that is Mrs N and I, were planning an extended road trip of the South Island, the following year, in 2020. Pause for knowing giggles, snorts and — yeah rights! Having been avid tent campers for several years, we quickly ruled that out for a road trip — the idea of setting up and tearing down a tent every second day or so didn’t seem fun. Plus, South Island in May? Could be a tad chilly. This left two possibilities: Take the car to the South Island and stay in motels, camping ground accommodation, Airbnbs, etc, etc. Fly to Christchurch and hire a motorhome. After listing and discussing all the pros and cons, which I shan’t bore you with here, we eventually decided on a hired motorhome trip around the South Island. But, I do seem to remember saying: “Because it’d be funner!” That settled, we booked for May 2020. It would be autumn and our 25th wedding anniversary. How lovely. Then, like it was for many others, all our grand plans all got covid-cancelled. The motorhome booking was rolled over to the following year, May 2021. Fast forward to May 2021. After a quick flight from Auckland to Christchurch, we picked up our motorhome. We were away from home for the next four weeks. We set off at break neck speed to do the whole, yes the whole of the South Island in our allotted time. (Yes, yes, we go a bit slower nowadays, but what were we to know back then? You never know when there might be another lockdown! The South might declare independence from the North!) After a quick up and over loop, taking in Kaikōura, Picton, Marahau (Abel Tasman National Park) and Nelson we were heading towards Murchison and the West Coast via SH6. Mrs N. was driving — which we share. We saw an inviting looking rest area to stop for lunch. We pulled into the Clark Valley Recreation Area, noting the ‘no camping’ sign at the gate — all good, we were just going to be here for a quick lunch stop. Or so we thought. The gravelled driveway, appeared to loop around on itself. Excellent — drive in drive out, nice and easy. However, the gravel suddenly gave way to grass halfway around the loop. No worries, there appeared to be a clear track looping back around. Well, there was, but there was also a little hollow dip and then a slight rise back up to the beginning of the loop. Mrs N. cautiously navigated the little dip and started to drive up the little rise. About halfway up, the right front wheel started to spin on the wet grass. Now here’s the thing. I am pretty sure that if we had stayed where we were and thought things through, we would have been able to get ourselves going again without too much fuss. We will never know because: Mr N: Just roll back down and give it another go — a little bit faster this time! Mrs N: Okay darling — I trust your judgement implicitly! Mrs N. then reversed the motorhome back down the rise, and we ended up with the front wheels, yup you guessed it — in the little hollow dip. A dip which just so happened to have a little stream of water trickling through it. Well. If we weren’t completely stuck before, we sure were stuck now. Both the front wheels were now spinning and going nowhere fast. Attempts to feed sticks under the wheels proved amateurishly futile. Both the front wheels were now spinning and going nowhere fast. Just as we were contemplating a night stuck in the ‘no camping’ rest area, a couple pulled in — sensibly staying on the gravel. I guess they figured out fairly quickly, we needed some help because they came over to see what the problem was. The problem was that we were still around 57km from Murchison, and stuck in a valley with zero phone coverage. The kind couple said they would drive further along the road and up to the Hope Saddle, where there should be phone coverage to call a tow truck. The Hope Saddle was around 10km further on from where we were. They even said they would drive back again and let us know that they had been able to call for help. All this they did and after about 20 minutes or so, they came back and told us a tow truck was on its way. They even waited for it to arrive, before going on their way. Well, what can you say? Thank you! The driver of the flat-bed tow truck had also brought along his large 4x4 on the back. He said he needed to be careful with his truck: Tow truck driver: This thing will get stuck on a cow pat! In less than five minutes, he had his 4x4 off the back of his truck, and had pulled us free with a bungee snatch strap. MR N : What do we owe you? Tow truck driver: Nothing — the AA roadside assist will cover it! MR N : Excellent! Thank you very much! Is there a moral to this story? Yes. When dips happen, and they will — stop, and think before you act. As long as it is safe to do so, get out and look, assess the situation. Nothing bad will happen — if you’re stuck, taking a moment to get out and look, have a wee think — won’t make you any more stuck. Don’t make the situation worse by guessing or doing the first thing that comes into your head. As I mentioned earlier, and while I can’t say for sure, I think if we had got out and looked and taken a breath or two, I think we could of got ourselves going again half way up that little hill. If we had looked, we would have seen the dip behind us. Lastly — never underestimate the kindness of strangers. ◊ Photos ©2024 Craig Nelson Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 8

11 autumn 2025 Autumn 2025 ISSUE 11 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption Camping at CampFest ©2025 Jo Ward GO TO Here & there last summer Camping at CampFest Jo Ward CampFest, Bulls. February. ©2025 Jo Ward. More on CampFest Up Up 11 Autumn 2025 , p 5

11 autumn 2025 Autumn 2025 ISSUE 11 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption Levellers in action A leveller A leveller A leveller kit GO TO Here & there last summer Is it all worth it? Fitting Auto levellers Ian Read I was talked into fitting auto levellers to our 2018 Fiat Ducato Jayco Conquest motorhome in 2019 after having some extra large water tanks installed. I thought this would be the answer to the plastic drive up ramps many use. At Waihi Beach we had a bad experience with these plastic ramps which meant I had to saw one in half to get unstuck, but that wasn’t the main reason for ‘investing’ in a set of MA-VE levellers. For those who own and drive a motorhome built on a Fiat Ducato chassis, there are very real dangers of touching the brakes and accelerator at the same time which can cause thousands of dollars in clutch/gearbox repairs. So, we booked in to have the system installed and on collection found that the ‘verbal quote’ of $8,000 was underestimated and came out closer to $12,000. Oh well, we’re committed now, so pay up and shut up. We were told at the time that certification was not required, but more on this later. We were away camping at Rerewhakaaitu, out from Rotorua, for a week long camp and on leaving our levellers gave off a warning buzz which I ignored only to find that on driving forward the front drivers side foot hadn’t retracted and we were ploughing up the field!! I had to press the ‘up’ button several times to get the foot up, but was concerned that this should not be happening. Many not-to-be-missed freedom camping spots are far from flat. Pines, Lake Pukaki. ©2019 M Richardson. On another occasion, we needed a tyre repaired and I happily told the tyre shop they didn’t need a jack as I could raise the motorhome off the ground for them. I did this and lo and behold the drivers rear jack was on a 30 degree angle!! That’s not supposed to happen. So off back to the installer who spent the day building a special frame to support the rear jacks!! I thought, surely this is a warranty issue, but no, another charge of $1,500. Over the next couple of years we just had the odd niggle with one of the feet not retracting and I had by this stage, found a ‘specialist Ma-ve installer’ in Taupo and he did some maintenance and adjusted pressures on the pumps. Now, after a total of about 8 COF’s, I was informed that we did indeed need certification, so I contacted the installer who palmed me off to the importers in Auckland who promised to get in touch, but never did. I made contact with the Taupo specialist who arranged a certifier to inspect, only to find that the rear set was causing chassis damage and would not comply. Bugger. Thankfully the specialist had a solution so he booked us in and undertook proper installation and has arranged for the certification, but there’s another bill coming!! Is it all worth it? Well, yes, but make sure your installer knows what they are doing. It is very expensive, but so are clutch repairs. There are plenty of advantages in having hydraulic lifters, like tyre changes, emptying tanks and getting level quickly. n more: ckw.nz/levellers Ed: Check that your particular levellers can be used for tyre-changing, or for people working underneath the vehicle. Many require the use of axle stands for safety. Up Up 11 Autumn 2025 , p 13