11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Thermettes in the morning are a great way heat water for coffee and start a toast. ©2025 Graham Leslie Thermettes in the morning are a great way heat water for coffee and start a toast. ©2025 Graham Leslie How to use a thermette a great way to boil water and an \easy way to start a fire A good day’s camping starts with a thermette Graham Leslie A good day’s camping starts using a thermette to boil the water for coffee and for its small fire to then make toast. A thermette is not only a great way to boil water, but it is also a really easy way to start a fire. A thermette is essentially a kettle with a chimney up the middle of it. The advantage is its internal cone chimney shape makes a natural heat updraft to promote the starting of a fire and also it quickly heats the water in the thermette. To use your thermette Stuff some scrunched up newspaper in the separate base compartment that comes with the thermette. Orientate the side vent of the base to catch the breeze. Place the water-filled thermette on top of the base. Drop twigs down the thermette’s chimney and light it. Add more twigs as they burn. This is the easiest way to light a fire in the morning. Once the thermette water boils (indicated by boiling water bubbling out the filler hole) lift the thermette off its base and away from the fire. Lift the base away with a stick leaving a small fire to use to make toast. Add some more wood to your fire as required and if you have a rack (maybe an old oven rack) balance it over the fire on three or four rocks and you are ready to place your bread on the rack to make toast while you enjoy your first coffee of the day. Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 25

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Waipu Caves ©2024 Fiona Thomson Waipu Caves ©2024 Fiona Thomson Waipu Caves ©2024 Fiona Thomson Waipu Caves ©2024 Fiona Thomson Waipu Caves ©2024 Fiona Thomson Waipu Caves ©2024 Fiona Thomson Waipu Caves ©2024 Fiona Thomson Waipu Caves ©2024 Fiona Thomson Hidden gem Fiona Thomson Recently when we were traveling south from Whangārei on State Highway 1, we spotted a sign for Waipu Caves. It was a spur of the moment decision to investigate further, as we turned onto a gravel side road. The road took us on a short journey through a variety of scenery including wetlands, farmland and native bush. On arrival, we were meet by the friendly staff who were just sending a group of school students off with their guides to explore the caves. We enjoyed our hour or so guided walk through the Milky Way Glow Worm cave, where our guide taught us about cave conservation, its geology and ecology. The concrete path, and stainless steel handrails, made for a nice experience as we got up close to the underworld cave formations of stalactites and stalagmites. This is a wet cave system, with water flowing deep below us. This provided just the right habitat to see New Zealand’s world-famous glow worms. There are a number of other activities available at the 320-acre park, including; caving, mountain biking, bush walks through naturally sculpted limestone formations, orienteering, abseiling, rock climbing and archery by arrangement. There are also campground sites set aside for tenting and parking motorhomes, at this newly opened attraction. GO TO Celebrating Summer up close to the stalactites and stalagmites Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 25 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

3 Autumn 2023 3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption I am currently helping my daughter build her own camper as she wants to take a gap year and see our beautiful country. ©2023 Crispian I am currently helping my daughter build her own camper as she wants to take a gap year and see our beautiful country. ©2023 Crispian My daughter building her own camper ©2023 Crispian My daughter building her own camper ©2023 Crispian The dog helps. ©2023 Crispian My daughter building her own camper ©2023 Crispian Gap year Crispian I am currently helping my daughter build her own camper as she wants to take a gap year and see our beautiful country. Crispian Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 19

6 Summer 2023 6 Summer 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption SSTay-Horahor-JENI-CW_mw.webp sstay-horahora1-apc_mw.webp SStay-Horahora_mw_edited.jpg STOP and STAY Horahora Domain Angela Bryan STOP and STAY Horahora Domain has everything any water-sport enthusiast could want. Situated right on the banks of the Waikato River, 2 mins off SH 1 it is the perfect stop whether you’re heading north or south. The only facilities provided are a toilet block with changing rooms, but they are very adequate and clean. Choose to park up in the front with a view of the lake or at the back against the hills with sheep over the fence. There is room for every type of vehicle, but if you want a front row spot arrive earlier rather than later and you can spend the evening watching all the action on the water. The weekend we were here it filled up fast from 3pm onward. Council rules allow up to 30 vehicles with a maximum 2 night stay. Dogs are allowed with the usual rules in place. Fill your tanks before you arrive, as there is no water on-site. Top photo: ©2023 Jeni C-W STOP and STAY Where to stop when travelling and camping in NZ — use it, share it, add to it. Stop and Stay is a free resource for NZ campers and travellers, brought to you by campers for campers. It might be a country pub for a meal, a rural property, a council reserve, a DOC camp; it might be a commercial campground or a unique day-stop or cafe. Please add your recommendations to the list. Anyone one can access the list or make recommendations. It’s free, too, for property owners to be on the list. Remember to always check with hosts first — phone numbers are provided on most listings, and keep in mind that some properties have restrictions. Dog-friendly properties are indicated on each listing, as are wheelchair accessible properties. STOP and STAY | Add a place to Stop and Stay Up Up 6 Summer 2023 , p 34

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption STOP and STAY Ōtaki Rivermouth M Richardson Fishing at the Ōtaki Rivermouth. ◊ October. ©2024 M Richardson Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 11

BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up At the beach Steve Allen ©2023 Steve Allen Up Up Up tiny-van-dog-beach-TH.jpg tiny-van-dog-beach-TH.jpg 1/1

11 autumn 2025 Autumn 2025 ISSUE 11 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption Loading Weight Distribution ©2025 Collyn Rivers GO TO Here & there last summer a virtual recipe for jack-knifing Loading a caravan safely Collyn Rivers Knowing how to locate mass correctly along the length of a caravan is vital. That applies both to its design and the owner’s loading. This article shows the safe approach to loading a caravan — and why and how it matters doing so is vitally important. The caravan see-saw As with a see-saw, two children of the same weight sitting at equal distances from its pivot balance each other. Likewise an adult sitting nearer the middle on one side can balance the far lower mass of a child at the far end of the other side. A centre-axled caravan behaves like this too. Where you locate stuff along its length has the same effect: its distance from the axle/s increases its ‘effective weight’. The effect of locating a 20kg (44lb) item at various distances from the axle/s of a caravan. Locating a (say) 20kg (44lb) tool box directly over a caravan‘s axle will have no effect on that caravan pitching or swaying. But if that tool box is half-way toward the back of the caravan (and that caravan then pitches or sways) — because it is further away from the axle/s that 20kg (44lb) tool box exerts a force as if it weighed 40kg (88lb). If that tool box was on a 10kg (22lb) external rack at the rear of the caravan, it acts as if weighs around 80kg (175lb) and the rack itself an effective 40kg (88lb) [120kg at the rear]. Loading a caravan safely requires [paying attention to] the above. Each spare wheel carried on the rear of a caravan has the same effect. A tool box and rack thus acts as if it were four times heavier at the back of a 7 metre caravan than in the middle. It not only exerts additional force when the trailer pitches and yaws (sways): it induces that pitching and swaying. The effect is similar at the front. The down and side forces on the tow vehicle cause that vehicle to pitch — and yaw sideways. That side force literally steers the tow vehicle by distorting its rear tyres. Weight placement There is a common and very dangerous belief held by many caravan owners (and even a few caravan makers) that it is fine to have a heavy load at the rear as long as it is balanced by a similar load at the front. That is virtually a recipe for jack-knifing . The rig will seem ultra-stable much of the time, but if sway sets in at speed it may be impossible to stop it. The sway is likely to escalate and the rig to jack-knife. This is not an ‘opinion’. It is basic Newtonian physics. Loading a caravan safely — summary Never have heavy items, particularly tool boxes, spare wheels and full jerry-cans, at the very front or rear of a caravan. Always load the tow vehicle to its maximum legally permitted weight. Keep the caravan‘s loading as light as possible — and as close to the caravan‘s axle/s as possible. A caravan needs to be about 10% nose heavy, but do that by locating heavy stuff slightly ahead of the centre-line of the axle/s — not like a weight lifters barbell (that has all virtually all of the weight at the ends). This is why RV Book’s articles and publications so strongly condemn locating heavy spare wheels etc at the extreme rear of long caravans. Be aware that a few long and heavy caravans are being made with all water tanks ahead of the axle/s. With these the critical tow ball mass will vary (and potentially dangerous if water is drawn). They appear to rely on the tanks being full whilst towing. Some have since been recalled and modified. For a truly thorough, plain English explanation of all this (and how to assess the stability of your own caravan) see our book ‘Why Caravans Roll– and how to prevent it’. rvbooks.com.au/why-caravans-roll-over/ n Reproduced with permission. rvbooks.com.au/loading-a-caravan-safely Up Up 11 Autumn 2025 , p 24

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption autumn-fantail-H.webp Fantail Martin Butler Martin got the winning photo of the birds last weekend. Fantail. ©2024 Martin Butler Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 9

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Table of contents, Autumn, issue 3 Editor 2 What’s in a name? Freedom camping 2 Greymouth Star pinged 3 NZ is a camping culture 4 Editorial: looking back looking forward 5 Tautuku Hut Track: Family-friendly tramping in the Catlins 7 A beautiful country, but… 7 Our little escape pod 7 Vans can be SMALL but MIGHTY resources 7 Ten hours into a power cut 8 HELLO 2023 9 Nowhere special 10 Kayak camping 10 Why do I love camping so much? 11 Can the travelling camper save NZ's small rural communities? 12 Exploring the Rangitikei 13 CAMP FEST 14 Bulls for CAMP FEST: to and from 16 SOG®: Fresh air in your toilet 17 Hidden gems: Small towns 19 If the law changes: Managing self-containment 21 Cycle camping: Part 3: completing the South Island circuit 23 Mountain biking 24 Walter Peak 25 Recipes for camping 26 Kaweka Forest Park 28 The power of freedom camping bylaws 29 Waiting on a law change 31 Waihopai Reserve 31 Chameleon 32 NZers go camping: clubs & groups: Fiat Ducato Motorhome Owners NZ Mountain Mamas NZ 33 Stop and Stay Rarangi DOC campground Ngati Toa Domain 34 EVENTS — Camping 34 EVENTS — Festivals and Shows Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing a new coddiwompling adventure SH45 The Surf Coast Highway, Te Ika a Maui North Island Exploring SH45 along the western side of Mount Taranaki was a new coddiwompling adventure for us. South Taranaki is a freedom-camping-friendly district, with many small towns along the way offering vehicle and tent options to free camp. So we were excited to spend a few days there and back on a visit to New Plymouth. ckw.nz/south-tara Our first stop on the way was Pātea, home of the iconic waka sculpture and the ‘Poi ē’ hit-makers, The Pātea Māori Club. Mana Bay, Pātea Freedom camping is possible at Mana Bay beach, including tents, at Seaview Lookout or the York Street picnic area. The church opshop here offered up some handy second-hand items for the van. After filling up with home-baked treats from the Lunch Shack at Hawera, we headed for nearby Waihi Reserve with sheltered spaces for tents and vehicles. The high sand cliffs are a natural wonder here and its a perfect place to join the Coastal Walkway at high tide. We then headed on to SH45 proper, with ever-changing views of the mountain always on our right shoulder. Opunake A highlight was the quirky surf town of Opunake, with multiple free camp options for both tents and self-contained vehicles. The headland site is spectacular if there’s no wind, otherwise, seek shelter at the alternative Lakeside Recreation Grounds, Hurst Park or Middleton Bay. Local shops and cafes welcomed us. A visit to Cape Egmont’s iconic lighthouse is well worth the detour at Pungarehu. And consider a right hand turn here to head towards the mountain to visit the historic settlement of Parihaka with its unique place in our nation’s history. The drive over ancient volcanic rubble beds is a very special roller-coaster ride heading north into Oakura and we took opportunities to take side roads to the coast to check out the surf breaks at top spots like the famous Stent Road on the wild west coast. Each stop added to the magic of this coastal adventure! n Photos ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Next: SH60 Images: ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 6

11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Brian and Rosie ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke The entrance to Rosie and Brian’s ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke The vege shop at Rosie and Brian’s ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke Rosie and Brian’s ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke Rosie and Brian’s ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke Brian and Rosie ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke Butchers Pool ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke STOP and STAY Rosie and Brian’s Maggie O’Rourke What a hidden gem for a POP. I now know why it was recommended to me by members. Is it worth staying here? 100% yes! When I rang to book my stay I got Brian on the phone, with a huge welcome and the directions of 2 yellow vegetable signs and where to park in the 2nd paddock with the caravans. Of course his directions were spot on, but I still managed to overshoot the drive — if you’re heading either way and see the Reporoa sign you’ve gone too far. I tell you, what a welcome! I think why people stay is due to our lovely welcoming hosts Rosie and Brian. They have been operating this site in their paddocks for 8 years, back then it was a gold coin to stay and to help campers out. Brian is a master grower, not bad for 79, 80 this year. Their market vegetable shop and Rosie’s knitted clowns are for sale for cash only. It’s been a delight to stay here for a week learning about our hosts and having homegrown fruit and veges on the doorstep. People travel from Taupo to get their fresh produce here. Though not classed as organic with a certificate, it’s pretty close without that label attached. The vege shop is open Tuesday to Saturday from 8am– 5pm-ish. So what does this POP offer us? Well where does one start? The longer I stayed more I discovered. The cost is $5 per unit per night. You need to be fully self-contained. Tents are welcome, but you need your own toilet. Generators are allowed but please be considerate. Vege shop is open to pay 7 days a week please put money in blue container if they are not in the house or garden. Open year round and no time limit on your stay. Pumice ground for winter stay overs. Potable water. Book exchange. Shelter hut and stage with a piano and couch. Compost bin. Fire pit and bbq area —firewood is available for a donation. Dogs welcome, on a lead. All ages and groups welcome (groups: book in advance). Members and non members welcome. Book your spot by contacting them by phone but please be considerate and don’t ring too late. Nearest dump stations: Rotorua, Wairakei BP (often blocked), Taupo and Kinloch. What’s in the area Fishing at the bridge or by boat on the Waikato River (Brian knows all the best spots); shopping or tourist activities in either Taupo, Rotorua or even the mountain. If you go to bookme.co.nz you may get a bargain of 20–90% off activities and food. Butchers Pool The best kept secret in the area is 19km away, towards Rotorua: Butchers Pool, a free thermal pool. It’s so secret that you think the Google Maps are wrong as there is no sign, but someone’s house numbers are on the fence. It seems the locals don’t want you to know their secret and the sign often disappears. Coming into the dirt road is like a tankers track narrow and rough, me poor girl got shook up a bit (the bus not me); I was praying that no-one took us on coming the other way as there is no room to pass. Toilets, changing rooms and rubbish bins are onsite. Hot thermal pools according to my thermometer sit between 40–42°C. Beware when you climb in as the steps are slippery and pay attention to the signs saying not to put your head under (to avoid bacterial meningitis, a danger at all natural hot pools). Reporoa is 21km away. Another delight. Reporoa Valley Traders & Post Shop; Awaken cafe (8am–5pm Mon–Fri), I highly recommend their coffee and food and the staff are so welcoming and helpful — I ended up asking umpteen questions on the area. The op shop behind the playground on the main street is open 11am–4pm Thursday only. There is a fish and chip shop (11am–7pm, every day). Bake House (5am–5pm/6pm); Reporoa Food Market plus Lotto (7.30am–6.30pm, every day.) The Woolshed Tavern offers drinks, meals, a bottle store and takeaway meals (11am–8pm or 10pm, every day); there is a car mechanic, a tyre shop, police, health centre, vet, and playground. Though Taupo is the same distance from Rosie and Brian’s as Reporoa, Reporoa is not as busy, you can find a carpark, find a seat at the cafe and you can relax way more. Bliss. Plus the Butchers Pool is free just up the road. Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 31

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing a weekend of fun, music, food and family-friendly entertainment Camp Fest ‘25 21-23 February Pack up your tent or camping vehicle and join us at the Bulls Domain for a weekend of fun, music, food and family-friendly entertainment. campfestnz.org Celebrating the whole spectrum of camping from small tents through to large camping vehicles. An awesome line-up of entertainment for everyone, as well as craft, trade and food stalls and a variety of kids activities. Camp Fest 2025 focuses on children and their families: our future campers. Children are free* Adults $40/$30, Children free* All Points Camping Club members $30 Register now ckw.nz/campfest-reg Pay when you register or on arrival (cash or EFTPOS). Print your tickets or save them on your phone to show on arrival. JOIN the All Points Camping Club and get the discount: ckw.nz/apc-join $35 *children school-age or younger are free. "Great catching up with old friends and making new. Some very cool set ups and decorations. " The highlight for me is always the live music especially the covers band for dancing, some super talented people (some are talented campers too). Amy "So many cool campers to check out and vote for. Love the ingenuity and style on display." "Been 2x, first stay the friendliness caused us to join APC. Awesome camp and should be on everyone’s must-do list." Kevin The All Points Camping Club of New Zealand is proud to be the organiser of this wonderful event. Camp Fest is growing each year, this is the 3rd, and it would not succeed without the support of the campers that attend and the general camping industry such as NZ Lifestyle Camping, Route 54 and others in the camping industry. Encouraging our future generations of campers: family-friendly camping Children are our campers of the future so we want to make camping both fun and accessible for families. Activities to keep the younger members of our community entertained and excited about camping will include: Friday evening story-time sessions forpreschoolers and primary school children a talent show a tent pitching competition a treasure hunt quiz, and a colouring competition. The Bulls Domain has a children’s playground and plenty of grassy space for kids and families to set up games and other outdoor activities. We will be providing a variety of play equipment for kids and families to use during the weekend and hope to set up spaces for specific activities such as a bike riding area and a space to fly your kite. "Kids had a ball. Begged us to come again next year." Everyone is welcome at Camp Fest, no matter who you are, what you drive or how you camp Camp Fest is for everyone who camps — whether you have a small pup tent, a large family tent, a pop top caravan, a large motorhome or anything in between. The Bulls Domain has toilets and showers, so it is suitable for camping in tents and vehicles that are not self-contained. We want to make camping fun for everyone and so are planning activities for all ages. Specific activities for kids and their families are being planned. At the last Camp Fest ‘there were very cool set-ups and decorations. My favourite a wee $27 tent by the playground decked out with fairy gear and a wee live fairy inside’. Amy Adults have not been forgotten. On Saturday afternoon and evening you will be able to hear live music from a range of hand-picked artists (more, right) and the Bulls Rugby Club bar will be open. "My friend and I were welcoming people at the gate for most of the weekend. People arriving were all cheerful and there to have a great weekend. We loved the variety of experiences they bought from crusty old campers with decades of camping experience through to those camping for the first time. "One guy turned up in a refrigerated milk truck and we thought he was making a delivery, but it turned out to be all a disguise and the interior of the milk truck was fitted out as a camper." Graham Pet friendly This is a pet friendly event as a large number of us travel with our fur babies. Areas will be set aside around the main field for campers to camp with their pets. Please be aware that dogs must never go on the main playing field. Also keep pets under control and your dogs on a lead at all times. A market square for entertainment, stalls and meeting up with friends We are setting up an area by the stage and rugby clubrooms as a market square with stalls, food trucks and tables and chairs. This will be a great place to chill out, have a bite to each, browse the stalls and enjoy the entertainment. Around the market square will be stalls selling crafts, trade goods and food. The food trucks will have breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. As in previous years there will be competitions for camper’s vehicles, tents and sites. We are also hoping to have some workshops and presentations. Check campfestnz.org for the latest information. Want a stall? Register here: campfestnz.org/stallscampfest Sell your tent or camping vehicle: $20 (plus your entry ticket). "We liked the entertainment, the different stalls, meeting up with friends (of course)…" "The highlight for me is always the live music especially the covers band for dancing, some super talented people (some are talented campers too)." Amy "So many cool campers to check out and vote for. Love the ingenuity and style on display." "Been 2x, first stay the friendliness caused us to join APC. Awesome camp and should be on everyone’s must-do list." Kevin Fun for all ages on the Camp Fest ‘25 stage Our stage programme offers a range of activities such as story time for littlies, activities for bigger kids and a kids talent show. There will be open mic sessions for campers too — we’d love you to share a song, a poem or some comedy perhaps (bring your own instruments). We will have live music Saturday afternoon through to Saturday night. There will be a range of family friendly bands to enjoy. You might like to picnic by the stage and perhaps enjoy some dancing into the evening. The bar will be operating in the rugby club rooms. The stage will shut down around 9pm. Live music line up Jeff & Sheree Acoustic Duo Jeff & Sheree Acoustic Duo This very accomplished duo will be performing their favourite set of classic songs from the 70’s through to today’s greatest artists. Their sound is an amalgam of Jeff’s original, fingerstyle arrangements on guitar, interweaving with Sheree’s soulful bluesy vocals. Incorporating a mixture of Alt-Country, Jazz, Soul Funk Pop but with a rock edge. They play completely live using a loop station and a wing & a prayer! This husband and wife duo is well known in the Manawatu and will bring a super smooth, easy listening vibe. Tina Turley Tina Turley and The Kiwi Connextion Canadian country artist Tina Turley is touring NZ over summer and we are delighted to welcome her back to Camp Fest. Tina is an established country crooner with an unmistakable bluesy, rock n’ roll edge. A powerhouse vocalist who can envelop you and take you on a musical journey with her performance. Tina is bringing her Hamilton-based band The Kiwi Connection with her and this hot little five piece will be playing a range of favourites you know as well as some of Tina’s originals. Karen Clarke Blues Woman Karen is one of NZ’s fine homegrown indie blueswomen. Her music is firmly rooted in Rhythm and Blues. Her original material skirts a range of blues styles with a rootsy, contemporary edge. You’ll detect a dalliance with jazz and alt-country too. A one woman boil up! Her power-packed performance is strong. Grounded. Warm. Her sometimes silky sometimes sultry smoky vocal over distinctive rhythm guitar command regard. This Mama will get your toes tapping. Karen is from Taranaki and she is an All Points Camping Club member. Light Years Light Years Light Years is one of the Manawatu’s best loved covers bands. They were a big hit with the crowd last year so we are delighted that Nick and the boys are coming back again this year. These guys play all your pop and rock favourites and bring a party vibe to our evening. You will be wondering how so much music can come from just three players. Their upbeat energy will charm you onto the dance floor if you are willing. Think party rocks —you know what to do! ◊ All images shared by and belong to attendees. Getting there. Read: All roads lead to Camp Fest "This will be the third year I’ve attended, wouldn’t miss it for the world and there’s so much to do all weekend. A fantastic way to catch up with others and make new friends." Lizzette "The dancing, chatting, debating, eating, cooking, playing, tip-sharing, shopping, viewing set-ups and marvellous camping stories all came together for an amazing time." Bette "Love the common interests and information sharing." Joanne Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 31