A caravan travels through five generations. BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up Grandad’s Grandad’s caravan Graham Leslie and Margaret Earle Our son Tom was five days old when he first went camping. He’d been born on Boxing Day and we were keen to join the rest of our family for New Year at Morison’s Bush in the Wairarapa. In those days we camped in a tent but, because we had a newborn, my parents-in-law offered us the caravan. It made looking after baby Tom much easier. The caravan — sometimes called Escargot because of her snail-like shape — was built in Dunedin in the 1960s by my partner’s grandfather, William Leslie. At that stage he had retired to Dunedin from his farm in the Catlins and built his own house with timber from the farm. Escargot was the third caravan he built. Escargot was designed with my parents-in-law — Adrienne and Stewart Leslie and their young children — in mind. It became their first family caravan. Escargot is 9ft 6in (≈2.9m) long and 6ft 2in (≈1.9m) wide — designed so that Stewart could fit in the double bed across the back. The frame of Escargot was built from ribbonwood (manatu) milled from the farm in the Catlins. The caravan was covered with marine ply and painted. As well as the double bed, there are two bunks at the front and there was a cradle across the end of the double bed for the baby. The wardrobe was built between the door and the bunks and has a curtain at the side so that as the kids grew taller, they could stretch their legs into the side of the wardrobe. But, in reality, the kids generally slept in the car or a tent. In the mid-1990s when my parents-in-law bought a larger pop-top caravan in preparation for retirement. They offered us Escargot. We were quite happy camping in tents, but there was no market for second-hand, home-built caravans so we agreed to take her. Our first task was to cover Escargot in fibreglass to make her more weather-proof as we had nowhere dry to keep her. Escargot became an integral part of our camping arrangements. Because she is small, our kids didn’t get to sleep in her very often either. However, I can remember making breakfast for 9 (4 adults and 5 kids) after a very windy night camped at Kaitoke Regional Park (just north of Upper Hutt). Our friends’ borrowed tent had got bent in the strong winds overnight and by breakfast time 9 of us, huddled in the caravan, were the only campers still at Kaitoke. Fibreglassing the outside of Escargot only delayed the inevitable. Water seeped in and the ribbonwood frame started to rot. By the mid-2010s it was time to give her a substantial rebuild. We pulled off the marine ply, replaced any framing that was rotten, insulated her as best we could, completely rewired her and reclad her in aluminium. Tom and Vivian (our daughter-in-law) worked with us on this major project. We have had many adventures and travelled many miles in Escargot. In the last year we have taken our young granddaughter to several All Points events and she has slept in the same bunk that her grandfather and dad did when they were young. The latest adaptation of the top bunk, to make a cot for the latest arrival; the 5th generation. History does repeat. This year, in preparation for my retirement, we bought a larger caravan with good insulation and heating. Fortunately, Tom and Vivian were keen to take Escargot and are making it their own. So our two granddaughters will grow up going camping with Granddad’s Granddad’s caravan. I suspect that like the generations before them they will mostly sleep in tents alongside Escargot. 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 Our two granddaughters will grow up going camping with Granddad’s Granddad’s caravan. Click on the gallery for a full size view 1965, Aug, Camped at Momorangi 1989 1989 Graham Leslie & Margaret Earle with loaded Caravan & XA Falcon for trip to Ohiwa The new caravan The Desert Road: On our first road trip with our new caravan. We made it successfully from Wellington to Whangarei. ©2023 Margaret Earle 1965, Aug, Camped at Momorangi 1/16

BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up Table of contents, Spring, issue 5 Editor 2 Freedom camping under the new law 4 E ditorial 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 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 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… 29 Mobile cell towers 29 The Aeropress 30 Around my own back yard 32 The smallest church 33 Events — Camping 34 Events — Festivals and shows Up Up Up 1/1

2 Summer 2022 Summer 2022 ISSUE 2 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up Another beautiful day at Tangimoana Gail Kupe Up Another beautiful day at Tangimoana. (Manawatu) ©2022 Gail Kupe Up Up tangimoana_w_m.webp tangimoana_w_m.webp 1/1

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