10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Festivals Whare Flat Folk Festival Mon, 30 Dec–3 Jan Dunedin’s legendary outdoors folk music festival. 15 mins from town. whareflat.org.nz Rhythm & Alps 2024-5 Mon 30 Dec–1 Jan, Wanaka A three-day music festival in the Cardrona Valley. rhythmandalps.co.nz Omakau Trots, Otago Tue, 31 Dec–2 Jan ’25, Omakau, Central Family friendly, with entertainment. Camp for CSC campers. ckw.nz/omakau-25 New Year’s Race Day at Tauherenikau Thu, 2 Jan, Featherston, Wairarapa Live music, family-friendly, racing events. Dogs on leads. On-site camping: ckw.nz/tauherenikau Revitalize Festival Thu, 2–4 Jan 2025, Blackmount, Southland/Fiordland An organic farm, healing, & music festival. Family friendly. No dogs. Free camping. revitalize.nz Egmont Country Festival Fri, 10–12 Jan 2025, New Plymouth A country music blast to kick off the New Year. Camping for tents and vehicles opens on 9th. ckw.nz/egmont-music bookings: crawfordlm50@gmail.com Wairarapa Music in the Country Fri, 10–12 Jan 2025, Tauherenikau Top country music acts. Family friendly. On-site camping: ckw.nz/tauherenikau Katikati Avocado Food & Wine Festival Sat, 11 Jan 2025, Katikati Great food and wines, music, demos. Family friendly. Choose a freedom / camp site, as far away as Athenree (there’s a bus); NZMCA: parking at the local school. katikatiavofest.co.nz Motueka Country Music Festival Sat, 11–12 Jan 2025, Motueka Free. Marchwood Park. Vehicle camping on-site. ckw.nz/fb-motueka-25 Marton Country Music Festival Fri, 17–19 Jan 2025, Marton Some of New Zealand’s best. Camping on-site. Animals on leads. martonfestival.com The Great Momorangi Treasure Hunt Fri 24 Jan, Momorangi Bay Campground, Marlborough Sounds For kids and kids at heart. ckw.nz/momorangi-25 Auckland Folk Festival Fri 24 –27 Jan, Kumeu, West Auckland Play and dance, long into the night. aucklandfolkfestival.co.nz 160th Turakina Highland Games Sat 25 Jan, Turakina Domain, Rangitikei A Scottish festival for all the family. Camp sites available. ckw.nz/turakina-25 Edendale Crank Up Sat, 25–26 Jan, Edendale, Southland CAT, Field Marshall, Emergency Vehicles and Classic Trucks. Family friendly. Camping at the school. ckw.nz/crankup-25 Dimension Festival Fri 31 Jan–4 Feb, Maungatapere, Whangārei District Psychedelic festival of music, art, and transformation. R18. Camp on-site. dimension.nz Burt Munro Challenge Wed, 5–9 Feb, Invercargill and Bluff The Bluff Hill Climb, the smell of the exhaust, the scream of the engines… most make it. Tickets and camping: burtmunrochallenge.co.nz/rally Niagara Falls Bluegrass & Roots Festival Sat, 8–9 Feb, Niagara, Catlins, Southland Musicians converge at the Niagara Falls Caf in the heart of the Catlins. ckw.nz/niagara-25 Napier Art Deco Festival Thu, 13–16 Feb, Napier All that Jazz and the Art Deco Era. Book at a campground, or find a free camp. artdecofestival.co.nz Taranaki Country Music Festival Fri, 14–16 Feb 2025, Waitara, Taranaki 4-day motorhome/ caravan parking. taranakifestival.co.nz Waimakariri Country Music Festival Fri, 14–16 Feb, Rangiora, Canterbury Has CSC campervan parking. Dogs on leads. countrymusic.org.nz Roam Central Wine and Food Festival ‘25 Sat 15–16 February, Central Otago A series of unique events for the wine enthusiast across Central Otago. Find handy freedom camping spots. roamcentral.co.nz Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival Sat 15 Feb, The Cliffs, Carterton, Wairarapa Celebrate the start of the grape harvest. Motorhome (CSC), available, or book at the local camp. wairarapaharvestfestival.co.nz Campfest 2025 Fri 21–23 Feb, Bulls Domain Pack up your tent or camping vehicle and join us for a weekend of fun, music, food and family-friendly entertainment. MORE campfestnz.org South Island Motorhome Show Sat 22–23 Feb, Ashburton, Canterbury Stalls, and come for a social weekend. On-site camping. southislandmotorhomeshow.co.nz Mandeville Fly In & Steam Festival Sat, 22–23 Feb, Mandeville, Gore Vintage aircraft, motorcycles, cars and steam-engines. CSC campers. ckw.nz/steam-event-25 experiencemandeville.nz Cruz’n the Bayz Thu 27 Feb, Paihia, Bay of Islands Over 3 days we cruise Northland with like-minded classic car and bike enthusiasts. cruznthebayz.nz Later Selwyn Sounds 1 Mar, Lincoln, Canterbury. North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival 9 Mar, North Canterbury WOMAD — The World’s Festival 14–16 Mar, New Plymouth Māoriland Film Festival 2025 26–30 March, Otaki, Kapiti. Repco Beach Hop 26–30 Mar, Whangamata George Begg Festival 30 Mar–2 Apr, Invercargill Classic Fighters Omaka 18–20 Apr, Blenheim Arrowtown Autumn Festival 24–27 Apr, Arrowtown Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 46

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption tiny-van-dog-beach-TH.jpg At the beach Steve Allen ©2023 Steve Allen Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 4

9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption There is the toilet tent Toilet and shower tent. ©2024 Gary Hitchcock Toilet and shower tent. ©2024 Gary Hitchcock Toilet and shower tent Gary Hitchcock Toilet and shower tent. ©2024 Gary Hitchcock Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 25

4 Winter 2023 4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Until Jun 6 2023 we called the ability to contain your waste for 3 days ‘self-containment.’ Editorial: The good news Miriam Richardson The really good news came from the Westland District Council in January this year. In their peak Christmas/New Year season, there were about 170,000 camper-nights in their region, and only 47 infringements issued (0.03%). Small towns can take heart, as they welcome freedom campers to their area. Most campers are able to contain their rubbish and all waste products for 3 days and are able to stay and leave no trace (cycle campers and some car campers will plan their route around public toilets). We use to call this ability to contain waste ‘self-containment’ but we need a new word now our parliament has decided a toilet screwed to the floor is a necessary part of ‘self-containment’. Keeping the focus on leaving no trace, ‘tiaki — care for New Zealand’, is the way forward for small towns, campers of all kinds, and for regional and district councils, as they consider how to welcome visitors to their areas. Self containment changes in brief This issue is kindly sponsored by the All Points Camping Club of NZ and NZ Lifestyle Camping . Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 4

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Fun time with all Fantastic time at the Onearo campground Cheryl Roberts Fantastic time at the Onearo campground. Fun time with all. All Points Camping. ©2024 Cheryl Roberts Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 21

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

12 Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption apc_H_bluff-farm-gather-awning-24.webp GO TO Chilly chilly chilly out there The All Points Camping Club of NZ ALL POINTS CAMPING CLUB of NZ We are proud to sponsor this issue of Camping the Kiwi Way Brought to you by NZ’s inclusive, friendly, camping club, for your reading pleasure. Family membership to the All Points Camping Club gives you: ✶ Membership support ✶ Friendly, inclusive camping events ✶ Nationwide savings ✶ Lobbying support for campers’ rights. You don’t have to have a self-contained vehicle to join. You don’t have to be a member to come to our events. It’s more than just a club, it’s like one big family. Come along to one of our events near you.Bring the tent, bring the kids. Image: ©2024 Margaret Earle Join now only $35NZ’s national camping club Join here: www.allpointscampingnz.org ✶ When the benefits far exceed the cost you’d be crazy not to take it up. ✶ Our values: compassion, inclusion, support and encouragement Top image: Motukarara, Canterbury. ©2022 Linda Butler. Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 40

12 Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Chilly chilly chilly out there New Zealand Lifestyle Camping Gary Stoneley NZ’s independent national network for self-containment certification NZ Lifestyle Camping operates as an independent national network for self-containment certification to support the NZ vehicle camping industry. You do not need to be a member of a club or organisation to get your self-containment certification through NZLC but must have a vehicle that is fit for the purpose of habitation. NZ Lifestyle Camping’s network of more than 150 testing officers continues to offer self-containment in accordance with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers, self-containment regulations. We are committed to supporting all types of campers We also offer alternative certification (low cost option) for those who do not freedom camp or for staying at host properties and events. This is suitable for vehicles with portable toilets and tiny homes as evidence of self-containment. FYI: We do not recommend freedom camping while you await your final documentation and window card. Without these you are at risk being fined. NZLC Fees $63: Green (for ‘freedom camping’) warrant and certificate. ✚ Testing officers charge for their time. ✚ $120 government freedom camping levy. $48: Blue ( not for ‘freedom camping’) warrant and certificate. ✚ Testing officers charge for their time. $20: reissue of lost warrant card. Free: an email copy of a certificate. To find or arrange a self-containment check please contact a testing officer near you: nzlifestylecamping.com North Is: ckw.nz/cert-north South Is: ckw.nz/cert-south NZLC provides both blue and green self-containment warrant cards and documentation through our national network of testing officers. New blue warrant cards remain recognised throughout NZ but not for ‘freedom camping’ ( see the detail ). We wish everyone safe travels l We encourage you to ‘Leave no Trace’ when camping. Kind regards, Gary Stoneley, NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd 027 246 9778 4 For further information check our website NZ  LifestyleCamping.com ◼️ Choose from an independent national network of more than 150 self-containment testing officers ©2024 NZ Lifestyle Camping Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 39

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Is it a tent? ©2024 Alex Koveskali take heed to weather warnings It was a tent Alex Koveskali People should take heed to weather warnings up here in the McKenzie country. Strong winds early hours of this morning and rain. The winds stayed. It’s too big for a chair and it’s not moving in the water so I can only guess it’s another tent blown away, full of belongings. Folks tend to leave their tents and go sight-seeing for the day and this happens. Yep, it was a tent. A guy just pulled it out. Photo ©2024 Alex Koveskali Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 25

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Mangapohue land bridge © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle Mangapohue land bridge © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle Mangapohue land bridge © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle Mangapohue land bridge © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle Mangapohue land bridge © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle Mangapohue land bridge © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle Mangapohue land bridge © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle Mangapohue land bridge © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle PiriPiri Caves © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle PiriPiri Caves © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle PiriPiri Caves © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle PiriPiri Caves © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle PiriPiri Caves © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle Marakopa Falls © 2022 Julian Thomson Worth a detour: The Marokopa River Valley Fiona Thomson Next time you’re in the Waitomo area (the Waikato region of the North Island) it’s worth the detour to check out three natural landmarks that are really close together, on the Te Anga Road. Mangapohue land bridge The naturally-occurring Mangapohue land bridge is the 1st attraction. There is a well-formed DOC path through pleasant bush to view the spectacular 17 metre high naturally occurring land bridge. The fern-covered land bridge spans across the cliffs each side of the Mangapohue stream, forming a stunning bush-covered arch. (October ’22: the track is closed due to weather-related erosion. Check the DOC website for updates.) PiriPiri Caves The second stop is a short drive further down the road, to the Piripiri Caves. The walk in was even more fascinating than the cave itself, with this area being filled with interesting rock formations: you could spend a bit of time spotting ancient sea life fossils. Marokopa Falls The third stop was to the Marokopa Falls. Another short bush walk leads to the viewing platform where the 35 metre classic waterfall sprays out above you. Sturdy footwear is recommended, as scenic tracks can sometimes be muddy (and slippery) in this gorgeous river valley. Note: You can’t take your dogs with you on any of these walks. Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 15

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Kakaying Momorangi Bay ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan Cycling ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan Abel Tasman Hike ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan The lighthouse ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan Slope Point ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan St Arnaud Bushline Hut overnight walk ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan Sundown at Cobden Lagoon ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan we’ve made the mistakes so you don’t have to Ten tips for hitting the road full time Kimberlea Turner Van life is becoming more and more popular but the transition to this lifestyle can be far from smooth. Don’t worry, we’ve made the mistakes so you don’t have to. After 3 years on the road, here’s our list of 10 tips to get you from house life to road life. 1. Join a club We recommend joining All Points Camping Club of NZ which opens up a whole host of events, advice, regional groups to connect with, people to meet as well as a host of discounts — ferry crossings, internet, insurance, retail, experiences etc. 2. Check your insurance Check your insurance is for living full time in your caravan/motorhome, plus contents. Star Campercare is a popular option as they specialise in caravan, camper and motorhome insurance. Most policies include a figure for caravan-related contents, but weigh up your options whether it’s worth adding on an extra contents policy for your personal effects. 3. Internet You’ve got a few options these days between endless data plans, portable wifi and satellite wifi. A popular portable option is Netspeed Mobile Broadband, who can also supply antenna boosters and 12V adapters so if you need to be on grid while you’re off grid your internet connection is something to look into. Abel Tasman National Park 4. Homeschooling If you’re travelling with kids, plan for their schooling well in advance — the two main options are a. Te Kura Correspondence via the Itinerancy Pathway, where they are “attending” a registered school with a teacher setting their work. b. Homeschooling, where you are building your own curriculum and required to apply to the Ministry of Education for an ‘Exemption from Attending a Registered School’. This requires at least 6 weeks to be approved, plus the time it takes you to research and write it, so get started early! 5. Move into a smaller place (if possible) One of the best things we did was move from our huge 4 bedroom home, into a smaller 2 bedroom flat for the last 6 months while we prepared to hit the road. It allowed us to get our home ready to rent, and we were forced to do most of the downsizing then, taking with us only what we needed to get through the next 6 months. It made it much easier to pack up all our belongings at the end and the kids got used to having only a box or two of toys, and we all got used to putting things away as soon as we used them… well that was the theory anyway, it’s always a work in progress. 6. Pick a date and stick with it Our deciding date was our eldest daughter turning 5 in February 2021, but we ended up picking a date just shy of the Christmas before, and once we had that date in our minds we had something to work back from otherwise it’s so easy to drag it out longer and longer because, SPOILER ALERT, you’ll never feel “ready”. 7. Take half of what you “need” Disclaimer: we’re still learning this one. But honestly, in your mind what you think you need and what you actually need are worlds apart. We each have one small cupboard of clothes and only one “going out” outfit each and a small selection of toys. One option is to store a bunch of things you might need, and if you haven’t come back for them in a year you’ll be more open to donating or sell them. 8. Pack all-weather gear Have gear ready for all seasons when you head off — good quality rain jackets and gumboots as well as sun hats and swimming togs — you’ll be way more in touch with nature and surprised how often you need clothes for every season. 9. Pack a tool kit If you’re not already a handy person, you will be! Four people in a 14m2 home on wheels is going to put stress on things and between the caravan, the car, and the bikes there’s always something to fix. Maybe our claim to fame is we’ve visited almost every hardware store in the South Island! 10. Be prepared for the highs and lows We have some pretty neat highs, but remember not everything makes it to social media… There are days we want to pull our hair out (or each other’s) or sometimes you’re just “go go go” for so long you start to burn out and take the journey for granted. Remember it’s a long-term journey and the vibes will ebb and flow. Always, when we look back at our journey, we are blown away with where we’ve been, what we’ve seen and all the time we’ve been able to spend together. We can’t wait to see you out there! All photos ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan facebook.com/twokidsandacaravan St Arnaud Bushline Hut overnight walk Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 17

6 Summer 2023 6 Summer 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Dehyrdrating food, Danielle-7632 recipe-dehydrator_w.webp recipe_shoshanna-dehydrate_w.webp Dehydrated dinners Margaret Earle Recipes for camping Initially I bought a dehydrator to make fruit snacks for tramping — like dried banana and feijoa. Over time, friends inspired me to use my dehydrator to make pre-cooked dinners. I use a simple round dehydrator with five trays and follow this method: Cook the meal in a large pan until it is almost dry and then spread the contents evenly across the racks of the dehydrator (about 1 cm thick). It will take at least 12 hours for the meal to be sufficiently dehydrated. It should be the consistency of corn flakes. Place the dehydrated meal in a dry plastic bag and seal it. Store it in a cool and dry place away from the direct sun. A dehydrator enables you to make meals in advance for either tramping or camping. These meals will keep for several weeks unrefrigerated and longer if you vacuum seal them. You can make both meat-based and vegetarian meals. When using meat, I have found that generally minced meats (beef, lamb, pork) are easier to rehydrate than chunks of meat. When you want to rehydrate the meal, empty the contents of the bag into a pot or billy. Cover completely with cold water. You can leave it to soak for a while or heat it immediately. Bring to the boil and continue heating until the mixture is fully rehydrated. Here’s a couple of recipes that I have adapted for the dehydrator. Ratatouille Serves 4 Ingredients 3–4 large eggplants Salt 1–2 onions (chopped) 2 Tbsp olive oil 2 400g tins of chopped tomatoes 2 capsicums (chopped) 1–2 tsp dried basil 2–3 chopped zucchini Method Chop eggplants into small cubes; sprinkle liberally with salt and leave for at least 30 mins. Rinse and drain chopped eggplants. Fry chopped onions in olive oil. When onions are clear, add drained eggplant and fry until eggplant is soft. Add additional olive oil as needed. Add chopped tomatoes, capsicum and basil and simmer uncovered until most of the fluid has boiled away. Add zucchini and continue simmering until mixture is dry. Be careful it doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. Lay mixture on trays in dehydrator. Turn dehydrator on and check after 12 hours. Continue dehydrating until the contents are the consistency of corn flakes. Can be served with rice or pasta. Venison stew Serves 4 Ingredients 450g venison (diced, all sinew removed) 1 Tbsp olive oil 2½ cups diced potatoes 2 cups diced carrots 1 cup diced celery 1 large onion (diced) 2 cloves garlic (minced) 2 tsp, a mix of dried green herbs Salt and pepper to taste 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 1 cup beef stock (or more, if needed) 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce Method Heat olive oil in a large pan and add diced venison. Sauté for a least 5 minutes until it is beginning to brown. Remove venison. Add potatoes, carrots, celery and onion to pan and sauté for around 10 minutes until they start to soften. Add garlic, dried green herbs, salt and pepper. Cook for a further minute and then add chopped tomatoes, beef stock and Worcestershire sauce. Add venison and bring stew to the boil. If necessary add more beef stock but don’t make the mixture too watery. Simmer covered for 1 – 2 hours, stirring occasionally. When venison is tender, remove lid and boil off any excess liquid. Be careful it doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. Lay mixture on trays in dehydrator. Turn dehydrator on and check after 12 hours. Continue dehydrating until the contents are the consistency of corn flakes. Can be served with rice or instant mashed potatoes.  Photo above: ©2023 Danielle Carp instagram ckw.nz/dehyrdate-it-video Shoshanna, Instagram Up Up 6 Summer 2023 , p 12