7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS 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 up close to the stalactites and stalagmites 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. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 25

1 Spring 2022 A North Island freedom-camping adventure Up Shoshanna Shand After my South Island trip, I decided I wanted to road trip the North Island and go all the way up to Cape Reinga. For me, freedom camping in the car was the best way to do it. I found some couch cushions at the recycling centre, sewing them together formed a perfect bed in the back of the car. I folded down the back seats, leaving one side with the car seat in it. This left enough space for the baby to sleep behind. I bought a gas cooker from Mitre 10 and was set to go. I also had a “pee” jug makeshift toilet which did the trick for emergencies. I had saved up $1000 and had my regular benefit payments weekly. I was still paying rent for my flat back in Nelson but I had about $300 a week to live on for food and fuel. I booked a ferry ticket for the 8th of October. I had a six-week window to do this, with no commitments. I felt so excited, yet nervous embarking on this trip. I worried about money and how it was all going to work. I didn’t plan ahead much, the extent of my plan was to go up one side and come down the other. A week before we were booked to go on the ferry, I dropped a heavy piece of wood on my toe and broke it. Ouchies. It felt okay to walk and I had a moon boot on to protect it from wild toddler and other stuff. We drove from Nelson onto the Interislander and had a cruisy trip over. I was having to hop all over the place juggling a toddler, a broken toe and all our gear. I drove straight up to Woodville to stay with some friends who gave us a horrible vomiting bug. Great start to the trip. Once recovered we headed on up to Napier where we stayed with some lovely friends, felt so classy not camping in the car. We explored Te Mata Peak which was so beautiful. We drove to the top instead of walking because why walk when you can drive). We carried on to Taupo and found a freedom camping spot near Huka Falls. This was my first proper experience of freedom camping since the Catlins. It was a cold night. I found out the gas doesn’t work when it’s really cold, so we ended up having a half-cooked dinner. That night was so cold for Spring, I wasn’t expecting it. We explored Huka Falls which was beautiful! We then drove to Rotorua for the night. We stopped in at Kerosene Creek for a swim, it was super pretty and warm but the toddler wasn’t a fan. In Rotorua we stayed at this really cool wee dinosaur park holiday park. I needed to do washing and have showers etc so it was great to freshen up. We only stayed a night in Rotorua, I wasn’t feeling the vibe, so we left the next morning and drove up the Coromandel. We skipped the Mount; I didn’t realise it was such an iconic place. I felt anxious I wouldn’t have enough time to get up to Cape Reinga before I had to go home. Turned out in the end I had plenty of time! Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove The next day was a big one, we explored Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. If I did it again I would make sure to spend a whole day at Cathedral Cove. Being a true Kiwi, I walked down the steep track to the cove in bare feet carrying my 14 kg toddler in the carrier on the front and my backpack on the back. I ran into a couple on Cathedral Cove beach. I asked them to take photos of us. We got talking, they were so lovely and helped me carry the toddler and our stuff back up to the bus at the top of the very steep hill. One important thing to know about Cathedral Cove is you have to walk a lot more or take a bus from the car park in town. I was late finding somewhere to stay that night. I checked out the Campermate app and found some place to park up. To Auckland The next day was a beautiful one, we drove all the way up the coast admiring the amazing views. I was going to stop at a place just outside of Auckland where you can camp with self-contained or non-self-contained, the place is called Omana Clifftop Campground. When I arrived late in the day, I realised it was owned by Auckland Regional Council and you needed to book ahead and to get a key. I didn’t really know what to do because it was late, the toddler was tired out and we needed to stop for the night. At the carpark before the campground there was a freedom camping spot but only for self-contained vehicles. There was also a toilet at the carpark . So I decided to just risk it and stay the night. I felt soooo anxious about getting caught or getting into trouble over being somewhere I shouldn’t be. At around 9pm when the babe was fast asleep and I was up on my phone the security guy came around checking the car park. My heart was beating so fast and I felt like ohhh nooo im gonna get into trouble crap! He came over to my car and started writing down stuff on his phone. I got out of my car and said “hi” explaining that it got late, and I needed to stop for the night and apologised, asking if there was somewhere else I could park for the night. He was SO nice and told me I had to leave in the morning which I was happy to do of course, and let me stay the night because of the baby being fast asleep. It was such a tricky thing because I didn’t want to purposefully break any laws or rules, but it’s also dangerous to drive when fatigued and the next freedom camping spot was about half an hour away that I could find. That was quite a small but big adventure for us. We drove up to Auckland the next morning and stayed with friends exploring around Karekare and Piha. I’m not a big fan of big cities so I headed up to Whangarei heads. Whangarei You can camp at the carpark at Whangarei Heads without a self-contained vehicle so yay for us. We camped a night there and loved meeting another lovely older campervanning couple, a German guy who was camping out of his car too. I love meeting new people, especially travelers they are always so friendly. We went for a swim first thing in the morning. It was one of my favourite places in the north. On to Cape Reinga After Whangarei Heads we drove up to Paihia and stayed at the Top 10 Holiday Park which was a nice wee stop to recharge devices and do a load of cloth nappies. Then it was only a wee drive up to Cape Reinga. My goal. My dream. It felt surreal as I was driving up the last leg of the road. To the very end of New Zealand. Where the Maori believe the spirits of the dead travel on their journey to the afterlife, to leap off the headland and climb the roots of the 800-year-old pohutukawa tree and descend to the underworld to return to their traditional homeland of Hawaiki. We hung around the lighthouse for a while soaking up the surreal vibes. Eventually it was time to cruise, I found the Te Paki sand dunes and we spent the rest of the hot afternoon climbing to the top of the sand dunes and back down again, eventually the toddler got tired and requested we go back to the car. I went searching on the Campermate app for a place to crash the night. I found a DOC campground, Spirit Bay where we could camp for the night. It was FULL of campers, a long weekend I forgot about. We found a space though and parked for the night. We watched the sunset on the beach, I put the toddler to bed and jumped into the freezing cold showers that we were lucky to have at this campground. I collapsed into our car camper bed exhausted but feeling ecstatic that I had reached the Cape and survived camping with my toddler. The next day was beautiful and sunny (so blessed with good weather up in the Far North). I wanted to find 90 Mile Beach. Google maps, of course, lead me on a goose chase up a gravel road with no reception. My fuel tank was running low and I was getting stressed out. I got back onto the main road and found a fuel station to fuel up at (not many fuel stations up there so make sure if you’re going up far north to fuel up when you can). Driving back south I passed the sign for 90 Mile Beach and did a big face palm. I don’t know why on earth Google maps wouldn’t take me straight there. Oh well. 90 Mile Beach This was my favourite place I think in the north. I drove my Toyota Wish onto the sand dunes and had so much fun driving down the beach. (Definitely do not drive on the beach like me unless you’re in a four wheel drive.) I cooked up a feed of instant noodles then parked my car closer to water. That was a bit of a mistake because a wave came up and almost killed my car. I panicked and tried to drive it up the beach but it was bogged, I tried again slower and yes! It moved. Heart attack moment averted. I drove back up the beach and we had made some new friends near Cape Reinga so stayed there for a night. Next day we went to Rainbow Falls which was beautiful and crowded, long weekend vibes. Such an incredible waterfall to visit though, so highly recommend it. West coast We cut across from the east coast to the west coast and drove through the amazing kauri forest stopping in to visit big old Tane Mahuta. I found a camp for the night called Glinks Gully which was such a cool spot, no reception and right on the beach, low cost campground with hot showers available for a token and a kitchen area to use. We walked up a track to a gentle cliff overlooking the open ocean of the rugged west coast. We drove back to Auckland for a night and stayed with a new friend we made along the way. Only one night because we had booked for a Hobbiton tour, which is near Hamilton, for the next day. Hobbiton The Hobbiton tour is expensive but WELL WORTH IT. Two hour guided tour around the set, and then a stop at the wee pub for a complimentary pint afterwards. Hamilton, Kawhia We stayed in Hamilton for the night parked in someone’s driveway (they invited us to). Explored the Hamilton Gardens the next day and then drove down to Kawhia, Hot Water Beach was pretty cool. We turned up just after someone had left, so I soaked in the hot water while the toddler reminded me he wanted to go back to the car, and played in the sand. The Oparau Roadhouse hosts freedom campers so we stopped there for the night. The owners were so friendly and gave me lots of local tips and recommended we visit Marokopa Falls so we did the next day and it was amazing! Taranaki Next stop Taranaki. I had my best friend living in the Naki and we stayed with her for almost a week just recouping after a busy few weeks travelling. The mountain was amazing, we tried walking up the mountain but it was so cloudy we turned back. Then the sun came out and the clouds moved so we could see the peak. What a magnificent mountain. Southwards On to Palmerston North to stay with more good friends for a week. I quite liked Palmy. It was chilled and friendly. I had itchy feet though and didn’t wanna stay around for too long. We had our ferry booked so had to keep moving. Driving down the west coast of the north island now we stayed on Otaki beach where technically only self contained campers are allowed but according to locals everyone camps there anyways. I had my makeshift toilet to use anyways so it wasn’t a bother. We watched the sun set and just chilled out on the beach, I went for a quick swim the next morning. A local mum saw me share on my Instagram and invited me to her cafe for a chai which was so lovely. BY: Shoshanna Shand PHOTOS: ©2022 Shoshanna Shand Up Up Up Spring 2022 ISSUE 1 BUY PDF CONTENTS I love meeting new people, especially travellers; they are always so friendly. On the Interislander We drove from Nelson onto the Interislander and had a cruisy trip over. Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove The next day was a big one, we explored Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. If I did it again I would make sure to spend a whole day Dawson Falls On the Interislander We drove from Nelson onto the Interislander and had a cruisy trip over. 1/6

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption South Island lakes: fill in the blanks Rhonda Marshall Fill in the blanks Download a printable pdf Solution Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 29

Summer 2023 ISSUE 6 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up Rv & Camper services Up Find rv and camping services. Any relevant business can list; it is free. Anyone can recommend a business to add to the list. No endorsement is implied. The thumbs up shows people you can ask, if you are stuck. Their local knowledge can help you find the service you need. North Island listings South Island Listings Up Up RV-Business-Services_MW.webp RV-Business-Services_MW.webp 1/1

4 Winter 2023 4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption One hundred nights a year Andrew Morton I am on track with my original goal of 100 nights away per year and mountain bike as much as I can in other regions. I just hit 3,000km on my mountain biking tally (non ebike!), 200 nights tonight in 20 months. I am marking the occasion with other teardrops at Orton Bradley Park on Lyttleton Harbour. I got a ‘healthy camper’ check done in Christchurch, having hauled it 15,000km so far. It passed with flying colours, and I look forward to many more trips. Images ©2023 Andrew Morton Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 4

How do you prepare your coffee while wild camping? It’s fresh ground beans in an aeropress for me! Summer 2023 ISSUE 6 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up Coffee while wild camping Up Outdoorsman Dave How do you prepare your coffee while wild camping? It’s fresh ground beans in an aeropress for me! ©2023 Outdoorsman Dave Up Up tiny-aeropress_mw.webp tiny-aeropress_mw.webp 1/1

9 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 ISSUE 9 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption It’s a very looooong flat beach. Long. Flat. ©2024 M Richardson The Farewell Spit The inside of the spit The 4wd bus started on the inside of the spit, skirting inner mudflats. ©2024 M Richardson The inside of the spit The 4wd bus started on the inside of the spit, skirting inner mudflats. ©2024 M Richardson A winding track across the spine of the spit to our first stop on the outer side. ©2024 M Richardson The 4WD really matters on the dunes and the beach. Coming out on the otherside of the spit. ©2024 M Richardson We got to explore the rock formations ©2024 M Richardson We got to explore the rock formations ©2024 M Richardson We got to explore the rock formations ©2024 M Richardson Nikau palms that thrive in this microclimate ©2024 M Richardson We got to explore the rock formations ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson Unstuck The sand defeated the 4WD: we had to get out and push to get back on our way. ©2024 M Richardson It’s a long flat beach. 
 Long. Flat. ©2024 M Richardson Birds. Most of the resident birds decamp to the northern hemisphere for our winter. ©2024 M Richardson Dunes. ©2024 M Richardson The lighthouse; there in the distance; the orange dot. ©2024 M Richardson Heading from the beach to the lighthouse. ©2024 M Richardson A lighthouse and a lighthouse keepers’ house ©2024 M Richardson From the lighthouse ©2024 M Richardson Another light house keepers’ house The light house keepers’ houses are still there. ©2024 M Richardson A lot of green A lot of grass and green from that original garden effort. ©2024 M Richardson Heading back we got to stop and climb a sand dune. ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson It’s a very looooong flat beach A winter day on Farewell Spit Miriam Richardson Winter is not the best time to visit Farewell Spit from a bird point of view, but I was there, so I took the tour anyway, and it was spectacular. The spit is 25km long, and a highly protected area. Only the first 4km is open for public access. It’s a world-recognised bird sanctuary for about 90 species, though most birds decamp to the northern hemisphere for our winter. There’s the long beach on the outer side, high dunes along its spine, and shifting swamps and lakes on the inward side. I imagine it is not just the variety of habitat that is good for the birds, but the lack of people, dogs and other predators. The 4wd bus started on the inside of the spit, skirting inner mudflats, until turning down… a winding track across the spine of the spit to our first stop on the outer side. The 4WD really matters on the dunes and the beach. We got to explore the rock formations and admire the nikau palms that thrive in this microclimate. This beach is open to the public, but you have to walk there. The sand defeated the 4WD: we had to get out and push to get back on our way. It’s a long flat beach. Long. Flat. Birds. Dunes. The lighthouse; there in the distance; the orange dot. The spit got its first lighthouse in 1870. There is still a light house, but it is now automated. The light house keepers’ houses are still there, we had our lunch in one, and conservation workers stay in the others. One of the early lighthouse keepers carried out soil, bag by bag, to create his garden. Macrocarpa and pine were the windbreak tree of choice. A lot of grass and green from that original garden effort. Heading back we got to stop and climb a sand dune. From the top of the sand dune you can see the swamp and lakes on the inner side of the spit, and beyond to the hills on the other side of Golden Bay, around Port Tarakohe. It was a long way back down to the bus. Then it is a long and flat drive again, following our earlier wheel tracks to be sure to avoid any quick or soft sand. Our finale took us westwards, to Cape Farewell. Collingwood campground Then we returned to base in Collingwood, where I had a prime spot at the campground: a winter bonus. ◼️ Images ©2024 Miriam Richardson Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 17

1 Spring 2022 Biking in Southland Up Andrew Morton A three-hour late-night drive to Lumsden freedom camping spot at the station, arriving 11.30pm. Woke to a stunning day, chilly, but an awesome day for riding. Then overnight in Mossburn, driving to Mavora Lakes tomorrow then ride to Walter Peak return (100 km). Andrew Morton. May, Southland. Photos ©2022 Andrew Morton Up Up Up Spring 2022 ISSUE 1 BUY PDF CONTENTS Lumsden free camping spot A three-hour late-night drive to Lumsden freedom camping spot at the station, arriving 11.30pm. An day for riding Woke to a stunning day, chilly, but an awesome day for riding. Cycling near Lumsden Lumsden free camping spot A three-hour late-night drive to Lumsden freedom camping spot at the station, arriving 11.30pm. 1/4

2 Summer 2022 Summer 2022 ISSUE 2 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up Katikati coastal estuary cycle way Bette Cosgrove Up Cycling on a stunning Spring day around the Katikati coastal estuary cycle way which loops back to the town through the kiwifruit, avo and grape vines. Heard the steady clicking and cracking noises from swift strokes of industrious horticulture workers clipping away at their pruning tasks. Folding bikes are a game changer in our van. An easy way to get around and always safely out of the weather, stored in our under-bed garage. A great transport addition to A Van Called Wanda. Bette Cosgrove #vangranz Photos ©2022 Bette Cosgrove Up Up Katikati coastal estuary cycle way Cycling on a stunning Spring day around the Katikati coastal estuary cycle way #vangranz ©2022 Bette Cosgrove Folding bikes are a game changer in our van. An easy way to get around and always safely out of the weather, stored in our under-bed garage. A great transport addition to A Van Called Wanda. #vangranz ©2022 Bette Cosgrove Past the orchards, Katikati The cycle way loops back to the town through the kiwifruit, avo and grape vines. #vangranz ©2022 Bette Cosgrove Katikati coastal estuary cycle way Cycling on a stunning Spring day around the Katikati coastal estuary cycle way #vangranz ©2022 Bette Cosgrove 1/5

1 Spring 2022 How to organise a group weekend Up Mary Reid We all look forward to the catch ups, the fun, laughter and good times; doing as much or as little as we choose at the venues. I give a venue address and date, at the right price, along with a list of possible activities that members can explore, including just relaxing and lazing and refreshing ourselves. We regularly have around 20–25 people at our camps in a range of motorhomes, caravans, buses and yes tents too, along with up to 6 dogs. We have a wide range of people of all ages and senses of humour. Happy hour (and beyond) can often mean a good belly laugh or three as people get the mood going and the stories flowing. BY: Mary Reid, All Points Camping Club in Waikato/ Bay of Plenty Keep on making memories, having fun, meeting new people and exploring: #campingTheKiwiWay Photo: An All Points Camping gathering on an Ohope orchard (Bay of Plenty). August 2022 Photo: Poptop get together ©2022 Adam Beaumont Up Up Up Spring 2022 ISSUE 1 BUY PDF CONTENTS A gathering on an Ohope orchard A group of us met up in Ohope, Bay of Plenty. in August 2022. ©2022 Angela Bryan Poptop campers meet up ©2022 Adam Beaumont A gathering on an Ohope orchard A group of us met up in Ohope, Bay of Plenty. in August 2022. ©2022 Angela Bryan 1/2

8 Winter 2024 Winter 2024 ISSUE 8 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Autumn Gold favourite tips and tricks for cold Winter tips from our previous issues Editor Winter tips never go out of date... Winter’s here… Here’s a few favourite tips and tricks for keeping warm, dealing with cold, wind, rainy days, and embracing the colder months outdoors. ckw.nz/winter-tips Photo © 2023 Bette Cosgrove TIPS for the cold Camping in the winter (tent or van) needs to be pretty organised and good gear is needed. I do most things, from being out and about in my van to tramping and snow-holeing. ckw.nz/tips-cold Photo ©2022 Daniel Munro More cold season tips Sharing our best hacks which made life so much easier on a recent Matariki vanning trip. ckw.nz/tips-cold-more Photo ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Insulation: Preparing for the cold winter “brrrrrr’s” Darn, we could only get the new heater up to 10ºC on that night, and woke to a -3ºC frost. Eventually we were told the poor insulation and many windows in the bus were the problem. ckw.nz/brrrr Photo ©2023 Linda Butler Pegs for tough weather A commercial and a DIY (metal) version of a peg for windy weather. ckw.nz/pegs-for-wind . Photo ©2023 M Richardson A stove jack Best mod for camping so far, a stove jack sewn into the awning. ckw.nz/stove-jack Photo ©2023 Keil MacDiarmid It was cold at Mavora Lakes I think the Mrs thought I was a bit crazy suggesting a night away in the van this time of year. ckw. ckw.nz/mavora-cold Photo ©2022 Daniel Munro Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 31

1 Spring 2022 1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Lake Aniwhenua Ohope gathering An All Points Camping gathering on an Ohope orchard (Bay of Plenty). August 2022

 ©2022 Angela Bryan Keep on making memories, having fun, meeting new people and exploring: #campingTheKiwiWay. News from clubs and groups Mary Reid Easter: Lake Aniwhenua camp
 Wow what a great camp; we went from expecting 8 or 9 people to having over 20, with a range in numbers of nights spent at the camp, as well as day-trippers adding to the vibe. But what a fantastic camp site —staying lakeside all the water sports were on offer, trees, walks, kids adventure playground including flying, and apart from the night chill we had fab days, albeit with the pesky wasps and/or mossies. We had the expected awesome camp social times with nights full of great humour and friendship as we caught up with members we knew and got to know the newbies — fab to see so many new faces rocking up to the Waikato-BoP camp and we all look forward to the next time we see you. Keep the wheels rolling. BY: Mary Reid, All Points Camping, Waikato/ Bay of Plenty Share stories and images from your group’s meetings and events. Anything that would be of interest to other campers, and or would encourage others to join your group or participate with you. Get your photos and stories to us by 1 Nov for the Summer/December issue.
 Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 26