10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing wild silverbeet! Marfells Beach M Richardson Marfells Beach is a DOC camp (pay online, whew, there is mobile coverage this time) has wild silverbeet. Not just thickly (and usefully) in verge, but sprouting in the sand too. Marlborough. ◊ ©2024 M Richardson ckw.nz/doc-marfels Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 21

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption The cat comes too ©2024 Warren B Smith only 6km from home... The cat comes too Warren B Smith The cat comes too. This spot is only 6km from home. And the cat always come along for the adventures… ©2024 Warren B Smith Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 16

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Xmas at Aniwhenua... ... with 6 others, all old friends from around the North Island. ©2024 Carolyn London Xmas at Aniwhenua ©2024 Carolyn London Xmas at Aniwhenua ©2024 Carolyn London Xmas at Aniwhenua ©2024 Carolyn London six others, all old friends STOP and STAY Christmas at Lake Aniwhenua Carolyn London Christmas at Lake Aniwhenua , with 6 others, all old friends from around the North Island. Lovely spot, local to us. It was very hot. Carolyn London.Bay of Plenty. ©2024 Carolyn London Any camping is allowed. Not affected by law changes. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 15

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Self-contained- blue-H.webp Who can freedom camp from now until 7 June 2025? M RIchardson You can freedom camp if your warrant is one of these three. Certified Blue before 7/7/23 , and not expired. Fixed or portable toilet. Certified Blue before 7/7/24 , and not expired. Fixed toilet only. Green Warrant The above warrant holders can freedom camp on public land, which means: all land managed by district and local councils. This may include land otherwise controlled by NZTA, LINZ or DOC. LINZ: Currently LINZ has 5 freedom camping areas and the new law applies. As at May 2024 DOC has made no changes relating to self-containment: the existing standard applies (portable or fixed toilet) for sites that require self-containment.  ckw.nz/linz An enforcement officer may inspect your warrant card. If they have a valid reason to ask , you must produce the self-containment certificate. An enforcement officer may not inspect inside your vehicle. Freedom camping & self-containment 2 Where are we at with self-containment and freedom camping? 2 Who can freedom camp from now until 7 June 2025? 4 Getting your camping vehicle certified 8 Am I freedom camping? 8 What you need for a green warrant for freedom camping 10 Planning a toilet for the freedom camping green warrant? 12 Venting a toilet cassette: why, what, when and how 14 Keeping up with the self-containment changes 16 Composting and coddiwompling ︎ Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 2

1 Spring 2022 1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ©2022 Tackle Tactics The bill is based on the flawed premise that travellers with a portable toilet are less responsible than those with a fixed toilet The controversial Nash Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Bill Gary Stoneley The Minister of Tourism’s (MP Stuart Nash) draconian proposals to further regulate ‘freedom’ camping in NZ is a hot topic at the moment. For two years the minister has been very vocal about what he wants to change and when it will happen. Time is getting on and finally we have a proposed bill to study. Following on from initial public consultation of the style ‘we are going to do this’, the industry has been in a state of limbo, wondering if and when any changes will take place. Stuart Nash’s proposals, should they progress, do not address the current regulatory inconsistencies and disadvantages for tent campers but move to further disadvantage ‘all’ vehicle campers who carry a portable toilet. Based on the misguided premise that travellers with a portable toilet are less responsible than those with a fixed toilet, the Minister’s proposals intend to stop all vehicles with portable toilets from being able to be certified as self contained. These proposals are harmful to our camping industry and detrimental to an inclusive society. The Ministers proposals dont address the problem of providing toilets for travellers. The lack of public facilities thorough the country is the root cause of the problem, and it affects all travellers, not just those who camp. While the Minister suggests that the government tried allocating money to provide public facilities, which has not worked to solve the toileting problem, much of this money was spent on enforcing rules, very little on actually providing public facilities. One would have to question why the Minister for Tourism with a brief to support regional economies, seems so hell-bent on restricting thousands of NZ campers from enjoying this recreational activity. The Ministers with responsibility for camping legislation, the Freedom Camping Act and Campground Regulations in NZ are Conservation, Health and Recreation and Sport. There is no doubt that NZ camping legislation is out of date and needs substantive review, but having a misguided Minister of Tourism, fiddling with our freedom camping because he seems to have a portable toilet fetish, is unhelpful. His attacks on responsible NZ campers who use portable toilets comes across as vindictive. There is no question that it is far better for a small vehicle camper, traveling and living in their vehicle, to have a portable toilet than no toilet at all. By voluntarily having this on-board, campers not only have the opportunity to use it when caught short, but are (currently) able to enjoy staying overnight at self-contained-only-sites. There is no obvious benefit in the removal this incentive for small vehicle campers to have a portable toilet on-board, and some very obvious down-sides. To be self contained a vehicle must have a ‘fixed’ toilet — consequences. The proposal to exclude portable toilets from the definition of self-contained will exclude many of NZ’s campers who have older classic caravans and motorhomes, trailer tents and outback campers, poptop caravans, vehicles with roof top tents, small vans, teardrop campers and slide on campers. Under Stuart Nash’s proposals these campers will be excluded from staying at many council reserves or other government controlled land. Up until now the benefits of self-containment have encouraged vehicle campers to have a portable toilet, but this proposal removes the incentive and negates the hoped-for benefits from this proposal. Excluding some kinds of campers from public land —consequences. The bill will have an immediate effect on the more than half of NZ councils which do not have freedom camping bylaws. Camping vehicles that are not certified as self-contained when the bill becomes law, will be immeditately blocked from freedom camping on any public land controlled by a local authority. These councils will have to take on the cost of enforcing these new rules when they come into force. NZTA (NZ Transport Authority) and LINZ (Land Information NZ) will be given power to issue notices and manage freedom camping. Older classic caravans and motorhomes, trailer tents, outback campers, poptop caravans, vehicles with roof-top tents, small vans, teardrop campers and slide on campers, and other vehicles, which can (and currently do) freedom camp responsibly, are being excluded from self-containment under the new rules. Councils could well lose the patronage of these groups of campers and the economic benefits they bring. A council that wants to encourage all NZers to visit would need to expressly cater for non-self-contained freedom camping — this will necessitate the cost of developing and consulting on new policy and bylaws, create signage etc . This is a change that could well create greater inconsistency between regions. Councils that already have freedom camping bylaws have 2 years to transition their bylaws to the new rules. The costs of the changes — who pays? The increased regulation will not apply to all travellers. It is intended that the administration of self-containment be tightened, with greatly increased administrative costs collected from users and the issuing bodies. The expense and administrative burden of the proposed new law will be borne by the premium camper market, those who already have fixed-toilets. In effect, the increased regulation process will only affect those campers that are not considered by the Minister to be a problem in the first place. Small vans, poptop campers, teardrop campers and roof top tents etc. which do not have a ‘fixed toilet’ will not be eligible for, nor subject to, self-containment regulations. Currently these vehicles are eligible for and operate as self-contained, responsible travellers. Why the focus on fixed toilets? You have to wonder why the Minister is so obsessed with the “fixed toilet” issue. Perhaps he has had a bad experience. As a cyclist, he may have experienced being caught short while out on the road. Outdoorsy-types with a small camper and portable toilet at least have a toilet they can use. The Minister, out and about with his ute and his bike, perhaps (probably?) does not. Despite media hype there is very little verified evidence of poor toileting behaviour by freedom campers, and the Minister has not, when asked (by Official Information Request) been able to supply supporting evidence for his assertions. Small-camper tourists spend more You also have to wonder why the Minister is so obsessed with small-vehicle camping. The evidence supplied on his behalf by MBIE shows that tourists with small-vehicle campers spend more in NZ than their wealthier counterparts — less per day but more over their stay in NZ. NZ’s Leisure Camping Industry Made up of several different interest groups, with differing priorities, the NZ Leisure camping industry is a wide network that must work together to protect the future of recreational camping in NZ. Over the past 2 decades there have been considerable attacks by the media and point scoring by MP’s at the expense of NZ campers. In many cases these attacks on NZ campers have been targeted at campers who are seen to be at the ‘non premium’ end of the market. A perception has been created and promoted by various lobby groups and NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) that the budget camper / tourist does not contribute to our society. This could not be further from the truth. Any individual or family, only has so much disposable income. Money comes in and it is often spent on mortgages or rent, day to day living costs, purchases, medical expenses and entertainment. While it is up to each family or individual to decide how they wish to spend their disposable income, wherever they are, home or traveling that money still gets spent. People traveling NZ and camping continue to spend and the communities through which they travel are the beneficiaries of this spending. Whether a person spends $300 a week in their home town or $300 a week across the country, retailers, employees and government all benefit. A traveler in a small campervan will spend their disposable income in the communities they visit just as a traveler in a large motorhome will spend their disposable income. It is not right for us as a society to judge people on image, what they can afford to spend, or whether they choose to stay local or travel and enjoy what the country offers. It is right for us to appreciate the contribution that each member of our community makes, even if they are just traveling through. The reality is that travel camping is healthy and benefits families and communities. Summary In summary, Minister Stuart Nash’s proposals, should they go ahead, will not achieve the outcome he intends and they are not workable. There is no identified benefit to any sector of the NZ leisure camping industry or to local authorities. The increased compliance processes and costs would be a blatant waste of government money and a waste and burden on ordinary NZ campers as well as local councils. Where to from here? So where do we go from here? The Minister for Tourism Stuart Nash has now presented his draft bill in parliament. The supporting self-containment regulations will only be made available when the bill begins its readings in parliament. Both the bill and regulations will go to select committee, the public and industry for submissions and review. There is opportunity for public submissions. Until legislation is passed the current ‘voluntary’ 4-year, self containment standard NZS 5465:2001 still applies. There is currently no change. If new legislation on self containment is passed there will be a transition / implementation period. New systems take time. Keep the issue alive In the meantime, we can keep the issue alive by discussion forums and making MP’s and the public aware of the failings and implications of the bill. Online discussions, petitions and public protests are all good options. Camping the Kiwi Way has developed ‘Proud to be a Camper’ vehicle decals. BY: Gary Stoneley, Founder, All Points Camping Club of NZ Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 9

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Sea Lion As there were expectant mother sea lions on the sand, waiting to give birth, we took shelter from the sun with a stroll through the trees on The Old Coach track alongside the estuary. ©2024 Heather Auckram The Catlins To avoid the volumes of holiday traffic on SH1, we took the slower-paced Southern Scenic Route from Fortrose and were glad we did. ©2024 Heather Auckram Tautuku Bay As we approached Papatowai the road wound through bush covered hills and came out at the must-stop Florence Hill lookout. The view is picture perfect; golden sands of Tautuku Bay, white surf, the expanse of a blue Pacific Ocean. ©2024 Heather Auckram DOC camp The DOC camp is a bush framed camp tucked behind the local store. ©2024 Heather Auckram absolute bliss Escape to Papatowai Heather Auckram After the chaos of Christmas our frazzled nerves needed restoring. We threw a few supplies into the campervan and headed for the healing calm of Papatowai. To avoid the volumes of holiday traffic on SH1, we took the slower-paced Southern Scenic Route from Fortrose and were glad we did. There was pure scenic magic round every bend; farms, quaint cottages, sea, wetlands, bush, sealed and unsealed roads and hardly any people. As we approached Papatowai the road wound through bush covered hills and came out at the must-stop Florence Hill lookout. The view is picture perfect; golden sands of Tautuku Bay, white surf, the expanse of a blue Pacific Ocean. The DOC camp is a bush framed camp tucked behind the local store. Dogs allowed. You need to book online and there are no designated sites. The next day started with blue skies and went from hot to hotter. As there were expectant mother sea lions on the sand, waiting to give birth, we took shelter from the sun with a stroll through the trees on The Old Coach track alongside the estuary. It’s the original route the horse-drawn coaches took after coming off the beach. The Lost Gypsy Gallery and the local store both make great food, with the store having fuel and supplies too. I could get no wifi signal on the Spark network. I simply had no choice but to just enjoy the disconnection from the world beyond the hills and just breathe. Absolute bliss. Thank you Papatowai from a fully restored human. n Photos ©2024 Heather Auckram Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 11

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption YAKTRAX YAKTRAX YAKTRAX One of the better $40 I’ve spent. Yaktrax Matt King Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference to quality of life. One of the better $40 I’ve spent. Thanks Hunting and Fishing. A few decent pegs into the ground. Easy install, easy stow. (But don’t let that mallet stray off the pegs.) ©2023 Matt King Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 32

1 Spring 2022 The Harris Range Up Glenn Kidd Our campsite, and the critter pleased to make it there. We made the summit by 7.30pm and back to camp by 9pm. What a sunset from 2480m up. Photos ©2022 Glenn Kidd Up Up Up Spring 2022 ISSUE 1 BUY PDF CONTENTS What a sunset from 2480m up. ©2022 Glenn Kidd What a sunset from 2480m up. Photos ©2022 Glenn Kidd The Harris Range, our campsite. ©2022 Glenn Kidd The Harris Range Our campsite, and the critter pleased to make it there. We made the summit by 7.30pm and back to camp by 9pm. ©2022 Glenn Kidd What a sunset from 2480m up. ©2022 Glenn Kidd What a sunset from 2480m up. Photos ©2022 Glenn Kidd 1/2

11 autumn 2025 Autumn 2025 ISSUE 11 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption ©2025 M Richardson GO TO Here & there last summer waiting to get a freedom camping fine But I am not freedom camping… Megan Hieatt I am a keen night photographer, and when I go away to dark sky areas, my motorhome is my transport as well as my accommodation. I often stay at permitted camping locations (often NZMCA eg Tekapo or DOC) rather than campgrounds but usually go to better sites to take photos for better foregrounds, compositions, etc, and these are often not right next to the parking area, eg Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti. I’m just waiting to get a freedom camping fine as some official will decide that I’m camping when I’m actually parked using my RV as my means of transport, particularly in busy places like Queenstown, Tekapo or Wanaka. I’ve considered making a big sign to put on my windscreen/side door saying “Taking nightscape photographs, NOT camping”! Queenstown was always apparently bad for ticketing empty motorhomes and campers parked on the street when they were in fact empty and the occupants were staying in a hostel or with family/friends and they had to jump through all sorts of hoops to prove they were not camping, difficult when staying with family and there are no bookings or payments to use as evidence! I guess all you can do is stay at places where you pay for the night and present any receipts as evidence that you were not in fact, camping, and take photos of your vehicle at the campsite when you get there as future evidence of your overnight stay! Preparing to freedom camp This offence of “preparing to camp” is going to open a big can of worms. What’s the difference between cooking dinner or an evening walk at a nice spot, and “preparing to camp”? If I’m staying somewhere with a reserved site and its not so nice I will often go elsewhere and return to the campsite later in the evening. Those of us who use a RV as our transport when away from home will be unfairly discriminated against here. I’m sure if I was in the car doing my night photography it would not be an issue. Up Up 11 Autumn 2025 , p 2

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Freedom camp site ©2024 Bette Cosgrove choose just one Do your bit: Task of the week Bette Cosgrove Let ONE person in authority know you want to protect your right to freedom camp on public land. If you care about your rights to continue free camping, use all your democratic rights to contact, lobby, write to, or message the people who have to make this law actually work. Choose one. Write to your local media or meet a reporter and tell your story about summer freedom camping, the issues because of the new law, as well as the good times. Know your local council freedom camping bylaws — are they being changed and are they fair? Did they actually assess all restricted areas and fully consult about it? How did they actually spend any government grants for this work? Ask councils for camp sites . If there’s water, toilet and a rubbish bin for day use, why not let the space be used at night? Lobby for those not self-contained, or self-contained to the old standard, and for space for tent camping. Talk to your local MP — tell them how your rights are being eroded and how your family recreation is being lost. Write to Ministers of the Crown: Sport & Recreation, Hon Chris Bishop; Regulation, Hon David Seymour; Tourism, Hon Matt Doocey; Hunting and Fishing, Hon Todd McClay. The full list and contact details are here: ckw.nz/ministerial-list Explain how the new laws seem to be a “sledgehammer approach for a tack” issue and do nothing resolve the bad behaviour of anyone on public land who leaves their rubbish or waste behind. Tell them how it negatively affects YOU or your whānau who just want to enjoy your camping recreation and your country. Have your say with groups you belong to , who are fighting to resolve the unworkable new law. All Points Camping Club NZ, NZ Lifestyle Camping, NZMCA or other freedom camping or camping groups. Contact the groups tasked with implementing the new law: MBIE Responsible Camping Team, who created the regulations. website PGDB Plumbers Gasfitters Drainlayers Board self containment team who are struggling to deliver the new system. website Here is the actual legislation — Freedom Camping Act . Articles in this issue on the freedom camping law changes: Predictable problems with the new CSC green warrant system (p2) Editorial (p3) Self-containment warrant cards: Which one is yours? (p6) So you want to freedom camp (p8) What is ‘self-contained’, anyway? (p10) Enforcement of freedom camping rules (p12) I am not freedom camping' cards (p14) Do your bit: Task of the week (p16) No more freedom camping (p16) Kaikōura: the freedom camping Wild West (p18) Hey NZ Govt? You are messing with my mental health (p20) 7 days a week (p21) Celebrating Summer (p5) Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 16

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Freedom camping at Bendigo, Lake Dunstan ©2024 Andrew Morton So you want to freedom camp Miriam Richardson We are in a transition period from the old ‘blue’ warrant system to a new ‘green’ warrant system. The transition period is set to expire 7 June ’25 † . There is a small possibility that the Minister might choose to extend the transition period; the law allows this until 7/6/27 † . It could help, with so many needing to be certfied by so few. Some (but not all) can freedom camp with their blue warrants during the transition period ( more ) . At the end of the transiton period green warrant cards will be required for anyone freedom camping. See note at the end for more on ‘blue’ and ‘green’ warrants. Can you actually go green? The new system is not yet ready to do the job. As at Feb ’24 only 29 can do this work in the whole of the country . This is so spectacularly inadequate, that it has been estimated that those 29 would need to certify 260 vehicles a day to get everyone through before the 2025 end of the transition period. Further, the rental motorhome fleets all have to be recertified before 7 Dec this year, which will leave little opportunity for us. When can you or I choose to re-certify for a green warrant? Unknown. Might your blue warrant expire before you have a chance to get a green warrant? This is a distinct possibility. Check your expiry date and give that some thought. What upgrades must you do? We are faced with making bizarre and expensive modifications before we can be certified green. It is possible, but not at all certain, that some of these regulations might fall to commonsense, in a revision process that could take as long as 6 months ‡ . There is an advantage if we can delay upgrading and going green until the outcome is clear. It is worth considering renewing your blue warrant before 7 Jun ’24 to extend your personal transition time to the maximum, a transition-end date of Jun ’25 (or later, if the transition period were to be extended). 7 June: A last chance for new blue or renew 7 June ‘24 is the last day you can renew (or get a new) blue warrant with a fixed toilet, and use it for freedom camping during the transition period. After that, only a new green warrant can be issued for freedom camping. Which is you? What are your choices if you want to freedom camp? Self-contained with a blue warrant and a fixed toilet Upgrade and GET A GREEN warrant before your blue warrant expires or transition-end (likely 7 Jun ‘25 † ). A fixed toilet is just one of the requirements ( ckw.nz/go-green ). RENEW YOUR BLUE warrant before 7 Jun ’24 to maximise the transition time, and in case your blue warrant expires before you can get a green warrant. THEN do any upgrades required and GET A GREEN warrant before transition-end (likely 7 Jun ‘25 † ). Self-contained with a blue warrant and a portable toilet Once your blue warrant expires you cannot freedom camp with a portable toilet ‡ (you need a blue warrant, issued before 7/6/23, not yet expired). You need to install a fixed toilet ‡ (true for blue, probable for green ‡ ) Upgrade to a fixed toilet and RENEW YOUR BLUE warrant before 7 Jun ’24. THEN do any other upgrades required to GET A GREEN warrant before transition-end (likely 7 Jun ‘25 † ). Upgrade and GET A GREEN warrant before your blue warrant expires or transition-end (likely 7 Jun ‘25 † ). A fixed toilet is just one of the requirements: ckw.nz/going-green ). Fixed toilet, not yet self-contained GET A NEW BLUE warrant before 7 Jun ’24. This will allow you to freedom camp until transition-end (likely 7 Jun ‘25 † ). THEN do any other upgrades required to GET A GREEN warrant before transition-end (likely 7 Jun ‘25 † ). Upgrade and GET A GREEN warrant now. A fixed toilet is just one of the requirements: ckw.nz/going-green ). Portable toilet, not yet self-contained You need to install a fixed toilet ‡ (true for blue, probable for green ‡ ). Upgrade to a fixed toilet and get a new blue warrant before 7 Jun ’24. This will allow you to freedom camp until transition-end (likely 7 Jun ‘25 † ). THEN do any other required upgrades to get a green warrant before transition-end (likely 7 Jun ‘25 † ). Upgrade and get a green warrant now. A fixed toilet is just one of the requirements: ckw.nz/going-green ). Why extend your transition time There are too few certifiers and inspectors to meet the current need. There may be no inspectors in your area. If your blue warrant expires before you can get a green warrant, you are barred from freedom camping. The regulations might be updated in the next 6–8 months to change requirements; wait until it is clear. There might be so many people wanting parts and services at the same time that upgrading may be both difficult and slow. The transition period might be extended as long as 2 years. It will be so expensive! Another year before paying the new fees is a bonus. Just get it done! Get it off your mind, and go freedom camp. Save the cost and effort of an interim blue warrant. Get ahead of the rush for the parts and the professionals to install them. Get ahead of any last minute rush for certification. Accept that the upgrade costs might turn out to be unnecessary. Important dates 7 June ‘24 Last chance for a new or renewed blue warrant you can use to freedom camp. TRANSITION-END 7 June ‘25 ( unless it’s extended) 7/6/25 is the intended end of the transition period. GREEN WARRANTs ARE then required But the transition-end could be delayed. 7 June ‘27 is the end of the longest possible delay. NOTES Certified blue: a blue warrant card; certified to the NZ Standard, Self containment of motor caravans and caravans (NZS 5465:2001. The old, existing system. (pdf). Certified green: a green warrant card; certified to new regulations ( ckw.nz/go-green ). The new system. ‡ Efforts to overturn the ‘fixed toilet’ regulation continue. This was promised by National on the campaign trail. References here to the need for a fixed toilet for a green warrant will become obsolete if these efforts succeed. † The transition period started 7 Jun 2023 and is set to expire 7 Jun 2025 (transition-end: 7 Jun ‘25). The legislation allows for the transition period to be extended. The Minister can set any length extension, to, at the latest, 7/6/27, an extra 2 years (transition-end would be 7 Jun ‘27). Given the logistical problems in the implementation of the new system, the Minister might choose to do this. Articles in this issue on the freedom camping law changes: Predictable problems with the new CSC green warrant system (p2) Editorial (p3) Self-containment warrant cards: Which one is yours? (p6) So you want to freedom camp (p8) What is ‘self-contained’, anyway? (p10) Enforcement of freedom camping rules (p12) I am not freedom camping' cards (p14) Do your bit: Task of the week (p16) No more freedom camping (p16) Kaikōura: the freedom camping Wild West (p18) Hey NZ Govt? You are messing with my mental health (p20) 7 days a week (p21) Celebrating Summer (p5) GO TO Celebrating Summer Remember JUNE 6: 2024 & 2025 Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 8 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Right to the top of the headland then over to the petrified forest © 2024 Maurie Edwards The petrified forest If for no other reason, the petrified forest is a good enough reason to visit. © 2024 Maurie Edwards Campground © 2024 Maurie Edwards We made it to Curio Bay Maurie Edwards Well we made it to Curio Bay on Monday afternoon, after an 8¾ hour drive. I did the Balclutha to Curio Bay run. Jeeze it’s like Gisborne to Tolaga Bay 5 times non stop. And the road’s crap as well. Lots of soft spots on the fog line where the seal has been squeezed out of the holes and looks like 9 or 10 inches from top to bottom. Then there’s the normal refills that aren’t working or didn’t work. I guess the message is, the roads around the country are generally not fit for purpose, so drive and be very wary — scan the road 30 or 40 meters ahead so you can mitigate the risks. I guess I’m lucky. I had good patient teachers in the military, on trucks with power steering by arm and shoulder movement only. Anyway, greeted by reception and allocated a site. We asked for as close to the amenities as possible as we are broken arses. No worries, got a great site. Hauled out our new air tent and with some glitches got set up in about an hour. Cook a feed, take meds, do washing up, tidy up and hit the sack. Day two, up at sparrow fart and do a recce, have breakfast then off exploring. Right to the top of the headland then over to the petrified forest. If for no other reason, the petrified forest is a good enough reason to visit. The sites are natural land and each site is surrounded by mature harakeke. The first sound you are greeted by is something that sounds like it’s a stuka of WW2 vintage. Then you start bleeding and realise its fekin Curio Bay sandflies. Despite the bombers it’s a pretty good camp. For a few nights or a day trip it’s a pretty cool place. n The Catlins, Southland, Photos © 2024 Maurie Edwards STATUS: Campground. Not affected by law changes. GO TO Celebrating Summer Despite the fekin Curio Bay sandflies bombers it’s a pretty good camp. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 5 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org