Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption bluff_H_farm-night-5.webp GO TO CHILLY CHILLY CHILLY OUT THERE the stunning night sky envelopes us STOP and STAY Bluff Farm Leigh Naylor Kings Birthday weekend 2025 If you’ve never been to Bluff Farm then you are missing a treat. Situated at 926 Ashley Gorge Road, Oxford with a red letterbox marking the turn off onto Kimbers Road, it is a working dairy farm owned by Gavin and Kylie Bay. You arrive to the welcoming yap of two Jack Russels— Bear and Poppy, who escort you into an expansive camping area recently planted in native shelter trees. To the west are the alluring foothills of Oxford where the sun sets leaving its final splash of hue before the stunning night sky envelopes us, revealing its magical, celestial display of stars and satellites. Oxford has now gained dark sky accreditation. The eerie call of morepork reaches us and the challenge is on — to find his home. To the east is the Ashley River with its braided channels and is home to wrybill, banded dotterel, black-backed gull, pied stilt, and South Island oyster catcher. Some of these birds are endangered and would make a great photo. Gavin and Kylie have recently built a spacious pergola area that we can use for shelter if it rains. It is graced by an enormous fire drum with two chimneys that draw so well when the fire is stoked with the wood generously supplied by the owners. When the door is open it invokes thoughts of fire breathing dragons with horns that also roar their presence. Our circle grows and the warmth invites conversation amongst the members. The fire guards our sacred stories of yesteryear as we reminisce, sharing our own camping experiences. Eventually the marshmallows and chocolate biscuits arrive. It’s time to toast up a treat!! Squishy hot marshmallow sandwiched between two choice bikkies. Yum!! Thanks to the children who volunteered to do the toasting. The glowing embers are massive and their warmth reaches our chilled bodies. Morepork is still calling to us — tomorrow we will find him. The new day is here with blue sky and sunshine. Magpies are warbling and bellbird is serenading us from the ribbonwood tree. Baby piglets eagerly grunt at us as we pass by their pen and mother pig lazily grazes in the paddock nearby. Life is good. It’s milking time and before the cows return, we amble up the farm track in search of elusive morepork. We check out barns and look in trees but to no avail — he is too clever for us! However, determination does win out. Tony spots him the following day, resting on the wood pile. Oh morepork with your uncanny cry !! You have made Bluff Farm your home. How good is that? Debbie has decided to try out her new oven. She has cooked scones and has served them with jam and cream — thanks Debbie. They were delicious and didn’t last long!! Some of us visit the Oxford market with its numerous craft and food stalls. Others bring out their metal detectors and share their skills in the art of metal detecting. A great pastime but no gold to be found. Oh well!! There’s always another day. Finally, a big thank you to our hosts Gavin and Kylie, who were there to chat to us and stoke the fire. You were terrific and your efforts were much appreciated. 🏕️ stopandstaynz.org Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 29

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Sundown, Tucks Bay, Coramandel © 2024 Darryn Phayer Sundown, Tucks Bay Darryn Phayer Sundown, Tucks Bay, Coramandel. © 2024 Darryn Phayer GO TO Celebrating Summer Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 25 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

2 Summer 2022 Summer 2022 ISSUE 2 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up Implications for councils of the proposed ‘Nash bill Bette Cosgrove Up Implications for councils of the proposed ‘Nash bill’ Here are the issues to consider with the major legislative change which is currently proposed and going through Select Committee hearings.This far-reaching piece of national legislation affects freedom camping areas all across New Zealand, whether they have current bylaws in place or not. It will affect all people who wish to use your public spaces, and the NZTA land which falls within your area. Local government will be required to enforce this legislation. See the bill here: ckw.nz/nash-bill Minister Nash is pushing for this bill to be in place prior to the Women’s FIFA World Cup, which may bring an influx of international tourists to your regions. Minister Nash hopes to have the bill passed by March 2023. The bill is definitely going to require your attention whether you have experienced issues with freedom camping in your area or not, and soon. We see many problems in this ‘omnibus law’ which changes 4 Acts of Parliament and makes 65 amendments to the current Freedom Camping Act. Consider the questions we raise below. Listen to the oral submissions to get a sense of how the changes will affect your area, your community and the travelling public: ckw.nz/oral-submissions. There are important questions to consider, if the bill passes Keep in mind that you may be required by the new law (if it passes) to have management systems, appropriate bylaws, and enforcement capabilities in place by March of 2023. When will your new councillors discuss the implications for your local council land as well as the NZTA land in your area? Your district's NZTA land will be included under the new Act. Have you approached NZTA to discuss collaboration with them over monitoring their land to enforce the new bill? This bill redefines what a self-contained vehicle is, so that it must include a fixed toilet rather than a portable one; how does your council currently define self-contained vehicles? Do you have the time and resources allocated to review, consult and prepare appropriate freedom camping bylaws and have these in place in time? Did you meet the deadline (3 Oct) for Transitional Funding applications to provide the resource and funds to review or create the necessary bylaws? Do your bylaws enable non-self-contained freedom camp sites, wherever there are toilet facilities, to accommodate the possibly thousands of willing freedom campers who will no longer be able to stay at self-containment-required sites unless they are able (and can afford) to change their non-fixed toilets to the fixed kind? Do you currently have freedom camping bylaws to match this major amendment in the Freedom Camping Act, or can you review and send out appropriate public consultation information immediately to amend your current ones, so that this new law can be implemented in your district? Do you use contractors to ensure campers are self-contained in all restricted sites? Will they be given adequate tutorial and information on how to apply the new law? Does your local community of motor vehicle camper owners have adequate access to re-certify their vehicles to meet the proposed new standards? How do you ensure enforcement officers are safe, and also ensure the privacy and safety of the campers? Do they monitor at reasonable hours of the day? Are they allowed to shine torches into people’s bedrooms at night? Did you realise that tent-stayers are not covered by this bill? Do you have tent-camping sites allocated for freedom camping? Do you have a clear complaints policy for freedom campers who might receive incorrect infringement notices during the transition period while new bylaws are being created? Now is the time to voice any concerns or issues your council has with this bill.Talk to Local Government New Zealand and talk to your local MPs who will vote on this. Up Up Now is the time to voice any concerns or issues your council has with this bill. 1/1

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing interesting places to explore and enjoy STOP and STAY All roads lead to Camp Fest Gary Stoneley Bulls, February 2025 No matter which direction you are coming to Camp Fest from, there are many worthwhile, interesting places to explore and enjoy. North, South, East or West, or just a short distance from the Camp Fest venue there are some great opportunities to take a break and check out something a bit different. The township of Bulls is situated in the lower North Island approximately halfway between the majestic Mount Ruapehu (below) and Wellington ( ckw.nz/bulls ). It forms a junction between State Highways 1 and 3 where travellers’ paths from all directions cross. What better place for NZ’s national camping club, the All Points Camping Club of NZ, to host the third Camp Fest? An affordable, inclusive, family-friendly event for all types of campers. Read about Camp Fest In this article I cover some special places to check out on your travels plus some great places to stay. N is for North National Park Heading toward Bulls from the central plateau, make a benefit of the Desert Road closure (Jan 6 to end of Feb) to take a night at National Park, then give the kids a break at the Ohakune Carrot Adventure Park and indulge in an Ohakune chocolate eclair, before heading on to the Waiouru Army Museum back on SH1. ( ckw.nz/waiouru-museum and more ). The museum is a great place to stop. The museum holds records of past military personnel with very helpful staff to help you with information. It’s a good, safe place to park overnight with the caravan or motorhome. A bit further down the highway, stop at Taihape’s giant gumboot and take a walk up to the Mount Stewart lookout ( ckw.nz/mt-stewart ). This comes highly recommended by travellers. Travel south a bit more to Mangaweka and with two riverside campgrounds ( mangaweka.co.nz/camp ) ……or go a bit further to the Flat Hills Cafe and Tourist Park ( ckw.nz/flat-hills ). With some of the best custard squares in the country, a challenging adult maze, animals, children’s playground and overnight camping this is one stop you will want to come back to. If you are into bushwalks taking a brief detour to the Whitecliffs Boulders may interest you ( whitecliffsboulders.co.nz ). Vinegar Hill Just north of Hunterville you can camp at the popular Vinegar Hill Reserve ( ckw.nz/vinegar-hill , above). Looking across the Rangitikei valley from Stormy Point Continuing on this side road will give you scenic views as you meander across hills and valleys to Feilding or you may wish to continue down SH1 to Bulls. S is for South Otaki Rivermouth, freedom camping spot. If beaches are your thing start with a night at the Otaki River mouth, and the Foxton and Himatangi beaches are worth a visit. There are several campgrounds to choose from. Both the De Molen Windmill ( foxtonwindmill.co.nz ), Oranjehof, Dutch Connection Centre oranjehof.org.nz and Off the Loop water park ( offtheloop.nz ) are worth checking out. Heading up SH1, the Waireka Honey shop has tasty honey blended ice cream and wines with a wide range of homely and beeswax products ( wairekahoney.co.nz ). It’s a chance to pull off the highway and catch your breath before heading up to Sanson and the Bulls Camp Fest. E is for East Heading towards Camp Fest from the East, Dannevirke Holiday Park is set in a tranquil hollow surrounded by native bush ( dannevirkeholidaypark.co.nz | more ). It’s close to the community pool, deer enclosure and bird aviaries. The native bush theme continues with Ferry Reserve, for camping at the base of the Tararua Ranges by the Manawatu River with easy access to the Manawatu Gorge bushwalks ( ckw.nz/ferry-reserve ). Once you have travelled over the Saddle Road, past the windmills, Ashhurst gives you the chance to stop over at the Ashhurst Domain ( ckw.nz/ashhurst-domain ) for the night or choose one of the many routes to Bulls. The most scenic, but longer route would be to head through the Pohangina Valley. Stopping at the Tōtara Reserve Regional Park ( totarareserveregionalpark.co.nz ) and campground or carrying on to Apiti and Kimbolton. Both towns have facilities and reserves for freedom camping. The more direct route to Bulls will take you through Feilding, to the Coachhouse Museum ( coachhousemuseum.nz ), which would have to rate as one of the best-maintained collections of NZ’s farming history in all of NZ. If you have a self-contained vehicle you can stay here overnight for a small donation. A very popular parkover location is Timona Park, adjacent to the Ōroua River and walkway. Whether coming from east or south two ‘must do’s’ in Sanson are Viv’s kitchen ( vivskitchen.co.nz ) with it’s famous cream horns and just adjacent to it, the Retro America store ( retroamerica.co.nz ). W is for West Dudding Lake If you are travelling from Taranaki or Whanganui on your way to Camp Fest there are campgrounds and free camps in Hawera, and two lakeside campgrounds that are worth considering, Lakelands Holiday Park ( lakelands.co.nz ) and Dudding Lake ( duddinglake.nz ) as well as the small coastal campground of Koitiata ( koitiata.nz ). Camp Fest in Bulls The Camp Fest venue offers a large open area for parking of caravans and motorhomes with a tree lined glade for those with tents or small camping units. More on Campfest . Arrive on the Friday if possible to enjoy the full range of activities over the weekend. All the local shops are within an easy walk. The Bulls River was a major hurdle to cross for early settlers and travellers and Scotts Ferry operated down-river near the coast. There is a small low-cost community campground at the heritage site of Scotts Ferry ( ckw.nz/scotts-ferry ) just a short drive from the town. Bulls is in the Rangitikei District which does not have a freedom camping bylaw, so you can park where it is safe to do so, but be aware of your surroundings, other people, litter, and comply with other bylaws and laws. We hope you enjoy your travels to Camp Fest in Bulls in February 2025 and look forward to seeing you there. ◊ Images: © remains with the organisations/businesses and photographers. Read about Camp Fest The Camp Fest website: campfestnz.org Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 33

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption tiny-pukaki-F.webp So incredibly gratefu The only ones at Lake Pukaki Lou Riches I can’t believe we are the only ones at Lake Pukaki tonight. So incredibly grateful to have captured these skies. ©2023 Lou Riches Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 10

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Beautiful, free, birds & sunsets STOP and STAY Rays Rest Miriam Richardson A thoroughly relaxing, free camp on the Firth of Thames. Ray’s Rest is 4km south of the Kaiaua township, on the Hauraki Rail Trail and about the same distance from the Pūkorokoro–Miranda Shorebird Centre further south. No dogs, no fires, you must be self-contained, and a max of 2 nights. See the gallery for more photos Its a long flat area beside the sea with stunning views across the firth to Coromandel, and sunrises and sunsets refresh the soul, as do the flocks of birds that feast in the shallows when the tide is out. It’s a bit shallow for swimming, and a bit sharp underfoot for paddling. Those with boats go fishing. If you want to exercise rather than relax you can walk, ride or run the Hauraki Rail Trail (e-bikes 300W or less) to get to the fish and chip shop in Kaiau, or the shorebird centre (25min walk), or even do a day trip to Thames (5hr). haurakirailtrail.co.nz Lovely in any weather. Images ©2024 Miriam Richardson Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 43

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Two uses Marg Taylor The saying goes that everything you take in your motorhome should have 2 uses. ©2023 Marg Taylor Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 29

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption On the beach at Hokitika. Heading to The Burt Munro in Invercargill. ©2024 Tony Knights Hokitika beach sculpture Tony Knights Hokitika. Heading to The Burt Munro in Invercargill. ©2024 Tony Knights Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 35

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Fire circle ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Fire circle ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Fire circle ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Fire circle ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Fire circle ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Fire circle Bette Cosgrove Fire circle on a still Autumn night. Magical. 
 ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 9

9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Van freedom camping ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Van freedom camping Freedom camping Bette Cosgrove Freedom camping ©2023 Bette Cosgrove Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 26

9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson A bit of a learning curve It was freezing Miriam Richardson This winter was my first in the Otago cold— a bit of a learning curve. I looked enviously at people blithely heading to a snowy Mt Cook, or up to Omarama to experience the hoar frost ( “is it still there?” ) but I was too timid about the cold to venture. I knew that my water pipes were not insulated. I knew that frozen water pipes can split. I knew how to stop them splitting. That was pretty much all I knew. Here is what I learned. Fill the kettle so you have water for the morning when pipes are still frozen. Turn off the water pump, open a tap. This releases the pressure in the pipe and gives space for expansion as it freezes. Pipes don’t always defrost before the afternoon’s re-freeze begins. (Eeek!). Hoar frost can last for many days. Being plugged in to power fixes the lack of solar problem, but doesn’t fix the frozen pipes problem. You need a water container, with enough volume to last for several days of frozen pipes. Campground water pipes freeze too but the camp-ground kitchen will probably have running water. There are microclimates. The Bannockburn Campground where I stayed is in a very cold patch (pictured), while 8km away, Cromwell had clear skies. Moving gave me the chance to buy the missing water container (and decant the water from a bucket, wedged carefully and hopefully in my door-well), but I didn’t really need it once I had removed myself from the hoar-frosted valley. Thankfully the freeze was inconvenient rather than disastrous for me, and now I am no longer afraid to head into the colder places. I would (will!) get my water pipes lagged, and I quite fancy having a remote temperature gauge underneath, so I know just how cold it is under there for my water pipes. ◼️ Images ©2024 Miriam Richardson Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 19

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Windows Our bus has a lot of windows ©2022 Linda Butler More windows Our bus has a lot of windows ©2022 Linda Butler Lots of windows! Our bus has a lot of windows ©2022 Linda Butler Our yurt incarnation Op shop curtains purchased and now we sit draft-free with a feeling of sitting in a yurt in the back of the bus. ©2022 Linda Butler Drivers window insulation hat only left the driver's window area. We heard about insulation paper that builders use. We bought about 10 meters, cut it down to each individual window. ©2022 Linda Butler Sealing the edges or the window insulation. We used a heat gun and sealed the edges on the insulation for the driver's window.©2022 Linda Butler Now’s the time to plan or prepare your caravan, bus or motorhome for next winter. I asked Linda to tell us about her journey to warm up their bus. Editor Preparing for the cold winter "brrrrrr's" Linda Butler My husband Martin and I met up with Ray Harris the winter before last at Waihi Gorge. Our first night in the bus in winter. Darn, we could only get the new heater up to 10ºC on that night, and woke to a -3ºC frost. We opened the oven door, lit the gas and waited for sunshine. I'm proud of my hubby, he did agree to stay another night, but we enjoyed the warmth of Ray's 30º heater that evening, while playing cards until bedtime. This was from our newly installed diesel heater. Oh boy, we soon wondered if there was actually nothing wrong with the old gas one after all. The installers spent a lot of hours trying to work out the problem. Even with lagged pipes the heater wouldn't get warmer than 18º. Finally we were told the poor insulation and many windows in the bus were the problem. So over the last few months we came up with a plan. Purchased woollen carpet; it won’t need underlay, we were told. Tick With the curtains closed around our beds we still had a draft coming from the windows. We have a silver rail in front of the window. No probs. Op shop curtains purchased and now we sit draft-free with a feeling of sitting in a yurt in the back of the bus. Tick The carpet did need underlay as we still felt it cold. Fixed. Tick Hubby couldn't stand the cold on his body from the bus wall lining under the window by the bed. He needs a bit more fat on him! So we bought yoga mats. Nice and thin. Can lay under the mattress when not in use. Perfect. Tick Stumbled on a net curtain to cover the door for insects and thought, why not also get a long curtain to cover the door for cold? Found one that fits a treat and hangs around my passenger-side headrest when not in use. Another draft fixed. Tick The venetian blinds in the kitchen: we found just enough curtain to cover over them as well.We are going to be so snug! Tick The bathroom felt like a bucket of ice. We hung a curtain cord and threaded a towel by its own hem. That kept the cold off our arm. Easy to wash. Tick Might try leaving the door open in the evening to let the heat from the cabin flow in. That only left the driver's window area. We heard about insulation paper that builders use. We bought about 10 meters, cut it down to each individual window size, then used a heat gun and sealed the edges. This hopefully will help with the frost also! We hope... Since doing all this, we have been unable to get out to try it, other than 2 nights at Lake Camp before winter really hit, after the carpet was put in and we had our curtains over the back windows. That little made a big difference. We are looking forward to next year when we hit the road. Late August after we return from Europe. We will be snug as a bug in a rug. We hope! Don't give up. Get ready for those winter blues… brrrrr… Photos ©2022 Linda Butler Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 33