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  • Stop and Stay | Camping the Kiwi Way

    Summer 2025 ISSUE 13 BUY PDF Contents Click on image for full view and caption SS_Papamoa-_20250908_115109.webp GO TO as the seasons change Stop and Stay Up Up Summer 2025 , p 30

  • accessible-camping

    10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC 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 GO TO Springing 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

  • niwa-forecast

    10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing Warm. Rain north and east. NIWA summer forecast NIWA Warmer than average; more days over 25°C; more dry spells; likely to be some short intense rain events in the Far North and along the eastern coasts. Warm seas — the marine heatwave is likely to continue intensify. Read the detail: ckw.nz/niwa-summer-24 Images: © NIWA Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 41

  • More for councils and government, Issue 4 | Camping the Kiwi Way

    Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF CONTENTS Issue 10, Summer 2024 Cover image: Waiorongomai Valley ©2024 Greg Lokes Editorial Come Camping Stop and Stay Contribute About TESTING DYNAMIC ISSUE 10 Table of contents Double-digit highways Next SH 32/41, West of Lake Taupo Next SH45 The Surf Coast Highway, Te Ika a Maui North Island Next SH60 Richmond to Collingwood, Tasman Next Butchers Dam aurora Next We got bogged: “Because it’d be funner,” he said Next And people wonder why I like camping Next Springing Next What a difference a day makes Next Waitaki first day Next Ōtaki Rivermouth Next NIWA summer forecast Next Camp Fest ‘25 Next All roads lead to Camp Fest Next I really like the Waiouru Army Museum Next Camping in Tairāwhiti this summer Next Freedom camping news Next Self-containment warrant cards: Which ones are valid? Next But I am not freedom camping… Next A roof-top tent Next Revolutionizing Kiwi camping with Fix’n’Rail Next What is out there Next This is the summer to visit Queenstown Next The Wairau Next Getting your camping vehicle certified Next Dealing with a caravan flat Next Sunday morning caravan Lego Next Old Blue Next Kea attack Next First time out with my new tent Next Thornbury-Aparima Bridge Reserve Next Temple Stream Next Marfells Beach Next Exploring Clandyboye Next Being able to get out into nature Next Making camping more accessible for everyone Next Caravan tales Next Dannevirke Holiday Park is making its facilities more accessible Next What a view to wake up to Next Danseys Pass Next From rugby to pets — How Covid19 started the tail wagging on HELPP VET Next Pippa in the hammock Next Planning to camp with your pet? Resources Next My day at the Ellesmere A&P Show Next The Slow Road Next My day at Ferrymead Next NZ Cheese Festival Next A long weekend on the Waikato River Next Safe toilet chemicals Next The fairy forest walk Next Teeming at Terako Downs Next Terako Downs entrance Next Up, up the Waiorongomai Valley Next Favourite and quick camping meals Next Alice cooking dinner on the BBQ Next Heating a pie Next Ordinary cycle Next Fishing in the snow Next Trying out my new quilt Next GAME: DOC campsites 4: Lower North Island Next HOBBIES: Disc golf Next Stop and Stay: City dwellers: 2nd camp: more adventurous Next Lake Poaka Next Rays Rest Next DOC update Next Uretiti Next King’s Birthday camp at Kekerengu Next Foxton Beach Next Three nights at Conway Flats Next Fantastic time at the Onearo campground Next Come camping Next Festivals Next The All Points Camping Club of NZ Next A summer of content: editorial Next Councils & Government Camping in Tairāwhiti this summer Read But I am not freedom camping… Read This is the summer to visit Queenstown Read Getting your camping vehicle certified Read Thornbury-Aparima Bridge Reserve Read Being able to get out into nature Read Making camping more accessible for everyone Read Dannevirke Holiday Park is making its facilities more accessible Read Safe toilet chemicals Read A summer of content: editorial Read Self-containment & Freedom Camping Camping in Tairāwhiti this summer Read Freedom camping news Read Self-containment warrant cards: Which ones are valid? Read But I am not freedom camping… Read This is the summer to visit Queenstown Read Getting your camping vehicle certified Read Thornbury-Aparima Bridge Reserve Read Being able to get out into nature Read Making camping more accessible for everyone Read Caravan tales Read Safe toilet chemicals Read View More

  • cheese-festival

    10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing Mark it on your calendar NZ Cheese Festival Marty Ireland The 2024 Cheese Festival was held again in Marlborough, at the Clos Henri Vineyard, and will do so again next year around early Oct (to be confirmed).( site live soon: nzcheesefest.nz ) Besides a great selection of well-priced food venders, there was also a variety of specialty foods including cheese, mushrooms, paté, cured meats, sweet treats, wine, beer. And we had ‘Music on the Green’ to relax to. The festival has pre sales and gate sales, $20 for general admission; $30 includes attendance at any of the half-hour classes such as cooking with cheese, making cheese and matching with wine and beer. (You can upgrade on-site on the day.) There are also premium masterclasses (that sold out ahead of time this year) — if that interests you, mark an earlier date in your calendar. This year there were limited free on-site overnight parks for self-contained vehicles the night before, day and night of the event.This needs to be arranged beforehand with a local contact. There are local campgrounds, a POP (park over property), there is a bus service available from town and there is free parking among the vines. Mark it on your calendar: Marlborough, October 2025. Cheese and Cheers! See the gallery Photos: ©2024 Marty Ireland Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 15

  • Issue 5, Freedom camping: who does what

    The structure of the self containment system. BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up Freedom camping: who does what Miriam Richardson These are the laws relating to freedom camping and self-containment : • Freedom Camping Act 2011 (amended 2023 ) • The Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Act 2023 • Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Act 2023 Commencement Order 2023 • Freedom Camping (Penalties for Infringement Offences) Regulations 2023 • Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers (Self-Contained Vehicles) Regulations 2023 (takes effect 6 Dec 2023 ) As a pdf to download † Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board. PDF readers: click to view the legislation Up Up Up 1/2

  • The camping train departs 3 March 2026 | Camping the Kiwi Way

    Summer 2025 ISSUE 13 BUY PDF Contents Click on image for full view and caption camptrain-H_1000000260_H.webp GO TO as the seasons change enjoy the whole trip or meet and depart along the way The camping train departs 3 March 2026 Linda Butler The idea of a camping train is to allow campers a chance to explore further than normal yet in safe settings. Just as you would with a normal train, you can enjoy the whole trip, or meet up or depart from any location along the way, especially if we are near your neighbourhood! This time we are traveling south. Canterbury We will leave Christchurch on Tuesday 3rd March meeting at the first location, yet to be named. We will enjoy 3 different venues on our way south to The Catlins. Catlins We meet at The Catlins Friday 6th March. and spend a week exploring the area with Heather Auckram as our guide. Centrally located in the Catlins, Pounawea Campground is beside the estuary and offers tranquility, kayaking and or swimming. Nearby attractions include Kaka Point, Nuggets Lighthouse, sealions at Cannibal bay, Purakaunui waterfall. There’s lots of birdlife and fishing. Southland From here we will spend a few days discovering why 33,000 people choose to live in the Southland District. Possibly from here we could travel across to Te Anau so if anyone wants to see the Doubtful Sounds or Milford Sounds (even overnighters) we can allow for this. Following this, the next destination will be the Queenstown district (on private property). We expect to arrive here about the 20th of March. West Coast The following week we will travel the West Coast. March 26th we are due at Nelson Creek where our avid gold -seekers had so much fun last March. From here we will discuss if anyone wants to meet up at Murchison before returning home. Remember
You can join or leave the camping train at any time. Other locations ■ decided nightly as a group; ■ details will be put on Facebook to allow others to join us. Costs The last trip averaged about $20 a night. We try to have lots of free or low-cost overnights with a few campgrounds tossed in for nice showers, washing etc. More Keep an eye for updates on Facebook. 
 🏕️ ©2025 All images copyright to the photographers. Up Up Summer 2025 , p 35

  • caravan-train

    11 autumn 2025 Autumn 2025 ISSUE 11 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption The caravan train at Kekerengu ©2025 Linda Butler GO TO Here & there last summer STOP and STAY The ‘caravan train’ at Kekerungu. Linda Butler The ‘caravan train’ at Kekerungu. Linda Butler More next issue… ©2025 Linda Butler Up Up 11 Autumn 2025 , p 11

  • sundown

    11 autumn 2025 Autumn 2025 ISSUE 11 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption Fishing as the sun goes down. Otaki River mouth. ©2025 M Richardson GO TO Here & there last summer Fishing as the sun goes down M Richardson Fishing as the sun goes down. Ōtaki River mouth free camp. March. ©2025 M Richardson Up Up 11 Autumn 2025 , p 29

  • caravan-book

    1 Spring 2022 The Caravan & Motorhome Book Up Miriam Richardson Understanding your motorhome, caravan, fifth wheeler Australian Collyn Rivers has travelled in a wide range of different sorts of RVs. He learned in real life. He has crossed the centre of Australia 12 times, travelled through Africa, towed a 40 year old caravan 700 km north of the Arctic Circle. He’s dealt with every issue you are ever likely to encounter on the road. He’s also an engineer and a writer who can translate complex topics into real English and has a number of books to help you understand∞ manage, build and or modify a recreational vehicle. His books are often in local libraries; you can buy them at jaycar.co.nz or online (Australia) rvbooks.com.au -- Choose > Our books 
or buy a kindle version from amazon.com.au ($AU14.27). You can download the contents and a chapter of each book to judge its usefulness before you buy. If you have your caravan, trailer or motorhome already, or are planning to build your own, this book 
is an ideal and comprehensive reference book. There is so much to learn, to use and manage these well∞ and I have found it really useful to understand the ins and outs, even if I intend to employ an rv professional to do the actual work. It is a book you can dip into, find and read what you need to know at this moment∞ and a reference book to refer back to. The book covers every conceivable aspect of campervan and motorhome usage. Among other things it covers the different kinds of vehicles, lighting, LPG, water, toilets, showers, heating, solar, batteries, inverters, mains power, fridges, TV, comms, preparing for a trip, keeping safe∞ and more. Highly recommended. If you are thinking of buying, Collyn has this comprehensive book just for you: How to Choose and Buy an RV: Here's how to get it right first and every time BY: Miriam Richardson Next issue: Caravan and Motorhome Electrics Up Up Up Spring 2022 ISSUE 1 BUY PDF CONTENTS There is so much to learn, to use and manage your rv well. Understanding your motorhome, caravan, fifth wheeler You can download the contents and a chapter of each book to judge its usefulness before you buy. How to choose and Buy an RV If you are thinking of buying, Collyn has this comprehensive book just for you:. Understanding your motorhome, caravan, fifth wheeler You can download the contents and a chapter of each book to judge its usefulness before you buy. 1/2

  • editorial

    6 Summer 2023 6 Summer 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Editorial Miriam Richardson An El Niño summer It seems we are having an El Niño summer. Hotter, windier, dryer north and east, wetter in the west; dramatic temperature swings, and extreme, possibly damaging winds. This weather demands our attention as we head into our prime summer camping season. Are the roads ok? Will the wind be ok for driving? Will it be safe near that tree, that branch, with this wind forecast? Should I carry extra water? What is the fire risk? These are questions for every trip, but El Niño gives them a sterner edge. Having reserve supplies of all kinds in case you get stranded (fuel, meds, water &c) might be becoming basic commonsense. Radio is your emergency friend where mobiles won’t work. The government gives us some tools to help: NZTA highway conditions  ckw.nz/road Met Service weather warnings  ckw.nz/weather NIWA fire weather  ckw.nz/fire Radio frequencies  ckw.nz/radio Caught in the middle For those caught in the middle with their campervans and self-containment, you have tough choices, with freedom camping dodgy at best. Councils are just learning how to enforce the new, inadequate law, some traditional places are off limits as necessary new bylaws havent had time to go through. It’s confusing and disappointing on many fronts. So we just have to throw our hearts over, and find the best way we can to enjoy our country, our summer, our camping. All creative solutions to the conundrums are welcome — do please share it with us all. Encourage the small towns to love us Park considerately. Leave the space tidier than when you arrived. Spend some money, visit their attractions, walk and bike their tracks, appreciate their views and share their joy. They could well build and shape a positive free-camping future for us all if we inspire them to do so. Tiaki mai. Kindly sponsored by All Points Camping Club of NZ and NZ Lifestyle Camping More on Freedom camping and self-containment: The freedom camping law needs to change Self-containment certification: which one is yours? What to do? Upgrade? Wait? Editorial — Caught in the middle Who is advocating for NZers who camp? There’s no need to rush this summer NZ’s independent national network for certification Up Up 6 Summer 2023 , p 4

  • old-blue

    10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption the sun will be shining tomorrow & the fish biting! Old Blue Shellie Evans The camp still has quite a few hardy campers on-site, it’s Labour Day weekend after all. You wait, the sun will be shining tomorrow & the fish biting! Twizel, Mackenzie Country. ©2024 Shellie Evans Photography ckw.nz/shellie-fb Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 20

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