1 Spring 2022 1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption My little teardrop I always liked the shape of the early teardrops “1939’ so just started with that. he teardroIt has a bit of an old aircraft look to it It isn’t the flashest little camper out there, but the main thing is that it is fun, always changing when I find something new or different to add, and I get to meet great people and enjoy this great country. The feature I like best is the kitchen The main shelf is a fold down one; I put my vintage primus cooker on, with the wash sink. It keeps everything flexible. I like the open feel of having a large window open to the world. A teardrop camper Gary Hitchcock My little teardrop started life in 2016 as an idea to have something I could use to get away and recharge myself, and also as a bug-out camper in the event of a disaster. I live in Christchurch! I always liked the shape of the early teardrops “1939” so just started with that. I had an old trailer with a body that was too rusty to save, but the frame was ok. The main material for the camper was a UV-protected plastic sheet, ideal for outside use. It was getting dumped from where I was working at the time. I had the advantage of being able to use a large laser cutter to cut it to my design. It was about a year before I was ready to start the build, having found funds and materials to start putting it together. A lot of the bits and pieces are reject parts that would have been tossed out, like the windows, roof vent & gray water tank, that are made from PVC cabinet door fronts. I have two layers to the floor so there is lots of storage under the bed. The feature I like best is the kitchen. I didn’t do a full, built-in kitchen in the back as I like the open feel of having a large window open to the world. It is fantastic when you get to camp with a great view you can enjoy even if the weather is not great. It still works as a kitchen, with the main shelf and a fold down one I put my vintage Primus cooker on, with the wash sink. It keeps everything flexible to change around to suit what I am doing at the time. After all, it is supposed to be camping. I have fun cooking up a storm as I have plenty of food in the storage areas, but never know what I will find till I get there. All part of the adventure. I can also easily remove the two clear polycarbonate windows & main shelf if I need to use the teardrop as a covered trailer. I use a small old solar panel to run a small fan to have fresh air circulating, mainly for when the teardrop is not in use over winter, so it is always fresh. I didn’t plan on having a TV, but after finding a bargain & some speakers, media player & amplifier I put them all together and made a great little system to listen to music & watch movies when I just want to relax at the end of the day. With the teardrop having a bit of an old aircraft look to it I was after something to go on the front. While I was working on it I heard Murray Ball passed away, 12 March 2017, so I made the “Dog” graphics as a tribute and also now to my little dog Angel who just loved being in the teardrop. Most of the summer was spent camping out in the teardrop at home, as for some reason we both sleep better in the teardrop than in the house. It isn’t the flashest little camper out there, but the main thing is that it is fun, always changing when I find something new or different to add, and I get to meet great people and enjoy this great country. BY: Gary Hitchcock PHOTOS: ©2022 Gary Hitchcock Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 24

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption autumn-run-off-4_H.webp Luckily no real damage due to the skills and help from some awesome West Coast farmers. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson Got run off the road last weekend. Luckily no real damage due to the skills and help from some awesome West Coast farmers. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson Got run off the road last weekend Luckily no real damage due to the skills and help from some awesome West Coast farmers. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson Got run off the road last weekend. Luckily no real damage due to the skills and help from some awesome West Coast farmers. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson Got run off the road last weekend. Luckily no real damage due to the skills and help from some awesome West Coast farmers. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson Got run off the road last weekend. Luckily no real damage due to the skills and help from some awesome West Coast farmers. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson Got run off the road last weekend. Luckily no real damage due to the skills and help from some awesome West Coast farmers. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson Got run off the road last weekend. Luckily no real damage due to the skills and help from some awesome West Coast farmers. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson Got run off the road last weekend. Luckily no real damage due to the skills and help from some awesome West Coast farmers. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson Got run off the road last weekend Luckily no real damage due to the skills and help from some awesome West Coast farmers. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson Got run off the road Vanessa Parkinson Got run off the road last weekend. Luckily no real damage due to the skills and help from some awesome West Coast farmers. The guy towing a caravan was hogging the road coming towards me around the corner and refused to move. But anyhow… onwards and upwards. ©2024 Vanessa Parkinson Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 13

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption How to inspire without sweeping things under the carpet? Editorial Miriam Richardson When I began assembling this issue I came up against a dilemma. If I focused on the many wonderful summer camping stories, the government might be able to use this magazine to say the slipshod new freedom camping self-containment laws and regulations were not spoiling things for New Zealand campers. Sadly, the changes are bringing restriction, distress, anxiety, and insoluble dilemmas for many of us ( p20 ). To give a balanced picture, I have included the serious stuff, putting it on the left pages while we celebrate summer on the right-hand pages. Match your side to your mood. Many campers, who will soon be barred from freedom camping, have used this summer to enjoy it while they can. Until their self-containment certificates run out or the government’s deadlines arrive, they can continue to freedom camp. Some regions are failing to follow the law during the transition period, which has given campers a needlessly stressful time. ( p18 ). ( Check p6 to see what your particular blue warrant allows you to do, and for how long.) Check out page 8 for suggestions on how to manage over the transition period, if you want to freedom camp. The new laws bring in a raft of new offences: I thought we might need to actually know what they are, so you will see them in “ordinary” language on page 12 . Since it is now an offence to “prepare to freedom camp” as evidenced by “parking”, consider having a notice for your dashboard to let enforcement officers know what you are intending to do ( p14 ). Once they get trained in mind-reading we wont need these notices, but until then… Can you do your bit to shake up the powers-that-be? If commonsense was going to prevail we wouldn’t have a problem now. We need to apply political pressure to persuade politicians to be sensible. See page 16 for some options. Many voices may bring action, while lone voices will be ignored. Add your voice, if you can. At the same time as pondering the challenging thought of taking political action (shudder) to protect freedom camping, take heart from the many wonderful stories from summer campers. All over the country people have been out and about and enjoying the dry and the heat, tolerating the wind and the wet, and making the most of it. Read all about it. Read on… Tiaki mai. This magazine is brought to you by All Points Camping Club of NZ & NZ Lifestyle Camping 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 4

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption 1965, Aug, Camped at Momorangi 1989 1989 Graham Leslie & Margaret Earle with loaded Caravan & XA Falcon for trip to Ohiwa 1998 Escargot Caravan stripped back 1998 Escargot Caravan stripped back in preparation for fibre glassing 2005 Wanaka 2005 January, setting up in Wanaka. 2007 January, Ohiwa 2007, December, Morrisons Bush Alice & Tom Leslie Morrisons Bush, December 2007 Alice Tom & Mike on the floor. January. 2008 Lunch on the Desert Rd, August, 2008 2011 Morrisons bush 2017 November, Restoration 2 2018 February, Mavora Lakes 2021 Whangmomona Forgotten Highway January 2021, Whangmomona, Forgotten Highway 2023, new crib 2023 A new crib for a new family. 2023: baby in the crib. The new caravan The Desert Road: On our first road trip with our new caravan. We made it successfully from Wellington to Whangarei. ©2023 Margaret Earle Our two granddaughters will grow up going camping with Granddad’s Granddad’s caravan. Grandad’s Grandad’s caravan Graham Leslie and Margaret Earle Our son Tom was five days old when he first went camping. He’d been born on Boxing Day and we were keen to join the rest of our family for New Year at Morison’s Bush in the Wairarapa. In those days we camped in a tent but, because we had a newborn, my parents-in-law offered us the caravan. It made looking after baby Tom much easier. The caravan — sometimes called Escargot because of her snail-like shape — was built in Dunedin in the 1960s by my partner’s grandfather, William Leslie. At that stage he had retired to Dunedin from his farm in the Catlins and built his own house with timber from the farm. Escargot was the third caravan he built. Escargot was designed with my parents-in-law — Adrienne and Stewart Leslie and their young children — in mind. It became their first family caravan. Escargot is 9ft 6in (≈2.9m) long and 6ft 2in (≈1.9m) wide — designed so that Stewart could fit in the double bed across the back. The frame of Escargot was built from ribbonwood (manatu) milled from the farm in the Catlins. The caravan was covered with marine ply and painted. As well as the double bed, there are two bunks at the front and there was a cradle across the end of the double bed for the baby. The wardrobe was built between the door and the bunks and has a curtain at the side so that as the kids grew taller, they could stretch their legs into the side of the wardrobe. But, in reality, the kids generally slept in the car or a tent. In the mid-1990s when my parents-in-law bought a larger pop-top caravan in preparation for retirement. They offered us Escargot. We were quite happy camping in tents, but there was no market for second-hand, home-built caravans so we agreed to take her. Our first task was to cover Escargot in fibreglass to make her more weather-proof as we had nowhere dry to keep her. Escargot became an integral part of our camping arrangements. Because she is small, our kids didn’t get to sleep in her very often either. However, I can remember making breakfast for 9 (4 adults and 5 kids) after a very windy night camped at Kaitoke Regional Park (just north of Upper Hutt). Our friends’ borrowed tent had got bent in the strong winds overnight and by breakfast time 9 of us, huddled in the caravan, were the only campers still at Kaitoke. Fibreglassing the outside of Escargot only delayed the inevitable. Water seeped in and the ribbonwood frame started to rot. By the mid-2010s it was time to give her a substantial rebuild. We pulled off the marine ply, replaced any framing that was rotten, insulated her as best we could, completely rewired her and reclad her in aluminium. Tom and Vivian (our daughter-in-law) worked with us on this major project. We have had many adventures and travelled many miles in Escargot. In the last year we have taken our young granddaughter to several All Points events and she has slept in the same bunk that her grandfather and dad did when they were young. The latest adaptation of the top bunk, to make a cot for the latest arrival; the 5th generation. History does repeat. This year, in preparation for my retirement, we bought a larger caravan with good insulation and heating. Fortunately, Tom and Vivian were keen to take Escargot and are making it their own. So our two granddaughters will grow up going camping with Granddad’s Granddad’s caravan. I suspect that like the generations before them they will mostly sleep in tents alongside Escargot. The Desert Road
: On our first road trip with our new caravan. We made it successfully from Wellington to Whangarei. ©2023 Margaret Earle Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 5

9 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 ISSUE 9 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption From the rvbooks.co,au website From the rvbooks.co,au website © Barry Davidson © Collyn RIvers, rvbooks.co,au Unlike cars, a well-made caravan may last for decades with only minor areas that need attention. Buying used caravans Collyn Rivers Helpful tools when conducting a used caravan inspection include a torch, a damp meter, a ladder and a tape measure. If you can, take along someone who knows about caravans. Unlike cars, a well-made caravan may last for decades with only minor areas that need attention. Not all are like that, however. Is your tow vehicle capable of towing this caravan? While many do so (but may then regret it) it is safer to keep the weight of the caravan to that of the towing vehicle. The first thing to check is the caravan‘s approximate empty weight. It’s so-called Tare Mass (i.e. weight) is likely to be shown on a plate attached to its chassis. It is unlikely to be accurate but gives you a rough idea. A typical caravan‘s fully loaded weight is usually 200–300 kg (440–660 lb) higher. The required tow ball mass is about 10% of that laden weight, Check if that is within your tow vehicle’s ability. More on p13, Towing your caravan Background & documentation Is the caravan‘s size, style and layout suitable for your needs? Who made the caravan — and when? What is the previous ownership history? Where has the caravan been kept and where has it been (if known)? Does the manufacturer still exist and are spare parts for this caravan still available? What documentation is provided with the caravan — you really need a weigh bridge certificate, gas certificate and electrical certificate. Does the caravan‘s VIN plate match with the documentation provided? Is there a service history and are instruction manuals for the caravan and major items available? Does it have a wood or aluminium frame? Is the caravan‘s condition reasonably consistent with its age? Checking the exterior Are there any signs of repairs, scratches, dents, hail damage, bowing, repainting? Is there any sealant around the windows (a give-away that there may be water leakage)? Check that all windows open and close and are in good condition. Check under the caravan for axle or suspension rusting or damage, cracks or deformation. Are the water tanks, wiring and lighting in good condition? Does the caravan look as though it has been off-road? Tyres: do the tyres have ample tread. How old are they (no matter if barely worn, a tyre’s maximum life is 7–10 years. If older, they will need replacing. Are the correct tyres fitted (refer to the compliance plate re their correct size). Is there a spare tyre? © Barry Davidson Checking the interior Is there any smell of dampness (or use of chemicals) to disguise that and/or other smells? Are there any signs of ants or other insects inside the caravan? Ants are a giveaway — they are attracted by damp or rotting wood. If there is any sign of ants the caravan timber may be rotting. Or there may be a water leak. Check walls, ceiling and bench tops carefully (especially around windows and ventilation hatches). Look for dampness, discolouration, bulges, scratches, indents, holes or evidence of repainting or repair. Cupboards: check for daylight between cupboards and walls, loose or missing screws, doors not opening or closing or broken latches. Check for any damage to beds, mattress and storage area. Is the hob/grill/oven/microwave/fridge clean and working? If there is an ensuite check that it is in good condition, e.g. is toilet/shower/hot water working? Are there any signs of leaking, mould or poor ventilation? Pop tops: check the roof can be raised and lowered easily, that all struts are in good condition and that any canvas is not damaged or discoloured. Check the door opens, closes and locks as intended. How many keys are provided? Awning: if there is an awning, check that it opens and closes properly and check its canvas condition. Be realistic about what to expect for the van’s age, but do not be afraid to ask the seller to correct any minor matters prior to sale. If the problem appears significant, look elsewhere. There are always others for sale! What to check – general A-Frame: Is the tow hitch in good condition? Is electrical wiring present and in good condition? Is the handbrake, chains, jockey wheel present and working? If it is safely possible, inspect the roof for leaks, tree/branch, solar module and TV aerial damage. Check that all electrics (including battery) are in good condition and that all lights and appliances work. Check the condition of gas bottles, regulator and piping. ◼️ Buying used Caravan – what to check has been prepared with the kind support of the Caravan Council of Australia. Reproduced with permission. Collyn has a book on buying a caravan or motorhome. Appendix 4 includes a checklist: on Amazon Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 20

1 Spring 2022 1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption About Camping the Kiwi Way Editor Camping the Kiwi Way Issue 1, Spring 2022 © 2022 All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSN 2815-827X (Online) Editor: Miriam Richardson editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz Published quarterly by All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc & NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd Order or subscribe Printed copies including postage: $38 for a year (4 issues) $12 for a single copy How to order or subscribe Read it online Subscribe for an email link to each issue: email the editor Advertising Find out about advertising in our magazine. Classified Ads Find out about our classified advertising Share your group in the next issue Contributions are invited from individuals and camping (or related) clubs. If your group or club is promoting NZers enjoying our great outdoors, we would like to share your stories. Tenting, caravanning, motorhoming, van camping, bike camping, hiking and more. Your camping photos and stories. Your club stories and photos. Upcoming events that include camping. Opinion pieces on camping issues. Technical / helpful articles. Photos 1mb or more in size. Email words and (separate) images: editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz Contributions close Nov 1 for the Summer issue Feb1 for the Autumn issue For late breaking articles talk to the editor. ______ Photo: ©2022 William Anna & Stewart Leslie with Adrienne camping 1958 Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 3

11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Otaki-river. mouth. Fishing. ©2025 M Richardson Late summer fishing M Richardson Late summer fishing at the Ōtaki River Mouth free camp. February 2025. ©2025 M Richardson Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 15

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing on the lounge floor with all the windows open. Trying out my new quilt Tony Kissel Trying out my new Enlightened Equipment quilt. Slept in it last night on the lounge floor with all the windows open. I’m a ‘quiet’ sleeper and don’t move around much during the night so hopefully this will do the trick, no more sleeping bag zips to contend with. Lighter than a sleeping bag and compresses down much more than my old bag. ◊ ©2024 Tony Kissell Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 15

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption EVENTS — Festivals and Shows These events offer an opportunity for people to overnight while they attend. Some are restricted to certified self contained vehicles, some restrict or ban pets. Check the event website for details. september SI Endurance Race Series - Round 2 22–23 Sept, Friday: Invercargill teretonga.org.nz october Waiau pig hunting competition Labour Weekend (21–23 Oct). A fund raiser for the fire brigade. ckw.nz/waiau-pigs Hurunui Garden Festival 26–29 Oct: Hurunui. Intimate and whimsical, grand and formal: something to inspire every gardener. Gardens, workshops, events, tours, food. ckw.nz/hurunui-gardens RESTORE Rally 2023 : Bikes, trikes, all welcome 13– 15 Oct: Waiau ckw.nz/waiau-restore A rider event, open to all over 18 years. Live blade shearing; MoonDog plays his blues, a new young band to rock you. Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival 27 Oct–5 Nov: Taranaki taranakigardens.co.nz november Waiau fireworks 4 Nov. Fab night out with lots of fun, family entertainment, stalls. Pay with cash. ckw.nz/waiau-fireworks Nelson Motorhome & Caravan Show 11–12 Nov, Saturday: Tahunanui Beach Holiday Park, Nelson nelsonmotorhomeshow.co.nz Cross Hills Gardens Country Fair 18 Nov, Sat: Kimbolton crosshillsfair.co.nz Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival 2023 24–26 Nov, Fri: Masterton wings.org.nz Harvest Festival Hawkes Bay 25 Nov, Sat: Napier harvesthawkesbay.com 2024 Egmont Country Music Jan 2024 5–7 Jan: Taranaki on Facebook Marton Country Music Festival 19–21 Jan: Marton martonfestival.com Camp Fest 9–11 Feb: Bulls, Manawatu ckw.nz/campfest Warbirds Over Wanaka Mar 2024 29–31 Mar 2024, Wanaka warbirdsoverwanaka.com Waiau School trail ride 2024 6–7 April: Waiau. For competent riders of off-road motorcycles and ATVs. Breathtaking. Basic overnight camping. theride.co.nz Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 34

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Orange Sheep, Franz Josef Glacier. Stop and Stay so many to choose from STOP and STAY Stop and stay with your DOG Stop and Stay stopandstaynz.org North Island Valley Vista Eco Retreat Costs Kaiwaka, Northland valleyvista.co.nz An eco-friendly holiday park. Bush walks. Choose your camping spot or use one provided. Close to the popular beaches and cafes of Mangawhai and the iconic Bald Rock. Who: tents, campervans, cabins. Facilities: power, kitchen, toilets, showers, laundry, device charging, wifi. Activities: bush walks, explore the area. Waitui Reserve Free Whakamarama, Bay of Plenty On the Te Puna estuary, 15 mins from Tauranga. A beautiful community harbour reserve perfect for family. Dogs on leads. Max 3 nights. Who:  certified self-contained vehicles. Facilities: toilet, cold shower, jetty, boat ramp. Activities: swimming, fishing, boating, water sports. Rosie & Brian’s Low cost Reporoa, near Taupo rosiecrofskey@gmail.com A farm/market garden setting. Close to Butchers hot pool (free). Market produce available for purchase. Dogs on leads. Who: self contained tents, vans, campervans. Facilities: produce stall. BYO toilet. Activities: cycling, walking. Matawai Camp and Store Costs BOP to Gisbourne road, SH2. matawai-camp.business.site Halfway between Gisborne and Opotiki. Beautiful area with walks nearby. On the route of Nga Haerenga: Great Rides: Motu Trails. Vaccinated dogs on leads are welcome. Family friendly. Who: cyclists, tents, campervans, families. Facilities: toilets, showers, kitchen, power, café, free wifi, cabins, accessible. Activities: cycling, walks. Timona Park Free Feilding, Manawatu An urban park with sports fields, beside the Oroua River. An easy walk to town. Max 5 nights. Gates locked at dusk. Sports on Saturday. Dogs on leads. Who: self-contained vehicles. Facilities: water, toilets, dump station, large vehicles. Activities: walking, cycling, fishing. Ferry Reserve Free Woodville, Wairarapa, ckw.nz/ferry-reserve At the eastern end of the Manawatu Gorge, wake up to bird song and the sound of the river. Fish the river. Walk the Manawatu Gorge. Max 3 nights. Dogs allowed. Who: self-contained vehicles. Facilities: toilets; large vehicles, playground, family friendly. Activities: walking, cycling, fishing, swimming, other river sports. SOUTH ISLAND Old MacDonalds Holiday Park Costs Marahau, Tasman oldmacs.co.nz A farm and park by the Marahau River, beside the Abel Tasman National Park. Family friendly. APC discount. Who: tents, campervans, cabins. Facilities: toilets, showers, kitchen, laundry, power, secure parking, wifi, water taxi access, accessible. (No dump station). Activities: walking, tramping, cycling, swimming, fishing, local tours. Orange Sheep Campervan Park Costs Franz Josef, West Coast orangesheep.co.nz In the centre of town. In the rainforest and views to snow-capped mountains. The perfect base to explore the region. Pay for what you need. Some local discounts. Dogs allowed. Who: tent (on gravel), campervans, caravans. Facilities: toilet, shower, kitchen, laundry, water, dump station, wifi. Activities: day walks, cycling, tours, hot tubs, wildlife centre, DOC centre, restaurants. Kaikoura Peketa Holiday Park Costs Kaikoura kaikourapeketabeach.co.nz Mountain views and the beach at your doorstep. Wake to a magnificent sunrise and a day of adventure or relaxation. Campers can have their dog on a leads. Who: tents, campervans, caravans. Facilities: toilet, showers, laundry, kitchen, wifi, cabins, family friendly, accessible. Activities: swimming, walks, bike trails, surf-casting, mini-golf, flying fox, bmx, kayaking, whale watching, fishing charter. House of Hop Brewery and Restaurant Free Near Geraldine houseofhop.co.nz Motorhome parking area (hard stand) in a quiet rural setting. On-site restaurant and craft brewery. Dogs allowed. Who: self-contained vehicles. Facilities: restaurant, brewery. Activities: dining, drinking, walking, cycling. CentralPac Orchard Costs Cromwell, Feb to Nov centralpac.co.nz Close to walking and cycle trails. Central to ski fields. Weekly rates. Only workers can stay during the cherry season. Family friendly. Dogs ok. Who: tents, campervans, vans. Facilities: toilets, showers, water, dump station, laundry, cabins, accessible. Activities: cycling, fishing, walking, skiing. Tui Base Camp Costs Tuatapere, Southland tuibasecamp.co.nz Southern Scenic Route. A base camp, close to mountains, ocean, river, lakes and the NZ great walk, Hump Ridge Track. Home of the World Famous Tuatapere Sausages. Family friendly, weekly rates, dog friendly. Who: tents, vans, campervans, backpackers. Facilities: toilet, showers, laundry, kitchen, power, spa, sauna, dump station, wifi, café, bar. Activities: mini golf, playground, bush walks, tramping, guided trips, jet boating, walking, cycling, fishing, swimming, other river sports. stopandstaynz.org Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 38

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing My day at the Ellesmere A&P Show Tony Knights My day at the Ellesmere A&P Show Don’t miss local A & P shows when you travel the country.above. See the gallery ©2024 Tony Knights Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 23

We get heaps of people message us and ask about the pros and cons of travelling full time so we thought we’d put pen to paper and share the highs and lows of full time travel with kids BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up Pros and Cons of full time family travel Two Kids and a Caravan We get heaps of people message us and ask about the pros and cons of travelling full time so we thought we’d put pen to paper and share the highs and lows of full time travel with kids PROS : You get to spend a lot of time as a family CONS : You spend A LOT of time as a family Haha just kidding — sort of… Let’s start with the nitty gritty and look at the disadvantages Disadvantages of full time family travel Quality over quantity You really do spend a lot of time together and a lot more than “normal” so it’s easy to take that time for granted if everyone isn’t getting their own alone/1:1 time. Instead of looking forward to seeing each other at the end of the day, you’re in each other’s pockets all day and sometimes you can lose sight of the amazing opportunity you have to spend quality time together. It’s helpful to schedule alone time, couple time, family time and 1:1 time with the kids to make sure everyone’s cup is getting topped up. Team sports One thing we struggle with is the feeling that our kids “miss out” on being a part of a club/team and all the good things that come with that — despite popular belief it’s nothing to do with homeschooling and is a result of our transient lifestyle and not being in one place long enough to sign up for a term. When we are parked up for an extended time (e.g over winter) we always try to get the girls involved in some extra curricular activities. It gets dirty fast This one is both a pro and a con. You’ve really squeezed an entire house into 14m2 — it has a full kitchen, a bathroom, beds, windows, lounge, and since all your living happens in the same square inches, the mess is amplified — and fast. However, it’s equally fast to clean, there’s less surfaces to wipe and less floors to sweep, there’s just more crumbs on them. We always say it takes 5 minutes to mess it up but only 5 minutes to clean it up Lack of routine When your life isn’t prescribed for you (whether you have a job or business requiring you, or specific times to have kids ready and out of the house) it’s easy to dwindle the day away. A sleep in, a slow breakfast before deciding what to do for the day — we find we have some pretty “unproductive” seasons where we feel we should have done more with our time. Isn’t it interesting that the reason we started this journey was to get out of the busy, monotonous routine we were in, and now that we rule our own world we miss the routine? Mark finds it stressful when his life isn’t stressful enough. [Note from Kim: Do you know how stressful it is to experience a new supermarket layout every. single. time.] Maybe we just need to remind ourselves that rest is productive. Quality time is productive. Recovering from burnout is productive . Now for the best bits Freedom Freedom to travel, freedom from the shackles of everyday life and the freedom to be available and ABLE to take opportunities. All of our best experiences so far have been as a direct result of our ability to say “we’d love to” and having the flexibility to go on a whim, without the constraints of time and place. Healthier lifestyle We spend heaps of time out in nature and even all the extra chores like lugging water around, keep our bodies moving. On top of that, all the ridiculous new hobbies we take up, like hiking, kayaking, mountain biking and learning to sail as well as trying to buy produce at local farmers markets and side of the road stalls and we find ourselves living a generally healthier lifestyle overall. Lower cost of living We’re much more in control of our overheads and are able to lower them by travelling more slowly (reduced fuel costs), parking up in low cost spots (no rent), relying on solar for our electricity, catching fish (haha good one), and making the most of free entertainment (after the initial outlay costs of bikes/kayaks etc). This in turn allows us to work less if we want to, or decide (key word — decide) to do longer hours to save some funds for the next leg and/or park up at a campground with all the facilities. Living simply We’ve learnt first-hand the difference between what we think we need and what we actually need and while we live a pretty minimalist life in comparison to house life, we still never want for anything (if you know Kim, you’ll know she’s prepared for every situation, no matter how small). We’ve learnt to stretch food, conserve water, reduce rubbish, chase experiences not things, and ensure items in our caravan have multiple purposes. We’ve learnt to live simply and as a wise friend said “home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling” and we can take ourselves anywhere in the New Zealand and feel right at home. Making lifelong memories We’ve spent the last 937 days almost 24/7 as a family and wow have we had some experiences together. We’ve seen, experienced and achieved more in those days than we have in the rest of our lives and feel that if we died tomorrow we’d have few regrets as we’ve spent these years really LIVING. We’re creating lifelong memories with our kids which we hope will shape them in growing into adventurous, curious, resilient, resourceful and fulfilled adults. New connections We’ve met some amazing people along the journey that we never would have crossed paths with (or been in the right frame of mind or open to creating connections with), as well as over 1000 of you who follow along over our social media platforms and who we hope to meet some day. It’s a pretty special feeling to be able to travel anywhere in the country and have people to connect with and people we can’t wait to catch up with or meet. Having a kitchen and bathroom everywhere you go This one is a bit of a funny one but honestly, towing your home along behind you and being able to pull over to the side of the road and make a cup of tea or use the toilet, or come back from a hike or activity and jump in and whip up lunch is something we’re not sure we’ll ever be able to give up Obviously the positives well outweigh the negatives and our 2.5 year journey so far is testament to that. We don’t see this adventure ending for many more years. facebook.com/twokidsandacaravan Up Up Up We don’t see this adventure ending for many more years Click on the gallery for a full size view pros-cons-4-F.webp pros-cons-6.webp pros-cons-4-F.webp 1/5