7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Chickpea salad ©2024 Margaret Earle Recipes for camping Margaret Earle Tinned chickpeas are a useful thing to keep in your caravan cupboard. As well as being tasty they are a good source of protein. Here’s a couple of recipes you could use them in. Chickpea and cucumber salad Serves 4 as a side salad This salad is very simple to make. My three-year-old granddaughter really likes it. Last time I was camping with her I didn’t have any fresh mint, but the salad was still tasty and refreshing. Ingredients 1 tin chickpeas half a cucumber, approximately ¼ cup plain yoghurt Salt Garlic (either fresh or from a jar) Fresh mint (chopped finely) Ground cumin seeds The quantities above are approximate. Add more or less depending on your preferences and the look of the salad. You can add other things too like diced capsicum. Method Drain chickpeas. Chop cucumber into thin slices or chunks about half a centimetre square. Mix yoghurt, garlic, salt, mint and cumin seeds and pour over chickpeas and cucumber. Eat straight away or store in a cool place until you eat it. Spiced chickpea and pumpkin tagine Serves 4 Ingredients 2 Tbsp oil 1–2 chopped onions 3 cloves of chopped garlic (or 2 tsp garlic from a jar) 600g of pumpkin cut into small cubes 2 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp turmeric 1 cinnamon stick ½ tsp chilli powder 1–2 chopped capsicums 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 2x 400g tins of chickpeas (drained) Zest and juice from ½ lemon 1 tsp honey Salt and pepper Method Fry onions and garlic in the oil for about 5 minutes. Add cubes of pumpkin. Stir in ground cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon stick and chilli powder and cook for 1 – 2 minutes. Add chopped capsicum and tinned tomatoes. Bring to the boil then add chickpeas. Simmer gently for 15 minutes until all the flavours are blended. Before serving, add lemon zest and juice, honey, salt and pepper. Serve with rice. Dehydration instructions This recipe can be prepared in advance and dehydrated for a tramp or trip away. To do this: simmer the chickpea and pumpkin mixture gently until all fluid has evaporated. Finally add the lemon zest, juice, honey, salt and pepper and heat through. Spoon on the trays of the dehydrator. More detail on dehydrating meals can be found in Issue 6, Spring 2023, Camping the Kiwi Way . Keeping meat longer: vacuum pack One way to keep meat and other food longer is to vacuum pack them. The food still needs to be kept cool but it will last much longer (six to eight days). Sometimes you will see vacuum packed meats for sale in food stores and some supermarkets are happy to vacuum pack meat when you buy it. You can buy relatively inexpensive vacuum packing machines. They require electricity to run so you can’t use them in the wilderness but are useful when you prepare meals for tramping or when it will be difficult to buy fresh foods. You can also create your own ready-to-eat meals by vacuum packing home-made dehydrated meals. GO TO Celebrating Summer Bonus tip: keep meat longer by vacuum packing Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 32 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

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

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Featured content Table of contents, Autumn, issue 7 Editor 2 Predictable problems with the new CSC green warrant system 4 Editorial 4 The packdown 5 Celebrating Summer 6 Self-containment warrant cards 8 So you want to freedom camp: How to manage the transition period 10 What is ‘self-contained’, anyway? 12 Enforcement of freedom camping rules 14 ‘I am not freedom camping’ cards 16 Do your bit: Task of the week 16 No more freedom camping for these responsible campers 17 Ten tips for hitting the road full time 18 Kaikōura: the freedom camping Wild West 18 Charly the campervan 19 SMALL TOWN: Taihape: the perfect stopover 20 Hey NZ Govt? You are messing with my mental health 21 7 days a week 23 Kiwi camping with a difference 25 Hidden gem: Waipu 26 My caravan that floats 29 Make caravan fridges work as claimed 32 Recipes for camping 33 DOC update 34 Living an endless summer 34 The perils of a coiled power supply cord 35 Camp au naturel 36 Whanganui vintage camping 36 Waihopai camp and the Marlborough Wine and Food Festival 37 Three octogenarian campers 38 Stop & stay — with your dog 39 — Land of the Lotus 39 — Scottland Motorhome Park 40 Events — Camping 41 Festivals and Shows 42 Game: DOC campsites 1: In the north 43 RV & camper business services 52 All Points Camping Club of NZ Articles in this issue on the freedom camping law changes: Predictable problems with the new CSC green warrant system Editorial Self-containment warrant cards: Which one is yours? So you want to freedom camp Enforcement of freedom camping rules I am not freedom camping' cards Do your bit: Task of the week No more freedom camping Kaikōura: the freedom camping Wild West Hey NZ Govt? You are messing with my mental health 7 days a week Celebrating Summer GO TO Celebrating Summer Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 3 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 Bette camping at Morisons Bush Wairarapa, Waitangi Weekend. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Self-containment warrant cards: Which one is yours? Miriam Richardson Certified Blue before 6/23, any toilet OK to freedom camp on public land † until 6 June 2025 (or until your card expires, if earlier). Certified Blue, fixed toilet OK to freedom camp on public land † until 6 June 2025 (or until your card expires, if earlier). Last chance for new or renew 6 Jun ‘24 Certified Blue portable toilet You may not freedom camp on public land † . NEW: Certified Green (fixed toilet only) OK to freedom camp on public land † . Lasts 4 years. Private land All of these are OK on private or commercial properties, crown land (that isn’t LINZ or council-controlled land), club sites, organised events and anywhere payment is made. Good for 4 years or until the card expires. What to do Identify which kind of self containment you have, and be clear about where you are allowed to camp, so you can avoid fines and hassles. The new freedom camping law specifically states that ‘short term parking’, and ‘ day-trip excursions,’ are not freedom camping. Recovering from driver fatigue continues to be allowed, and is, specifically, legally, not ‘freedom camping’. † What is ‘public land’? All land managed by district and local councils is covered. This can include land otherwise controlled by NZTA, LINZ or DOC. Currently LINZ has 5 freedom camping areas in Central Otago and the McKenzie Country, and the new law applies. As at Feb 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 Inspection of self-containment warrants An enforcement officer may inspect your warrant card . If asked, you must produce the self-containment certificate . An enforcement officer may not inspect inside your vehicle. More on enforcement p12 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 they may not inspect inside your vehicle Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 6 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing surrounded by native bush and exotic trees STOP and STAY Dannevirke Holiday Park is making its facilities more accessible Margaret Earle Dannevirke Holiday Park is in the Tararua District just north of the Wairarapa. The campsite is surrounded by native bush and exotic trees. It is a quiet location with a large flat grass area for tents as well as 24 powered sites and 5 cabins. Two of the cabins include a shower and toilet and the others are basic cabins with beds. Keith, the Manager at the holiday park is an active member of All Points Camping. When I stayed at the holiday park earlier this year, Keith showed me the work being done to make the facilities more accessible. There is now an accessible toilet and shower. A ramp has been built to the deck outside the kitchen. Keith says that work is now underway to provide wheelchair access into the kitchen. The next stage will be to reconfigure one of the A-frame cabins so that it is accessible. Ramp to the camp office There is now an accessible toilet and shower (see gallery for more) The cabins can be configured in various ways to meet the needs of families. One cabin can sleep between 6 and 8 people. Two of the cabins can sleep 4 and the other cabins sleep up to 3 people. It is advisable to book the cabins well in advance as they are popular with people working locally as well as campers who are visiting the town. Keith told me that Dannevirke Holiday Park offers the ideal camping experience for families. During the summer they will be setting up a village green type environment in the middle of the grassed tent area. There will be a volleyball net, a badminton net and balls available to play rugby and football and well as some frisbees. Responsible dog owners are welcome at the holiday park. However, dogs are restricted to the campground boundaries because the campground is located beside a reserve. There is a dog park at the northern end of Dannevirke, opposite the Mangatera Hotel on SH2 (map: ckw.nz/dannevirke-dog-park ). All Points is holding a camp at Dannevirke Holiday Park on the weekend of 14–16 March 2025. This will be a family-friendly weekend with fun activities for all ages. The cost for club members will be $16/person/night for adults. Children under 5 are free, and those aged 5–16 are half price. ◊ dannevirkeholidaypark.co.nz Read Rueben, Lynne and Charlie’s camping story . Read Alice’s accessibility experience and advice. Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 26

1 Spring 2022 Crossword solution Up Rhonda Marshall BY: Rhonda Marshal l Back to the crossword Up Up Up Spring 2022 ISSUE 1 BUY PDF CONTENTS 1/1

1 Spring 2022 1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Our chance to have our thoughts and feelings heard Time to have your say on the “Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Bill” Wayne Ravelich This bill is in the name of Tourism Minister, Stewart Nash’s proposals on freedom camping and certified self-containment. This Bill has had its first reading in parliament and is now with the select committee to fine tune before going back to parliament for a second reading. The select committee has called for public submissions on the bill. This is our chance to have our thoughts and feelings heard. The bill is an omnibus that amends more than one Act. If passed in its current format the bill will affect the Freedom Camping Act, the Self-contained motor vehicle standard along with NZTA-Waka Kotahi and LINZ land, and how local bodies administer the legislation. This legislation will affect ALL campers and the camping industry in New Zealand for many years to come. The proposed exclusion of portable toilets from the Standard is only one step that affects thousands of responsible campers. We will all be affected on where and how we can camp. We will also carry huge extra administrative costs because of these regulations. Have your voice heard by making a submission. Try and be concise/ to the point, mention how it will affect you and your family. Will the increased cost of self-containment restrict your ability to go camping with friends and family? Tell them what you like and dislike about the bill. Here is the public submissions page. ckw.nz/have-your-say . The closing date for submissions is Thursday, 13 October 2022. Happy camping Wayne Raveich President, All Points Camping Club of NZ Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 12

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 Vital Requirements ©2024 Collyn Rivers problems are almost always due to faulty installation Make caravan fridges work as claimed Collyn Rivers To make caravan fridges work as claimed, and draw less energy, is cheap, simple and easy. Many can be transformed. This article shows how. Fridges do not generate ‘cold’. They pump heat from where it is not wanted to somewhere it does not matter. Big fridges use more energy than small ones, but not in proportion to their size. Doubling fridge volume will increase energy draw about one and a half times, not twice. Where feasible, use one large fridge — not two smaller ones. Some cold air is lost when a fridge’s front door is opened. Top-opening fridges lose marginally less. The heat seals of door-opening fridges must be perfect, if they are not, energy usage soars. If they are over three years old, replace them . Energy consumption Any fridge’s energy draw relates directly to ambient temperature. All use about 5% more for every 1° C above 25° C. Set temperatures are the same. Fridges need to be +4° C, freezers -18° C (or settle for -14° to save energy). Cool food before placing it in the fridge. Keep bought frozen goods cold in a heat-insulating bag, and put in the fridge as soon as possible. Defrost anything frozen in the fridge section. Let warm beer first cool overnight. If you keep the fridge full less cold air falls out when opened, so leave gaps for air to move, but fill empty spaces with bottled water. Most fridges control temperature by cycling on and off. Energy draw relates to the ratio of on times to off times. A fridge that draws more energy but is on less often, or for shorter times, may use less energy per day. Many makers now produce fridges that run constantly: they vary the speed to maintain temperature. For any type of fridge only daily energy draw has any meaning. Make caravan fridges work as claimed – from solar It is totally feasible to make electrical caravan fridges work as claimed primarily from solar. A typical 40–110 litre chest and door opening electric fridge draws 0.7–1.0 amp-hours/day per litre of its volume. Larger ones draw slightly less per litre. This requires 150 to 200 watts of solar, and 100 to 150 amp hours battery capacity per 100 litres of fridge volume in temperate areas (up to 30º C). Above 30º C, solar capacity needs increase by 5% for each 1º C. Alternator charging assists if driving a few hours each day. (Refer to dc-dc-charging, ckw.nz/dc-dc-charging ). Three-way fridges work well on gas, from the alternator whilst driving, and 110/230 volts when available, but their energy draw (12–30 amps at 12 volts) is far too high for solar. See below re ‘Climate Class’. Unrealistic expectations Fridges must be competently installed. Few are. Improve them by following that shown next page. (Owners comparing fridges unknowingly discuss competent or otherwise installation). No caravan fridge will cool a carton of room temperature beer in an hour or two! Buy beer cold and put it straight in the fridge. Fishers (particularly) grossly underestimate energy needed to freeze their catch. Power draws continuously, doubling or tripling consumption, yet the catch will not freeze quickly. Doing so requires a generator-powered chest freezer. Correctly installed and sensibly used RV fridges will work as specified, but don’t get carried away by vendor’s claims. Believe the claims in technical data, not those in brochures. Gas and three-way fridges must suit the climate in which they are used. If not they are not likely to work as you may expect. Three-way fridges and climate class Three-way fridges maintain cooling over tightly defined ambient temperatures. These are four (CEN standard) Climate Classes. The ‘ SN ’, and ‘ N ’ (Sub Normal, and Normal) units work up to 32° C; ‘ ST ’, (Sub Tropical) up to 36° C. ‘ T ’-rated (Tropical) up to 43° C. (T- and ST- rated fridges do not work that well below 14°–18° C.) Only ‘Climate Class T’ cool satisfactorily in north and north-west Australia (or tropical areas generally). Three-way fridges are available in Australia from Chescold, Dometic and Indel. They have an unfair reputation for poor cooling due either to buying one of the wrong Climate Class and/or poor installation. Three-way fridges meet their claims but must be installed as shown next page to do so. Make caravan fridges work as claimed – in tropical areas When making a fridge work as claimed, it is common (but wrong) to assume there’s more solar input in tropical areas. There is not. Solar input in the tropics in mid-summer is 20% to 30% less than many expect. High humidity causes haze and some solar energy is lost because of this. It is also hot all day and often all night, so fridges draw up to 50% more energy, meanwhile, solar modules lose energy through heat loss. To cope in tropical conditions, your solar system must bring batteries to float voltage in temperate areas by noon on most days All this is thoroughly covered in my books Solar that Really Works, Solar Success and Caravan & Motorhome Electrics rvbooks.com.au . Installation Few RV fridges are correctly installed, including many done ‘professionally’. Making caravan fridges work as claimed is usually possible: sometimes even better than claimed — and often at little or no cost. It is usually easy to do but in extreme cases, it may be necessary to totally re-install. Here is a far from extreme example: it is of a $550,000 motorhome with a 450-litre fridge totally enclosed and unventilated, plus a 300-litre freezer. Both are in unventilated lockers with black fronts exposed to the sun. Neither cools below about 5 degrees C. Both connect to the battery via cable barely able to run LEDs. The RV maker refuses to accept responsibility — he blames the fridge maker! Fixing required a major rebuild of the kitchen area at a cost of over $10,000! Heat must escape Whilst seemingly obvious, a fridge must not be in direct sunlight: One character, who has his outside in Broome’s full tropical sun, complains: “my b..y mongrel Electrolux won’t keep my %#@^& beer cold.” He’d listen to nobody (including me) explaining why — despite going through a 9kg (20lb) LP gas cylinder a week as a result. The heat from a fridge must be able to exit the caravan — and not re-enter. To do this they need a cool air entry at its base level, and a hot air exit (ideally at roof level). Most need baffles to direct cold air so that it can only flow through or over the cooling fins. Baffles can be made from aluminium, plywood or even cardboard. They must be within a centimetre or two of the cooling fins. Channel rising warm air so none is trapped. The cool air vent can be at the side or through the floor (but not above or behind an engine’s exhaust outlet). Cool air must enter below the lowest cooling fin and exit well above the highest fin. The lower inlet is a problem off-road as dust is sucked in. Here, compromise is needed. One way is to have the vent closed off while on dirt roads (but cooling will suffer as a result). Rising warm air is ideally vented to and through the roof: if not feasible, have a side vent well above the highest cooling fin. Fridge level is important. Some three-way fridges tolerate 6° tilt, others only 3°, but electric fridges are less sensitive. The vital requirements Upper Left: — the baffles are too short. They need to be just below the cooling fins. Rising hot air is trapped in the dead air spaces. If not fixable (bottom centre and right), an extractor fan driven by a 5-watt solar module enhances airflow. Upper right: — the upper air vent is far too low — hot air is trapped in the fins above it, to prevent that, baffles are needed. Bottom row: How to install fridges correctly. Baffles truly help, yet rarely used. Rising hot air is channelled to the outside. Drawing is copyright: rvbooks.com.au A small extractor fan often assists. Some have an integrated solar panel — this works well as cooling is most needed when sunny. Fans used in large desktop computers are cheap. They run directly from a 5–10 watt solar module or the RV’s 12-volt system. Ideally use fans to extract warm air rather than pumping in cool air — but the difference is minor. Electrical problems with 12-volt fridges Most 12 volt fridges have grossly inadequate cabling — many only 25% of that required. Check by seeing if the fridge cools better on 230v (where relevant). Cable issues are worsened by faulty fuse holders: and particularly cigarette lighter plugs and associated too-small wiring. Scrap such plugs and wire the fridge to the battery by the shortest route. To check if the cable is too small, with the fridge running, measure the voltage directly across the battery, then directly across the fridge. To ensure it keeps running, do this with the fridge door open. Many caravan fridges have close to 1.0-volt drop. Accept no more than 0.15–0.2-volt drop. Using adequate cable makes an extraordinary difference to making caravan fridges work as claimed. For an electric fridge to battery distance of fewer than four metres, use 4mm² cable (AWG/B&S 11). Over four metres use 6mm² cable (AWG/B&S 9). If over four metres, move the battery closer. Do NOT use the auto cable sold by auto parts and hardware stores without first reading about it below — or in more detail in Caravan & Motorhome Electrics. ckw.nz/c-m-electrics Do also see my article on DC-DC Charging — this shows how to ensure the caravan battery and fridge receive their full required voltage from the vehicle alternator. This can totally transform a caravan or camper trailer fridge. ckw.nz/dc-dc-charging Auto cable problems Appliance makers specify cable by its cross-section in mm². Auto cable makers (in effect) specify it by the size hole you can just push it through. They rate it by its overall diameter including insulation! Auto cable sold as 4mm is typically 1.8mm², but may be only 1.25mm². Many caravan electric fridge makers specify 4mm². But countless fridges are connected by totally inadequate 1.8mm² auto cable (less than half the minimum specified). No fridges wired that way work remotely as they should and usually can. Direct comparison with other wire gauges is impossible with auto cable as conductor as size varies from maker to maker. One exception is that 6mm auto cable (typically 4.59mm² — or 10 AWG) can be substituted for 4.0mm² cable. Cable current rating trap Cable ‘ratings’ (e.g. ‘50-amp’ etc) indicate only the current that cable carries before it melts! They tell nothing about voltage drop (as that is also a function of cable length). It’s useless asking most vendors about this because few know it’s even an issue — let alone why. For caravans, locate the battery as close as possible to the fridge. If alternator-charged, install a dc-dc alternator charger close to that fridge’s battery. Never use cable lighter than advised above. If you do the fridge cannot work correctly An exact way of establishing the best cable size is shown in my books, Solar that Really Works, Solar Success and Caravan & Motorhome Electrics. rvbooks.com.au . Problems with three-way fridges Routine maintenance is required. Check the flame colour: it should be blue. If yellow (or the fridge works well on 12 volts but not on gas), the baffle inside the flue is likely coated with soot. Soot etc also drops down and affects the burner. Wearing safety glasses and old clothing, use a powerful air compressor to clean that baffle. Do likewise around the burner. Be aware this is a filthy job. You may prefer a fridge repairer to do it — and have them check the LP gas pressure at the same time. Whilst uncommon, an LP gas fridge may suddenly stop working. This is usually caused by a ‘vapour lock’ due to the caravan being excessively out of level. You can usually fix this by turning the fridge off, and make sure the caravan is level (within 3 degrees) — then turn the fridge back on after a few hours. A cause of cooling issues with gas fridges in imported RVs (or imported gas fridges) is if they are made for LP gas in a different country. If so, the jets can be the wrong size. If so, seek expert advice. Use three-way fridges as their makers intend. Run them on 12 volts only whilst driving or an hour or so from the battery because they draw too much energy to run from solar. For caravans, use heavy cabling — ideally 10 to 13.5mm² — from the alternator to the caravan battery. Consider installing a dc-dc alternator charger close to that caravan battery. Use at least 6mm² cables from that battery to the fridge. Make caravan fridges work as claimed — in cars and 4WDs Making caravan fridges work as claimed in cars and 4WDs is more of a problem. Keep them out of direct sunlight, and leave air space around the grill’s vent areas. It is fine to pack stuff close to or touching them — except for the types shown below (these must have a 50mm air gap each side as the heat dissipates from their sides). You can improve all types of fridges (some dramatically) by running a 6mm² (8 AWG) cable directly from the battery to that fridge (a maximum of four metres away). Use 6 AWG if the distance exceeds four metres. A few boat and RV fridges, such as this Australian designed and made Autofridge, (right)dissipate heat from their side-walls. These fridges must have an air gap of 50mm each side. Pic: Autofridge Australia. Fridge issues generally Do not over-pack RV fridges as space is needed to allow cool air to circulate. Door seals leak after a few years. To check, insert a strong strip of this paper (e.g. a banknote) between the door and the seal (at various places around the door) and see if it grips. If not, cool air escapes, so replace the seals every three to five years. Fridges with external cooling fins benefit by adding extra heat insulation. Some fridges, however, such as the Intel and Autofridge (pic above), dissipate heat from their side-walls. If possible have a cool air feed to the base of their sides. They must have an air gap (of 50 mm or so) at either side and their top. Make caravan fridges work as claimed – summary It is totally possible to make almost all RV fridges work as claimed (or even better) via the work described above. Except for the very cheapest fridges, dismiss claims of inherent deficiencies. If a fridge is appropriate for its proposed use, problems are almost always due to faulty installation. For domestic fridges, and fridges in cabins, virtually all of the above is relevant. n Further reading A great deal more on how to make fridges work as claimed is in my book Caravan & Motorhome Electrics. It even shows how to build your own fridge that leaves commercial units for dead in cooling and economy. It also includes a lot of information about running them from solar. ckw.nz/c-m-electrics Reproduced with permission. rvbooks.com.au . Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 29

11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Fishing as the sun goes down. Otaki River mouth. ©2025 M Richardson 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

4 Winter 2023 4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan make a list of your must-haves to make your day to day life easy and enjoyable Why we chose our Swift Sprite Quattro caravan Two Kids and a Caravan We’ve had heaps of people have asked us for feedback on our caravan and why we chose it so here it is. First up, we are a family of 4 and our caravan is a 2019 Swift Sprite Quattro EW from Nelson Caravans. Before we purchased the caravan we made a bit of a wish list. We knew that if it wasn’t easy we wouldn’t use it and our intentions were to get away every second week for 4/5 days (little did we know we’d end up travelling in it full-time). To make everyday life easy, we wanted beds for everyone as well as a space to sit and eat. We didn’t want to be making up beds every nap time and night or be forced to sit on the bed or outside once the kids went to bed. We wanted a full bathroom (not a combined toilet/shower). The Swift Sprite Quattro EW (which is a 6-berth caravan) ticked the boxes. It has a full bathroom at the back, French bed for us (double bed with the corner cut off), bunks for the girls (which can fold down into a 2 seater dinette), and wrap around lounge at the front (which can convert to another large queen-sized bed). You will have heard the rumours that “UK caravans aren’t built strong and aren’t designed for NZ roads” and honestly, every manufacturer has vans that let them down. We’ve travelled in our caravan for almost 4 years and taken it from Christchurch, up to Kaitaia, back down to Bluff and all around the South Island and it’s been perfect for us but here’s a deeper look into our pros and cons so far. PROS ✓ The van is well insulated, so it is far warmer in winter. It also comes standard with a great combined heating/hot water system which can run off 240v or LPG. ✓ Value for money — UK vans are cheaper than their Australian and American counterparts and we don’t feel like we’d get twice the enjoyment from a van twice the price. ✓ Lighter — our van comes in at 1380kg empty (but including fixed weights like the battery and full 9kg gas bottle etc) and fully laden up to 1800kg. (Although each van is different and some of the single axle vans have a smaller payload so it pays to check before you purchase). ✓ We love that it has a large comfy lounge at the front with views to outside. Similar sized Australian vans usually have a small L-shaped dinette because in their warmer climate you spend more of your time outside. ✓ Heaps of storage. When we check out other vans we love how sleek they can look, but our first comment is always “where do you put all your stuff” as they seem to lack overhead cabinets. We’ve heard of people moving from UK to Aus vans and having to donate half their stuff… not that that’s a bad thing. ✓ We can still fit into all campgrounds — while we’d love a big American caravan with all the pop-outs (really an apartment on wheels) it would double the running costs, limit places we can travel due to accessibility, and inhibit our ability to pick up our click and collect groceries on the way through a town and pack them straight into the fridge in the carpark. ✓ We purchased new and our caravan came with a full 3 year warranty as well as a 10 year water ingress warranty; as you might know, most catastrophic caravan issues originate from a water ingress. ✓ As with most new vans, we’ve had to iron out a few niggles and warranty claims and we’ve been impressed with Nelson Caravans’ after-sales service. We’ve heard of a few horror stories in the industry with retailers not wanting to come to the party so, as always, do your research. CONS ✘ They are narrower, so less living space inside, although it makes all the difference when towing it over a narrow bridge with a truck coming the other way. ✘ They’re very low for how long they are and caution needs to be taken coming in and out of driveways, especially supermarkets and fuel stations for some reason. We have scraped our stays quite a few times. ✘ We don’t take it on long gravel or rutted roads. For example we have taken it to Totaranui in the Abel Tasman no problem, but we decided against Moke Lake in the Queenstown district and just did a day trip instead. However in all our travels there’s only been a handful of places we haven’t taken it, and when we’ve visited we’ve seen other UK caravans there so… ✘ We only have a small fridge, however we’ve got so efficient at caravan life, we can still manage two weeks off-grid at a time. Other UK vans have a full fridge but sacrifice the number of beds. We would still choose it We’ve been around in circles and if we went through the process again taking into account layout, value for money, how fast we travel, accessibility to campgrounds, cheaper running costs (RUCs and fuel) and our 10 year water ingress warranty we’d still choose the Swift Sprite Quattro EW again. Our best advice when choosing a caravan is to make a list of your must-haves to make your day to day life easy and enjoyable and consider which aspects you‘re happy to compromise on and then go in search of the right van for you. P.S This is in no way a dig at any other caravans, we have a real passion for caravans and love looking through them all, it’s just our experience with our van and why it works for our family dynamics. facebook.com/twokidsandacaravan Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 6

4 Winter 2023 4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Festivals 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. June Tussock Country Music Festival 25 May - 5 Jun: Gore, Southland Bringing the rural community and NZs country music community together for ten days and 60+ events celebrating music, food, rural life, entertainment and camaraderie. Overnight parking at the showgrounds. Dogs on leads. tussockcountry.nz NZ Highwaymen 5 June, Mon: Gore Legends of Kiwi Country music will play an electrifying show in the NZ capital of Country Music. Overnight parking at the showgrounds. Dogs on leads. tickets NZ HighwayMen nzhighwaymen.com/home July Festival of Christmas & Rose & Smith Mid-Winter Party 1-29 July: Greytown Greytown celebrates with a month-long programme of spectacular lights, workshops, events, Matariki activities, markets, parties, food and family fun. Tauherenikau Motorhome and caravan park. Certified Self contained vehicles. Festival greytownvillage.com/let-it-snow-2023 Parking tauherenikau.co.nz/motorhome-and-caravan-park Oxford Matariki Winter Lights Festival 2023 1 - 16 July: Oxford, Canterbury We light up to celebrate Matariki and to raise community spirits during mid-winter. Houses, businesses and everything else gets the special treatment making it a magical place to visit when it gets dark. Come and visit to enjoy our country hospitality and the mid- winter lights. Freedom camping 1km from town by the river. oxfordnewzealand.co.nz BRANDED Winter Warm Up Country Music Fest 28-30 July, Fri: Karapiro, Waikato The annual country music fest in Cambridge. Certified Self contained parking in Leamington. No dogs. ckw/nz/branded-fb September South Island Endurance Race Series - Round 2 22-23 Sept, Friday: Invercargill Round 2 of the South Island Endurance Championship is coming to Teretonga Park. The South Island Endurance Racing Drivers Club is a circuit based Motor Racing Series. Free overnight parking for ticket-holders. No pets. teretonga.org.nz/race/ October Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival 27 Oct - 5 Nov: Taranaki A ten day adventure into the homes of garden gurus throughout the Taranaki region. See the variety of plants we can grow in Taranaki at New Zealand’s friendliest garden festival. No specific parking. Some gardens offer overnight parking. Check with the gardens. taranakigardens.co.nz/our-festival/festival-info/ Facebook: Facebook.com/TaranakiFringeGardenFestival/ Instagram: Instagram.com/taranakifringegardenfestival/ November Robbie Williams XXV Tour 2023 12 Nov, Sat: Napier one of the finest male pop stars of his generation comes to this Mission Estate Winery concert. (11th is sold out). Certified self contained vehicles can park within walking distance. missionconcert.co.nz Parking Email to book minceyanddi@xtra.co.nz Cross Hills Gardens Country Fair 18 Nov, Saturday: Kimbolton Shop quality stalls, taste delicious food and relax to live music in a fun-filled atmosphere. There's something for everyone, even the guys! Why not make a weekend of it and book a motorhome site for $5 a night. Booking essential. No dogs. crosshillsfair.co.nz Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival 2023 24-26 Nov, Friday: Masterton The beautiful Wairarapa provides a stunning backdrop to an extravaganza of aerial action over three days. In addition to the spectacular flying programme, there are fantastic ground displays and activities for small and big kids alike. Overnight parking for self contained vehicles at the Masterton A&P Showgrounds, with a free shuttle service to the aerodrome. Dogs on leads. Buy parking as an add on to your ticket purchase. wings.org.nz Harvest Festival Hawkes Bay 25 Nov, Saturday: Napier A celebration of Hawkes Bay Food & Wine country. Harvest Festival Hawkes Bay. Sixteen wineries and 9 eateries. Tickets are limited. A shuttle service lets you camp or park in Napier, Hastings or Havelock North. Facebook harvesthawkesbay.com 2024 Egmont Country Music Jan 2024 5-7 Jan: Taranaki For a great weekend full of music and dance keep watching this page for updates. What a way to begin 2024. Come join us. To book parking phone. Facebook ckw.nz/egmont-country-festival Warbirds Over Wanaka Mar 2024 Fri, 29 - 31 Mar 2024, Wanaka This is the largest Warbird airshow in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the world's top four. It is a biennial event and around 50,000 people come to Wanaka for Warbirds and classic aircraft. Camping at local camping grounds. No dogs in the day carpark. warbirdsoverwanaka.com Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 35