10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption 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

6 Summer 2023 6 Summer 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption lithium-Li-ion-bike-banner_mw.webp Lithium-ion battery safety Fire and Emergency New Zealand ALERT: Incorrectly charging your E-bike can cause violent fire. Do not attempt to extinguish.Evacuate immediately and call 111. These days, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are everywhere, from e-bikes and e-scooters to vapes and power tools. They are light, compact, and long-lasting, but can be a fire hazard if they are damaged, mishandled, or improperly disposed of. Do your research. Only purchase and use devices and equipment from reputable manufacturers and suppliers. Only use chargers and batteries supplied with the device, or certified third-party charging equipment compatible with the battery specifications (same voltage and current). Always charge e-scooters and e-bikes away from exits to ensure you can safely escape in the event of a fire. Where possible these should be stored and charged outside or in a garage, shed or carport, away from living spaces. For smaller devices, such as vapes, phones, and laptops, do not charge these under a pillow, on the bed or on a couch — they can overheat and cause a fire. Do not overcharge your batteries. When your item is fully charged, disconnect it from the charger. Never store or leave batteries or devices in areas where they can be exposed to heat or moisture. Do not leave devices in direct sunlight or in parked vehicles where they can quickly heat up . Only get device repairs and battery replacements done by a qualified professional. If a device or battery starts to smoke or emit flames. Evacuate immediately and close doors (if safe) to slow the spread of fire. Once in a safe location, call 111 and wait for firefighters to arrive. Ensure no one goes back inside the building for any reason. Battery gases, vapour and smoke are highly toxic and flammable and must not be inhaled. If anyone has been exposed to battery fluids, debris, smoke, vapours, or flames, seek urgent medical assistance If a small battery or device such as a vape or phone starts overheating Unplug it from the power outlet if it is charging. If possible, move it outside, away from any flammable material and windows or doorways. Small devices can be dropped into a bucket of water if this can be done safely. If your device starts to smoke or release fumes, evacuate immediately to a safe location and call 111. Battery disposal Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the rubbish. Recycling is always the best option — contact your local council for a recycling location. Do not leave discarded batteries in piles. Source: ckw.nz/lithium-fire © Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Creative Commons (CC-BY-NC-ND) LiFePO4 are a safe choice for a motorhome or caravan Up Up 6 Summer 2023 , p 14

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption some of my favourite freedom camping sites SH 32/41, West of Lake Taupo On the road less travelled, down double-digit highways, which wind alongside the mighty Waikato and follow the western and southern shores of Lake Taupo, I find some of my favourite freedom camping sites. You loop off SH1 before Tirau onto Horahora Road to travel from Arapuni to Whakamaru. The Waikato River Trail has multiple camping and cycling options. Every one is unique and beautiful, with free camping. The route links into SH32 to get around Lake Taupo via SH41 to Tūrangi. Little Waipa and Arapuni are top spots at the northern end. Back country dairy lands follow the mighty Waikato south on roads that have very little traffic compared to the central, SH1 route. This rich dairy farm country offers splendid scenery along the river, with massive stations like Hodderville just south of Putāruru proving that we can grow some of the best grass in the world. It’s a calming pallette of blue and green as far as the eye and sky can reach. It’s common to wake up in one of the many riverside campgrounds to see thick mists rising while gliding swans and ducks split the silken surface of the wide, dark water. Jones Landing is a particularly peaceful, smaller site. There is a playground, shelter, gas barbecues, boat launch, toilet and shower facilities, recycling bins and everything available for day visitors and campers. The sites link beautiful walk and cycle trails. Camping permits are free of charge by applying online for a maximum of four weeks stay. Short-term stays of up to two consecutive nights are ok for all vehicles, tents, bicycles without a permit. A top spot for water sports, kayaking and paddleboarding is the largest site, Whakamaru Reserve at the southern end. There’s tons of space alongside the lake behind the dam. All are water-view sites providing for all types of camping. From here you can head towards Kinloch and Acacia Bay to reach one of the most stunning free DoC camps in the North Island — Whakaipo Bay — on the northern edge of Lake Taupo. Whakaipo Bay We try to spend a night at the Durhams Point Reserve on the way there. It’s a compact sheltered camp ground with a few lovely, more private sites. Then leaving Whakaipo head back west to the beautiful SH32 around the western shores of Lake Taupo to meet SH41 for the Kuratau to Tūrangi section. You’ll see a variety of landscapes on this route from ancient volcanic rock outcrops, and forestry, to native bush fringes around the lake at Pukawa and steaming geothermal activity at Tokaanu. It’s always a joy to take this loop off SH1 before tackling the Desert Road to head south. n Photos ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Next: SH45 Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 5

11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Jo Ward At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Amy Lou At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Jo Ward At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Jo Ward At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Jo Ward At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Jo Ward At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Jo Ward At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Jo Ward At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Natasha Jansen At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Natasha Jansen At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Nicky Haworth At CampFest 2025 Sunday, the local fire brigade came, talked and demonstrated to us on how to use fire extinguishers as well as safe practices in the vans and our homes. Several people had a go with the extinguishers. ©2025 Cheryl Roberts At CampFest 2025 Sunday, the local fire brigade came, talked and demonstrated to us on how to use fire extinguishers as well as safe practices in the vans and our homes. Several people had a go with the extinguishers. ©2025 Cheryl Roberts At CampFest 2025 Sunday, the local fire brigade came, talked and demonstrated to us on how to use fire extinguishers as well as safe practices in the vans and our homes. Several people had a go with the extinguishers. ©2025 Cheryl Roberts At CampFest 2025 Sunday, the local fire brigade came, talked and demonstrated to us on how to use fire extinguishers as well as safe practices in the vans and our homes. Several people had a go with the extinguishers. ©2025 Cheryl Roberts At CampFest 2025 Sunday, the local fire brigade came, talked and demonstrated to us on how to use fire extinguishers as well as safe practices in the vans and our homes. Several people had a go with the extinguishers. ©2025 Cheryl Roberts At CampFest 2025 Sunday, the local fire brigade came, talked and demonstrated to us on how to use fire extinguishers as well as safe practices in the vans and our homes. Several people had a go with the extinguishers. ©2025 Cheryl Roberts At CampFest 2025 Sunday, the local fire brigade came, talked and demonstrated to us on how to use fire extinguishers as well as safe practices in the vans and our homes. Several people had a go with the extinguishers. ©2025 Cheryl Roberts At CampFest 2025 Sunday, the local fire brigade came, talked and demonstrated to us on how to use fire extinguishers as well as safe practices in the vans and our homes. Several people had a go with the extinguishers. ©2025 Cheryl Roberts At CampFest 2025 Sunday, the local fire brigade came, talked and demonstrated to us on how to use fire extinguishers as well as safe practices in the vans and our homes. Several people had a go with the extinguishers. ©2025 Cheryl Roberts At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Bryan Snaith At CampFest 2025 ©2025 Bryan Snaith awesome to say the least Campfest Cheryl Roberts Encouraging our future generations of campers: family-friendly camping Campfest was awesome to say the least. The weekend started with a welcome, then the kids programme. Cheryl Roberts We dressed up and entertained the children with fun songs, games and stories. The adults enjoyed it too and even participated in the games. Imagine rolling a small Oreo biscuit from your forehead and getting it into your mouth, sounds easy, Not So! To go with the camping theme, the songs were: There’s a hole in my tent dear Shona, with Barry mending it. The wheels on the camper van, My Highland Goat. Stories: Goldilocks and the three bears, The 3 little Pigs from Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl. Saturday mornings children’s programme started at 9.15 am after 15 minutes of music thanks to Karen Clarke who also played the guitar for us. Children’s team were Margaret, Alice, Rhonda, Cheryl with Laura who joined us. Music by Karen. Again, lots of songs, stories and a play written by Alice with puppets provided by Rhonda. It was fun but not as many children as the night before. There was also a bike track, treasure hunt quiz, lions hunt where there was the occasional child asking if the lions are out. Competitions (colouring-in and free style), as well as tent pitching which the kids loved, after pitching it, they then did it blind folded to simulate putting the tent up in the dark. Discussion workshops were held and The Best Camper Competition, which brought a lot of oohs and ahhs from people as they talked to the campers who entered. The market was great, lots of variety and many people looking. My favourite was the face painting, so cool seeing so may fabulous designs on children and adults. The camp was buzzing with many activities, people chatting and generally having fun, as well as meeting new people. It was great seeing so many tents, vans, caravans and motorhomes. Adults, families relaxing and children having fun in a safe environment. I talked to a few people who said it was their first time at camp, the feedback, was that they really enjoyed it, in fact everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The facilities were great, the clubrooms were well used by people chilling or meeting over a drink and chatting. The clubrooms were awesome rooms with great atmosphere — a fantastic place to have our camps. Thank you to Bulls Rugby Club and Andy Watson the Rangitikei District Mayor. In fact all the facilities were amazing. The committee really planned this camp, with a grey water station and lots of rubbish bins, as well as porta-loos. The food trucks were definitely well worth having there, delicious fresh meals at a good price. The hamburgers (chicken and bacon) with a generous amount of chips, were very popular. I liked how the food trucks supported each other. I did see the ice cream truck but not for long. A huge draw card, was the stage and music, talent contest, open mike time and the bands which played on to 9pm. This brought a carnival atmosphere to the camp. The stage was a focal point for meeting and having fun. I observed a young girl going on stage and singing in the day, was great to see her enjoying the freedom of the place. Karen was an awesome, natural, fun MC. She kept us up with everything that was happening. My favourite song was Karen and her online dating, I hope she records it hint hint … Sunday, the local fire brigade came, talked and demonstrated to us on how to use fire extinguishers as well as safe practices in the vans and our homes. Several people had a go with the extinguishers. It was very informative with great question and answer time. They had give-aways and stayed on talking to several people. It was fun watching everyone receive their awards from kids competitions, to the camping awards. Andy Watson, the Rangitikei District Mayor, came and enjoyed part of Sunday, and the award ceremony. All in all, it was a fantastic Campfest, congratulations to the committee for your dedication and hard work, you certainly created a fun, happy environment for us all. I heard a lot of people say “bring on next year” I am one of those. Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 34

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption more adventurous places where you will be cast on your own resources STOP and STAY Stop and Stay: City dwellers: 2nd camp: more adventurous Last issue we looked at some safe places to go for a first camp away from the city ( ckw.nz/first-camp ), this time we suggest more adventurous places, where you will be cast on your own resources more, but still less than 3hrs from home. You will need to pick a safe site (ground firm? branches that might fall? if there is a flood in the night? (more: ckw.nz/choosing-a-spot ) remember to bring everything you need (all the pegs and all the poles, the water) etc.) Not all of these allow dogs/pets. Here is a selection of dog friendly places: ckw.nz/dog-stop-stay or check out all our listings here: stopaandstay.org . More on camping with pets. Auckland campers Tuppence Parkover • DRIVE: 1:46hr Pirongia, Waikato • FEE: yes. • Must be self-contained. • Dogs on leads. Private POP, near the village. Base for walks in the forest park: extinct volcanoes, caves, dramatic gorges. Image ©Tuppence Parkover Horahora • DRIVE: 1:49hr Waikato • Free, max 2 nights. • Dog friendly. • Toilets. On the banks of the Waikato River. Swim, boat, fish, paddle board, row. ckw.nz/horahora Image: ©2023 Angela Bryan Uretiti Beach (DOC) • DRIVE: 1:52hr Northland • FEE: yes. Must book. • Toilets. Safe water. Hot showers. • No dogs, no fires. Walks. On the Te Araroa Trail. Swim at the patrolled beach. ckw.nz/doc-uretiti | More Image: ©2024 Roland Jones Parua Bay • DRIVE: 2:19hr Northland • Free, max 3 nights. • Toilets. SC not required. • Dogs OK. Beachside reserve with a boat ramp. Swim, fish, kayak etc. ckw.nz/parua-bay Image: ©Brendan Pol Hamilton campers Ray’s Rest • DRIVE: 1:14hr Firth of Thames • Free, max 2 nights. • Must be self-contained. • No dogs. • More Beside the sea, beside a bird sanctuary. Image: ©2024 M Richardson Ocean Haven Farm, Otaua, North Waikato • DRIVE: 1:21hr • FEE: yes. ckw.nz/ocean-haven • Pets ok on leads. North of the river mouth on the coast. byo water and, optionally, horse. Image ©Ocean Haven Farm Lake Whakamaru Reserve, Waikato • DRIVE: 1:26hr • Free. >2 nights you need a (free) permit. • Toilets, BBQ, boat ramp. • Dogs allowed. ckw.nz/whakamaru On the banks of the Waikato River, on the River Trails. Read more Image: ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Whakaipo Bay (DOC), Taupo • DRIVE: 2:03hr • Free. ckw.nz/doc-whakaipo • Must be self-contained. No tents. • No fires. • Dogs allowed, under control. On the shores of Lake Taupo. Bike tracks, walks. Read more Image: ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Wellington campers Kaitoke, Hutt Valley, Hutt Valley • DRIVE: 0:44hr • FEE: yes. ckw.nz/kaitoke • Fires allowed in some places. • Dogs ok, under control. Camp, swim, tramp, bike, kayak, raft, picnic. Image: © NZ Fun Adventures Morisons, Greytown, Wairarapa • DRIVE: 1:16hr • FEE: yes. ckw.nz/morisons-50yrs • No fires. Dogs on leads. • No-flush toilet. Under trees by the Ruamahanga River. Swim, fish, paddle board, kayak. Read. Image: ©Bette Cosgrove Totara Reserve, Pohangina, Manawatu • DRIVE: 2:16hr • FEE: yes. totarareserveregionalpark.co.nz • Un/powered sites. • No dogs. Native forest, walking tracks, swimming holes, adventure playground. Image: ©Totara Reserve Kai Iwi Campground, Whanganui • DRIVE: 2:36hr • FEE: yes; discount: APC & NZMCA. • No fires. Dogs on leads mostly. By the sea. Fish, walk, swim (summer patrol), playground. Family-friendly. Nearby: Bason Botanical Gardens & Westmere Lake wildlife reserve. kaiiwibeach.co.nz Image: ©2024 M Richardson Christchurch campers Rakaia Gorge, Canterbury • DRIVE: 1:02hr Inland scenic route • FEE: yes. rakaiagorgecamp.net • Water, toilets, kitchen-shelter; hot showers in summer. • Dogs on leads. Winter: open with honesty box. Beside the gorge bridge, looks out over the valley. DOC walk, jet boat, fish. ckw.nz/doc-rakaia Image: © Rakaia Gorge Campground Lake Pearson (DOC), Arthurs Pass • DRIVE: 1:34hr • FEE: yes. Must book. • No-flush toilets. SC not required. • No dogs, fires, or power boats. In the Craigieburn Forest Park. Tents OK. Swimming, walks, wildlife. ckw.nz/doc-lake-pearson Image: ©2024 M Richardson Peel Forest (DOC), Sth Canterbury • DRIVE: 1:47hr • FEE: yes. Must book. • No pets of any kind. No fires. • Showers, flush toilets, kitchen. Accessible facilities. Un/power sites. No internet or mobiles. ckw.nz/doc-peel-forest Image: ©DOC Lake Camp, HIgh Country, Mid Canterbury • DRIVE: 1:50hr • Free. Donation box. • No dogs. ckw.nz/lake-camp • No-flush toilet. Lord of the Rings country behind Mt Somers. Beautiful. More in issue 1 and issue 8 . Image ©2024 Linda Butler Dunedin campers Trotters Gorge Camp (DOC), North Otago • DRIVE: 1hr • FEE: yes. Must book. • No-flush toilet. • No fires. Dogs on leads. Camp in the bush. Geosite. River-sculpted caves, sea views, birds. Too wet for vehicles in winter. ckw.nz/doc-trotters ckw.nz/doc-trotters-tracks ckw.nz/geosite-trotters Image: © Whitestone Geopark. Slope Point, Catlins, Southland • DRIVE: 2:43hr • Free. • No-flush toilet. Roomy. An easy flat walk across private farmland to the point (no access during lambing, Sep–Nov). Image ©2024 Tony Knight Bendigo, Cromwell, Central Otago • DRIVE: 2:5hr • Free, max 3 nights. • Tents ok. Large vehicles. • Toilets, rubbish bins, boat ramp. • A LINZ campsite. ckw.nz/linz Swim, fish, kayak, paddle-board. Image: ©2024 M Richardson Lake Poaka (DOC), McKenzie Country • DRIVE: 3hr • Free, max 4 nights. • No-flush toilet. • Tents are ok; no need to be SC. • No dogs. No open fires. more ckw.nz/doc-poaka Image: ©2024 M Richardson ◊ Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 42

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Packing the van for Booktown Bette Cosgrove Packing the van for a weekend at the Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival 2024. Very excited for this annual event. Accommodation is SO hard to find so All Points Camping NZ have arranged a great place for us to camp in our vehicles — right in town, with koha to the local school. Everybody wins! ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 23

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