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  • seventh-week

    1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Seventh week on the road ​ Seventh week Lisa Ambrose Seventh week on the road in Aotearoa in this beauty. Dunedin to Auckland and back again. Lisa Ambrose. Photos ©2022 Lisa Ambrose. Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 11

  • on-track

    4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ​ I am on track Andrew Morton I am on track with my original goal of 100 nights per year & mountain bike as much as I can in other regions. Teardrop. © 2023 Andrew Morton Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 7

  • connected-tourism

    5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption industry-F-byata-ziplinesm-logo.webp There is underlying energy and enthusiasm Building a connected NZ camping and tourism industry Gary Stoneley, NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd To ensure that NZ has a sustainable recreational camping industry for the next decade and beyond it is imperative that related interest groups are more engaged and appreciative of the issues each group faces. Recently I had the opportunity to attend the BYATA (Backpacker, Youth and Adventure Tourism) conference in Christchurch. Connecting with others from across the tourism industry in a motivating, energised setting was like a breath of fresh air, recharging and invigorating me to continue to support our industry. Sited at the impressive Te Pae conference centre in central Christchurch it provided an opportunity to check out the vibrant city centre. With a wide range of industry speakers perhaps the most inspiring was from ChristchurchNZ.com . Rebranding Christchurch for the future as a playground (fun) destination for work, living and visiting exemplifies how life should be, and no doubt NZ’s camping community can relate to this. Concern was expressed by attendees and speakers on the significant harm caused by ex-Tourism Minister Stuart Nash’s offensive comments targeting budget travellers and campers and the heavy-handed freedom camping legislation pushed onto the industry. Other issues discussed were the reduced support for domestic tourism, migrant issues, the shortage of workers, affordable accomodation, and suitable rental vehicles; as well as increased financial costs and operator responsibilities. There is an underlying energy and enthusiasm across the wider traveller / camper supporting industry. There are issues but a lot of positivity across the industry. Roll on Summer 2023 / 2024. Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 10

  • weekend-somers

    8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Musterers Hutt ©2024 Linda Butler Musteres Hut The history stored within is well worth a browse. ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler Museum The Museum was opened for us. I enjoyed watching the team reminiscing over objects from their childhood. The history stored within is well worth a browse. ©2024 Linda Butler Museum The Museum was opened for us. I enjoyed watching the team reminiscing over objects from their childhood. The history stored within is well worth a browse. ©2024 Linda Butler Museum The Museum was opened for us. I enjoyed watching the team reminiscing over objects from their childhood. The history stored within is well worth a browse. ©2024 Linda Butler Museum The Museum was opened for us. I enjoyed watching the team reminiscing over objects from their childhood. The history stored within is well worth a browse. ©2024 Linda Butler Mt Somers domain ©2024 Linda Butler Mt Somers domain playground at ©2024 Linda Butler Mt Somers Domain ©2024 Linda Butler I wont forget the look on a members face when her chair collapsed on her. ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler Mt Somers campground kitchen ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler an awesome bunch of happy campers A weekend at Mt Somers Linda Butler Canterbury All Points campers enjoyed a great weekend at Mt Somers in March. It was full of sunshine, friendly locals and surprising entertainment. We will never forget that hedge which we are sure we deciphered. But I won’t tell the answer on here… Nor will I forget the look on a members face when her chair collapsed on her. It’s all part of camping. Our group included a 15 month old toddler to great grandparents with their photos. The domain had the cleanest facilities that I personally have come across in a while. A few of our members were thrilled to watch a local rugby game in play, reviving what rugby was all about, the atmosphere, the shouting, the energy. The Museum was opened for us. I enjoyed watching the team reminiscing over objects from their childhood. The history stored within is well worth a browse. We had a few energetic walkers that either explored the Blackburn Mine or went to see what the Sharplin Falls were about. They returned to camp with big smiles. The general store was a short walk. We browsed the gardens and lovely cared-for homes on our way there for a barista coffee. Yum. OK, the odd person sneaked back for ice cream and or pies… The friendly publican nearly cooked us with his log fire, lol, but better than a cold room. Oh, and I think Trev left some of the roadside blackberries for others. Check out our upcoming All Points Camping events on the website or facebook events page. “What an awesome bunch of happy campers. Fabulous weekend, weather was great, company great. Some of us enjoyed our stay so much we stopped an extra night or two. This is another “go back to” location.” Images ©2024 Linda Butler Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 31

  • cold-mavora

    4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ©2023 Daniel Munro ©2023 Daniel Munro ©2023 Daniel Munro ©2023 Daniel Munro ©2023 Daniel Munro ©2023 Daniel Munro ​ It was cold at Mavora Lakes Daniel Munro It was cold at Mavora Lakes. Plenty of snow around. I think the Mrs thought I was a bit crazy suggesting a night away in the van this time of year. But she went along with it. Mavora Lakes last night, it was cold. Minus 2ºC when I woke up this morning, and still plenty of snow around too. But a sack of firewood, extra blankets and hot water bottles meant we were very cozy in the little camper. Photos ©2023 Daniel Munro Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 11

  • campfest-set-up

    7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Setting up at Campfest. Bulls, Rangatikei. ©2024 Tracey Davis. ​ Setting up at Campfest Tracey Davis Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 2

  • solo-safe

    8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ​ Staying safe solo Miriam Richardson Walking alone along the water race path had me worried. Read Walking the Race I had quite a few thoughts about the staying safe aspect of this walk. I was just lucky I didn’t slip or get vertigo and fall. Travelling alone and walking alone has risks and being in places with no mobile coverage has its risks. The hydro scheme site had no internet or mobile coverage when I was there. Personal locator beacon (PLB) Some people invest in a locator beacon, whch is useful not only when walking, but also when in your motorhome. They cost $300–500. When you get into trouble you trigger the alarm and wait for rescue. More: DOC: ckw.nz/doc-plb Rescue Coordinanation Centre: ckw.nz/rescue-beacon Personal safety phone app There are a variety of apps that work in different ways. Some are designed for walking to your car in the dark — hold the button down: if you take your finger off a distress message and your location is sent to bring help. I settled on the Get Home Safe Personal app, a NZ-made app with a good funding model. ckw.nz/get-home-safe With this app, you set a time when you will check back in, and tell it what to do if you don’t. It can send a text (costs) or a message. You tell it who to send the message to, and what to say. You can buy 10 texts for 3.99, and you buy more when you need them. Emails are free. While it is in action, the app monitors your location, sending to its server every 2 mins, or, if you are out of coverage, storing the data for when it next can send it. When it helps: if I feel really unwell at night (will I be capable in the morning?) with a morning check in; are those people a threat to me? with a 10 minute check in; if i am not back from my walk in 1/2/3 hours; driving in snow/ice/weather where there is no coverage: if I dont check in in 2/3/4 hours; travelling out of mobile coverage, if I am not back in contact in 2/3 days. My message can say what my plans are, where I am located and / or travelling, and whether or when emergency services should be involved. Parked up a valley with no coverage, its a bit late: you have to plan in advance. You need a reliable person to receive your messages and act on them. I ask them to try to contact me first (did I just forget to check in?) and take action if they are unable to reach me. Which to use? The PLB is not tied to mobile coverage and has official, automatic responders, while an app requires preplanning and relies on others, but has more permutations and more general uses. Use both! More on Get Home Safe Personal Set up an account, so that your phone is connected and safe with their server. Log in if you already have an account. Set up notifications, and purchase some SMS messages if email would be too slow. Create an activity or set a timer. You can create a custom activity like Health concern, if the standard list does not fit. Tell it what to do if you dont check in on time. Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 25

  • in-the-issue

    4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ​ In the Winter issue ​ ‘ Let’s go south for a few weeks ’ ‘How many weeks?’ ‘Eight.’ ‘How about six?’ Greenies on the road : Managing food scraps. Winter's here : Some of our most glorious times camping have been in the winter season. Tips and tricks. Before the cyclone : Freedom Camping Eastern Hawke's Bay, Winter 2022. Kiwi Burn Hut Loop Track : We put it to a family-friendly test: with my toddler (and his dada) in tow, we set out. Self containment changes in brief RV & Camper business services : Self containment, LPG work, electrical work, motorhome work & more. Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 3

  • flaxmere

    8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption In the distance In the distance we could see a stunning cloud which was scattering a hail storm around nearby Christchurch. ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler Kool Grill and chat We quickly put up a shelter and tried to fend off the cold from the wind. The Kool Grill was soon lit, offering some warmth, on which we enjoyed nibbling on toasted marshmallows as we chatted the evening away. ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler No one seemed in a hurry to get away Flaxmere Garden Linda Butler The beauty of belonging to a camping group is occasionally we get to camp at some venues not opened to the general public for camping. This was the case at Flaxmere Garden, in Canterbury. We settled in on a Friday afternoon. In the distance we could see a stunning cloud which was scattering a hail storm around nearby Christchurch. The backlash of this, though, was that it was bitterly cold. We quickly put up a shelter and tried to fend off the cold from the wind. The Kool Grill was soon lit, offering some warmth, on which we enjoyed nibbling on toasted marshmallows as we chatted the evening away. Saturday after morning coffee, our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. We were given maps, then followed her to her front lawn where she shared some interesting information about her property. She built the stone fence herself! We loved following the paths, crossing bridges, scanning over ponds and admiring the mountains in the distance. The garden was divided into hot areas and cold shaded areas. My favourite was the native bush walk, but then I also enjoyed the autumn colours that seemed to be scattered everywhere. We were followed on our walk by fantails. They seemed friendlier than others I’ve seen. That night we enjoyed a feast of rhubarb and feijoa crumble thanks to a team effort. It was yum. No one seemed in a hurry to get away. It was 3.45 in the afternoon before we got away. Yet again, another successful camp. Images ©2024 Linda Butler Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 35

  • puzzle-small-town

    5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Have you been there? Small town New Zealand: Find the words Puzzle Rhonda Marshall Have you heard of all of these places? They are considered (mostly!) small towns of New Zealand. With a mixture from North and South Islands see how many you recognise — or better yet, have visited and maybe stayed at. For a bit of a laugh you could decide if they are located in the North or South. Once you have identified all of the towns in the grid there are 24 remaining letters. Working from left to right and top to bottom you will discover a three-word phrase! Click for a fullscreen view. Download a pdf of the puzzle. Solution Download a pdf of the solution page Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 22

  • pick-pedal

    2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ​ Pick and pedal Gary Stoneley Is that e-bike right for you? Many New Zealanders are now moving to e-bikes and they definitely have health advantages while being cheap to operate and maintain. E-bikes allow travellers to park up and get on their bike to explore areas they might usually not get to while keeping their fitness up and catching some good old vitamin D. E‑bikes, battery-powered bicycles, have evolved quite a lot from the early days but with prices ranging anywhere from a thousand dollars to upwards of six thousand dollars how do you choose the bike that is best for you and your budget? I’m not a hardened cyclist and neither is Beverley, my wife, but for several years we have considered purchasing e‑bikes. We have been to many shows and visited many bike shops, tried out our friends’ and show models and watched the prices fluctuate against our limited budget. When Covid-19 came along demand and prices of e‑bikes climbed considerably. It took us a while to decide what was right for us but in the end the purchases were an easy choice. How do you make the right choice, first time round, on purchasing an e‑bikes? What will you use it for? One of the most important things to consider is what you will use the e-bike for and how often, keeping in mind that this could change. If you are only going to use the bike around town then an urban e-bike with limited features will be more suitable than one designed for riding over gravel and travelling rural trails. Some bikes are only suitable for urban riding and generally come with smooth tyres and without suspension. Others are more of a crossover, good for urban riding but with chunky tyres, suitable for occasional off-road riding. How much power assistance do you want? My personal preference is for an e-bike that requires you to still do the hard work with a wide choice of motor assistance. Some e‑bike riders prefer a bike where you only need to pedal occasionally, with the hand throttle giving you all the power and speed that you need. Will you be transporting the e-bike from place to place or will it be permanently kept at one place? If transporting it, how much space do you have to store it on or in your vehicle? What kind of bike rack would the bike need? How would it fit on your vehicle? In some cases a folding e‑bike may be an advantage, so it can be put in the boot or camper rather than mounted on the back (do try it out before buying, to make sure the folded bike actually fits). How far do you want to ride in one go? How far you can go on a single battery charge depends on the size and quality of the battery and how much pedalling you do and how much the bike engine does. Ask the seller how far the bike’s battery should be able to go. Each bike and battery will be different. Also check out how long it needs to be plugged in to fully charge. How much are you prepared to pay? For a couple getting into e-bikes for the first time you could easily spend $2,500 to $10,000 on your first two e-bikes. In NZ bike shops most e-bikes start around $3,400. For smaller folding bikes, or purchasing online, they can be considerably less than $2000. Check out online and instore specials for a bargain or use a discount membership card e.g. All Points Camping Club / Torpedo 7 to get year-round savings. Our experience We bought our e‑bikes in two steps and got some terrific deals by shopping online, but there are risks in this and you need to make sure the bike you are ordering will be suitable for your size and weight. Bev’s lime green urban bike was the first purchase which we scored for under $1000 and was a test run before we spent more money. It came with mudguards, carrier and front basket with the option of three levels of power-pedal assistance or simple pedal-free power. The bike also came with good tyres for a bit of off-road use. After taking this bike away for a camping weekend, two of our friends decided to purchase this model. My e‑bike was purchased initially because I could not keep up with Bev on my mountain bike. After an online search we found an Australian electric mountain bike for $1400. Both bikes are proving their value and we now travel around with them exploring towns, cycleways and on trails rated as ‘moderate level of difficulty’. We have added a few accessories like cell phone holders and mirrors but for under two and a half thousand dollars we have purchased two new e‑bikes that meet our needs, improve our fitness levels and we still have money in the bank. We could have spent so much more and for a first time purchase. Perhaps next time we might buy that $5000 bike but for now we can cycle along merrily. When travelling, check local information for urban and trail cycleways. There is a Facebook group for motorhomers who go cycling (see p36). There are also a variety of cycling apps that you can download on your phone to find and track your next cycling adventure. Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 17

  • the-shade

    7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Visitors ©2024 Gary Hitchcock Visitors ©2024 Gary Hitchcock Snoozing in the shade ©2024 Gary Hitchcock Shady walks ©2024 Gary Hitchcock ​ Enjoying the shade Gary Hitchcock Great place to enjoy the shade. Orton Bradley Park. Banks Peninsula, Canterbury. ©2024 Gary Hitchcock Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 9

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