7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Fortrose Photos ©2024 Sheryl Moffat Fortrose Photos ©2024 Sheryl Moffat Fortrose Photos ©2024 Sheryl Moffat Fortrose Photos ©2024 Sheryl Moffat ​ Peaceful Fortrose Sheryl Moffat A beautiful peaceful place, Fortrose, in The Catlins, Southland. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 9

3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ​ Along a sandy beach Heather Auckram I rode on a trailer being towed along a long sandy beach. I squashed a few sandflies and went to bed blissfully happy each night. Heather Auckram Catlins, Southland. Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 46

1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Immediately restricts camping in over 50% of NZ's regions The big picture on the proposed changes for freedom camping Miriam Richardson The stated intention of Hon Stuart Nash, Minister of Tourism, is to “improve the regime for freedom camping, to protect our environment, remove unfair burdens on locals in some destinations, and lift the quality of tourism.” What does he think the problem is? poor behaviour, waste and litter, and overcrowding by freedom campers; lack of infrastructure and systems to support freedom camping; too many tourists choosing to freedom camp; high costs to local communities; reduced willingness of local communities to welcome freedom campers. What changes has he put into his bill? A: A blanket limit on vehicle-based freedom camping on public land to certified self-contained vehicles only. (Solves none of the above) B: A ‘fixed’ toilet is required for a vehicle to be self contained. (Solves none of the above) C: More powers and tougher penalties to enforce the rules. (Might discourage tourists; might reduce poor behaviour; might make locals feel better. Then again, might not.) D: A national register of self-contained vehicles and a revised system for certification, to prove who is or isnt self contained. (Solves none of the above but will help the enforcers.) AND/BUT: The changes aren’t intended to affect camping more than 200m from a road, nor homeless people. When might the changes affect everyone? It will immediately restricts camping in the 50% of NZ regions that do not already have freedom camping bylaws. Every camper will be affected, 2 years after it is passed by Parliament. What the bill does not address: Lack of supporting infrastructure like rubbish disposal and toilets; lack of enough space for the visitors who arrive; ‘too many’ tourists; poor behaviour; high cost to local communities. BY: Miriam Richardson Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 9

5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Seasoned campers do all these things naturally... Thinking about your overnight park Keith Rowland ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 20

9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption If your car is big enough to tow your caravan and stop it, and you load the caravan and car properly … Towing your caravan — tips, tricks and weights Wayne Ravelich Let’s get started. Firstly, make sure your caravan is ready to move. Doors, windows & vents are all closed, Satellite dish is down, Legs are up. Now hook up to the tow vehicle. Is the tow coupling (tow ball) the same size as the caravan hitch? There are two common sizes, 1 ⅞ inch and 50 mm. Some American caravans have a larger fitting. Connect your electrics, trailer plug and, if fitted, Anderson plugs and possibly rear camera plug. Don’t forget the chains and/or breakaway lead. If you are new to towing it is not hard to master. Stay in the middle of your lane and DO NOT cut corners. There is a thing called ‘tracking’ that effects trailers going around corners. This means that the trailer can take a different path to the towing vehicle. If you go around a corner slowly with your wheels in the gutter the caravan could be on the verge or footpath. If fast, the caravan could be in the outside lane. Practice makes perfect. The more you tow your caravan the better you will get. Find an open space to practice backing. Here is a link to a great YouTube clip on backing a caravan: ckw.nz/reversing . Backing tip Common directions when backing a caravan are, left hand down or right hand down. This is your hands on the steering wheel. If you want your caravan to go to your right (going backwards) your car goes LEFT to start the turn, left hand down. If you want your caravan to go to your left (going backwards) your car goes RIGHT to start the turn, right hand down. Once the caravan starts pointing in the correct direction, start to straighten the steering wheel. It can take a little practice to get it right but well worth it. Remember it is better to have a couple of tries at reverse parking than do it once and crash into something. Two or three attempts to reverse into that spot will only cost you time. Getting it wrong will hurt your pocket. Stability You are almost ready to hit the road. Have you got all you need for your camping trip? Is it loaded correctly? Heavy items in the caravan/trailer like water and waste tanks should be over the axle and secured in place, If you brake in a hurry they could move forward and change the load characteristics of the towed vehicle. If there is too much weight in the back or boot of the towing vehicle that can also cause problems. We will talk about weight a bit later. The two most common problems associated with bad weight distribution are swaying of the towed vehicle and or light steering in the towing vehicle. Swaying (snaking) If the trailer starts to sway: • do not apply your brakes • instead, remove your foot from the accelerator and allow the vehicle to slow down. Too much weight in the back of the tow vehicle or too high a tow ball weight can affect steering. As the back of the tow vehicle goes down (due to excess weight) the front comes up and the front wheels can lose traction which reduces your ability to steer. Tow ball and caravan hitch weights will be listed, either in the owner’s manual or online. Exceeding these weights can cause the above problems. Passengers We have all joked about putting the passengers on the roof rack. Unfortunately, we can’t do that, we also can’t put them in the caravan while moving. Two trailers And we can’t tow two trailers with a light (class 1) vehicle. Let’s talk weight This Youtube video shows it all, well worth watching: ckw.nz/weight-scenarios Just because your car has a tow-ball does not mean it can pull your caravan. Picture a Mini towing a 10 m Jayco off-road caravan — NOT going to happen. Weight terms There are a number of terms used when referring to vehicle weights. Let us have a quick look at these now. What is the difference between GVM and GCM? • Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) refers to the maximum allowable total mass of a fully loaded motor vehicle as specified by the manufacturer. • Whereas Gross Combined Mass (GCM) refers to the weight of the tow vehicle and trailer hitched together while both are fully loaded (including passengers, equipment, fuel and tools). • Tare weight The empty weight of the vehicle or trailer/caravan. • A vehicle’s towing capacity c an be found on the towbar, owner manual or online. • Ball weight The weight of the trailer/caravan on the tow ball. An example of a caravan VIN plate showing weights (above). Note the ATM is the same as our GVM. The GCM Gross Combined Mass relates to how much you can load your tow vehicle and how much it will tow. Something to remember and is often overlooked, passengers are weight. Mum, Dad, the kids and the dog: ALL count as weight and are part of the payload. I have an American 11 m caravan with a GVM of 3.1 Ton. So, I need a BIG vehicle that can pull over that weight. A Ranger or a Colorado will pull 3.5 Ton, a Rexton will pull 3.2 and is way cheaper, BUT the GCM is a lot smaller, so the Rexton has limited payload. A Dodge Ram has a higher GVM and GCM, a Ram can tow 6 Ton (wow!) and still load the back of the Ram with extras, but not cheap and the weight means you needs a ‘class 2’ licence. The bigger and heavier you get changes the class of driver licence needed. What I am saying is: your tow vehicle has to match your caravan. The bigger the tow vehicle the better, and the longer the tow vehicle is, the better stability when towing. Last couple of points • If you exceed the towing vehicles rated towing capacity, ie the caravan is too heavy, you will have trouble stopping. The towing capacity relates to the size and weight of the vehicle and the capacity of its brakes. • Tow ball weight. We talked earlier about too much weight in the boot of the towing vehicle. Exceeding the towball weight has the same see-saw affect, the back goes down and the front, including wheels go up causing a loss in steering— its hard to go around corners if the front wheels are in the air. In summary If your car is big enough to tow your caravan and stop it, and you load the caravan and car properly, you will have the makings of a great trip away. Happy Camping ◼️ Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 13

9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Ready for sun Ready for sunbathing and a book. Morrisons Bush. ©2023 Bette Cosgrove ​ Ready for sun Bette Cosgrove Ready for sunbathing and a book. Morrisons Bush. ©2023 Bette Cosgrove Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 9

9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Freedom van camping ©2024 Bette Cosgrove The new law allows freedom camping everywhere for self-contained vehicles and tents unless it is controlled by a bylaw. Challenges for local councils Bette Cosgrove ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 26

4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption No summer bugs , no too-hot nights: winter van life can be magnificent. Winter’s here… Bette Cosgrove Some of our most glorious times camping or doing road trips have been in the winter season when you can often have camp spots to yourselves, roads are less busy, and nature's elements bring both challenges and a deeper colour and beauty to the places you camp. Even tent camping, with the right set up, can be a richer and more interesting experience in the colder months when some sites are more likely to allow cosy open fires and there are no summer bugs or overly hot nights to disturb your sleep. We all know that sitting around a campfire under the stars can be a truly magical experience. How do you make winter camping more comfortable? Here’s a few favourite tips and tricks for keeping warm, dealing with cold, wind, rainy days, and embracing the colder months outdoors for enjoyable winter camping trips. It just takes a little extra preparation and the right gear. Heating ✤ On really cold nights the secret is to get nice and warm just before getting into bed. ✤ In a vehicle, you can run your engine and turn the vehicle heater on with all your thermal curtains up — about ten minutes will make your whole vehicle toasty. ✤ A diesel heater is great and so efficient you may only need it on for ten minutes to get hot. Either install one with its own separate small tank or you may be able to connect to your vehicle’s supply if you run off diesel. ✤ There are great new tent heaters on the market now that run off cassette gas bottles and pump warm air into the tent if you're under canvas. Insulation ✤ Put up front window screen thermal shade as early as possible; a lot of heat is lost here. ✤ Get large silver bubble thermal shades at any auto supplier or hardware store.Make thermal fitted shades to fit the shapes of all windows using silver foil shades and a layer of thermal drape. ✤ Line the inside of your windows with bubble wrap as an inexpensive option. ✤ Put up thermal drape curtains. Recycled curtains from op shops are great to make these. Condensation is NOT your friend ✤ Remember to towel dry the window condensation that builds up in the morning. Put this towel over your dashboard to dry when travelling in the day with a window cracked open, or dry it outside (you don’t want that moisture back inside). ✤ Get windows open in the day to dry everything out. ✤ Buy a couple of containers of DAMPRID from a hardware store and have it out at all times to soak up moisture. ✤ Don’t let wet clothing sit around in your vehicle or tent, creating moisture for condensation — find a local laundrette for fast efficient washing and drying of large loads. Being warm in bed is essential ✤ Go to an op shop and find an old pure wool blanket to put under your mattress (never mind if it has stains or some holes) and a large polar fleece blanket over-layer that tucks down all sides. Find these too in charity stores or at The Warehouse. ✤ A quality sleeping bag or a feather duvet will keep your heat in the bed. ✤ There are 12v electric blankets if you have access to power. ✤ Wear quality socks and a wool hat to bed. Find these too at second hand stores if you’re on a budget. A light merino cap is super-warm to sleep in. Or drape a wide polar fleece scarf/shawl over your head and shoulders at night. ✤ Boiling up water for a hot water bottle at night (at least 1 hottie for each person) is all you need to stay toasty in a quality sleeping bag or under a feather duvet. You can recycle hottie bottle water into tomorrow night’s hottie boil up. Keep a lid on, and the steam in, while boiling. ✤ Get a wee fluffy doggo to cuddle up to. Hot water ✤ You might like to boil up water for a thermos so you can have a hot drink first thing in the morning without having to wait in the cold for a kettle to boil. ✤ Hot thermos water might be needed to unfreeze pipes or door latches in the morning. Keep yourself warm and dry ✤ Thermal and light, natural fibre and merino layers do the trick for pyjamas; leggings and tops are perfect under your clothes during the day too. ✤ There’s usually no bad weather for camping, just poor clothing — layer up with natural fibres and get a great waterproof and windproof coat and good warm socks and gloves with the iconic gumboots. Even these are often found at opshops, if you're on a budget. Sitting around a campfire under the stars is a truly magical experience. Photo ©2023 Jono Collins Best winter activities ✤ Get rugged up and bush walk… it’s usually a very sheltered place to enjoy. ✤ Jump in an icy river, lake or beach for some cold water therapy! The best! ✤ Enjoy a good hot pancake brekky, and of course any excuse for hot chocolate making and marshmallow toasting over a fire. ✤ Star gazing, with a telescope or not, is always a favourite on long, clear winters’ nights so grab an astronomy chart or load them on your mobile device and identify the constellations. ✤ Visit small towns with great cafés, libraries and book stores. Rainy day activities ✤ Indoor games, charades, good books, puzzle books and if you have WiFi, podcasts or a movie on the tablet can fill the time on a bad weather day. Download some in advance for the trip. ✤ The ‘Getting Lost’ games — online purchased travel cards are an awesome activity if you're on the road. ✤ Take the opportunity to go to a small town cinema and enjoy a ‘big’ screen movie on a wet day. Extreme weather — keep an eye on it ✤ Choose your time to pack up and move if serious weather is on its way. ✤ Give yourself time to get ahead of it. ✤ In extreme wind take care not to camp under trees where branches might fall. ✤ Tents need serious pegs to hold them to the ground in winter wind conditions. Buy screw pegs or use tri-sided pegs especially in wet ground. See Strong pegs . ✤ Tip for parking when it might snow: lift your wipers away from the windscreen so any snow weight doesn’t damage them and so the blades don’t stick to the glass. Winter travel preparation ✤ Mind the maintenance: do a good vehicle service before a winter trip. ✤ Top up your fuel tanks regularly — you never know if you’ll get stranded. ✤ If there might be snow, make sure you have chains (and practice how to put them on before the trip). ✤ An extra groundsheet under your tent floor definitely helps with dampness. ✤ Take extra tarpaulins. ✤ Pack extra emergency food (freeze dried or Meals Ready to Eat (MRE)-style). It’s all in the preparation No matter what time of year, the benefits of being outdoors are going to improve your well-being and provide a very special camping experience. So be prepared and focus on taking the right gear with you, so that you can happily meet the challenges of the colder months and carry on camping. Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 12

TIP: Solar panel cleaning Previous Next Collyn Rivers Except in rainy areas solar panels need cleaning from time to time. Use a tiny amount of washing up detergent, a cloth and warm, clean water. Rinse, using a trace of detergent in otherwise clean water. Let solar modules dry naturally. Never wipe them dry and especially do not polish them. Doing either builds up an electrostatic charge that attracts dust. A trace of detergent in the rinsing water acts and an effective anti-static barrier. Never wipe them dry and especially do not polish them Previous Next 1/1 ​ Advertisment ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 2 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Have you found the names of these small towns? Puzzle solution ​ Have you found the names of these small towns? Do you know if they are located in the North or South? After 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! Download pdf of the solution Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 38

Overnight beside the Aparima River Previous Next Heather Auckram I slept overnight beside the Aparima River near Opio (Southland). A couple of 4WDs drove along, but apart from the noise caused us no bother. Lots and lots of wild ducks. ©2022 Heather Auckram ​ Previous Next 1/1 ​ Advertisment ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 2 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

SUMMER 2022 ISSUE 2 BUY PDF INDEX Summer, Issue 2, Camping the Kiwi Way Previous Next Miriam Richardson (Editor) Buy a copy, subscribe for a year's worth of copies, read it on paper, read it here or read the pdf. The choice is yours. Only $12 a copy delivered, $36 for 4 issues. BUY We bring you travel stories, tips, wonderful places to visit, insight into political changes, some solid information, a crossword: light reading, serious reading and some fun browsing. Enjoy Previous This issue is kindly sponsored by the All Points Camping Club of NZ and NZ Lifestyle Camping. Next left-turn-ruapehu_w_th left-turn-train left-turn-pedestrian_w Left-turn-Maungatautari-view_w Ad ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 2 editor@campingthekiwiway.org