top of page

Search Results

Search this site

10674 results found

  • marshamallows-night

    3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ​ Marshmallows by the fire Linda Butler MarshmaMallows by the fire. Very memorable. Thanks Gary. January 2023. Wiahora, Motukarara. Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 27

  • govt-more

    5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Mag-F-0923-CTKW.webp ​ More for councils and govt ​ In the SPRING issue 4 Editorial 4 Freedom camping & self containment STATUS, Spring 2023 4 Freedom camping: who does what 10 Building a connected NZ camping and tourism industry 18 Update: Self-containment and freedom camping changes 26 This is the story of three types of self-contained vehicles… Camping in action 8 The Homestead, St Bathans 11 Lake Monowai campsite 12 Why not stop and stay a while? 15 Pros and Cons of full time family travel 23 Small town: Waiau 25 A small paint kit, a few good brushes… 30 Around my own back yard This is a quarterly magazine Read it online or get a screen copy ckw.nz/spring2023 Order or Subscribe Just this page via email The magazine by email. (free) n The magazine printed and posted: $44 annual sub (4 issues) $13.50 for one issue. To order or subscribe send us an email: editor@campingthekiwiway.org Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 2

  • events-autumn

    3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ​ Events ​ Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 34

  • national-services

    8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption National-services-Radiator hose_3997_H.webp wherever you are in NZ... National services for travellers Editor Winter 2024 NETSPEED Broadband internet on the go A great choice for internet connections in mobile homes, caravans, vehicles and more. no contracts nationwide coverage kiwi support free email address NZ owned and operated discounts for All Points Camping members. netspeed.net.nz SUNSAVER Solar chargers and power banks sunsaver.co.nz Moutere Caravans SOG for all Thetford and Dometic cassette toilets mouterecaravans.co.nz Need to replace your toilet? Consider going waterless with OGO toilets.co.nz BLUEBRIDGE Book now on 0800844844 bluebridge.co.nz STAR INSURE It’s the insurance your motorhome would choose. starinsure.co.nz NZ Lifestyle Camping Self-containment testing, NZ-wide. nzlifestylecamping.com Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 50

  • 2 Summer 2022, travelling, purakaunui

    Purakaunui Bay Campsite Previous Next Kayla Laatz What a stunner this place was! Its a DOC campsite with long drop toilets, water taps, and fire pits. Nothing like falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the beach. Getting there, there’s about 20 minutes of gravel road with a few cattle crossings; nothing too steep. There were a few other caravans parked up. Just be aware the grass can be quite muddy. For this particular DOC camp site you can book online in advance or pay on arrival by bringing exact change. We saw tons of playful seals and heaps of brave surfers too! 10/10. Catlins, Southland. Photos ©2022 Kayla Laatz ​ Previous Next Purakaunui Bay Campsite ©2022 Kayla Laatz Purakaunui Bay ©2022 Kayla Laatz Purakaunui Bay ©2022 Kayla Laatz Purakaunui Bay Campsite ©2022 Kayla Laatz 1/3 ​ Advertisment ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 2 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

  • thermettes

    8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Thermette-MNR_H.webp ©2024 M Richardson My vintage thermette ©2024 M Richardson How the thermette works Brand new copper thermette Complete Outdoors sell these. My vintage thermette ©2024 M Richardson oh for a beautiful copper thermette Thermettes: 2 litres in 2 minutes Miriam Richardson I have carried my thermette with me since I went on the road, but it has had little use. I seem to to have spent much of the outdoor-weather time in places with fire dangers. Now it is winter most fire bans are off, though the lure of outdoors is not as strong. My thermette is old and rusty but perfectly serviceable. I thought it might be the perfect way to get rid of paper rubbish while I am travelling, so I keep a $2-shop metal sieve with it so I can keep any hot flying debris inside the chimney. ‘Thermette’ is a brand but has become its common name. NZ made them from 1929 and they were issued to NZ soldiers in WWII, becoming known as ‘Benghazi boilers’, as the Kiwi soldiers used them in the Benghazi desert, burning diesel for fuel. Round black marks on the sand were the sign Kiwis had camped here. Other variations of the idea include Kelly kettles, (Ireland, 1900), Volcano kettles, (UK, 1928). They consist of a water jacket which is also the chimney, protecting the flame from wind and rain, and needing only twigs for fuel. They are very efficient, heating 2.2L in 2 minutes. Sadly, I don’t have the ring for the top which lets you cook over the chimney. I keep admiring the beautiful new copper thermettes that are now available. Would need some soot and flame to break it in. One day… For sale on Complete Outdoors ckw.nz/thermette-c-outdoors (Image, Complete Outdoors) Photo: ©2024 M Richardson Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 35

  • escape-to-papa

    7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Sea Lion As there were expectant mother sea lions on the sand, waiting to give birth, we took shelter from the sun with a stroll through the trees on The Old Coach track alongside the estuary. ©2024 Heather Auckram The Catlins To avoid the volumes of holiday traffic on SH1, we took the slower-paced Southern Scenic Route from Fortrose and were glad we did. ©2024 Heather Auckram Tautuku Bay As we approached Papatowai the road wound through bush covered hills and came out at the must-stop Florence Hill lookout. The view is picture perfect; golden sands of Tautuku Bay, white surf, the expanse of a blue Pacific Ocean. ©2024 Heather Auckram DOC camp The DOC camp is a bush framed camp tucked behind the local store. ©2024 Heather Auckram absolute bliss Escape to Papatowai Heather Auckram After the chaos of Christmas our frazzled nerves needed restoring. We threw a few supplies into the campervan and headed for the healing calm of Papatowai. To avoid the volumes of holiday traffic on SH1, we took the slower-paced Southern Scenic Route from Fortrose and were glad we did. There was pure scenic magic round every bend; farms, quaint cottages, sea, wetlands, bush, sealed and unsealed roads and hardly any people. As we approached Papatowai the road wound through bush covered hills and came out at the must-stop Florence Hill lookout. The view is picture perfect; golden sands of Tautuku Bay, white surf, the expanse of a blue Pacific Ocean. The DOC camp is a bush framed camp tucked behind the local store. Dogs allowed. You need to book online and there are no designated sites. The next day started with blue skies and went from hot to hotter. As there were expectant mother sea lions on the sand, waiting to give birth, we took shelter from the sun with a stroll through the trees on The Old Coach track alongside the estuary. It’s the original route the horse-drawn coaches took after coming off the beach. The Lost Gypsy Gallery and the local store both make great food, with the store having fuel and supplies too. I could get no wifi signal on the Spark network. I simply had no choice but to just enjoy the disconnection from the world beyond the hills and just breathe. Absolute bliss. Thank you Papatowai from a fully restored human. n Photos ©2024 Heather Auckram Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 11

  • weather

    8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ​ NIWA Winter climate outlook 2024 NIWA Unlikely to be particularly harsh. Unlikely to be colder than average. Unlikely to be wetter than normal for most. More westerly winds than normal, fewer southerlies than autumn El Niño over; La Niña watch issued Read NIWA’s full outlook, with regional predictions: ckw.nz/niwa-winter | facebook.com/NIWAWeather Images ©2024 NIWA Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 36

  • gregs-eye-rays-rest

    8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Rays Rest Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Gregs Eye: https://ckw.nz/gregs-eye Rays Rest Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Gregs Eye: https://ckw.nz/gregs-eye Rays Rest Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Gregs Eye: https://ckw.nz/gregs-eye Rays Rest Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Gregs Eye: https://ckw.nz/gregs-eye Rays Rest Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Gregs Eye: https://ckw.nz/gregs-eye Rays Rest Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Gregs Eye: https://ckw.nz/gregs-eye Rays Rest Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Gregs Eye: https://ckw.nz/gregs-eye Rays Rest Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Gregs Eye: https://ckw.nz/gregs-eye Rays Rest Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Gregs Eye: https://ckw.nz/gregs-eye Rays Rest Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Gregs Eye: https://ckw.nz/gregs-eye Rays Rest Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Gregs Eye: https://ckw.nz/gregs-eye Rays Rest never disappoints Greg's Eye at Rays Rest Greg Lokes Friday evening and Saturday morning at Rays Rest. It never disappoints. See the images in the gallery above. © 2024 Greg Lokes. More on FB: Gregs Eye: ckw.nz/gregs-eye Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 11

  • who-fc-now

    8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Self-contained- blue-H.webp ​ Who can freedom camp from now until 7 June 2025? M RIchardson You can freedom camp if your warrant is one of these three. Certified Blue before 7/7/23 , and not expired. Fixed or portable toilet. Certified Blue before 7/7/24 , and not expired. Fixed toilet only. Green Warrant The above warrant holders can freedom camp on public land, which means: all land managed by district and local councils. This may include land otherwise controlled by NZTA, LINZ or DOC. LINZ: Currently LINZ has 5 freedom camping areas and the new law applies. As at May 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 An enforcement officer may inspect your warrant card. If they have a valid reason to ask , you must produce the self-containment certificate. An enforcement officer may not inspect inside your vehicle. Freedom camping & self-containment 2 Where are we at with self-containment and freedom camping? 2 Who can freedom camp from now until 7 June 2025? 4 Getting your camping vehicle certified 8 Am I freedom camping? 8 What you need for a green warrant for freedom camping 10 Planning a toilet for the freedom camping green warrant? 12 Venting a toilet cassette: why, what, when and how 14 Keeping up with the self-containment changes 16 Composting and coddiwompling ︎ Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 2

  • aeropress

    5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption The parts Barrel, plunger, cap and filter. Ready for coffee and water The plunge is in the barrel. Tipped up ready to receive the coffee. The filter is in the cap. The stir The hot water is on the coffee and it is being stirred. The filter is wet, and fixed in the cap by the moisture. After the stir, top the liquid up to minimise the air at the top. Ready to press The cap is on, and it is upended over the mug, ready to press. The press It takes a bit of effort to press it through. Air in the barrel makes it harder to press through. The amount of mrpessure affects the taste of the coffee. Pressed Pressed through. Let it drain a bit. The mug is topped up. The cap is ready to be taken off. The puck of grounds The cap off, pushing the barrel up exposes the puck. I peel the paper off -- if it comes pf cleanly I use it for my second mug. Into the compost Usually, I take the cap off, hold it over the compost bin, and give the plunger a good push to knock the puck off into the bin. Ready to put away Washed off, the plunger in the barrel, pushed through sp there is not tension n the rubber end, and the cap arched on top. A light, small, neat thing to store in the cupboard. Your perfect cuppa, and compact in the cupboard The Aeropress: quality coffee with an easy clean up Miriam Richardson I don’t remember how I learned about the Aeropress, but it arrived in my life as a very welcome blessing. No more sloppy grinds in the bottom of the waste bucket. No more looking for bushes to throw them under. No more last, pesky grounds to be got out of the French press without letting them get into my grey tank. In a house, you just flush them down the drain and think nothing of it, but not in a camper. The Aeropress is lighter, smaller and less breakable than a French press. It uses espresso grind, and paper filters. There is more flexibility in the taste of the coffee. The flexibility means some experimentation is needed to get exactly the taste you want. Each year there is a competition for Aeropress baristas who publish their “recipes”. The variables are: which coffee its grind size how much of it how much brewing water the water temperature • the length and the vigour of the stir • the length of the wait the length of the press. how much water you then add. You soon learn your own formula for a perfect cup. worldaeropresschampionship.com The process: Fit the plunger into the barrel. Add your coffee. Add the hot water. Stir. Wait. Put the lid (with filter) on. Put over your mug. Press the coffee through; this takes effort. Take the lid off, send the puck of coffee grounds into your bokashi bucket /compost bin/waste bin. Use a small bit of paper towel to wipe the last bits off the rubber (this will compost too). Top up your mug or leave it espresso strength. You can make more than one cup in one pressing, in which case, after the pressing, divide the concentrated coffee into two or more mugs. A dab of water on the filter keeps it in place. Have as little air in the barrel as possible; the air is hard to press through (after the stir, top up the water, so there is less air to press). Don’t use boiling water: after 2 years the barrel’s plastic degrades (just below boiling point is fine). Wash the Aeropress in hot soapy water. Filters come in a box of 500. I peel the filter off; if it comes off cleanly I reuse it for my second cup. The rubber seal is replacable; I replaced mine after 6 years. Extend the life of the rubber seal: only leave it under tension in the barrel while you are actually brewing. Be sure to buy the real thing. Voice of experience: cheap knock-offs don’t always work properly. Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 29

  • caravan-floats

    7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption My-floats-G&M sailing 158.webp Orcas Dolphins are common companions on our journeys and one morning we woke up to orcas around our boat on Great Barrier Island. ©2024 Graham Leslie Motoring up the rive Motoring up the river to Warkworth for groceries and ice creams. Trailer sailers have a raisable keel so while they may require a 1.5 meters depth of water when the keel is down to sail, they can float in 40cm or less of water when the keel is up enabling access up rivers or into shallow anchorages. ©2024 Graham Leslie Warkworth . ©2024 Graham Leslie Quazimodo plan This is the layout of our boat showing the cockpit where the boat is sailed from, and the quarter berths underneath. The main cabin with galley and dinette berth and the front cabin that makes up to a double berth. . ©2024 Graham Leslie Pancakes Margaret making pancakes — being short has advantages in this galley. ©2024 Graham Leslie At the table The crew wait to be fed. ©2024 Graham Leslie Quarter berth Quarter berths are a bit like torpedo tubes you sleep in, that run down under the seats of the cockpit. They are more comfortable than they look and you don’t have to worry about rolling out of bed in rough weather. ©2024 Graham Leslie A swim You never need to go far for a swim ©2024 Graham Leslie Swimming You never need to go far for a swim ©2024 Graham Leslie Rafting-up "Rafting up” together with friends is fun for shared meals or even overnight. . ©2024 Graham Leslie "Rafting up” together "Rafting up” together with friends is fun for shared meals or even overnight. . ©2024 Graham Leslie Bayswater Marina Staying in a marina is a bit like staying in a campground with access to mains power, water, rubbish disposal, toilets, and coin-operated showers and laundry. ©2024 Graham Leslie Kerikeri Moored outside the Stone Store Kerikeri. . ©2024 Graham Leslie A quiet Bay in the Marlborough Sounds. Stopped for the night in a quiet bay in the Marlborough Sounds. ©2024 Graham Leslie Catching dinner Food supplies can be supplemented with fishing when your caravan floats. ©2024 Graham Leslie My-floats-P1050059.webp Waiting out a storm Waiting out a storm playing monopoly. ©2024 Graham Leslie Playing cards laying cards in the cockpit at the end of the day. ©2024 Graham Leslie My-floats-cockpit2.webp Sunblocking up Sunblocking up as we head out for a day sailing back from Great Barrier Island. ©2024 Graham Leslie You can ride anywhere A yacht is mostly sailed from the cockpit but you can ride anywhere you want on board from up on deck or still in bed. ©2024 Graham Leslie Plain sailing A yacht is mostly sailed from the cockpit but you can ride anywhere you want on board from up on deck or still in bed. ©2024 Graham Leslie Rigging Quazi Stepping the mast and setting up the boat takes time before the boat is launched. ©2024 Graham Leslie a floating caravan My caravan that floats Graham Leslie Our family owns a 24ft (7.3 metre) trailer sailer. It is a bit like a floating caravan and we have had many camping holidays on the water. With a boat it is easy to move on to a new site or anchorage. In fact, some mornings I have pulled up the anchor and started sailing before the others have got out of their beds. We are Wellington-based but have towed the boat north to the Bay of Islands, the Hauraki Gulf and Great Barrier Island. We have also explored Queen Charlotte Sound in the Marlborough Sounds. There are still plenty of places we are yet to explore. A trailer sailer is an affordable compromise offering us the opportunity to cruise coastal and sheltered waters (and lakes) all around the country without the need to sail it there. The boat allows us to camp (on the water) in many beautiful bays and coves not accessible by road. It offers chances of go to those special places. Most trailer sailers can be managed easily by two adults. We started sailing with our family of four when the kids were about 6 or 7 years old. As the kids grew up they took over more of the sailing. We both did a Boat Masters and a VHF radio course. Yacht clubs can offer lots of advice and support. Racing your boat at a local boat club is a great way to improve boat handling skills. We are self-contained in that we carry a porta potti and our own fresh water. Washing ourselves is mostly done by jumping over the side and swimming (solar showers are also used). We have gas cooking and electric charging from a solar panel and our outboard motor. We use the outboard as little as possible because the boat travels better under sail and sails require no petrol. It is also very pleasant sailing along at about 5 knots exploring bays and coastlines. Freedom camping on the water is much less regulated than on land — you can anchor almost anywhere. I love that we can anchor in exclusive bays with millionaires’ holiday mansions and us in the middle of the bay in our scruffy little boat. The biggest concern when anchoring for the night is finding somewhere your anchor won’t drag and it’s not too bouncy with swells or waves. Land-based campers often complain about the wind rocking their caravan at night. On a boat you are also concerned that your anchor is holding and you don’t drift across the bay or onto rocks during the night. As a consequence you sometimes sleep quite lightly. Nice, sheltered bays with good anchoring can occasionally become crowded with boats. In the Marlborough Sounds “moorings” are used extensively instead of anchors. A mooring is a permanent anchor on the sea floor (maybe a 2-tonne concrete block) with chain and a rope up to floating buoy that can be picked up and secured to your boat. On a fixed mooring you are secure for the night. Marinas offer the boating equivalent of a campground. Its somewhere secure you can tie up and step ashore. Marinas often provide access to mains power, water, rubbish disposal, toilets, and coin-operated showers and laundry. Prices in marinas are based on the size of the boat and for our relatively small boat it is generally cheaper than what we would pay in a campground. Normally we leave our car at the marina for easy access when we come into port. During bad weather, marinas make a great place to have the boat tied up and do land-based activities. This works particularly well in Auckland. You can generally continue to live aboard your boat while your boat is in a marina. Accommodation on a trailer sailer is probably more like a tear drop caravan than a regular caravan. To meet the practical sailing needs of the craft, the cabin head room typically ranges from a bit over 5 foot (1.6 metres) and then reduces down to even less as the deck and hull curve. Our model of trailer sailer is regarded as relatively roomy in the cabin; others have less room. Tidiness is an interesting concept on a boat; space is short, so gear needs to be stowed wherever there is room and be secure. Boats rock on the waves and when a yacht is sailing it can lean over as much as 45 degrees. Unsecured gear ends up on the floor, including the pantry contents, if the cupboard doors are not shut properly. Like camping, a lot of your time is spent outside on the deck and in the cockpit, and a boom tent can be added for shade when anchored. Towing yachts is similar to towing a caravan except they tend to be slightly heavier for their size (due to the need for ballast) and are quite streamlined so don’t catch so much wind. When towing I notice my boat most on the hills. Trailer sailers had their heyday during the 1970s and 1980s. They were mostly made of fibreglass and even though they are now often 40 years old they are still quite serviceable. Prices vary a lot, a bit like caravans, but can be bought for a similar price as an older caravan. The costs of owning a trailer sailor are in repairs — accidents do happen on the water and parts do wear out as you use the boat. The fibreglass hull and decks however are very repairable with minimum skill. New trailers can also be bought for old boats if the original trailer has rusted away. On reflection, holidaying on a trailer sailer may not always be as restful as regular camping but it provides an opportunity to go cruising and see a range of destinations not available by road. Sailing to get there is also part of the experience. The opportunity to raise the anchor and explore round the next headland is always a tempting proposition. n Motoring up the river to Warkworth for groceries and ice creams. Trailer sailers have a raisable keel so while they may require a 1.5 meters depth of water when the keel is down to sail, they can float in 40cm or less of water when the keel is up enabling access up rivers or into shallow anchorages. Watch the slideshow above. Click on the image to load full screen with captions. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 26

bottom of page