8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption staying-safe-H.webp ​ Staying safe as you travel Editor Roads Check out the road before you travel. NZTA provides maps with current road closures, dangers, warnings, road works. ckw.nz/highways Weather Get a weather app on your phone: NIWA and the Met Service both provide weather warnings as well as forecasts. (Pictured, the Windy.com app on a phone) Fire danger NIWA gives regional guides on the current fire danger. Check before you strike the match. fireweather.niwa.co.nz Electrical warrants Required by campgrounds, these warrants also ensure there is no electrical danger to you or your family. Renewed every 4 years. More Gas safety check These are not required, but recommended every 2 years. With the vibrations of travel even well constructed gas setups can develop leaks over time. Some people have gas sniffers so they can check their own space as they travel Fire safety Have a fire extinguisher, and be mindful where it is placed. Shake it up every month. A fire blanket works for different kinds of fires (more). Can you break a window to get out if there is a fire? With what? Alarms • Smoke, • Sudden heat, • Carbon monoxide, • LPG. Get the right ones in the right place with the right batteries / power. Check them regularly:perhaps as daylight saving changes. Personal Locator Beacons Stay safe when out in the wilds. More on p25 Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 38

2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Bright Street car park, allowed overnight parks. 'Blue box' method of marking. Bright Street car park, allowed overnight parks. 'Blue box' method of marking. Makarori car park, allowed overnight parks. 'Blue box' method of marking. Midway Surf Club car park. 'Blue box' method of marking. Midway Surf Club car park. 'Blue box' method of marking. Paint the signs: protect the camper Painted signs on the actual car parks is a straightforward way to designate parks that are not hard up against each other. This matters even more when the parks are the right width for cars, but not for larger vehicles. These bylaws clearly follow the intent of the Freedom Camping Act and look to be the perfect example for other districts Freedom camping on the East Cape Bette Cosgrove and Miriam Richardson Gisborne District Council have very clear freedom camping bylaws which demand waste management, #leavenotrace principles. ckw.nz/gisborne They also ask you to apply for a free camping permit to use their many beautiful sites during summer. A good management strategy. You must have at least one portable chemical toilet between a max of 8 people. This is required for tents as well as vehicles. Vehicles need to be ‘self-contained’ but there is no demand for vehicles to be ‘certified self contained (CSC)’. They tell you where to find rubbish transfer stations and expect all campers to be responsible with their waste (or you can be fined). These bylaws clearly follow the intent of the Freedom Camping Act and look to be the perfect example for other districts, to ensure we can safely use our public land and take care of the environment. They also require 2.5m space between camp sites, for fire safety. Sadly, in the carparks they havent considered fire safety, and have taken a ‘blue box on a map’ approach to limiting freedom camping. The unsafe ‘blue-box-on-a-map’ approach to limiting freedom camping in a car park. (Shown: Bright St and Midway) The alternative approach is a ‘marked parks’ approach (such as in Whakatane, pictured), which spreads the overnight parks out within the carpark, so that no two are too close together. We can hope they will extend fire safety to overnight vehicles in carparks some time soon. Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 24

3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ​ Walter Peak, early Autumn Heather Auckram I woke to a misty morning at Mavora Lake camp. I repacked the Toyota Estima and drove the dusty gravel road, with two fords to cross to reach Walter Peak Station. There are new toilets and shelters on the way for walkers/cyclists doing the Greenstone track . The scent from the Walter Peak Station rose garden was delightful in the hot autumn sun. Earnslaw berthed to pick up visitors who had been relaxing at the cafe and animal farm. There's camping on-site, so maybe next time we'll sleep there. Heather Auckram. March 2022. Photos ©2023 Heather Auckram Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 24

1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ​ Business services Editor Any relevant business can list here; it is free. Anyone can recommend a business to add to the list. No endorsement is implied. North Island RV and Camper Business Services South Island RV and Camper Business Services These listings are maintained by NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd. To list your business make a recommendation make a correction or alert them to an error, please email admin@nzlifestylecamping.com Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 33

Pick and pedal Previous Next 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. ​ 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 industry-F-byata-ziplinesm-logo.webp There is underlying energy and enthusiasm Building a connected NZ camping and tourism industry Gary Stoneley, Lifestyle Camping 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

SPRING 2022 ISSUE 1 BUY PDF INDEX READ Mavis is finally out and about PREVIOUS PREVIOUS NEXT Mavis is finally out and about on her maiden overnighter to test all the r&m before the real camping trip in a couple of weeks. Cheine Matheson. Photo © 2022 Cheine Matheson ​ NEXT The Ad ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 1 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

SPRING 2022 ISSUE 1 BUY PDF INDEX READ Crossword, Spring 2022 PREVIOUS PREVIOUS NEXT Crossword, spring 2022 Download the crossword . View the solution BY: Rhonda Marshall ​ NEXT The Ad ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 1 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

6 Summer 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Preparing tea. ©2023 M Richardson Poptop and campsite with the neighbour's dog. ©2023 M Richardson The camp kitchen. ©2023 M Richardson The hooks in the willows stay put from year to year. ©2023 M Richardson Ready for cooking. ©2023 M Richardson All very handy. ©2023 M Richardson Behind the kitchen the tarp protects the day room. ©2023 M Richardson The camp kitchen ©2023 M Richardson The camp oven got taken home each winter. ©2023 M Richardson When you need lots of hot water the big thermette was perfect. Sometimes, though, you take a bucket over and get hot water from the shower boilers. ©2023 M Richardson ​ Sharing the summertime Miriam Richardson I was incredibly lucky to be invited to visit at a ‘permanent’ summer camp run by a 4WD club, several summers ago. A large field bounded by a stream and its fringe of willows, well out of sight of the road — room for everyone to have their own relatively private campsite. There is a central arena, with space for kids on bikes, and a New Year bonfire. They have shared long drops and hot showers — throw a log in the shower boiler whenever you walk past on the way to the loos. The land is leased over the summer period, and each spring group members head out to see what havoc the winter wove. They tidy up and or repair their camp sites, trim the trees, set up the long drops, digging new holes with their handy post-hole digger, chop fire wood for the boiler, set up the showers and tame the grass. Weekends begin the season, then the long summer break when families come and stay for weeks. When work calls, some families stay on, welcoming the workers back for weekends; then school goes back, and camping is a weekend affair again, until the final tidy up — filling in the long drop holes, securing the toilets and showers for the winter, packing down the camping gear and kitchens and taking stuff home. The camp setups are as varied as the people. There are buses, caravans, tents, and mixtures and variations of them. There are day rooms, keeping the sun and rain off. Some families share a kitchen and living area and have their family tents as bedrooms. Some use a totally portable kitchen, others, like the one pictured, have a more permanent kitchen setup, repaired or adapted, as required, each year. This kitchen even has herbs. This kind of ‘permanent’ camping, families sharing the summertime year to year, differs from a regular campground experience. Though it does remind me of my uncle’s camping in the 1960s— at a campground, but each summer the same site, the same set of families: lives from quite different places, sharing just the summer holiday. Perhaps if freedom camping becomes more difficult we will create more of these shared spaces for our summering. n Up Up 6 Summer 2023 , p 25

3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption We jet boated upriver for approximately an hour. ©2023 Fiona Thomson We jet boated upriver for approximately an hour, through spectacular gorges, stopping to hear about historical and scenic interest spots. ©2023 Fiona Thomson We jet boated upriver for approximately an hour. ©2023 Fiona Thomson We jet boated upriver for approximately an hour. ©2023 Fiona Thomson My mother and aunt. ©2023 Fiona Thomson The bridge is a large concrete structure that was built in 1936 to provide early pioneering farmers access to their farms. Unfortunately the local area became a valley of abandoned dreams as the land proved unsuitable for farming. ©2023 Fiona Thomson The bridge is a large concrete structure that was built in 1936 to provide early pioneering farmers access to their farms. Unfortunately the local area became a valley of abandoned dreams as the land proved unsuitable for farming. ©2023 Fiona Thomson ​ Nowhere special Fiona Thomson Our trip to the Bridge to Nowhere, on the Whanganui river, will always be a special memory that I share with my 84 year old mother. We camped overnight at Pipiriki on a non-powered site in our campervan. Cabins are available, with a clean communal kitchen and lounge area. We parked up in the provided day parking before donning our life jackets and wet weather gear. Our local guide and driver of the jet boat was helpful and knowledgeable. We jet boated upriver for approximately an hour, through spectacular gorges, stopping to hear about historical and scenic interest spots. After arriving at the Mangapurua landing, we were guided on a gentle 40 minute walk through native bush on a fern-lined track. The first hill up from the river was the most difficult — however my mother rose to the challenge and managed to walk the distance to the Bridge to Nowhere. The bridge is a large concrete structure that was built in 1936 to provide early pioneering farmers access to their farms. Unfortunately the local area became a valley of abandoned dreams as the land proved unsuitable for farming. Hot drinks and biscuits were provided at the bridge. We ate our own packed lunch before making the return bush walk and jet boating back to Pipirki. If you have the opportunity, this is a great day trip. Photos © Fiona Thomson Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 9

9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson A bit of a learning curve It was freezing Miriam Richardson This winter was my first in the Otago cold— a bit of a learning curve. I looked enviously at people blithely heading to a snowy Mt Cook, or up to Omarama to experience the hoar frost ( “is it still there?” ) but I was too timid about the cold to venture. I knew that my water pipes were not insulated. I knew that frozen water pipes can split. I knew how to stop them splitting. That was pretty much all I knew. Here is what I learned. Fill the kettle so you have water for the morning when pipes are still frozen. Turn off the water pump, open a tap. This releases the pressure in the pipe and gives space for expansion as it freezes. Pipes don’t always defrost before the afternoon’s re-freeze begins. (Eeek!). Hoar frost can last for many days. Being plugged in to power fixes the lack of solar problem, but doesn’t fix the frozen pipes problem. You need a water container, with enough volume to last for several days of frozen pipes. Campground water pipes freeze too but the camp-ground kitchen will probably have running water. There are microclimates. The Bannockburn Campground where I stayed is in a very cold patch (pictured), while 8km away, Cromwell had clear skies. Moving gave me the chance to buy the missing water container (and decant the water from a bucket, wedged carefully and hopefully in my door-well), but I didn’t really need it once I had removed myself from the hoar-frosted valley. Thankfully the freeze was inconvenient rather than disastrous for me, and now I am no longer afraid to head into the colder places. I would (will!) get my water pipes lagged, and I quite fancy having a remote temperature gauge underneath, so I know just how cold it is under there for my water pipes. ◼️ Images ©2024 Miriam Richardson Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 19

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