Mt Cook from the Lake Pukaki freedom camping area. ©2023 M Richardson Summer 2023 ISSUE 6 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up Mt Cook from the Lake Pukaki Up M Richardson Mt Cook from the Lake Pukaki freedom camping area. ©2023 M Richardson Up Up Mt Cook_MNR_5721_mw.webp Mt Cook_MNR_5721_mw.webp 1/1

9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Spicy casserole ready to serve ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Beans in the pressure cooker ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Beans cooking in pressure cooker ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Modern stove top pressure cooker Product photo The New Zealand Pressure Cooker Cookbook My favourite recipes are adapted from Lisa Loveday’s book — The New Zealand Pressure Cooker Cookbook. © remains with the author publisher. Cooked risotto in pressure cooker ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Risotto ready to serve ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Risotto ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Spicy casserole ready to serve ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie Spicy casserole plated ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie A few of my favourite recipes Making the most of your pressure cooker Margaret Earle When I left home one of the things my parents gave me was their old pressure cooker. I mostly used it to cook beans and pulses, as in those days you couldn’t buy tinned chickpeas or kidney beans. Sometimes I used it to cook corned beef or a stew. The pressure cooker was useful, but a pain because its seals didn’t work properly and it sometimes felt like there was a noisy time bomb on my stove. In recent years I have discovered the joy of electric pressure cookers. Mine is a combo slow cooker and pressure cooker. I’ve also discovered that you can cook much more than beans, corned beef and stew in a pressure cooker. If you have room for a pressure cooker when you are camping it provides a quick and efficient way to cook. Stove-top pressure cookers come in a range of sizes and if you have access to electricity then you can use a multifunction cooker that has a pressure cooker function. Here’s a few of my favourite recipes. They are adapted from Lisa Loveday’s book — The New Zealand Pressure Cooker Cookbook. ckw.nz/pressure-cooker Minestrone Soup This soup provides a hearty meal for up to 6 people . If you want to make a smaller quantity of soup, then reduce the quantities of each ingredient. Depending on your preferences and what you have available you can leave out or add ingredients. For instance, you can leave out the bacon if you want a vegetarian meal or add peas instead of green beans. Ingredients 1 Tbsp olive oil 150g streaky bacon, diced 2 large onions, peeled and diced 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed 2 celery stalks, sliced 3 Tbsp tomato paste 2 carrots peeled and diced 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced 2 bay leaves A sprig each of fresh parsley, thyme and oregano, tied together with kitchen string (or a mix of dried herbs) 2 litres vegetable or chicken stock (or 4 tsp powered stock in 2 litres of water) 400g tin chickpeas, drained (or 2 cups cooked chickpeas) 400g tin cannellini beans, drained (or 2c cooked cannellini beans) ½ cup small pasta shapes (uncooked) 1 cup of green beans (fresh or frozen) 1 zucchini, diced Method ◗ Heat pressure cooker. Add oil and fry the bacon until browned. Add onion, garlic and celery. Cook until onion is starting to brown. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute . Add all ingredients, except any frozen vegetables, into the pressure cooker. ◗ Put lid on top of pressure cooker and set to high pressure. Bring the cooker up to pressure and maintain this pressure for 5 minutes . Remove from heat. Once the pressure has reduced naturally , open pressure cooker and discard the bundle of fresh herbs. ◗ If using frozen vegetables add these and put lid back on for 5 minutes . Reopen the pressure cooker. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve with fresh bread or toast. Mushroom Risotto Since getting an electric pressure cooker I have cooked all my risottos in it. The basic rule of thumb is one cup of arborio (or other risotto) rice to three cups of fluid. This makes a moist risotto that is ready to eat when the pressure cooking is completed. The recipe below serves 6 . Ingredients 2 Tbsp butter 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 300g mushrooms, sliced 2 cups arborio rice ½ tsp dried or fresh thyme 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock (or 2–3 tsps powered stock in 6cups of water) 250 g chopped chicken, ham or bacon 1 cup fresh or frozen peas ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 Tbsp chopped parsley Method ◗ Heat pressure cooker. Add butter and fry onion and garlic until soft. Add sliced mushrooms. If using chicken or bacon add this as well and fry until the outside colour of the meat changes. Add rice and stir for 2 minutes . Add stock and ham (if using). Fresh peas can be added now but frozen peas are best added after the risotto has been cooked. ◗ Set pressure cooker to high and bring the cooker up to pressure. Maintain this pressure for 6 minutes . Remove from heat. Once the pressure has reduced naturally , open pressure cooker. ◗ If using frozen beans add these and put lid back on for 5 minutes . Reopen the pressure cooker. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir through the Parmesan cheese and parsley before serving. Parmesan cheese, chopped tomato and/or sprouted mung beans can be sprinkled on the top of each serving. Spicy casserole with pork or chicken This recipe is based on the French dish known as cassoulet. It can be served with crusty bread or brown rice. It serves 6 and don’t worry if there are left-overs as these will make a tasty lunch or dinner the next day. Ingredients 1 Tbsp olive oil 350g chorizo or other spicy sausages, sliced 500g diced uncooked pork or chicken 150g streaky bacon, sliced 1 onion, sliced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 celery stalks, sliced 1–2 carrots, peeled and thickly sliced 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried thyme) 1 bay leaf 1 sprig rosemary 400g tin chopped tomatoes in juice ½ cup stock or water 1 cup frozen green beans 400g tin cannellini beans (or 2c cooked beans) Method ◗ Heat pressure cooker. Add oil and brown sliced sausages. Remove sausages from cooker. Add diced meat and bacon and cook until outside changes colour. Remove meat from cooker. Add onion, garlic, celery and carrot and cook for 2–3 minutes . Stir in herbs, tinned tomato in juice and stock. Return sausages, meat and bacon to cooker. Do not add the beans at this stage. ◗ Set pressure cooker to high and bring the cooker up to pressure. Maintain this pressure for 15 minutes . Remove from heat. Once the pressure has reduced naturally, open the pressure cooker. ◗ Add frozen green beans and cannellini beans and put lid back on for 5 minutes . Reopen pressure cooker. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprouted mung beans can be sprinkled on the top of each serving. ◼️ Images: ©2024 Margaret Earle & Graham Leslie. Book cover: © remains with the author/publisher. Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 30

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Windows Our bus has a lot of windows ©2022 Linda Butler More windows Our bus has a lot of windows ©2022 Linda Butler Lots of windows! Our bus has a lot of windows ©2022 Linda Butler Our yurt incarnation Op shop curtains purchased and now we sit draft-free with a feeling of sitting in a yurt in the back of the bus. ©2022 Linda Butler Drivers window insulation hat only left the driver's window area. We heard about insulation paper that builders use. We bought about 10 meters, cut it down to each individual window. ©2022 Linda Butler Sealing the edges or the window insulation. We used a heat gun and sealed the edges on the insulation for the driver's window.©2022 Linda Butler Now’s the time to plan or prepare your caravan, bus or motorhome for next winter. I asked Linda to tell us about her journey to warm up their bus. Editor Preparing for the cold winter "brrrrrr's" Linda Butler My husband Martin and I met up with Ray Harris the winter before last at Waihi Gorge. Our first night in the bus in winter. Darn, we could only get the new heater up to 10ºC on that night, and woke to a -3ºC frost. We opened the oven door, lit the gas and waited for sunshine. I'm proud of my hubby, he did agree to stay another night, but we enjoyed the warmth of Ray's 30º heater that evening, while playing cards until bedtime. This was from our newly installed diesel heater. Oh boy, we soon wondered if there was actually nothing wrong with the old gas one after all. The installers spent a lot of hours trying to work out the problem. Even with lagged pipes the heater wouldn't get warmer than 18º. Finally we were told the poor insulation and many windows in the bus were the problem. So over the last few months we came up with a plan. Purchased woollen carpet; it won’t need underlay, we were told. Tick With the curtains closed around our beds we still had a draft coming from the windows. We have a silver rail in front of the window. No probs. Op shop curtains purchased and now we sit draft-free with a feeling of sitting in a yurt in the back of the bus. Tick The carpet did need underlay as we still felt it cold. Fixed. Tick Hubby couldn't stand the cold on his body from the bus wall lining under the window by the bed. He needs a bit more fat on him! So we bought yoga mats. Nice and thin. Can lay under the mattress when not in use. Perfect. Tick Stumbled on a net curtain to cover the door for insects and thought, why not also get a long curtain to cover the door for cold? Found one that fits a treat and hangs around my passenger-side headrest when not in use. Another draft fixed. Tick The venetian blinds in the kitchen: we found just enough curtain to cover over them as well.We are going to be so snug! Tick The bathroom felt like a bucket of ice. We hung a curtain cord and threaded a towel by its own hem. That kept the cold off our arm. Easy to wash. Tick Might try leaving the door open in the evening to let the heat from the cabin flow in. That only left the driver's window area. We heard about insulation paper that builders use. We bought about 10 meters, cut it down to each individual window size, then used a heat gun and sealed the edges. This hopefully will help with the frost also! We hope... Since doing all this, we have been unable to get out to try it, other than 2 nights at Lake Camp before winter really hit, after the carpet was put in and we had our curtains over the back windows. That little made a big difference. We are looking forward to next year when we hit the road. Late August after we return from Europe. We will be snug as a bug in a rug. We hope! Don't give up. Get ready for those winter blues… brrrrr… Photos ©2022 Linda Butler Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 33

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption South Arm, Lake Manapouri Tony Kissell South Arm, Lake Manapouri, in March. DOC. Tony Kissel Photo ©2023 Tony Kissel Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 16

9 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 ISSUE 9 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Product photo All you need is a solar panel, a solar controller, and a battery. Solar basics for dummies Wayne Ravelich The sun is a wonderful free resource that provides, heat, warmth, and with the use of modern solar panels, also power. Solar power for us campers is a simple process. All you need is a solar panel, a solar controller, and a battery. The panel converts the sunlight into electricity. The controller takes that electricity and transforms it to a source of energy that can be used to charge the battery. The battery then stores that electrical energy until it is required to be used. Effectively the solar panel and controller are just a fancy battery charger. The battery supplies your power to run the lights, the inverter, if you have one, and any electrical devices. During peak sun hours some power will be supplied directly from the controller. Saying that, the important thing to remember is that most of the power you use comes from the battery. Solar panels Solar panels are the first link in the power chain and come in a variety of styles. • Rigid, the most common style and most efficient. • Flexible, light weight. • Portable, either folding ridged type or blanket, with built in controller. Solar panel output deteriorates with age and dirt, so keep the panels clean— just a light wash, don’t scrub. Panel output has improved greatly in the last few years. An old 75W panel may only produce 40W but a new 150W panel could fit in the same space (from experience). The biggest problem I come across is not enough solar to keep the batteries charged. Solution is ADD more solar, either fixed, if space allows, or a portable panel. Solar controllers Controllers come in two types. • PWM (Pulse Wave Modulation): the least efficient but cheaper and good for small panels. • MPPT (Multi Point Power Tracking): the best by far but more expensive. Batteries Batteries come in lots of types for different uses. In a solar power system, we use the “deep cycle” batteries. A car battery is not deep cycle but would work, for a while. Car batteries are designed to start cars, high current 400 to 800amps for a few seconds. Deep cycle batteries provide lower current (amps) continuously, a 100ah (amp hour) battery will provide 10amps for 10 hours. A 200ah battery will provide the same 10amps for 20 hours. The more power you need, the bigger or more batteries you require. Two 100ah batteries connected in “parallel,” that is positive to positive and negative to negative, gives you 200ah. Having lots of batteries give you lots of storage and lots of potential power, BUT you will need lots of solar panels to keep the batteries charged. The rule of thumb is twice the amp hours equals the minimum solar panel size. A 100ah battery needs 100 X 2 = 200Watt panel to fully charge the battery. Let’s look at battery types. ◼️ Lead Acid batteries are similar to your car start battery with lead plates and sulphuric acid. ◼️ AGM batteries (Absorbed Glass Mat) is also lead plates and the acid is absorbed into a mat to stop it sloshing around. ◼️ GEL Batteries are designed not to emit gas during charging and are similar to the AGM, but they can be used on their side or standing up. ◼️ Lead-carbon batterie s are an advanced lead acid battery which use a common lead positive plate (anode) and a carbon composite negative plate (cathode). The carbon acts as a sort of ‘super capacitor’ which allows faster charging and discharging, plus prolonged life at partial state of charge. ◼️ Lithium Batteries come in a couple of formats, Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide batteries are the more common “cheaper” lithium battery and not as safe as some other forms of Lithium battery. The LiFePO4 (Lithium iron phosphate) batteries are a bit more expensive but are the safest of them all. LiFePO4 batteries generally have a BMS (Battery Management System) built in and will shut the battery down if there is a problem. Controllers and chargers Solar controllers have settings for the different battery types as the batteries charge differently. You cannot mix battery types in your solar system. A lot of solar controllers do not have a Lithium setting so check first. The same applies to battery chargers. Topping up your “house” battery from the “start” battery or alternator is a good idea and can be done in motor homes and caravans. For lead acid batteries I recommend the use of a Dual Voltage Sensitive Relay (DVSR) to prevent the start battery going flat. If you have Lithium “house” batteries, you need to use a DC/DC charger (below, right) set to ‘lithium’. A standard battery charger or car alternator provides 13.8Volts, but lithium needs 14.6Volts minimum to fully charge. A little on inverters Inverters convert 12V DC from your battery into 230V AC to run your domestic appliances. Inverters come in two types, modified sine wave and pure sine wave inverters. Pure sine wave inverters are dearer and far better than modified sine wave. If you are going to be using electronic appliances get a Pure Sine Wave inverter. The inverter needs to be as close as possible to the battery and have BIG supply cables. A 2kW fan heater draws 8amps from the inverter, the inverter draws 170amps from the battery so the battery cables must be large enough to carry that load or you will have a fire. Fuses and circuit breakers for safety need to be everywhere. From the solar panels to the controller, from the controller to the battery and from the battery to the load and/or inverter. Sunlight A last note, solar power needs sunlight. Solar works great in the summer. In winter there is a lot less sun and the cold can affect the batteries. Also, the further south you go the less sun there is to charge your system. Overall having a good solar system in your camper makes for better, easier camping. If in doubt If in doubt, ASK a specialist that knows solar. Facebook is not a specialist. I hope this helps you better understand the magic of solar power. ◼️ Images are product photos. Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 9

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Sign at a Kaokoura freedom camping space. Found on Facebook Sign at a Kaokoura freedom camping space. Found on Facebook Generral guidelines The Kaikoura Council website. Kaikoura Responsible Camping Bylaw enforcement The Kaikoura Council website. Kaikōura: the freedom camping Wild West Miriam Richardson Why stick to the law if you can get away with whatever takes your fancy? In Kaikōura, the council states on their website that “Fines can be issued for” “not allowing an enforcement officer’s inspection” †. Kaikōura District Council, Responsible Camping Accessed 5/3/24 The Freedom Camping Act 2011 does not have an offence called “not allowing an enforcement officer’s inspection” ‡ and the council cannot make up a new offence and then impose a fine for it. The Freedom Camping Act 2011 requires that a warrant card is displayed which is the prima facie evidence that the vehicle is compliant. An enforcement officer has no legal power to search or inspect a vehicle for any reason . Even the police can only inspect a vehicle if they have reasonable grounds to believe it contains evidence of a crime punishable by a prison term of 14 years. The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, section 21 states very clearly “ Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search…* But, hey, this is the freedom camping Wild West. I wonder what appears on the documentation of the enforcement officers in Kaikōura? Every enforcement officer must show, when asked, evidence of their appointment, which must show “the responsibilities and powers that the person has under the Act” and “the infringement and other offences in relation to which the person is appointed” (Section 34 ‡ ). Has the Kaikōura District Council added to this documentation their new offence, the one not included in the Act, “not allowing an enforcement officer’s inspection”? Why are they doing this? The Kaikōura District Council has created a bylaw § with a variation on the definition of self-containment, such that inspecting the warrant and the self-containment certificate does not satisfy them † . Only by conducting an illegal search can the Kaikoura District Council enforcement officers ascertain if their bylaw variation on the concept of self-containment is satisfied. In NZ law, evidence gathered during an un-consented search cannot (or only rarely) be used. But in Kaikōura they believe they can use both what they find in an illegal search and a refusal to consent to an illegal search as evidence to fine people $400. Do the freedom campers consent to the search? It seems both the Council and the enforcement officer are asserting a legal power to search any freedom camper in their district. When the Council says ‘I will fine you if you don’t allow it,’ it is better described as ‘coercion’, rather than ‘consent.’ This likely makes all resulting fines illegal. Is the cost of a fine less than talking to a lawyer? Probably. The Council is targeting smaller vehicles and poorer citizens, those less able to access legal support, so they probably feel pretty comfortable that they will not be challenged in Court. Who polices the enforcers? If you keep your aim on just poor people: nobody. It’s the Wild West on the beautiful east coast of the South Island. † Kaikōura District Council, Responsible Camping Accessed 5/3/24 § Kaikōura Responsible Freedom Camping Bylaw 2019, amended Dec 2023 the PDF* Bill of Rights Act 1990 ‡ Freedom Camping Act 2011 Articles in this issue on the freedom camping law changes: Predictable problems with the new CSC green warrant system (p2) Editorial (p3) Self-containment warrant cards: Which one is yours? (p6) So you want to freedom camp (p8) What is ‘self-contained’, anyway? (p10) Enforcement of freedom camping rules (p12) I am not freedom camping' cards (p14) Do your bit: Task of the week (p16) No more freedom camping (p16) Kaikōura: the freedom camping Wild West (p18) Hey NZ Govt? You are messing with my mental health (p20) 7 days a week (p21) Celebrating Summer (p5) GO TO Celebrating Summer targeting smaller vehicles and poorer citizens Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 18 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

3 Autumn 2023 3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption The adventures don't have to end ‘after kids’, they're only just beginning. We are an online community of New Zealand-based mamas with a love of the great outdoors. We regularly share hiking trails, campsites, outdoor guides and inspirational posts on our social media and website. Mountain Mamas © Kayla Laatz The adventures don't have to end ‘after kids’, they're only just beginning. We are an online community of New Zealand-based mamas with a love of the great outdoors. We regularly share hiking trails, campsites, outdoor guides and inspirational posts on our social media and website. Mountain Mamas © Kayla Laatz The adventures don't have to end ‘after kids’, they're only just beginning. We are an online community of New Zealand-based mamas with a love of the great outdoors. We regularly share hiking trails, campsites, outdoor guides and inspirational posts on our social media and website. Mountain Mamas © Kayla Laatz Mountain Mamas NZ Kayla Laatz Are you a mama wanting to spend more time outdoors with your family? Do you want to meet and go tramping with other like-minded mamas? Mountain Mamas NZ is an online community of New Zealand-based mamas with a love of the great outdoors. We regularly share hiking trails, campsites, outdoor guides and inspirational posts on our social media and website. Its a place to learn new skills, build your confidence, get inspired and connect with other local mamas throughout Aotearoa. The benefits to spending more time in nature are endless; but sometimes finding the motivation and support to make it happen can be difficult. Learning new skills and stepping outside your comfort zone, while simultaneously navigating life as a new parent, is even harder. The adventures don't have to end ‘after kids’, they're only just beginning. Get involved by following us @mountainmamasnz on Instagram and Facebook. Tag us in your outdoor family adventures using #mountainmamasnz to be shared and to inspire others. Kayla Laatz mountainmamasnz.com facebook.com/mountainmamasnz instagram.com/mountainmamasnz Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 32

11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Whisky Gully, Tapanui, Southland. Lovely views over the plains, and a great walk up the valley, and another through the bush. ©2025 M RIchardson Looking down on the park at the end of the road. Whisky Gully, Tapanui, Southland. ©2025 M RIchardson Lovely views over the plains Whisky Gully, Tapanui, Southland. ©2025 M RIchardson Whisky Gully M Richardson Whisky Gully, Tapanui, Southland. Lovely views over the plains, and a great walk up the valley, and another through the bush. Toilets. Some flat areas to park. You must be certified self-contained. ©2023 M Richardson Looking back down at the camping area. Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 11

9 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 ISSUE 9 BUY PDF CONTENTS 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

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Spring Fling Foxton Beach M Richardson All sorts of campers at the Foxton Beach Spring Fling camping weekend. All Points Camping. ©2024 M Richardson Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 21

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption kiwi-coven_H.webp Who we are (from left to right) Christine, Carolyn Penny Kathryn, Wendy, Colleen. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Lady Penelope Six solo camping women ranging in age from 54 to 74 years old, found themselves gathered beside the camp fire one autumn evening in the Tararua District. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Myrtle Six solo camping women ranging in age from 54 to 74 years old, found themselves gathered beside the camp fire one autumn evening in the Tararua District. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Miss Abigail Six solo camping women ranging in age from 54 to 74 years old, found themselves gathered beside the camp fire one autumn evening in the Tararua District. ©2024 Bette Cosgrove Around the fire pit Connecting with their sisters in the self-proclaimed ‘Kiwi Camping Coven’ around the fire pit, at the Viking Odyssey Weekend, All Points Camping Club event at Norsewood in May ©2024 Bette Cosgrove six solo camping women from 54 to 74 years old Kiwi camping coven Bette Cosgrove Six solo camping women ranging in age from 54 to 74 years old, found themselves gathered beside the camp fire one autumn evening in the Tararua District. Connecting with their sisters in the self-proclaimed ‘Kiwi Camping Coven’ around the fire pit, at the Viking Odyssey Weekend, All Points Camping Club event at Norsewood in May, this happy accident was a discovery that their shared life experiences gave them a common passion. They’re all solo campers who have camped all their lives. They discovered a love of lifetime camping, once sharing this with partners, but life’s circumstances mean they now go it alone. Who we are (from left to right) Christine, Carolyn Penny Kathryn, Wendy, Colleen ✤ Christine is towing a 2 berth British caravan with no name (yet) adorned with BAT WINGS. ✤ Carolyn drives a Toyota van — with munchkin cat Jasper. Her vehicle is named Jasper’s Journeys. Formerly, she lived 10 years in a bus. ✤ Penny drives a 7.5m German motorhome named Lady Penelope (from Thunderbirds). She has a static permanent caravan in a commercial campground, to come and go from. ✤ Kathryn tows her 6.5m Swift caravan called Miss Abigail. She lives in it permanently, mostly travelling the roads of NZ. ✤ Wendy has a Toyota Hiace van named NakiLass with rag doll cat Cindy. Her home base is a cabin on rural land. ✤ Colleen tows her neat little poptop camper called Myrtle. Answering these questions, it was clear that despite their wide backgrounds and variety of life experiences, they had all found a common purpose and a joy for solo camping life. Why travel and camp alone? ✤ We meet new friends. ✤ There’s a sense of independence and freedom. ✤ To have new experiences. ✤ Being outdoors offers a greater sense of wellbeing. ✤ All of us women have met a wide variety of challenges in our lives, but we’ve coped with them by camping! What do you need for solo camping and travelling? ✤ A sense of adventure. ✤ Big girl panties. ✤ Courage and ✤ Good reversing skills. Why this activity? ✤ Get out of comfort zone, ✤ We’re all survivors of life challenges, so sitting home quietly watching TV doesn’t offer much challenge or excitement. ✤ Keeping it simple is important for solo camping life, not much clutter, minding how you use your resources like power and water. ✤ Simplicity over stress. ✤ Communication and laughter around a campfire is the best reason to come camping. The benefits of joining a group? ✤ Sharing tips and places. ✤ Enjoying the social meet ups and finding like minded travelling friends to have a good laugh with. ✤ We support each other. ✤ Joining in fun events. Tips for other women contemplating going solo? ✤ Just do it! ✤ You’ll love it! ✤ Learn from your mistakes. ✤ Getting through gateways might be difficult, practice! ✤ We’re all OK without partners. ✤ Follow your instincts… move if you need to or feel unsafe. ✤ Meet your camping neighbours if you feel insecure. Best experiences to share? ✤ The Patea All Points Camping gathering recently was just so much fun. ✤ Forgotten Highway trip, stranded in a ditch with 5 women campers when 1 woman broke her leg on a 4-day trip. ✤ A huge achievement when we made it through. You are often SO proud of what you’re doing. ✤ Chatting and laughing around the camp fire it was obvious this informal sisterhood gives strength and joy. ✤ “Every time we get together with other women solo campers we leave so happy,” Christine says. Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 29

4 Winter 2023 4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Lake Taupo ©2023 Angela Bryan Durie Hill Tower ©2023 Angela Bryan Tunnel access to Durie Hill Tower ©2023 Angela Bryan Durie Hill ©2023 Angela Bryan Homing Pigeon ©2023 Angela Bryan Waimarie Paddle Steamer ©2023 Angela Bryan Loo with a view ©2023 Angela Bryan Riverview Scenic Reserve - Murchison ©2023 Angela Bryan ©2023 Angela Bryan ©2023 Angela Bryan ©2023 Angela Bryan ©2023 Angela Bryan Maruia Falls The Maruia Falls, on the way, are well worth the stop for a short walk and there’s plenty of room to park up for a lunch break. ©2023 Angela Bryan Waimakariri River ©2023 Angela Bryan Waimakariri River Bridge Waimakariri River ©2023 Angela Bryan Waimakariri River ©2023 Angela Bryan Waimakariri River ©2023 Angela Bryan Waimakariri River ©2023 Angela Bryan DOC park Hanmer ©2023 Angela Bryan lets_Waimakakariri 3.webp ©2023 Angela Bryan DOC ablutions Hanmer ©2023 Angela Bryan lets_Cape Farewell 2_MW.webp ©2023 Angela Bryan Whatamango Bay ©2023 Angela Bryan lets_Cape Farewell 2_MW.webp STOP and STAY Let’s go south for a few weeks’ Angela Bryan Let’s go South for a few weeks.’ How many weeks?’ ‘Eight.’ ‘How about six?’ ‘OK. let’s see how it goes.’ That’s pretty much how the conversation with hubby went when I saw an opening to get him away in our 6.5m Leisureline caravan for more than a long weekend or a couple of weeks holiday. So after booking ferry crossings we were off. First stop over was the shores of Lake Ohakuri in the Taupo area. Early March had some decently nice days to just chill out and unwind from all the preparation needed to be away from our orchard for an extended period. Peace and quiet, nice cuppa and hot pools to relax in, although they were a bit cooler than normal due to the large amount of rain from the two recent cyclones. We had decided we would avoid the main highways where possible on this trip and get to see a bit more of the country — stop off at those places we just normally drive through, and have a look around. Our next destination was Raetihi, travelling the western side of Lake Taupo and the Tongariro National Park. There is some beautiful scenery through this area. ©2023 Angela Bryan So our next destination was Raetihi, travelling the western side of Lake Taupo and the Tongariro National Park. There is some beautiful scenery through this area. We rocked up to the Raetihi Holiday Park mid afternoon and got one of the last two powered sites they had. Who would have thought Raetihi is a busy place? Well it certainly is. The holiday park is the base for a lot of rafting and tramping trips and there were people coming and going constantly. A lovely small park with reasonably priced sites and the most amazing ablution block you will ever see. If you’re in this area stopping in here for the night is a must, just for the showers. Recently built, the block contains all the usual amenities. The lights turn on automatically when you walk into the toilets, nice but no big deal. When you walk into the shower cubicle, big enough for mum and a couple of kids, the light turns on, the fan turns on, and the heat lamp turns on . Yes, the heat lamp . There’s no reaching to the back of the shower to turn it on and getting wet at the same time, loads of room to keep clothes and shoes dry and the pressure, did I mention the pressure? The showers are free and the place is spotless. Well done Raetihi Holiday Park . I am impressed. Ohakune From Raetihi it is an easy drive to Ohakune to take a ride on the cycle track around the town, you can even get a shuttle up to Horopito and bike back into Ohakune. iSite staff assured me it is downhill most of the way, but I’ll take their word for it. We cruised around the riverside track and then stopped off at The Chocolate Éclair Shop for the biggest sweet treat ever. There are lots of cafes in Ohakune to suit every taste. It is an easy drive up to the Whakapapa ski field where there is nothing going on at this time of year but amazing views. Wanganui Lakeside was a perfect spot to base ourselves for some sightseeing around Wanganui, bike riding and paddle steaming, not to mention checking out the local cafés. ©2023 Angela Bryan From Raetihi it was on to Whanganui via SH4. We had been told about Lakelands Holiday Park on the shores of Lake Wiritoa on the outskirts of Whanganui. We were not disappointed, a lovely peaceful spot right on the shores of the lake and only a 10 minute drive into the city. A perfect spot to base ourselves for some sightseeing, bike riding and paddle steaming, not to mention checking out the local cafés. Mmmm that’s the second time I’ve mentioned cafés. When we’re away we feel some responsibility to contribute to the local economy so instead of going out for dinner, which can be a lottery when you don’t know the area, we have an early lunch at a café. This covers the morning coffee fix and keeps us going through until we are feet up with a cuppa and scones back at the caravan. Manawatu & CampFest After seeing Whanganui it was off to the Manawatu where we parked up at a friend’s place for a week while visiting friends and family in the area before heading to the CampFest at the Bulls Domain. This is a great free camping spot as well. I wasn’t sure what I had got myself into when I offered to help out at CampFest, but I must say it was one of the most enjoyable camping weekends we have ever had. Loads of chilled-out relaxed campers in every mode of camping you could think of and everyone generally had a great weekend. We will be back for next year to meet more of our fellow campers and make new friends. More on CampFest Cook Strait So it was off across Cook Strait to the South Island, the last sailing before all sailings were cancelled due to 11m swells. It wasn’t pleasant, but we got there. Canterbury On the mainland it was on to Canterbury for another family catch-up. We turned off at Amberley and took the scenic road through Rangiora and Oxford and down the southern side of the Waimakariri River. Waimakariri River ©2023 Angela Bryan There seemed to be lots of lovely spots that one could stop over for the night if the local freedom camping bylaws allow (we didn’t check as we were headed for family again). Have you ever stopped at Darfield? It is only 45 minutes out of Christchurch and on the main highway to the West Coast but it is well worth a stop. The best bakery around with a massive selection of pies, and loads of small crafty shops to browse around, and again, with a couple of lovely cafés. There’s a very easy cycle track and if you want to leave the village we found the local roads easy to navigate and there was not much traffic. But at some point we were biking into the wind — just as well our bikes have batteries. Hanmer Springs The DOC camp on the outskirts of Hanmer. ©2023 Angela Bryan From Canterbury it was back on the road up SH1 heading to Hanmer Springs to meet up with motorhoming friends. We arrived to a stunning sunny afternoon, 25 degrees, and parked up at the DOC camp on the outskirts of town. Nice flat spaces on the banks of a stream with a very serviceable toilet block (see picture in the slideshow), and sandflies, loads of sandflies. There is a very pretty forestry walking and bike track and even a bike skills park where you can test your balance abilities. Probably not on the e-bike. Over the next 24hrs the temperature plummeted to 2 degrees and by the time we left there was snow below the tree line. We drove through the Lewis Pass with light snow falling. Murchison The Buller river, from Lakeside Holiday Camp. ©2023 Angela Bryan Our plan for this trip was to see as much as we could of the Tasman area so we headed north, stopping off for a couple of nights at the Riverside Holiday Park in Murchison. The Maruia Falls, on the way, are well worth the stop for a short walk and there’s plenty of room to park up for a lunch break. Riverside Holiday Park is, as it says, right on the river. With a lovely walk through the Kahikatea Reserve right on the boundary of the Kahurangi National Park. ©2023 Angela Bryan It has a great communal kitchen area with a large deck looking out over the river, complete with couches and armchairs for just chilling out and relaxing. There is a jumping pillow to keep the kids happy and they have well laid out level sites, all with power and water right there. While in Murchison, a short drive up the Buller Gorge takes you to the longest swing bridge in NZ, very entertaining for those that have a head for heights. On the other side there is a bush walk to a 300yr old kahikatea and then you can take the flying fox back across the river. Tasman There is so much to see and do in the Tasman-Golden Bay area. Holiday parks galore and also loads of park over properties and places where you can freedom camp. There are the most amazing cycle trails. The Great Taste Trail goes from Nelson to Kaiteriteri, through the Motueka Valley to Tapawera and on to Belgrave, Wakefield and back into Richmond and Nelson. We conquered an easy ride through vineyards and into Richmond comfortably with a stop off for lunch to refuel. You could do more or less as the mood takes you. There is a plethora of tourist attractions in the area: a visit to the Classic Car Museum in Nelson and Hoglund Glass Blowing Studio ckw.nz/glass filled in a rainy afternoon for us. The Tasman area seems to have a township every 20 kilometres and there’s something to stop and see in every one of them. From downtown Nelson, Tahunanui, Stoke, Richmond, Hope, Brightwater, Wakefield — just loads to see and do. Wakefield has one of the best bakeries around with the famous Wakefield pies. Definitely worth a stop off. Then there is Appleby, Mapua, Ruby Bay and Rabbit Island. A detour off SH 60 via the Moutere Highway takes you to Upper Moutere Village, a visit here is a must. It is the home of the Moutere Inn, the oldest pub in New Zealand. Unfortunately it was closed for the two nights we were there so we didn’t get to check it out. But the village has some quaint shops, cafés and a really good fish and chip shop. On the western side of the Tasman area is Motueka, well worth a wander through the town. If you’re keen, you can cycle this whole area. Motueka also has the best dump station that we came across in our whole trip. Easily accessible from both directions for the biggest of vehicles and room for two vehicles to use it at the same time, plus a fresh water fill up. Golden Bay After not enough days in the Tasman area we headed west over the Takaka Hill. Now that is a hill. 257 corners, a lot of them hairpin. Unfortunately there is nowhere to stop and take photos of the amazing views when you are towing a caravan, but it is so beautiful. Cape Farewell ©2023 Angela Bryan We made our way through Takaka and Collingwood on to Pakawau where we based ourselves to visit Cape Farewell. There are tours that take you all the way out to the lighthouse on Farewell Spit but we decided to have a look around by ourselves for the day. Cape Farewell is a fairly impressive place but if you don’t like heights it is very unnerving. We decided to take a drive to Whanganui Inlet and perhaps go on to Mangarakau and see the West Coast. After an hour of driving on rutted, gravel road I felt like my bones were about to fall apart so we decided to turn around. Not a road I would drive again but the scenery is so worth it. It was back to camp and a nice long walk along Pakawau’s beach to relax. Anatoki Salmon Fishing and Café have a free camp area on the outskirts of Takaka. It is easily accessible and a large area for the biggest of rigs. This was a great base while we investigated the Takaka area with the added bonus that you can try your hand at fishing as well. They say fishing is about the vibes you send down the line, well we didn’t have the right energy flowing at all. No fish for us after a couple of hours of casting and reeling it back in. So time for a coffee and some lunch at the café and watch the people who stood just where we had been catch two fish in five minutes! Oh well, free entertainment; you only pay for what you catch, and they will smoke it for you as well. If you are in Takaka, The Wholemeal Café is well worth a visit or two, or three. It was recommended to us by fellow campers and it didn’t disappoint. One of the nicest cafés we visited on our trip, at least according to the other half. A stroll through the main street of Takaka, which is also the main highway, will fill in a good part of the afternoon, there are so many interesting shops to stop off and have a look at. The men might not agree, but hey… A short drive from Takaka is the Labyrinth Rocks . The outcrop of limestone rocks forms a labyrinth of paths that twist and turn and you never quite know where you will end up. Fun for all ages, just let the child inside free to imagine. The drive to Pohara, Tarakohe, Ligar Bay and Tata Beach is well worth it. You can stop off and visit the Abel Tasman Monument on the way which has amazing views of Golden Bay. At Port Tarakohe you can see where the road has been cut under the ancient rock formations. It was back over the mighty Takaka Hill into the Tasman area on Easter Friday, the traffic going to Takaka was bumper to bumper including a cyclist on the way down the hill — hope he had good brakes. Winblue Farm is a lovely park over property between Hope and Brightwater, quiet with free fruit from the gardens and within cycling distance of the Great Taste Trail if you are feeling like some exercise. Mapua Village is a quaint little village with quite a few boutique shops and art galleries, nice for a coffee and a wander. You can drive out to Kaiteriteri and around the bay to Split Apple Rock, or take a kayak tour via the water if you prefer. The rock sits just off a lovely secluded beach which is a 10 minute walk from the road, all downhill. Trouble with that is it is a long haul back uphill on the way out. You don’t realise how steep it is on the way down, but it is well worth the walk. Wairau Valley and Blenheim Departing Tasman we decided to take the long road to Blenheim via St Arnaud and the Wairau Valley. The scenery is just stunning, driving along the river and through the vineyards. Our park up for our last few nights in the South Island was at Spring Creek Holiday Park , a lovely park that has a creek running through it complete with friendly eels to feed. So much to do in Blenheim, a visit to the Omaka Aviation Museum is a must or on a Sunday you can grab a coffee and sit in the carpark and watch all the vintage planes come and go. If you’re lucky while you’re in Blenheim you might get to see the Passchendaele steam train ckw.nz/steam, we just happened upon it while we were visiting the iSite. According to locals it comes out for special occasions or if there is a cruise ship in port. Again there are some great cycle trails as well, through the vineyards and up into the hills. Port Underwood ©2023 Angela Bryan We took a drive out to Port Underwood and on to Picton from there. Now that is a road you don’t want to drive while towing the caravan, or in the motorhome. Thankfully we had some local advice and didn’t. It is only 60kms but takes the best part of two hours to drive. Must be one of the narrowest and windiest roads in the country, but when you get to the top the views are just astounding. It’s one of those roads that you are glad you drove, but you’ll never drive it again. So back north on Bluebridge’s Connemara and thankfully it was a pleasant sailing. Something we did on this trip that we’ve never done before was book a cabin on the ferry, both ways. It was well worth the $40 — on the rough sailing it was nice to have somewhere I could rest. We will definitely do it again, both the cabin and the trip. Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 5