4 Winter 2023 4 Winter 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan ©2023 twokidsandacaravan make a list of your must-haves to make your day to day life easy and enjoyable Why we chose our Swift Sprite Quattro caravan Two Kids and a Caravan We’ve had heaps of people have asked us for feedback on our caravan and why we chose it so here it is. First up, we are a family of 4 and our caravan is a 2019 Swift Sprite Quattro EW from Nelson Caravans. Before we purchased the caravan we made a bit of a wish list. We knew that if it wasn’t easy we wouldn’t use it and our intentions were to get away every second week for 4/5 days (little did we know we’d end up travelling in it full-time). To make everyday life easy, we wanted beds for everyone as well as a space to sit and eat. We didn’t want to be making up beds every nap time and night or be forced to sit on the bed or outside once the kids went to bed. We wanted a full bathroom (not a combined toilet/shower). The Swift Sprite Quattro EW (which is a 6-berth caravan) ticked the boxes. It has a full bathroom at the back, French bed for us (double bed with the corner cut off), bunks for the girls (which can fold down into a 2 seater dinette), and wrap around lounge at the front (which can convert to another large queen-sized bed). You will have heard the rumours that “UK caravans aren’t built strong and aren’t designed for NZ roads” and honestly, every manufacturer has vans that let them down. We’ve travelled in our caravan for almost 4 years and taken it from Christchurch, up to Kaitaia, back down to Bluff and all around the South Island and it’s been perfect for us but here’s a deeper look into our pros and cons so far. PROS ✓ The van is well insulated, so it is far warmer in winter. It also comes standard with a great combined heating/hot water system which can run off 240v or LPG. ✓ Value for money — UK vans are cheaper than their Australian and American counterparts and we don’t feel like we’d get twice the enjoyment from a van twice the price. ✓ Lighter — our van comes in at 1380kg empty (but including fixed weights like the battery and full 9kg gas bottle etc) and fully laden up to 1800kg. (Although each van is different and some of the single axle vans have a smaller payload so it pays to check before you purchase). ✓ We love that it has a large comfy lounge at the front with views to outside. Similar sized Australian vans usually have a small L-shaped dinette because in their warmer climate you spend more of your time outside. ✓ Heaps of storage. When we check out other vans we love how sleek they can look, but our first comment is always “where do you put all your stuff” as they seem to lack overhead cabinets. We’ve heard of people moving from UK to Aus vans and having to donate half their stuff… not that that’s a bad thing. ✓ We can still fit into all campgrounds — while we’d love a big American caravan with all the pop-outs (really an apartment on wheels) it would double the running costs, limit places we can travel due to accessibility, and inhibit our ability to pick up our click and collect groceries on the way through a town and pack them straight into the fridge in the carpark. ✓ We purchased new and our caravan came with a full 3 year warranty as well as a 10 year water ingress warranty; as you might know, most catastrophic caravan issues originate from a water ingress. ✓ As with most new vans, we’ve had to iron out a few niggles and warranty claims and we’ve been impressed with Nelson Caravans’ after-sales service. We’ve heard of a few horror stories in the industry with retailers not wanting to come to the party so, as always, do your research. CONS ✘ They are narrower, so less living space inside, although it makes all the difference when towing it over a narrow bridge with a truck coming the other way. ✘ They’re very low for how long they are and caution needs to be taken coming in and out of driveways, especially supermarkets and fuel stations for some reason. We have scraped our stays quite a few times. ✘ We don’t take it on long gravel or rutted roads. For example we have taken it to Totaranui in the Abel Tasman no problem, but we decided against Moke Lake in the Queenstown district and just did a day trip instead. However in all our travels there’s only been a handful of places we haven’t taken it, and when we’ve visited we’ve seen other UK caravans there so… ✘ We only have a small fridge, however we’ve got so efficient at caravan life, we can still manage two weeks off-grid at a time. Other UK vans have a full fridge but sacrifice the number of beds. We would still choose it We’ve been around in circles and if we went through the process again taking into account layout, value for money, how fast we travel, accessibility to campgrounds, cheaper running costs (RUCs and fuel) and our 10 year water ingress warranty we’d still choose the Swift Sprite Quattro EW again. Our best advice when choosing a caravan is to make a list of your must-haves to make your day to day life easy and enjoyable and consider which aspects you‘re happy to compromise on and then go in search of the right van for you. P.S This is in no way a dig at any other caravans, we have a real passion for caravans and love looking through them all, it’s just our experience with our van and why it works for our family dynamics. facebook.com/twokidsandacaravan Up Up 4 Winter 2023 , p 6

9 Spring 2024 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

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption The gates at Rotokare Bird Sanctuary. We came here, through the big gates, to this pest-free reserve and we discovered it was so much more than a parking spot. Lake Rotokare The fence protects the regenerating native bush, and a 17.8ha natural lake with extensive wetlands. The floating observation deck Toutouwai/North Island robin We had the opportunity to spot a variety of bird life including tūī, kereru, korimako/bellbirds, and a personal favourite —tīeke/saddlebacks. It’s own electric tripwire surveillance system STOP and STAY Freedom inside the fence Fiona Thomson 12km from Eltham, in Southern Taranaki is where you can find the hidden gem of Rotokare Bird Sanctuary. Initially we were looking for a freedom park for the night, but following the recommendation of friends we came here, through the big gates, to this pest-free reserve and we discovered it was so much more than a parking spot. This stunning, 230ha, forested hill-country catchment is protected by an 8.2km pest-proof fence that circles the reserve perimeter. This fence is not like any garden fence: it has special features with it’s own electric tripwire surveillance system — which runs along the top of the fence. At close to 2m high, with its smooth rolled edges, this fence prevents climbing animals such as cats and possums from getting a grip to climb in. It’s constructed from a fine stainless steel mesh that is tight enough to stop small rodents from getting through. At the base, the foundations of the fence are anchored below ground level — creating a barrier to digging animals such as rabbits and hares. The fence protects the regenerating native bush, and a 17.8ha natural lake with extensive wetlands. Lake Rotokare There are several walking tracks that weave through the native bush that include tawa, rewarewa, and mahoe trees. The floating observation deck It took us 45 minutes to walk around the 4km lakeside track, providing us with the opportunity to spot a variety of bird life including tūī, kereru, korimako/bellbirds, and a personal favourite —tīeke/saddlebacks. The track was well constructed, and we even meet a family negotiating it with a pushchair. Toutouwai/North Island robin During the night, we could clearly hear the call of the ruru/morepork and — to our delight — kiwi. Rotokare offers public, night encounters (by prior arrangement) at a nominal fee from July to September. There is a selection of parking spots for motorhomes and self-contained vehicles, plus picnic tables and benches along the lake edge. There are public toilets including a wheelchair-accessible toilet and an information shelter. This is also a popular recreation area for boaties. Dogs are prohibited. The Sanctuary is free to enter and open 24/7. The instructions for drivers entering were clearly displayed with a simple traffic light system to guide vehicles entering and exiting. n Our camper exiting the vehicle gate system. Our camper exiting the vehicle gate system. Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 21

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Greymouth Star pinged Miriam Richardson The Westland District Council reported in January that in the peak season 17,000 freedom campers stayed each night on the West Coast (that’s 170,000 over 10 nights). They issued 47 infringements. Neither the Grey nor the Buller District Councils issued any. The Greymouth Star reports. So 169,953 good campers, 47 bad. Their title: “Freedom campers pinged”. A prime example of poor and emotive reporting. Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 2

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption © 2022 Allan Henderson Wairarapa Coast We spent a few days on the coast out from Martinborough, Te Awati camping area and then back to North Tora Reserve, some very rough coastline. © 2022 Allan Henderson Wairarapa Coast We spent a few days on the coast out from Martinborough, Te Awati camping area and then back to North Tora Reserve, some very rough coastline. © 2022 Allan Henderson Wairarapa Coast I’m standing in our doorway; its about 3m to the water © 2022 Allan Henderson Parked up on the Wairarapa Coast We spent a few days on the coast out from Martinborough, Te Awati camping area and then back to North Tora Reserve, some very rough coastline. © 2022 Allan Henderson Wairarapa Coast We spent a few days on the coast out from Martinborough, Te Awati camping area and then back to North Tora Reserve, some very rough coastline. © 2022 Allan Henderson Wairarapa Coast We spent a few days on the coast out from Martinborough, Te Awati camping area and then back to North Tora Reserve, some very rough coastline. © 2022 Allan Henderson The Wild Wairarapa Coast Allan Henderson We spent a few days on the coast out from Martinborough, Te Awati camping area and then back to North Tora Reserve, some very rough coastline. When we arrived it was beautiful, stunning and no wind. We enjoyed a beer or 2 under our awning, giving respite from the sun’s heat… Well ,that lasted for several hours and then the southerly wind hit us, full side-on and was moving our slide-out in with its gusts. We pulled anchor and swung about, tucking ourselves in a more sheltered area and facing the wind head on… Eventually we had to move our slide-out in part way, which meant we had to climb over the bed to use the bathroom in the night. The next day started out fine, no wind and our world was at peace. Had a great day, bit of a walk and explore and chilled. Our night slowly started rocking as a fresh Northerly wind bashed into the rear of our camper. Again we battened down the hatches to ride it out. TEventually we moved camp to Tora and enjoyed another beating from the wind. Time to head inland. We had a great time out there. The wind and the ocean are brutal, Mother Nature at its finest — but what a blast (pun intended)! Yes, we would go back but would be very mindful of the weather. This area is beautiful, the roar of the ocean, the battered rocks, and the hills are stunning. The road is very doable. We have an 8.5m motorhome with a toad, and generally had a smooth trip in, considering the length of gravel road. One section was very steep, a patch up after a slip — we bottomed out our tow bar on the way in and out. We have an Iveco rear wheel drive with good ground clearance; beware any front wheel drive and or low-to-the-ground rigs. Photos © 2022 Allan Henderson Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 19

BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up Table of contents, Spring, issue 5 Editor 2 Freedom camping under the new law 4 E ditorial 4 Freedom camping & self-containment: status, Spring 2023 4 Freedom camping: who does what 5 Grandad’s Grandad’s caravan 7 Cooking on the road: planning food for off the road 8 The Homestead, St Bathans 9 10 Tips for safe caravan towing 9 Why Caravans roll over… and how to prevent it 10 Building a connected NZ camping and tourism industry 11 Lake Monowai campsite 12 Why not stop and stay a while? Introducing Stop and Stay 14 Cooking with fire 14 Easy-to-make flat breads 15 Pros and Cons of full time family travel 16 More cold season tips 18 Update: Self-containment and freedom camping changes 20 Thinking about your overnight park 21 Freedom inside the fence 22 Puzzle: Small town New Zealand 23 Small town: Waiau 25 A small paint kit, a few good brushes… 26 This is the story of three types of self-contained vehicles… 29 Mobile cell towers 29 The Aeropress 30 Around my own back yard 32 The smallest church 33 Events — Camping 34 Events — Festivals and shows Up Up Up 1/1

11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Woke to fog in Morrinsville this am. Where’s summer? Crazy. Yesterday it was 28° here, I melted. ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke Woke to fog Maggie O’Rourke Woke to fog in Morrinsville this am. Where’s summer? Crazy. Yesterday it was 28° here, I melted. Off to Te Aroha today for a massage then Opal Hot Springs campground tonight for a treat. ©2024 Maggie O’Rourke Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 9

11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Northland fire map Northland fire map Fire map on the website. The rules are different Before you light a fire DOC & NIWA Be aware of the risks of fires in forests, parks and rural areas. The rules are different in these areas compared to living and working in town. ckw.nz/fire-recreational Up-to-date weather observations and forecasts help you determine fire danger and safe behaviour. Check fireweather: fireweather.niwa.co.nz (Shown, below: Northland , 12 Mar) Keep a full bucket of water handy, as well as a fire extinguisher, if you light a fire. Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 25

3 Autumn 2023 3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption 5th wheeler best in camp Marty Ireland Quinney’s Bush camp: ‘5th wheeler best in camp’. Marty Ireland Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 27

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Mountains have their own fingerprints Outdoorsman Dave The mountains have their own fingerprints and by understanding what the contour lines represent, may help you to determine the terrain ahead of you or where you might actually be on a topographic 50 map next time you are lost! ©2023 Outdoorsman Dave facebook.com/outdoorsman.dave Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 38

To ensure a sustainable recreational camping industry related interest groups need to be more engaged and appreciative of the issues each group faces. BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up Building a connected NZ camping and tourism industry Gary Stoneley, NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd To ensure that NZ has a sustainable recreational camping industry for the next decade and beyond it is imperative that related interest groups are more engaged and appreciative of the issues each group faces. Recently I had the opportunity to attend the BYATA (Backpacker, Youth and Adventure Tourism) conference in Christchurch. Connecting with others from across the tourism industry in a motivating, energised setting was like a breath of fresh air, recharging and invigorating me to continue to support our industry. Sited at the impressive Te Pae conference centre in central Christchurch it provided an opportunity to check out the vibrant city centre. With a wide range of industry speakers perhaps the most inspiring was from ChristchurchNZ.com . Rebranding Christchurch for the future as a playground (fun) destination for work, living and visiting exemplifies how life should be, and no doubt NZ’s camping community can relate to this. Concern was expressed by attendees and speakers on the significant harm caused by ex-Tourism Minister Stuart Nash’s offensive comments targeting budget travellers and campers and the heavy-handed freedom camping legislation pushed onto the industry. Other issues discussed were the reduced support for domestic tourism, migrant issues, the shortage of workers, affordable accomodation, and suitable rental vehicles; as well as increased financial costs and operator responsibilities. There is an underlying energy and enthusiasm across the wider traveller / camper supporting industry. There are issues but a lot of positivity across the industry. Roll on Summer 2023 / 2024. Up Up Up There is underlying energy and enthusiasm industry-F-byata-ziplinesm-logo.webp industry-F-byata-ziplinesm-logo.webp 1/1

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption interesting places to explore and enjoy STOP and STAY All roads lead to Camp Fest Gary Stoneley Bulls, February 2025 No matter which direction you are coming to Camp Fest from, there are many worthwhile, interesting places to explore and enjoy. North, South, East or West, or just a short distance from the Camp Fest venue there are some great opportunities to take a break and check out something a bit different. The township of Bulls is situated in the lower North Island approximately halfway between the majestic Mount Ruapehu (below) and Wellington ( ckw.nz/bulls ). It forms a junction between State Highways 1 and 3 where travellers’ paths from all directions cross. What better place for NZ’s national camping club, the All Points Camping Club of NZ, to host the third Camp Fest? An affordable, inclusive, family-friendly event for all types of campers. Read about Camp Fest In this article I cover some special places to check out on your travels plus some great places to stay. N is for North National Park Heading toward Bulls from the central plateau, make a benefit of the Desert Road closure (Jan 6 to end of Feb) to take a night at National Park, then give the kids a break at the Ohakune Carrot Adventure Park and indulge in an Ohakune chocolate eclair, before heading on to the Waiouru Army Museum back on SH1. ( ckw.nz/waiouru-museum and more ). The museum is a great place to stop. The museum holds records of past military personnel with very helpful staff to help you with information. It’s a good, safe place to park overnight with the caravan or motorhome. A bit further down the highway, stop at Taihape’s giant gumboot and take a walk up to the Mount Stewart lookout ( ckw.nz/mt-stewart ). This comes highly recommended by travellers. Travel south a bit more to Mangaweka and with two riverside campgrounds ( mangaweka.co.nz/camp ) ……or go a bit further to the Flat Hills Cafe and Tourist Park ( ckw.nz/flat-hills ). With some of the best custard squares in the country, a challenging adult maze, animals, children’s playground and overnight camping this is one stop you will want to come back to. If you are into bushwalks taking a brief detour to the Whitecliffs Boulders may interest you ( whitecliffsboulders.co.nz ). Vinegar Hill Just north of Hunterville you can camp at the popular Vinegar Hill Reserve ( ckw.nz/vinegar-hill , above). Looking across the Rangitikei valley from Stormy Point Continuing on this side road will give you scenic views as you meander across hills and valleys to Feilding or you may wish to continue down SH1 to Bulls. S is for South Otaki Rivermouth, freedom camping spot. If beaches are your thing start with a night at the Otaki River mouth, and the Foxton and Himatangi beaches are worth a visit. There are several campgrounds to choose from. Both the De Molen Windmill ( foxtonwindmill.co.nz ), Oranjehof, Dutch Connection Centre oranjehof.org.nz and Off the Loop water park ( offtheloop.nz ) are worth checking out. Heading up SH1, the Waireka Honey shop has tasty honey blended ice cream and wines with a wide range of homely and beeswax products ( wairekahoney.co.nz ). It’s a chance to pull off the highway and catch your breath before heading up to Sanson and the Bulls Camp Fest. E is for East Heading towards Camp Fest from the East, Dannevirke Holiday Park is set in a tranquil hollow surrounded by native bush ( dannevirkeholidaypark.co.nz | more ). It’s close to the community pool, deer enclosure and bird aviaries. The native bush theme continues with Ferry Reserve, for camping at the base of the Tararua Ranges by the Manawatu River with easy access to the Manawatu Gorge bushwalks ( ckw.nz/ferry-reserve ). Once you have travelled over the Saddle Road, past the windmills, Ashhurst gives you the chance to stop over at the Ashhurst Domain ( ckw.nz/ashhurst-domain ) for the night or choose one of the many routes to Bulls. The most scenic, but longer route would be to head through the Pohangina Valley. Stopping at the Tōtara Reserve Regional Park ( totarareserveregionalpark.co.nz ) and campground or carrying on to Apiti and Kimbolton. Both towns have facilities and reserves for freedom camping. The more direct route to Bulls will take you through Feilding, to the Coachhouse Museum ( coachhousemuseum.nz ), which would have to rate as one of the best-maintained collections of NZ’s farming history in all of NZ. If you have a self-contained vehicle you can stay here overnight for a small donation. A very popular parkover location is Timona Park, adjacent to the Ōroua River and walkway. Whether coming from east or south two ‘must do’s’ in Sanson are Viv’s kitchen ( vivskitchen.co.nz ) with it’s famous cream horns and just adjacent to it, the Retro America store ( retroamerica.co.nz ). W is for West Dudding Lake If you are travelling from Taranaki or Whanganui on your way to Camp Fest there are campgrounds and free camps in Hawera, and two lakeside campgrounds that are worth considering, Lakelands Holiday Park ( lakelands.co.nz ) and Dudding Lake ( duddinglake.nz ) as well as the small coastal campground of Koitiata ( koitiata.nz ). Camp Fest in Bulls The Camp Fest venue offers a large open area for parking of caravans and motorhomes with a tree lined glade for those with tents or small camping units. More on Campfest . Arrive on the Friday if possible to enjoy the full range of activities over the weekend. All the local shops are within an easy walk. The Bulls River was a major hurdle to cross for early settlers and travellers and Scotts Ferry operated down-river near the coast. There is a small low-cost community campground at the heritage site of Scotts Ferry ( ckw.nz/scotts-ferry ) just a short drive from the town. Bulls is in the Rangitikei District which does not have a freedom camping bylaw, so you can park where it is safe to do so, but be aware of your surroundings, other people, litter, and comply with other bylaws and laws. We hope you enjoy your travels to Camp Fest in Bulls in February 2025 and look forward to seeing you there. ◊ Images: © remains with the organisations/businesses and photographers. Read about Camp Fest The Camp Fest website: campfestnz.org Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 33