Summer 2025 ISSUE 13 BUY PDF Contents Click on image for full view and caption te-puna-frog_H.webp GO TO as the seasons change a hidden gem with dragons Te Puna Quarry in spring Maggie O’Rourke I finally went to the quarry park at Te Puna in The Bay of Plenty. This is such a hidden gem with sculptures of dragons, a castle slide for kids, water wheel, art hiding in every corner, and all kinds of themed gardens. So glad I never went in summer last year, though the flowers would be stunning. The locals said it’s really hot as it’s open to all elements and also crowded then, so when one has a bus, spring is a great time to go. So I charged up the phone, had lunch and went for a wandering, getting lost in time and just lost, even though I had a map. I hardly took photos as I just wanted to take it all in and take it in I did. The higher you got the better the view of The Mount and surrounding sea. As I wandered around I talked to one of the many volunteers on the track as they were in clearing the park after 100km winds swept through. The gardens and the layout of the park is a credit to them. Plan for up to 2 hours and take your time as there’s plenty to see and heaps of places to rest and eat on the way. There is a curfew on opening hours as its closed at night. One wonders if they would stay open for a gathering of like-minded travellers, for a fee of course. Free to enter, donations are accepted to pay for these lovely gardens and sculptures and their upkeep. Toilets and picnic tables are on-site on various levels. There is venue hire for events. Dogs are allowed, on a lead. There are two parallel parks for campers and heaps of angle parks. If you have mobility problems there’s plenty to see on the bottom level though some of the tracks could be tricky if you had a walker or a wheelchair, especially for the hills and steps you have to climb. 110 Te Puna Quarry Road Te Puna, Tauranga Daylight saving time: 7am to 8pm Other times: 7am to 6pm. quarrypark.org.nz Photos: ©2025 Maggie O'Rourke & the Internet 🏕️ Up Up Summer 2025 , p 38

12 Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption now_H_20250430_151535.webp GO TO Chilly chilly chilly out there Bigger batteries are no use without the means to charge them Now we have the power to go off-grid Graham Leslie We bought a modern lightweight English caravan a couple of years ago. It was set up for comfortable off-grid camping. We can run most of the caravan on gas ie., the fridge, cooking, water heating and central heating. We found the limiting factor was 12-volt battery power. Why we wanted more power Being a modern caravan, it is well insulated and has its own bathroom so we want to extend our camping season out of summer into winter. Winter camping for us means longer time with the lights on at night, using the shower rather going for a swim, watching TV in a warm caravan rather than going on an evening walk. We have also found we are taking more electronic devices and these are using more power than before. We also need more power for our caravan’s facilities, for instance, the gas central heating has an electric fan and there is an electric pump to get water to the shower or sink. We needed more battery storage Our goal was to increase our battery capacity to store more power. We opted to go with lithium batteries. These offer two major advantages to us. They are about a third the weight of, and provide about double the usable power of, similar lead-acid batteries. We opted for two 100 Amp hour LiFePO4 batteries to replace our old single 100 Amp hour AGM lead-acid battery. This should give us four times the power storage at two thirds the weight of what we had before. They should also have about double the life span of a lead-acid battery. LiFePO4 batteries are a type of lithium battery commonly used in deep cycle applications. Unlike lead-acid batteries they have smart electronics in them called a BMS (Battery Management System) which protects the battery from damage or catching fire. We were also pleasantly surprised to see that lithium battery prices are now dropping as they become more common and now can be bought at prices approaching those of lead-acid batteries. If you have more than one battery, it is best practice for the batteries to be matched. This means in simple terms that they are the same brand, model and age as each other. Also you should not add additional batteries later on to your existing batteries. For these reasons we bought two batteries upfront, rather just one. Bigger batteries and bigger electrical loads need to be set up correctly to last and be safe Unfortunately lithium batteries can’t just be swapped into where your old lead-acid deep cycle battery operated. They have different charging needs and so battery chargers and solar controllers often need to be changed. Although the batteries were not as expensive as we initially thought, we realised we were heading for a major upgrade of the whole 12 volt system on the caravan. I guess this could have been done in stages but we did it all in one hit. Wayne Ravelich’s article in issue 9 of Camping the Kiwi Way; “Solar basics for dummies” was very useful. Getting specialist professional help to set up a new expanded system is highly advisable. It is not just choosing the correct charging equipment, but also setting it up safely with the correct fuses and wire sizes. 12 volt systems today have to deal with much greater electric loads and so there is more danger when things go wrong. We went to Rigs’n Things in Stratford and worked with the owner, Merv Hooper. Working with Merv was great experience in itself. His workshop is in ex-railways workshop complete with tracks running through it. He invited us to camp inside the workshop in our caravan while the work was being done. He also allowed us to help with the work to keep labour costs down. It also meant we were able to get a more hands-on feel about how everything fitted together and he listened to our ideas. We were concerned that the weight of solar panels could cause our flat caravan roof to sag in the centre. Merv appreciated our concern and so put together a roof rack system for the solar panels to take load on the outer edges of the roof. Bigger batteries are no use without the means to charge them Having decided we wanted 200 Amp hours of lithium battery power we needed to look at how we charged them. Solar panels are now much cheaper and better than they used to be, so my advice is to go overboard and put as much up as you have room for. Once installed they provide free power. In our case it was 640 Watts worth. Solar panels also like to be matched to work best. Due to space limitations on our roof we have two different types of panels so we installed two separate solar controllers; one for each type of panel. We added two further battery charging systems: A new 230 volt mains charger to charge batteries when the caravan is plugged into mains power and a DC to DC charger that charges the batteries from the car’s alternator when we are driving. We went with Victron (brand) Bluetooth components for all our chargers and controllers. This means the different chargers all talk to each other and are able to manage the different stages of battery charging in a coordinated manner. It is all automatic, and we can also see it all on our phones via Bluetooth if we want to. We also wanted a reliable fuel gauge to see how much battery power we are using and how much is left We added one more component to the mix in the form of a ‘smart shunt battery monitor’ which keeps track of the power going into and out of our battery by looking at the amps going in and out. The ‘shunt’ provides us with an effective fuel gauge and tells us how full our battery is. Due to the nature of lithium batteries the old voltage-based battery monitors in caravans don’t show how much power you have left. Our shunt has Bluetooth too and so we can monitor our power usage through a phone app. We put a ‘smart shunt’ in our caravan. It is easily installed between the negative terminal of our batteries and the chargers and loads. The smart shunt measures the current going in and out of our batteries and calculates how much battery power we are using and how much power we have left. We can see this information via Bluetooth on our phones rather than needing to wire in a separate display unit to show the information. It is like a fuel gauge for our power shown on our phones. We are looking forward to getting off grid and not worrying about how much power we have. 🏕️ Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 15

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. BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up 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 Up It’s own electric tripwire surveillance system Click on the gallery for a full size view 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. 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. 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. 1/4

9 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 ISSUE 9 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption ©2024 Heather Auckram ©2024 Heather Auckram ©2024 Heather Auckram Coming from the icy deep south, we soon shed our coats for lighter sweatshirts. The West Coast in winter Heather Auckram Winter is a great time to visit the West Coast. One winter’s morning in June, my son and I spontaneously took the campervan on a road trip up the coast. Coming from the icy deep south, we soon shed our coats for lighter sweatshirts. The weather is much milder on the coast. Roads are wide and well sealed and road-marked and despite the clear skies and sunshine we only found a few patches of light frost! We never booked ahead. We just drove in to camping grounds and found a stunning place to park up. Many of the holiday parks have cheaper winter rates as it is outside peak tourist season. With no crowds to battle through, we meandered through mossy bush, saw glowworms, waterfalls, glaciers, hot pools, snow hilltops — and not a single tour bus. There are plenty of friendly locals and curious wekas out enjoying the winter sun too. We did cook, but we treated ourselves to delicious and reasonably priced food too. Highly recommended! ◼️ Images ©2024 Heather Auckram Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 8

11 autumn 2025 Autumn 2025 ISSUE 11 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption Parked at Pines, Lake Pukaki Many not to be missed places are far from flat. ©2025 M Richardson Mt Cook. Lake Pukaki Many not to be missed places are far from flat. Mt ©2025 M Richardson GO TO Here & there last summer Far from flat M Richardson Many not-to-be-missed freedom camping spots are far from flat. Pines, Lake Pukaki. ©2019 M Richardson. Up Up 11 Autumn 2025 , p 13

6 Summer 2023 6 Summer 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Wharariki Beach ©2023 Fiona Thomson Wharariki ©2023 Fiona Thomson Wharariki Beach ©2023 Fiona Thomson Wharariki Beach ©2023 Fiona Thomson Wharariki Beach ©2023 Fiona Thomson Wharariki Beach ©2023 Fiona Thomson Wharariki Beach ©2023 Fiona Thomson Wharariki Beach ©2023 Fiona Thomson Wharariki Beach ©2023 Fiona Thomson Well worth the walk Fiona Thomson Wharariki Beach is a wild, magnificent, and windswept long sandy beach, home of the Archway Islands, and can be found at the northernmost point of the South Island — west of Cape Farewell. It’s about 2.5 hours drive from Nelson over the Takaka Hill, or about a 1 hour drive from the settlement of Takaka in Golden Bay. This hidden paradise is only accessible by a walking track — which begins at the carpark at the end of Wharariki road. During the summer months, a basic café operates at the road-end near the carpark. We enjoyed an ice-cream, muffin and a coffee under the shade of some large macrocarpa trees. The track guides you across farmland, through coastal forest and then across a number of sand dunes, before descending down onto the golden sand of this remote and stunning landscape. The walk from the carpark to the beach takes about 40 minutes, and is well worth the effort. The Archway Islands are a group of four rock stacks, or small islands, carved out by the pounding Tasman sea — which has cut right through two of these large rocks, creating interesting archways. These impressive structures are huge — with the largest one measuring approximately 300 metres by 200 metres wide, and rising 66 meters out of the water. We visited this site a couple of times during our stay in Golden Bay. Each time our experience was different — as we visited at different times of the day, the tideline was also different; combined with different weather patterns, the light produced different visual effects on the rock pools. Wharariki Beach is undoubtedly one of the most-photographed beaches in the Nelson/Tasman region — you may recognise this landscape, as it has been used as a screensaver for Windows 10 operating systems. Up Up 6 Summer 2023 , p 5

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption This thing is huge Tony Kissell An elephant seal down in the harbour this afternoon. This thing is huge, 6–8 times bigger than a normal seal. Oamaru, April. ©2024 Tony Kissel Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 31

1 Spring 2022 1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Packing up Much of my camping kit was assembled over many years of touring. New bike This was the first time with a new bike equipped with 14 gears in the rear hub, and a dynamo in the front hub Time to go At my front door, packed and ready to leave Rakaia Gorge view down the Raikaia river from the gorge campsite Rakaia Gorge campground A great little campground run by a small collective at Rakaia Gorge, with basic facilities and a fantastic view down the river. the Tree of Hine-Paaka A new matai tree, wall and plaque at Singletree, inland South Canterbury The Tree of Hine-Paaka plaque A lone matai that was said to be from the time of the first Maori and was still alive when the first Europeans settled. Set up in a quiet corner of campground in Geraldine I stayed in the big campground in the centre of town. They put me in a quiet corner close to neighbouring houses, I guess because I didn’t look the rowdy type. Waikouaiti post office Small town architecture - the former post office in Waikouaiti Quirky street art in Dunedin As I came into town through North East Valley, where I spotted some quirky street art. Owaka waka sculpture I made it to Owaka, which sports a stainless steel waka sculpture, and chose a place for us to stay in what appeared to be an old hospital repurposed to be a campervan park Camping in Lorneville Improved camp setup in Lornevile while travelling with my wife Robyn. Nugget Point, The Catlins Tautuku Bay, The Catlins McLean Falls, The Catlins With the luxury of my panniers being carried in the campervan, I rode a big day out of The Catlins. Cycle touring: Canterbury to Southland Stephen Wood I hadn't managed to get out cycle touring for a few years and so planned a big trip to reconnect to it. A length of the country ride wasn't possible because of covid restrictions in Auckland, so plan B was to do a circuit around the South Island. Once that was settled, the main decision was whether to do the circuit clockwise or anti-clockwise, and I chose the former. Much of my camping kit was assembled over many years of touring, but this was the first time with a new bike equipped with 14 gears in the rear hub, and a dynamo in the front hub. Rakaia River From Rangiora I elected to avoid Christchurch and the long Rakaia bridge on SH1 by travelling on the inland route 72, so my first day was through familiar country, Cust, Oxford, Waimakariri Gorge, and then through Glentunnel to a great little campground run by a small collective at Rakaia Gorge, with basic facilities and a fantastic view down the river. Rakaia Gorge campground Carrying on the next day through inland South Canterbury, I stopped at what appeared to be a lay-by in the middle of nowhere and discovered a monument to the Tree of Hine-Paaka, also known as Singletree, a lone matai that was said to be from the time of the first Maori and was still alive when the first Europeans settled. The rest of the day got me through Mayfield to Geraldine where I stayed in the big campground in the centre of town. They put me in a quiet corner close to neighbouring houses. I guess because I didn't look the rowdy type. The next day meant getting back to SH1, but with careful use of back roads, I delayed this until Temuka. Riding on main roads isn't as bad as it looks — they usually have a good shoulder and using a rear view mirror means that you know how much room vehicles are giving you before they pass. Also, a side effect of the pandemic is that traffic on roads is less than pre-covid levels. However, I found riding through Timaru interesting, especially at the intersections where trucks turned off and on to get to the port. I had hoped to get to Oamaru that day, but decided to call it quits at Glenavy, which had a tidy campground in town. The next day I got an early start and was over the Waitaki River bridge before there was too much traffic. My plan was to get to Oamaru early to catch up with people I knew from living and working there for a couple of years. That took the best past of the day, but I got back on the road in the afternoon in time to make it down to Hampden. It's always a juggle deciding what to do first, but I got some fresh milk at the shop before checking into the lovely beachside campground. My food stocks were a bit low for cooking dinner so it was back into town, to find both the takeaway and grocery shop had just shut, leaving a pub meal as the best option. In heading to Dunedin, I'd planned to ride the roads near to SH1 but avoiding the motorway sections. However the tops of the hills were in cloud, so I decided the safer route was to turn at Waitati to the Mt Cargill Road with much lower traffic volume. That brought me into town through North East Valley, where I spotted some quirky street art. I stayed at the big campground in South Dunedin. Leaving town the next day I was riding into a blustery southerly gale which was hard work, but also affected my ability to hold a straight line and hear the traffic behind, making it feel a lot less safe on the road. I had hoped to get to Balclutha, but when I spotted that the domain in Milton had camping I decided that was a good option. There was even a resident caretaker who helped with finding a place to pitch my tent in the shelter of an unoccupied caravan. Owaka Back on the road the next day to a planned rendezvous with my wife Robyn who was driving down in the camper van for a welfare visit for a few days. After a cafe stop in Balclutha where the pot of tea extended to a record 5 cups, I enjoye the quiter road after leaving SH1. I made it to Owaka, which sports a stainless steel waka sculpture, chose a place for us to stay in what appeared to be an old hospital repurposed to be a campervan park, and sent Robyn the directions so she could find it. The next few days were a mixture of taking time out for a some more touristy things in the Catlins while still making forward progress on my ride. While there were some businesses shut, there was still plenty to see and do. We went out to Nugget Point, stayed at a large but sparsely used campground near Chaslands and walked up to the McLean Falls. Nugget Point With the luxury of my panniers being carried in the campervan, I rode a big day out of the Catlins, through Tokanui and Fortrose and over to the campground in Lornville, on the north side of Invercargill. After that Robyn headed home in the campervan, while I pedelled off in the direction of Winton. BY: Stephen Wood Thinking of cycle touring? some tips PHOTOS: ©2022 Stephen Wood Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 5

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

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Mt Ruapehu Morning dawned with clear blue skies and a breathtaking view of Mount Ruapehu. ©2022 Gary Stoneley National Park car park We traveled to National Park and stayed overnight (free camping) in the station car park. This site has a Kiwi Camp amenities block. ©2022 Gary Stoneley Steam train, National Park A highlight for us was the steam train stopping off while we were there. ©2022 Gary Stoneley Te Kuiti pedestrian bridge we recommend taking a left turn before crossing the rail lines and walking across the amazing rail pedestrian bridge into the Te Kuiti town centre ©2022 Gary Stoneley Bev in Te Kuiti ©2022 Gary Stoneley A Japanese garden in Te Kuiti ©2022 Gary Stoneley Gary at Sanctuary Mountain Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari ecological wildlife reserve has many hectares of native bush and walking track. ©2022 Bev Stoneley Old growth tree Maungatautari ©2022 M Richardson Fungi Maungatautari ©2022 M Richardson The view from the sanctuary ©2022 M Richardson Taking a left turn Gary Stoneley Are you a mainstream traveler, always following the main highways or are you a diversionist, taking that chance to detour from the main route to explore and maybe encounter something new or different? On our recent trip north we decided to veer from the main flow of traffic and take a left turn. Our journey started at Waiouru Army Museum , a favourite overnight stop over of ours on our trips up the North Island. Free for certified self-contained campers, with a security patrol and access to toilets and cafe during opening hours, its a safe stopover, even in the snow. On this trip the morning dawned with clear blue skies and a breathtaking view of Mount Ruapehu. Instead of our usual sprint across the desert road we chose to turn left and head towards Ohakune. First stop the site of the Tangiwai rail disaster Christmas Eve 1953. Considerable work has been put into this memorial reserve with information boards and new public toilets. We saw no signs to state you could not stop overnight. Ohakune has made its claim to fame from mountain skiing and a giant carrot but it now offers so much more. As soon as you hit the town you see a masterful children's playground, full of life-size characters, play equipment and adjacent to a modern toilet block and dump station. Ruapehu District Council must be commended on the improvements they are making. If travelling through Ohakune you must visit the chocolate eclair shop. What surprised us most in the town was the sheer number of cyclists. From being a winter skiing hotspot prior to Covid 19 the town has become a cycling mecca with multiple bike tour operators, cycling shops and associated adventure activities. The prime ride is the Old Coach Road suitable for all levels of riders. We have pencilled this in for our next trip. From Ohakune we traveled to National Park and stayed overnight (free camping) in the station car park. This site has a Kiwi Camp amenities block. This was our first time at purchasing a token (from the station cafe) and using a Kiwi Camp which included toilets, showers, laundry and basic kitchen facilities. With only a few camping vehicles during the day the site became a plethora of mingling international visitors together with kiwi travellers. Powered sites and electric vehicle charging points were also available, a sign of changing times. Highlights for us were the steam train stopping off while we were there and getting our electric bikes out on the local tracks into the hills. Continuing up the left side of the mountains and Lake Taupo we travelled past the Owhanga Lodge and Hotel which offers accommodation and adventure rafting activities and through Taumaranui, home of the Forgotten World Adventures to Te Kuiti. Famous for shearing and Colin Meads we recommend taking a left turn before crossing the rail lines and walking across the amazing rail pedestrian bridge into the town centre. With everything from modern stained glass pictures portraying the regions history to a Japanese garden there is a lot to see. Te Kuiti also has a small Kiwi Camp but we decided to carry on to Otorohanga stopping at a basic sheltered campground, with power and facilities backing onto the Otorohanga Kiwi House and Native Bird Park . On our travels we have visited many kiwi houses but this one remains our favourite. Te Kuiti and Otorohanga are near the Waitomo Glowworm Caves but on this trip we decided to travel the short distance to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari ecological wildlife reserve. The park comprises many hectares of native bush and walking tracks of varying lengths. A moderate level of fitness is recommended due to the undulating nature of the tracks. A highlight for us was coming across an abandoned kiwi burrow in the base of a large tree and an active one in a bank. Self-contained campers can stay overnight in the outside carpark. This ensures you get to see and hear the birds at their most active early in the morning. We were more than happy to make a worthwhile donation towards the development of the reserve. From here our adventure up the left side came to an end but we made sure we checked out some of the many camping reserves along the banks of the mighty Waikato River, got lost and were on the lookout for a red tractor. But that is a story for another day. Turning off the main highway and taking that left turn was well worth it! Photos ©2022 Gary Stoneley Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 5

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Skippers Canyon Quite happy to have taken the tour. Able to look at the sights. Just WOW. Loved it. ©2024 Trisha Fisk Skippers Canyon Quite happy to have taken the tour. Able to look at the sights. Just WOW. Loved it. ©2024 Trisha Fisk Skippers Canyon Quite happy to have taken the tour. Able to look at the sights. Just WOW. Loved it. ©2024 Trisha Fisk Skippers Canyon Quite happy to have taken the tour. Able to look at the sights. Just WOW. Loved it. ©2024 Trisha Fisk Skippers Canyon Trisha Fisk Quite happy to have taken the tour and not my truck up Skippers Canyon. I think she’d have handled it, but not thanked me. Tour with Nomad was great. Able to look at the sights. Just WOW. Loved it. There is a DOC camp at the end, but a lot of history and a lot of it ugly. Think there might be some restless spirits in there. Central Otago. ©2024 Trisha Fisk Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 7

11 autumn 2025 Autumn 2025 ISSUE 11 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption events_H-bluff-farm.webp event-kirwee.webp events-oxford.webp events_donegal-house.webp events_durham.webp events_athenree-pools2.webp events_patea-slide.webp events_patea.webp GO TO Here & there last summer Come camping AGM Saturday 10 May The AGM will be shared live via zoom with 5 venues across the country — enjoy a weekend camp at the same time. Athenree Hot Springs, Bay of Plenty. Foxton Beach School, Manawatu • Featherston School, Wairarapa • Durham Lake, Taranaki • Oxford, Canterbury. You can also join the AGM from home on zoom. Consider getting more involved in your club and being part of a fun and efficient team. Fresh faces and new ideas are welcome. AGM Camp — Taranaki Fri, 09 – 11 May, Inglewood Join the Taranaki team for the club’s 10th AGM at the wonderful Durham Lake Holiday Park. Burgers & fries available on Saturday night. Book with the park. ckw.nz/taranaki-may25 | ckw.nz/taranaki-may25-rsvp | durhamlake.co.nz AGM Camp — Athenree Hot Springs Fri, 9 – 11 May, Bay of Plenty Join us for the Club’s 10th AGM .Come for the weekend or stay 4 nights, pay for 3. Quote All Points Camping when booking. Un/powered sites. Fabulous hot pools — read more ckw.nz/9-hot-pool-safari . ckw.nz/athenree-may25 | ckw.nz/athenree-may25-rsvp | athenreehotsprings.co.nz AGM & Featherston Book Town Festival Camp Fri, 09 – 11 May, Wairarapa Enjoy the Annual Featherston Book Town Festival events and the AGM on Saturday afternoon. Self-contained vehicles.ckw.nz/featherston-may25 | ckw.nz/featherston-may25-rsvp | booktown.org.nz AGM Camp — Foxton Beach School Fri, 09 May 4 pm – 11 May 1 pm , Manawatū Join us at Foxton Beach School for our 10th AGM (Saturday afternoon). Lots to do in Foxton or explore the beach or look for the birds at the Manawatū estuary, an internationally important wetland. ckw.nz/foxton-may25 | ckw.nz/foxton-may25-rsvp | ckw.nz/manawatu-estuary-doc AGM — Oxford WM club Sat, 10 May 1 pm , Oxford, Canterbury Oxford Working Men’s Club. You can stay overnight and join us for a meal. Campers must have a toilet. ckw.nz/oxford-agm25 Bluff Farm Fri, 30 May – 2 Jun, Oxford, Canterbury Ever tried metal detecting? Come give it a go! Explore the newly walk at nearby Ashley Gorge. Oxford weekend market. All is welcome whether as a family group, on your own, a couple in a tent or a larger vehicle. Non member’s welcome. Dog friendly. Powered sites. Toilets & shower. ckw.nz/bluff-farm-may25 ckw.nz/bluff-farm-may25-rsvp Matariki weekend: Donegal House Kaikoura 19 – 22 June, Kaikōura Join Marty & Diana Ireland (Marlborough) and Linda & Martin Butler (Canterbury) to celebrate Matariki. 15 min out of Kaikoura with alpine scenic view and historic homestead with Irish themed bar and restaurant. Book with the venue. Un/powered sites. Must be self-contained. ckw.nz/kaikoura-jun25 ckw.nz/kaikoura-jun25-rsvp ckw.nz/donegal-book Matariki Winter Festival, Featherston Fri, 20 4pm – 22 Jun 3 pm , Wairarapa Enjoy midwinter camping at Featherston in South Wairarapa. Enjoy dark skies and local events including the Greytown mid-Winter Christmas Festival. Self-contained vehicles only. ckw.nz/featherston-jun25 ckw.nz/featherston-jun25-rsvp Canterbury Mid Winter Dinner Sat, 19 Jul, 6 pm , Kirwee, Canterbury Join us as we feast together at the popular country restaurant, Thirsty Acres. Come for the dinner, stay for a night or two. Campers must have a toilet. RSVP by phone is essential. ckw.nz/kirwee n For the latest camps allpointscampingnz.org/eventsckw.nz/nzfunadventures-events Monthly meetups Catch up with local campers: share places, stories and plan new camps. Canterbury 2nd Wed each month at 11am Legends Room, Hornby Club, 17 Carmen Rd, Chch. Parking for larger vehicles.Join us for barista coffee, stay on for lunch or enjoy the stores. Wellington differs each month, so watch for us on facebook: ckw.nz/apc-fb-events GET THE LATEST ckw.nz/apc-fb-events Up Up 11 Autumn 2025 , p 38