8 Winter 2024 Winter 2024 ISSUE 8 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption keeping-up-MNR_2467_H.webp GO TO Autumn Gold This issue and the last issue Keeping up with self-containment Editor In this issue: 2 Where are we at with self-containment and freedom camping? 2 Who can freedom camp from now until 7 June 2025? 4 Getting your camping vehicle certified 8 Am I freedom camping? 8 What you need for a green warrant for freedom camping 10 Planning a toilet for the freedom camping green warrant? 12 Venting a toilet cassette: why, what, when and how 14 Keeping up with the self-containment changes 16 Composting and coddiwompling ︎ 43 RV and business services From issue 7, Autumn 2024 We are in the ‘transition period,’ moving from the old ‘blue’ warrant system to the new ‘green’ warrant system. So you want to freedom camp, Issue 7, p8 Enforcement of freedom camping rules, Issue 7, p12 Offences to avoid when freedom camping. Who has to pay, do you know you have been ‘infringed’? What information are you required to give? And more. ‘I am not freedom camping’ cards, Issue 7, p14 . Every camping vehicle is now at risk of substantial fines, as the new offence of “preparing to freedom camp” is defined as “parking”. Kaikōura: the freedom camping Wild West, Issue 7, p18 . Why stick to the law if you can get away with whatever takes your fancy? Predictable problems with the new CSC green warrant system, Issue 6 p2 . A gaze into the green crystal ball of hope. What is ‘self-contained’, anyway? Issue 7, p10 Photo: ©2024 M Richardson Freedom camping & self-containment 2 Where are we at with self-containment and freedom camping? 2 Who can freedom camp from now until 7 June 2025? 4 Getting your camping vehicle certified 8 Am I freedom camping? 8 What you need for a green warrant for freedom camping 10 Planning a toilet for the freedom camping green warrant? 12 Venting a toilet cassette: why, what, when and how 14 Keeping up with the self-containment changes 16 Composting and coddiwompling ︎ Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 14

Summer 2025 ISSUE 13 BUY PDF Contents Click on image for full view and caption spring-last-winter-3-H.webp spring-last-winter-9.webp spring-last-winter-6.webp spring-last-winter-8.webp spring-last-winter-3.webp spring-last-winter-2.webp spring-last-winter-7.webp spring-last-winter-5.webp spring-last-winter-1.webp GO TO as the seasons change snow on mountains, not on my tyres, which is how I like it Final winter camp at Lake Tekapo in August Andrew Morton Happy until ‘severe weather’ hit at 5am this morning. Snow on mountains, not on my tyres, which is how I like it. -5.7°C. Snow on Monday night, stunning days to walk 40,000 steps, up to the Mt John Observatory & back a couple times. Spring camping here I come. ©2025 Andrew Morton Up Up Summer 2025 , p 9

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Time for a swim The packdown Kristy-Lee Biggs Somebody asked recently about the pack down. In our previous years, we could never pack down in time for check out and were always hot and bothered by the end. This year, we nailed it with time to spare! I loved the frequently offered idea of an extra night and taking the day to do it, but our place rarely has extra nights (and is a bit $$$). So we used a couple of hours the night before to pack down the shelter, leaving only the next morning’s essential clothes, food and cooking things unpacked. Everything else was packed up in the relative cool of the night and stored in the tent. We have young kids so were up by 7am, rolling up bedding before the sun hit the tent. We used a rubber broom with a squeegee on the back to remove the morning surface water on the tent, leaving it to dry while we had coffee and breakfast. All done in two hours for a 12-man tent and five days’ of beach life/family camping supplies. Smashed it … …and then we went for a swim before driving home Photo: ©2024 Kristy-Lee Biggs GO TO Celebrating Summer we were always hot and bothered by the end Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 4 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

12 Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption portable-power_H_river3-MNR_3004.webp GO TO Chilly chilly chilly out there Extra backup power for low-solar days Portable power stations Miriam Richardson When you want that extra backup power for the low-solar days, or as an alternative to onboard solar and batteries for those who do short journeys, then portable power comes to the fore. These devices are charged by plugging in via a 240V wall socket, before you leave home, or at a campground, or a café or library. Some let you recharge via portable solar panels, or via the cigarette lighter while driving. At the small end of size, capacity and price are backup batteries for phones and other small devices that plug in via USB. They might recharge your phone a few times, and cost between $60 and $200 —more cost generally means more juice. At the larger end of portable power are the “power stations” costing from $400 to $8k. What makes a thing a power station is having a three-pin plug socket so you can plug in 240V appliances such as we use at home, such as computers, tablets, modem, a stick mixer, lights, radio, stereo, speakers, bike battery, printer, or a mattress pump. note: Power stations are rarely big enough for appliances that need heat, such as hairdryers or kettles. How much power do you need? How many days do you need to go between charges? Add up your devices. Check the fine print on the bottom or back of the appliance for its power need, usually in Watts. Some devices, like a fridge, start with a huge gulp of power (a ‘surge’) which can be 2x the normal draw; your device has to be able to accept that surge. Choosing your backup power: 🔹 Battery size (Watt hours (Wh) or Amp hours (Ah or mAh). 🔹 How much power can it deliver (Watts or Amps)? 🔹 How much can it deliver in an initial surge (Watts)? 🔹 How long does it take to recharge? 🔹 How can it be recharged? Here are 3 people’s experience. Rovin 600W Robyn Warrendass I have a Rovin 600W portable power station to run my laptop that has two extra screens (3 screens altogether), so it uses more power than a normal laptop. I work from home and in the camper, so the Rovin goes with us. Lately I have had to use it at home as we have had several all day power outages and having the power station meant I could plug in my laptop, and the wifi, and keep working. This kept me going all day without any problems and recharging doesn’t take too long. I guess this can be used for many things, but for me it keeps me being able to do my job on and off the road uninterrupted. It can be charged at the wall or with solar (240W max). It takes just under 2hrs to charge. Rovin 500W, 50Ah Gary Stoneley After 3 years our Rovin 500W, 50Ah portable power supply (from Jaycar) is still going strong. The battery still holds at 100% after being stored for 2 months. Purchased for providing portable power at club events and markets, the power supply can easily run laptops, modems and eftpos machines and a small printer. With 230V AC, 12 volt and usb outlets it’s been invaluable. Our needs have changed and we now use it with power cuts at home, and to run a spare fridge or a back up for the computers when on the road whether it’s in the car or the caravan. 50Ah of power isn’t a lot but the power is there when you need it and it’s quieter than a generator for those emergency top-ups. Would I recommend having one? Too right I would! It’s on my essential equipment list. ChargeTech 350W to EcoFlow River 3, 300W Miriam Richardson My original Charge Tech power station (below left) was bought 8 years ago from Canada. It was one of the first portable batteries that had a 3-pin-plug outlet. I got it when I first moved into my motorhome full time, as I needed backup power for my laptop. It was 54Ah, could give up to 350W output. It was a really good small size. Its biggest downside was that it took 8hrs+ to recharge — that is a long time sitting in the library making sure no-one else walks off with it. I just checked their website and their newer models still take 4 hours to charge. At 8yrs old, it isn’t holding its charge very well, so it was time to replace it. Behold the EcoRiver 3 (below, middle). The ChargeTech power station My new power station is a River 3 from Ecoflow I have gone from 56Ah to 76Ah; 150W output to 300W; 8hr charge to 1hr charge. It is heavy, at 3.5kg, but small, about the size of 2 loaves of bread, and has a very elegant design and is whisper-quiet. 300W (600W surge; 600W boost) output, 76.8Ah battery. You can use the 3-pin plug (AC), a cigarette lighter plug, a usb-a (x2) or usb-c output. It only takes 1hr to charge when it is plugged in to the wall or a generator. You can also charge it via your vehicle cigarette lighter (2.8hr) or with solar panels (2.6hr; 30V max, 110W max). They claim the battery will still hold 80% after 10 years. 🏕️ Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 25

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

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing Come camping For the latest camps allpointscampingnz.org/events | ckw.nz/nzfunadventures-events Pre Christmas Relax at Jones Landing Fri, 06-8 Dec, Arapuni, Waikato Join us for a relaxing weekend before the Christmas chaos. You need a permit. place: ckw.nz/jones-landing ckw.nz/jones-landing-permit | event: ckw.nz/apc-jones24 ckw.nz/apc-jones-rsvp Stop & stay camp, KAI IWI, Whanganui Fri 6–8, Dec, Kai Iwi, Whanganui All campers welcome including tents. A place to relax and unwind. Adventure playground, BBQ facilities. Near Bason Botanical Gardens and Westmere Lake. Dogs on leads. Un/powered sites: book at the camp. kaiiwibeach.co.nz | ckw.nz/kai-iwi-24 | ckw.nz/kai-iwi-24-rsvp Canterbury pre-Xmas Freedom Camp Thu, 12–16 Dec, Coes Ford, Leeston Join Linda & the team for a relaxing weekend beside the Selwyn River. All campers welcome including tents. Dogs welcome. Bikes welcome. Families welcome. Can’t stay? Join us for a picnic! ckw.nz/coes-ford-24 | ckw.nz/coes-ford-24-rsvp New Year Camp on the Kapiti Coast Sat, 28 Dec–2 Jan, Paraparaumu Beach Enjoy a break on the coast. All welcome to the Sea Scouts including tents & prospective members. Or pop in for a chat and a cuppa. It’s a short walk to the beach and local shops. ckw.nz/new-year-kapiti | ckw.nz/new-year-kapiti-rsvp Whanganui’s Vintage weekend Fri, 17–20 Jan, Whanganui Camp with us for Whanganui’s fabulous Vintage Weekend. All campers welcome including tents. Close to the city centre. Dogs on leads. whanganuivintageweekend.nz | ckw.nz/vintage-25 | ckw.nz/vintage-25-rsvp Waitangi weekend at Morison’s Bush Wed, 5–9 Feb, Greytown, Wairarapa Traditional NZ summer camping at its best. Great swimming spot. All campers are welcome. No fires. Dogs under control. ckw.nz/morisons-waitangi-25 | ckw.nz/morisons-waitangi-25-rsvp Summer in the heart of Oxford Thu, 6–9 Feb, Oxford, Nth Canterbury Waitangi Weekend. A weekend in the heart of the Oxford. Bring your own water and toilet. Dogs on leads. At the Eyre River reserve and Coleman Garden Resort. Shared BBQ Sat night. ckw.nz/oxford-waitangi-25 | ckw.nz/oxford-waitangi-25-rsvp End of Summer Camping at Lakes Ranch 14–16 Feb, Rotorua Sadly summer is almost over, so come and relax with like-minded people. Bring your bathers: hot and cool pools, refreshing lakes and much much more. Dogs on leads. APC club special. lakesranch.org.nz | ckw.nz/lakes-feb25 | ckw.nz/lakes-feb25-rsvp Camp Fest 2025 Fri 21–23 Feb, Bulls, Rangatikei Camping, craft and trade stalls, workshops and entertainment. Tents, vehicle campers, caravans, more— every camper is welcome. ckw.nz/campfest-25 | ckw.nz/campfest-25-rsvp Fun in the Tararua District Fri 7 – 9 Mar, Eketahuna, Tararua Bushwalking, swimming and good trout fishing. Book with the camp & rsvp. eketahunacamp.com | ckw.nz/tararua-25 | ckw.nz/tararua-25-rsvp Havelock Mussel & Seafood Festival ‘25 Sat, 08 Mar, Havelock, Marlborough Sounds Kai moana at its best with a topping of camping. Book early at The Waves: wavescampsite.co.nz | ckw.nz/havelock-25 | ckw.nz/havelock-25-rsvp Events being planned check for the up-to-date details and to rsvp: ckw.nz/apc-events • Feb: Hawkes Bay • Mar 14–16: Dannevirke, Wairarapa • Mar: Tāhunanui Beach, Nelson • Mar: Nelson Creek, West Coast • Mar/Apr Canterbury golfing camp • Apr 4–6 : Kimbolton Sculpture and Music Festival, Manawatu • Apr 18–21: Easter at Patea Beach, Taranaki • Apr Canterbury week-long caravan train 10 May: APCNZ AGM 2025 The All Points Camping Club AGM will be both live via Zoom and at several locations around the country. ckw.nz/agm-25 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 10 Summer 2024 , p 45

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Setting up at Campfest. Bulls, Rangatikei. ©2024 Tracey Davis. Setting up at Campfest Tracey Davis Setting up at Campfest, Bulls, Feb 24. ©2024 Tracey Davis. (Rooftop tents will not be able to get a green warrant. Ed) GO TO Celebrating Summer Rooftop tents will not be able to get a green warrant. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 2 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing Beautiful, free, handy. STOP and STAY Lake Poaka Miriam Richardson This is a free DOC camp between Twizel and Tekapo. It is a large flat area, with spectacular mountain views. There is a single long-drop toilet. You don’t need to be self-contained, and tents are ok. No dogs. No open fires. Max 4 nights See the gallery for more photos You turn off SH8 on the Lake Pukaki side of the Pukaki Canal onto the gravel access road, along the banks of the canal. Take it slow, it is rough and rutted. Ignore the first road down from the canal bank as it is very steep and soft. Carry on to the next, easy-access road, which brings you down at the western end of Lake Poaka. There are tracks which let you choose any location around the lake. Get your camera out. You can walk, swim or cycle. Handy to the Ruataniwha Conservation Park.Fishing depends on a permit, but if you are fishing the Pukaki Canal, it provides a handy camping spot. DOC: ckw.nz/doc-poaka | ckw.nz/doc-ruataniwha Photos: Autumn ©M Richardson Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 43

11 autumn 2025 Autumn 2025 ISSUE 11 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption ©2025 M Richardson GO TO Here & there last summer waiting to get a freedom camping fine But I am not freedom camping… Megan Hieatt I am a keen night photographer, and when I go away to dark sky areas, my motorhome is my transport as well as my accommodation. I often stay at permitted camping locations (often NZMCA eg Tekapo or DOC) rather than campgrounds but usually go to better sites to take photos for better foregrounds, compositions, etc, and these are often not right next to the parking area, eg Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti. I’m just waiting to get a freedom camping fine as some official will decide that I’m camping when I’m actually parked using my RV as my means of transport, particularly in busy places like Queenstown, Tekapo or Wanaka. I’ve considered making a big sign to put on my windscreen/side door saying “Taking nightscape photographs, NOT camping”! Queenstown was always apparently bad for ticketing empty motorhomes and campers parked on the street when they were in fact empty and the occupants were staying in a hostel or with family/friends and they had to jump through all sorts of hoops to prove they were not camping, difficult when staying with family and there are no bookings or payments to use as evidence! I guess all you can do is stay at places where you pay for the night and present any receipts as evidence that you were not in fact, camping, and take photos of your vehicle at the campsite when you get there as future evidence of your overnight stay! Preparing to freedom camp This offence of “preparing to camp” is going to open a big can of worms. What’s the difference between cooking dinner or an evening walk at a nice spot, and “preparing to camp”? If I’m staying somewhere with a reserved site and its not so nice I will often go elsewhere and return to the campsite later in the evening. Those of us who use a RV as our transport when away from home will be unfairly discriminated against here. I’m sure if I was in the car doing my night photography it would not be an issue. Up Up 11 Autumn 2025 , p 2