2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption How many freedom campers are there? Bette Cosgrove and Miriam Richardson Nobody knows. The Ministry has made some guesses. 'Certified self contained' freedom campers MBIE, the government ministry charged with providing the Minister of Tourism with facts, does not know how many freedom camping vehicles there are. They do not know how many private vehicles, that are currently certified self contained, would become ineligible because their toilets are not fixed (if the law changes, as proposed). They have estimated (because they do not know) that there are 73,000 vehicles currently certified, all of which have usable toilets, but they do not know what kind of toilet. [ ckw.nz/mbie-numbers MBIE estimates the rental fleet at 5,000 vehicles, and they do not know how many of those have fixed or non-fixed toilets either. Responsible, but uncertified freedom campers MBIE does not know how many New Zealanders use their vehicles to freedom camp. How many freedom campers shit in the bushes? MBIE do not know. They have an estimate from a small survey, of how many don't use their onboard toilets, but they did not ask, so they do not know, how many of those used public toilets instead. See Talking to four van loads of international tourists for some real life information on this. How many NZ travellers, not camping, get caught short and use the bushes as a loo? MBIE do not know, and I don't think they have even considered this, nor the inadequate provision of public facilities across the country. They, and we, can pretty safely assume that travellers that don't expect to camp probably don't carry a toilet (fixed or unfixed) with them. All in all, an appalling lack of facts All in all, the lack of facts underlying the proposed legislative changes is pretty appalling. These changes will affect New Zealanders for generations to come, and are being rushed through, regardless of a profound lack of facts. Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 4

1 Spring 2022 New Zealanders go Camping: Clubs & groups Up Mike Walters Meet our first two camping groups: All Points Camping Club of NZ & Kiwi Pop Top Campers Each issue we will profile two clubs or groups that encourage us to explore our country All Points Camping Club of NZ 
 NZ’s inclusive camping club NZ wide, we provide support and encouragement to NZ campers, no matter what type of camping vehicle you use. Camping has a long history as a recreational activity in NZ and many thousands of us enjoy traveling and camping out in different regions, often on less-traveled roads. Managed by a dedicated team of volunteers, the club supports its members in hosting and promoting camping events around the country, including 3rd party events with a camping component. These can include regional camps, festivals and special purpose camps supporting different groups. With a base philosophy of helping fellow campers there is always someone with the knowledge or contacts to be of assistance, when needed. As the club nears it’s 7th year anniversary, there are now regional reps throughout the country to help and support local members. As an All Points Camping Club member you receive considerable savings from national retailers that far exceed the $35 annual membership fee. By becoming a financial member you help us in the fight to ensure campers’ future rights, and fair and sustainable NZ-wide camping. The All Points Camping Club of NZ is proud to co-sponsor Camping the Kiwi Way initiatives. More, or to join: www.allpointscampingnz.org or find us at All Points Camping on Facebook. Gary Stoneley, club founder Kiwi Pop Top Campers
 Welcome to Kiwi Pop Tops When I first bought my 1976 Sprite Pop Top I couldn’t find any information on the web. I knew there were plenty of Pop Tops made in New Zealand back in the day so I thought I would set up the Kiwi Pop Tops Facebook group to see if there were many others out there. It would be a group where we could all share info, photos, stories and history on our different brands of Pop Tops. I thought I would get maybe 50 –100 people join the group, but we now have nearly 3,000 members and last month alone had 27,000 views! With Kiwis not been able to travel overseas over the past couple of years they have been buying caravans and motorhomes to travel around our own country. This has pushed the price of caravans up through the roof so the good old Kiwi Pop Top has become an affordable alternative. Easy to tow and small enough to store in your garage is also a bonus. This page was setup for anyone with an interest in pre ‘90 Kiwi Pop Tops including Sprite, Playboy, Nifty Nomad, Anglo Cheetah & Cubs, Topagee, Expander, Sunbird, Camp-o-matic, Liteweight Pop Tops and more. If you need advice on restoration or modernising projects, looking for parts or retro accessories you can find it all here at facebook.com/groups/kiwipoptops Also keep an eye out for our Website, coming soon! www.kiwipoptops.co.nz Mike Walters Up Up Up Spring 2022 ISSUE 1 BUY PDF CONTENTS All Points Camping Club of NZ & Kiwi Pop Top Campers All Points Camping Club of NZ NZ’s inclusive camping club. Kiwi Pop Top Campers Camping in Canterbury ©2022 Jesse Rawson All Points Camping Club of NZ NZ’s inclusive camping club. 1/2

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Pannekoeken for breakfast ©2022 Bette Cosgrove Pannekoeken for breakfast ©2022 Bette Cosgrove Pannekoeken for breakfast ©2022 Bette Cosgrove Best brunch option ever, and a traditional favourite! Pannekoeken for breakfast Bette Cosgrove Every trip we make a breakfast fruits pancake. Usually apple pannekoeken. You need: Your favourite pancake mix: We often get the great pannekoeken mix from De Moelen, Foxton whenever we pass by and keep it permanently in a sealed container in our campervan. Or grab the Edmonds buttermilk or gluten-free shake-up pancake mix from supermarket. You can be flexible and add milk (or alternative milks like oat, soy, rice, coconut, or almond) or just use water. Check the pancake-mix container for how much liquid you need. If we have fresh eggs (free-range, bought along the way) we add one. Beat or shake up until well mixed. Slice in one fresh apple / pear cut in tiny pieces; or mashed banana; or berries if you have them. Mix your fruit of choice in, but just lightly. Make one, full-pan-sized fruit pancake per person: fill the pan with mixture. We use a small non-stick pan with a lid on our single ring gas burner as it's easy to wipe clean when done. Flip when bubbles appear and put a lid on when cooking the second side. We usually have coconut yoghurt in our fridge to serve with this, or open a tin of reduced cream if you have it. Best brunch option ever, and a traditional favourite! Photos ©2022 Bette Cosgrove Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 24

9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Photo: Godley Head Awaroa, at entrance of Lyttelton Harbour © Rob Suisted Photo: Australasian bittern male ©Colin O’Donnel Photo: Lake Opouahi ©DOC Photo: Cathedral Cove: ©DOC Trampers at Mavora Lakes ©Logan Penniket Photo: Kakī leaving boxes Image: Liz Brown ©DOC DOC update DOC The Great Matuku Muster a call to action “This may just be the best chance New Zealanders have of seeing or hearing a matuku in their lifetime!” One day in Sept, Oct and Nov, for up to an hour from sunset, volunteers around the country sit somewhere safe on the outskirts of their local wetland to record male matuku-hūrepo booming. The birds are highly mobile and if the count is not done at the same time across the country, some birds may be counted twice. Photo: Australasian bittern male ©Colin O’Donnel lovebittern.com | ckw.nz/matuku Two Hawke’s Bay sites re-open to public DOC has reopened Hawke’s Bay’s Opouahi Scenic Reserve and White Pine Bush sites to the public. They have been closed since Cyclone Gabrielle which broke the 3.3 km predator-proof fence around the Opouahi Kiwi Creche. Fences needed repair, stock had to be removed, predators trapped, bridges rebuilt, some track rerouted and others resurfaced. Photo: Lake Opouahi ©DOC ckw.nz/opouahi Awaroa/Godley Head reopen]s This popular site near Christchurch, has reopened to the public after a successful remediation of contamination. It offers outstanding sea views and great walking or mountain biking. There is an overnight camp site as well as tracks. Keep dogs on leads as all digging is prohibited. ckw.nz/awaroa Awaroa/Godley Head Loop Track: ckw.nz/godley-track Awaroa/Godley Head Campsite: ckw.nz/godley-camp Photo: Godley Head Awaroa, at entrance of Lyttelton Harbour © Rob Suisted Te Araroa Trail Pass this summer This summer, walkers need to register their walks through the Te Araroa Trust and buy a Trail Pass to use in DOC huts and get discounts along the way. Te Araroa is one of the world’s most diverse long-distance walking trails, at 3012km. From the northern cape of Te Rerenga Wairua, to the southern bluff of Motupōhue, Te Araroa spans the length of Aotearoa.Around 2,000 walkers complete the full trail each year, though others do different parts of the trail at a time. Photo: Trampers at Mavora Lakes ©Logan Penniket ckw.nz/te-araroa Mautohe Cathedral Cove track The walking track to Mautohe Cathedral Cove, Coromandel was closed in February ‘23 after it sustained significant damage during Cyclone Gabrielle. The alternative McHand’s Lookout track has now closed too while remedial work is carried out. Accessing Mautohe Cathedral Cove is a marine-only experience until December, when the car park and track are expected reopen. Te Pare Pa remains open. This coastal landscape is prone to storm damage, landslides and rockfalls making it a challenging track to maintain. Photo: Cathedral Cove: ©DOC ckw.nz/cove-1 | ckw.nz/cove-2 Successful kakī season sees bumper release 80 birds were released at Lake Tekapo/Takapō and another 78 into the Tasman Valley, Mackenzie Country, since August. This past season saw the highest recorded number of breeding pairs in the wild with 41 pairs producing eggs. Ten years ago, that number was just 17 pairs. photo: Kakī leaving boxes. Photo: Liz Brown ©DOC ckw.nz/kaki ◼️ Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 38

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption NZ Fun Adventures NZ Fun Adventures Camping: camping, locations, gear, group events, ‘how to’ and more. NZ Fun Paddleboarders Join for group paddles, learn about safety, gear info, get inspired and give it a go. Life of Van — NZ Van adventurers. Adventure Rex Inflatable T-Rex racing sound fun? Join the antics. NZ Adventure Women women’s-only outdoor group for all types of adventure. NZ Night Walkers A Wellington group —start one in your area Cooking With Fire Outdoors Small Boat Camping Oztent owners local NZ See how and why people love them. Getting outdoors Jonathan Collins Get outdoors in a fun way, meet new people, try something new. NZ Fun Adventures Camping : camping, locations, gear, group events, ‘how to’ and more. NZ Fun Paddleboarders: join for group paddles, learn about safety, gear info, get inspired and give it a go. Life of Van — NZ: Van adventurers. Adventure Rex Inflatable T-Rex racing sound fun? Join the antics. NZ Adventure Women : women’s-only outdoor group for all types of adventure. NZ Night Walkers : A Wellington group —start one in your area. Cooking With Fire Outdoors Small Boat Camping Oztent owners local NZ : See how and why people love them. GO TO Celebrating Summer Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 40 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

5 Spring 2023 5 Spring 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption A small, beautiful cassette toilet Steve Allen There is a cassette toilet in that beautifully crafted cabinet. Photo ©2023 Steve Allen Up Up 5 Spring 2023 , p 16

6 Summer 2023 6 Summer 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption 12-23-CKW-toc.webp Table of contents, Summer, issue 6 Editor 2 The freedom camping law needs to change 4 Editorial 4 Self-containment certification: Which one is yours? 4 What to do? Upgrade? Wait? 5 Well worth the walk 6 Mavis and all her DIY 8 You have to be here… 10 Who is advocating for NZers who go camping? 11 Biking the Waikato River Trails 12 Dehydrated dinners 13 There’s no need to rush this Summer 14 Fire safety: Caravans and sleep-outs,Smoke alarms, Fire blankets 14 Lithium-ion battery safety 15 LiFePO4 are a safe choice for a motorhome or caravan 15 EWOF certifications 16 Van tour of the op shops 18 RV Fridge Basics 20 Ten tips for a successful family camping trip 22 Car journeys with kids 23 NZ’s independent national network for self-containment certification 23 8 days a week and 8 years to celebrate 24 Do you need a permit for your BBQ? 25 Sharing the summertime 27 50 years of camping at Morison’s Bush 31 DOC update 32 Word search: Tent camping 33 Nothing but blue skies… 33 Stop and Stay: Battle Hill Farm Forest Park 34 Reefton Horahora Domain 35 EVENTS, Camping 36 EVENTS, Festivals and Shows 38 The end of the road Hi, I’m Fran and I have lived on the road a long time. It’s a great life. ©2023 @Franziska RV and Tiny House Living NZ Up Up 6 Summer 2023 , p 3

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption National Parks : Game Rhonda Marshall Fill in the blanks Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 20

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Going for the putt throw, Hanmer Domain ©2024 Marty Ireland Tee off, Taylor River, Blenheim ©2024 Marty Ireland Dual set of golf discs ©2024 Marty Ireland Going for the putt throw, Hanmer Domain ©2024 Marty Ireland Keeps you healthy, in shape and moving HOBBIES: Disc golf Marty Ireland This is an ideal interest to have as campers for individuals, groups and families as its cheap to purchase a set of individual discs and many councils have set up Disc Golf courses in existing reserves where you can already walk, bike or exercise your dog. The discs are lightweight and take up little space and best of all its free to play. I was introduced to it in Hanmer Springs earlier this year in a forest reserve, 9-hole course and later found we have a local 18-hole course along the Taylor river in Blenheim. After checking our local sports shop and retailers I purchased online an entry-level dual player pack in a carry bag with cleaning cloth and marker pucks for around $50. There is an app that lists many courses around New Zealand and lets you keep track of your score during a game. The name of the game is to get your disc, in the least amount of throws, into the chain basket. It has similar drop shots and out-of-bounds penalties as the game of golf. Its a therapeutic, scenic, active walk, with gentle upper body movements to keep you healthy, in shape and moving. Give it go. ◊ Images: ©2024 Marty Ireland Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 41

3 Autumn 2023 3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption A storm over the DOC Homestead campsite Tony Kissel A storm over the DOC Homestead campsite near St Bathans, Central Otago. Tony Kissel Photo ©2023 Tony Kissel Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 6

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption My-floats-G&M sailing 158.webp Orcas Dolphins are common companions on our journeys and one morning we woke up to orcas around our boat on Great Barrier Island. ©2024 Graham Leslie Motoring up the rive Motoring up the river to Warkworth for groceries and ice creams. Trailer sailers have a raisable keel so while they may require a 1.5 meters depth of water when the keel is down to sail, they can float in 40cm or less of water when the keel is up enabling access up rivers or into shallow anchorages. ©2024 Graham Leslie Warkworth . ©2024 Graham Leslie Quazimodo plan This is the layout of our boat showing the cockpit where the boat is sailed from, and the quarter berths underneath. The main cabin with galley and dinette berth and the front cabin that makes up to a double berth. . ©2024 Graham Leslie Pancakes Margaret making pancakes — being short has advantages in this galley. ©2024 Graham Leslie At the table The crew wait to be fed. ©2024 Graham Leslie Quarter berth Quarter berths are a bit like torpedo tubes you sleep in, that run down under the seats of the cockpit. They are more comfortable than they look and you don’t have to worry about rolling out of bed in rough weather. ©2024 Graham Leslie A swim You never need to go far for a swim ©2024 Graham Leslie Swimming You never need to go far for a swim ©2024 Graham Leslie Rafting-up "Rafting up” together with friends is fun for shared meals or even overnight. . ©2024 Graham Leslie "Rafting up” together "Rafting up” together with friends is fun for shared meals or even overnight. . ©2024 Graham Leslie Bayswater Marina Staying in a marina is a bit like staying in a campground with access to mains power, water, rubbish disposal, toilets, and coin-operated showers and laundry. ©2024 Graham Leslie Kerikeri Moored outside the Stone Store Kerikeri. . ©2024 Graham Leslie A quiet Bay in the Marlborough Sounds. Stopped for the night in a quiet bay in the Marlborough Sounds. ©2024 Graham Leslie Catching dinner Food supplies can be supplemented with fishing when your caravan floats. ©2024 Graham Leslie My-floats-P1050059.webp Waiting out a storm Waiting out a storm playing monopoly. ©2024 Graham Leslie Playing cards laying cards in the cockpit at the end of the day. ©2024 Graham Leslie My-floats-cockpit2.webp Sunblocking up Sunblocking up as we head out for a day sailing back from Great Barrier Island. ©2024 Graham Leslie You can ride anywhere A yacht is mostly sailed from the cockpit but you can ride anywhere you want on board from up on deck or still in bed. ©2024 Graham Leslie Plain sailing A yacht is mostly sailed from the cockpit but you can ride anywhere you want on board from up on deck or still in bed. ©2024 Graham Leslie Rigging Quazi Stepping the mast and setting up the boat takes time before the boat is launched. ©2024 Graham Leslie a floating caravan My caravan that floats Graham Leslie Our family owns a 24ft (7.3 metre) trailer sailer. It is a bit like a floating caravan and we have had many camping holidays on the water. With a boat it is easy to move on to a new site or anchorage. In fact, some mornings I have pulled up the anchor and started sailing before the others have got out of their beds. We are Wellington-based but have towed the boat north to the Bay of Islands, the Hauraki Gulf and Great Barrier Island. We have also explored Queen Charlotte Sound in the Marlborough Sounds. There are still plenty of places we are yet to explore. A trailer sailer is an affordable compromise offering us the opportunity to cruise coastal and sheltered waters (and lakes) all around the country without the need to sail it there. The boat allows us to camp (on the water) in many beautiful bays and coves not accessible by road. It offers chances of go to those special places. Most trailer sailers can be managed easily by two adults. We started sailing with our family of four when the kids were about 6 or 7 years old. As the kids grew up they took over more of the sailing. We both did a Boat Masters and a VHF radio course. Yacht clubs can offer lots of advice and support. Racing your boat at a local boat club is a great way to improve boat handling skills. We are self-contained in that we carry a porta potti and our own fresh water. Washing ourselves is mostly done by jumping over the side and swimming (solar showers are also used). We have gas cooking and electric charging from a solar panel and our outboard motor. We use the outboard as little as possible because the boat travels better under sail and sails require no petrol. It is also very pleasant sailing along at about 5 knots exploring bays and coastlines. Freedom camping on the water is much less regulated than on land — you can anchor almost anywhere. I love that we can anchor in exclusive bays with millionaires’ holiday mansions and us in the middle of the bay in our scruffy little boat. The biggest concern when anchoring for the night is finding somewhere your anchor won’t drag and it’s not too bouncy with swells or waves. Land-based campers often complain about the wind rocking their caravan at night. On a boat you are also concerned that your anchor is holding and you don’t drift across the bay or onto rocks during the night. As a consequence you sometimes sleep quite lightly. Nice, sheltered bays with good anchoring can occasionally become crowded with boats. In the Marlborough Sounds “moorings” are used extensively instead of anchors. A mooring is a permanent anchor on the sea floor (maybe a 2-tonne concrete block) with chain and a rope up to floating buoy that can be picked up and secured to your boat. On a fixed mooring you are secure for the night. Marinas offer the boating equivalent of a campground. Its somewhere secure you can tie up and step ashore. Marinas often provide access to mains power, water, rubbish disposal, toilets, and coin-operated showers and laundry. Prices in marinas are based on the size of the boat and for our relatively small boat it is generally cheaper than what we would pay in a campground. Normally we leave our car at the marina for easy access when we come into port. During bad weather, marinas make a great place to have the boat tied up and do land-based activities. This works particularly well in Auckland. You can generally continue to live aboard your boat while your boat is in a marina. Accommodation on a trailer sailer is probably more like a tear drop caravan than a regular caravan. To meet the practical sailing needs of the craft, the cabin head room typically ranges from a bit over 5 foot (1.6 metres) and then reduces down to even less as the deck and hull curve. Our model of trailer sailer is regarded as relatively roomy in the cabin; others have less room. Tidiness is an interesting concept on a boat; space is short, so gear needs to be stowed wherever there is room and be secure. Boats rock on the waves and when a yacht is sailing it can lean over as much as 45 degrees. Unsecured gear ends up on the floor, including the pantry contents, if the cupboard doors are not shut properly. Like camping, a lot of your time is spent outside on the deck and in the cockpit, and a boom tent can be added for shade when anchored. Towing yachts is similar to towing a caravan except they tend to be slightly heavier for their size (due to the need for ballast) and are quite streamlined so don’t catch so much wind. When towing I notice my boat most on the hills. Trailer sailers had their heyday during the 1970s and 1980s. They were mostly made of fibreglass and even though they are now often 40 years old they are still quite serviceable. Prices vary a lot, a bit like caravans, but can be bought for a similar price as an older caravan. The costs of owning a trailer sailor are in repairs — accidents do happen on the water and parts do wear out as you use the boat. The fibreglass hull and decks however are very repairable with minimum skill. New trailers can also be bought for old boats if the original trailer has rusted away. On reflection, holidaying on a trailer sailer may not always be as restful as regular camping but it provides an opportunity to go cruising and see a range of destinations not available by road. Sailing to get there is also part of the experience. The opportunity to raise the anchor and explore round the next headland is always a tempting proposition. n Motoring up the river to Warkworth for groceries and ice creams. Trailer sailers have a raisable keel so while they may require a 1.5 meters depth of water when the keel is down to sail, they can float in 40cm or less of water when the keel is up enabling access up rivers or into shallow anchorages. Watch the slideshow above. Click on the image to load full screen with captions. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 26

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