7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Al Points Camping gathreing at Waihopai Community Centre and Reserve Our All Points Camping NZ park and camp was at the Waihopai Community Centre and Reserve, 16km away from the Marlborough Wine and Food Festival. ©2024 Marty Ireland Jet trail overhead. We had a large area to choose from. We had a large area to choose from, with the use of the small hall with lounge, kitchen, toilets and river-fed fresh water supply. ©2024 Marty Ireland. A mercy dash by Morgan Plumbing Friday saw the need for a mercy dash by the local plumbers (Morgan Plumbing) to effect running repairs on the toilets which was done with efficiency and much appreciated. ©2024 Marty Ireland Setup at Waihopai ©2024 Marty Ireland Setup at Waihopai ©2024 Marty Ireland Arriving at Waihopai. ©2024 Marty Ireland Setup at Waihopai ©2024 Marty Ireland Water supply ©2024 Marty Ireland. A private stretch of river. ©2024 Marty Ireland A private stretch of river. ©2024 Marty Ireland ©2024 Marty Ireland A private stretch of river. ©2024 Marty Ireland Nibbles Day visitors joined us to swim in the private swimming hole, enjoy pre-dinner drinks and nibbles and wide ranging discussions, as one does, along with some good laughs as we tried and tasted home-made spirits.©2024 Marty Ireland wine food waihopai pre dinner drinks and nibbles.jpg Day visitors joined us to swim in the private swimming hole, enjoy pre-dinner drinks and nibbles and wide ranging discussions, as one does, along with some good laughs as we tried and tasted home-made spirits.©2024 Marty Ireland drinks, nibbles, discussions, good laughs Waihopai camp and the Marlborough Wine and Food Festival Marty Ireland Marlborough’s iconic wine and food event was held at the Renwick Sports Domain in Blenheim in February, which living up to its reputation for sunny, fine weather. Previously held at the Brancott Vineyard, attendees felt the change of management and venue detracted, and the new payment system, that seemed to attract extra fees, took the joy out of the experience for many. Our All Points Camping NZ park and camp was at the Waihopai Community Centre and Reserve, 16km away, past the renowned Spy Base facility, now minus the two controversial cover domes. For $20 per van per night we had a large area to choose from, with the use of the small hall with lounge, kitchen, toilets and river-fed fresh water supply. Friday saw the need for a mercy dash by the local plumbers (Morgan Plumbing) to effect running repairs on the toilets which was done with efficiency and much appreciated. We were a small group from Blenheim and Christchurch, and day visitors joined us to swim in the private swimming hole, enjoy pre-dinner drinks and nibbles and wide ranging discussions, as one does, along with some good laughs as we tried and tasted home-made spirits. The weather was hot and sunny with a temperature drop-off in the morning and some strong wind one evening dropping some guy ropes on the awnings. One stunning feature was the stars visible over head at night time. A great weekend in a great place. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 36

6 Summer 2023 6 Summer 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption SStay-Reefton2-MNR_mw.webp SStay-Reefton-MNR4_mw.webp SStay-Reefton-MNR3_mw.webp SStay-Reefton_Stewart_Nimmo_CC_mw.webp STOP and STAY Reefton Miriam Richardson STOP and STAY It was a winter stay by the river in Reefton, on The West Coast. We are allowed 2 consecutive nights (certified self-contained). Right next door is the hotel which is a free pop (if you buy something in the hotel), so you can swap between these two if you want a longer stay in Reefton. There’s a lovely walk along the river, past the summer pool to the camping ground. Return via the main street, Broadway, which has a number of cafes each with food worth a try. (Image, Broadway, Stewart Nimmo, CC BY-SA 4.0) There’s lots of historical interest here. The visitors’ centre has engaging historical work on the coal mines which gave us this town, including a replica underground mine. Reefton was the first town in NZ to get electric street lights, powered by the Reefton Power Station on the Inangahua River, way back in 1888. There are several walking tracks, including one to the site of the power station, a tramping track, and track for experienced off-road cyclists. Snow on the hills behind Reefton. ©2023 M Richardson Uncredited photos ©2023 M Richardson STOP and STAY Where to stop when travelling and camping in NZ — use it, share it, add to it. Stop and Stay is a free resource for NZ campers and travellers, brought to you by campers for campers. It might be a country pub for a meal, a rural property, a council reserve, a DOC camp; it might be a commercial campground or a unique day-stop or cafe. Please add your recommendations to the list. Anyone one can access the list or make recommendations. It’s free, too, for property owners to be on the list. Remember to always check with hosts first — phone numbers are provided on most listings, and keep in mind that some properties have restrictions. Dog-friendly properties are indicated on each listing, as are wheelchair accessible properties. STOP and STAY | Add a place to Stop and Stay Up Up 6 Summer 2023 , p 34

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

8 Winter 2024 Winter 2024 ISSUE 8 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption In the distance In the distance we could see a stunning cloud which was scattering a hail storm around nearby Christchurch. ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler Kool Grill and chat We quickly put up a shelter and tried to fend off the cold from the wind. The Kool Grill was soon lit, offering some warmth, on which we enjoyed nibbling on toasted marshmallows as we chatted the evening away. ©2024 Linda Butler ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler Garden tour Our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. ©2024 Linda Butler GO TO Autumn Gold No one seemed in a hurry to get away Flaxmere Garden Linda Butler The beauty of belonging to a camping group is occasionally we get to camp at some venues not opened to the general public for camping. This was the case at Flaxmere Garden, in Canterbury. We settled in on a Friday afternoon. In the distance we could see a stunning cloud which was scattering a hail storm around nearby Christchurch. The backlash of this, though, was that it was bitterly cold. We quickly put up a shelter and tried to fend off the cold from the wind. The Kool Grill was soon lit, offering some warmth, on which we enjoyed nibbling on toasted marshmallows as we chatted the evening away. Saturday after morning coffee, our host Penny invited us to start our tour of her garden. We were given maps, then followed her to her front lawn where she shared some interesting information about her property. She built the stone fence herself! We loved following the paths, crossing bridges, scanning over ponds and admiring the mountains in the distance. The garden was divided into hot areas and cold shaded areas. My favourite was the native bush walk, but then I also enjoyed the autumn colours that seemed to be scattered everywhere. We were followed on our walk by fantails. They seemed friendlier than others I’ve seen. That night we enjoyed a feast of rhubarb and feijoa crumble thanks to a team effort. It was yum. No one seemed in a hurry to get away. It was 3.45 in the afternoon before we got away. Yet again, another successful camp. Images ©2024 Linda Butler Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 35

6 Summer 2023 6 Summer 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption RV-Business-Services_MW.webp Rv & Camper services NZ Lifestyle Camping Find rv and camping services. Any relevant business can list; it is free. Anyone can recommend a business to add to the list. No endorsement is implied. The thumbs up shows people you can ask, if you are stuck. Their local knowledge can help you find the service you need. North Island listings South Island Listings Up Up 6 Summer 2023 , p 40

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption hydro_3394_H.webp ©2024 M Richardson The park There is a longdrop toilet in the bushes to the right of the entrance way. ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson The map ©2024 M Richardson How the power is made ©2024 M Richardson Old equipment on display ©2024 M Richardson The walk up to the penstock ©2024 M Richardson More of the path up ©2024 M Richardson Weird metal stuff ©2024 M Richardson Weird metal stuff ©2024 M Richardson Weird metal stuff ©2024 M Richardson Weird metal stuff ©2024 M Richardson Looking down the pipe to the power station ©2024 M Richardson The water race ©2024 M Richardson The water race The path looks really safe and easy. ©2024 M Richardson Wide path beside the water race/ Nice, wide safe and easy. ©2024 M Richardson Becomes very narrow beside the water race. ©2024 M Richardson From the water race edge to the intake weir. Wide enough for a quad bike. ©2024 M Richardson The intake weir ©2024 M Richardson Golden Bay Stunning views over Golden Bay on the loop back. ©2024 M Richardson Golden Bay Stunning views over Golden Bay on the loop back.©2024 M Richardson Golden Bay Stunning views over Golden Bay on the loop back. ©2024 M Richardson The road out (and in) ©2024 M Richardson a board perched on the outer edge of the race Walking the race Miriam Richardson I was parked up alone at the Pupu Hydro Power Scheme carpark on a Winter morning, a very pleasant freedom camping spot by the entrance to the walkway. There is a toilet tucked in the bushes if you need it. The carpark is at the end of an easy gravel road through farmland, beyond Pupu Springs in Golden Bay. The water race was originally built in 1901 for gold workings, and later repurposed to generate electricity, opening in 1929. After 51 years a malfunction put it offline, and volunteers eventually purchased and restored the water race and power plant, reopening it 8 years later, in 1988. It now produces 1.8 Gwh each year. The loop track was completed in 2003. The Pupu Hydro Scheme is an historic site, and the track is in Kahurangi National Park. There is a steep climb up to the penstock, where the water from the race is piped down to the power station. The track then follows the water race up the valley to the intake weir on Campbell’s Creek. From there the loop crosses the stream and winds slowly on a gravel access road, back down to the power station. 5.8km, 2 hours. No dogs. So. I headed up to the penstock, forgetting to take my walking pole. It was steep, rather damp and a bit slippery, so I decided to carry on along the nice wide board walk and do the loop rather than back down the slippery slope. The wide board walk turned into a narrow boardwalk turned into a very narrow board walk. Until this time I had never thought I was afraid of heights. But the very narrow path, with a (felt-flimsy-to-me) rail had me terrified. I haven’t often experienced vertigo before (those bridges without solid bases do it). The wide board walk turned into a narrow board walk turned into a very narrow board walk. Until this time I had never thought I was afraid of heights. But the very narrow path, with a (felt-flimsy-to-me) rail had me terrified. I haven’t often experienced vertigo before (those bridges without solid bases do it). Eyes on the end, hold the rail tight, don’t look left at the drop, step, move hand, step… repeat… ohhh, a post… move hand to the rail beyond the post… step again; repeat…repeat… Whew, made it… I considered turning back after the second round-the-bluff-we-go. If I had only known there were 15, all with terrifying drop-offs, not even trees to catch you as you fall… (how would anyone find me? I thought, if I slipped and fell?). It got narrower than pictured, but I wasn’t taking my clenched hand off the rail to take photos. The race itself was beautiful, with clear water, mosses and ferns. Sometimes the track was a board perched on the outer edge of the race (OMG!) . Eventually, it became a “normal” track, and I met men on a quad bike, up to do track maintenance. “You could have warned us, grumble, grumble …”. From here on it was quad-bikeable, less interesting, but my heart rate could climb down. Some lovely bush and great views over the valley, until it turned into a really boring bit of road to walk along. Boring was surprisingly enjoyable. Staying safe as you travel I had quite a few thoughts about the staying safe aspect of this walk. I was just lucky I didn’t slip or get vertigo and fall. Travelling alone and walking alone has risks and being in places with no mobile coverage has its risks. The hydro scheme site had no internet or mobile coverage when I was there. Personal locator beacon (PLB) Some people invest in a locator beacon, whch is useful not only when walking, but also when in your motorhome. They cost $300–500. When you get into trouble you trigger the alarm and wait for rescue.More: DOC: ckw.nz/doc-plbRescue Coordinanation Centre: ckw.nz/rescue-beacon . Personal safety phone app There are a variety of apps that work in different ways. Some are designed for walking to your car in the dark — hold the button down: if you take your finger off a distress message and your location is sent to bring help. I settled on the Get Home Safe Personal app, a NZ-made app with a good funding model. ckw.nz/get-home-safe With this app, you set a time when you will check back in, and tell it what to do if you don’t. It can send a text (costs) or a message. You tell it who to send the message to, and what to say. You can buy 10 texts for 3.99, and you buy more when you need them. Emails are free. While it is in action, the app monitors your location, sending to its server every 2 mins, or, if you are out of coverage, storing the data for when it next can send it. When it helps: if I feel really unwell at night (will I be capable in the morning?) with a morning check in; are those people a threat to me? with a 10 minute check in; if i am not back from my walk in 1/2/3 hours; driving in snow/ice/weather where there is no coverage: if I dont check in in 2/3/4 hours; travelling out of mobile coverage, if I am not back in contact in 2/3 days. My message can say what my plans are, where I am located and / or travelling, and whether or when emergency services should be involved. Parked up a valley with no coverage, its a bit late: you have to plan in advance. You need a reliable person to receive your messages and act on them. I ask them to try to contact me first (did I just forget to check in?) and take action if they are unable to reach me. More Which to use? The PLB is not tied to mobile coverage and has official, automatic responders, while an app requires preplanning and relies on others, but has more permutations and more general uses. Use both! All images ©2024 M Richardson Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 24

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption electrics_LFP_m.webp Lithium-ferro phosphate (LFP) batteries – a lithium battery rival Collyn Rivers The two battery types share some similarities but differ in high-energy-density, long life-cycles, and safety. The use of lithium-ferro phosphate (LFP) in batteries increases the choice of chemicals for battery production and reduces reliance on the more expensive, and difficult to produce, lithium hydroxide.Collyn Rivers. Read here: ckw.nz/lithium-rival Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 23

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption DOC campsites 1: In the north how many have you visited? DOC campsites 1: In the north: Fill in the spaces Rhonda Marshall DOC campsites 1: In the north: Fill in the spaces Rhonda Marshall There are more than 200 DOC sites throughout New Zealand, 34 in the north. Over the next issues the puzzles will travel from North to South. Download a pdf of the game In the grid, fill in 15 different DOC sites from the list on the right. One site will run vertically and the others will run horizontally across the grid. The puzzle does not have gaps between the words., eg., Puriri Bay > PuririBay. Billygoat Basin Booms Flat Broken Hills Cable Bay Catleys Dancing Camp Dickey Flat Fantail Bay Fletcher Bay Hotoritori Kahikatea Kapowairua Maitai Bay Otamure Bay Pandora Port Jackson Puketi Puriri Bay Raetea North Rarawa Beach Shag Stream Stony Bay Tapotupotu Totara Flat Trestle View Trounson Kauri Park Twilight Uretiti Beach Urupukapuka Bay Waikahoa Bay Waikawau Bay Wainora Wentworth Valley Whangaiterenga How many have you visited? Download a solution pdf See the solution Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 42

I’ve always dreamed of travelling around my own back yard in a van and I finally did! BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up Around my own back yard Maia Steiner I’ve always dreamed of travelling around my own back yard in a van and I finally did! I saved up and brought myself Wally (my van) in May 2022. I worked 6-day weeks to save up some travel money and left for my solo adventure on my 20th birthday! I got home a few days before Christmas and sold my van not long after, for the same price I brought it for. All in all it was an awesome trip I will never forget! Get out there and travel our awesome country! Photos ©2023 Maia Steiner Up Up Up My solo adventure began on my 20th birthday Click on the gallery for a full size view Watching the sunrise in Bluff Cruising on the open road. 
No where to be — everywhere to see. Heading for Te Anau. Me and Wally at Port Waikato! Watching the sunrise in Bluff 1/26

Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption chilly-stuck2_H.webp GO TO CHILLY CHILLY CHILLY OUT THERE I was bogged for the night! Stuck! Heather Auckram Oh no! After all the rain in the deep south the gravel track had turned to slush. I was bogged for the night! The next morning two heroes turned up in the pouring rain and hauled my campervan out of the water logged mud with a hefty chain and their trusty Huffer machine. Eternally grateful to you, Nathan and Dougie. ©2025 Heather Auckram Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 9

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Record the spacing needed for your awning Record the order and lengths for your awning ropes Laminated sheet Download my laminated sheet. Camping / caravan tips — Setup / packup Marty Ireland Do you struggle when you set up your camp or your caravan? We are on to our 3rd caravan but the latest came with a host of manuals for everything like gas stove, fridge, awning etc. so as a specialist assembler and installer, advising others that they should read all instructions provided, I decided to do just that. Now here is a suggestion: just relax, sit down with a coffee and read, even if you do not fully understand, read all the information to get a general overview.Then go and try each appliance until it works and you feel comfortable and confident with it. Do a dummy run on awning or tent set up if you have or can find an area to do this before leaving. It may be a little trying, but as you get each thing down pat, start a set up list with each step in order and have it laminated and ready inside the car, caravan door or tent bag. Label poles with a marker with appropriate numbers or letters and a brief description of which end, or middle etc; or colour code with electricians tape. Tent or awning assembly will become a dream. Have you ever driven off with a support leg still down, or a jockey wheel not retracted, even a power cable still plugged in? Not a good look and it can be both embarrassing and expensive. So do a reverse-order pack-down list too, and stick to it. Having an assistant read out the lists while you do the tasks is a help, both to set up and to pack down. Having a measured plan of your tent or van footprint with awnings and ropes sizes will help you quickly decide on arrival at the holiday site which way to face your tent or van saving a lot of frustration if you find you have to reposition. See my plan, above. A seamless set-up lets you sit down for your first refreshment early, and the satisfaction of doing it both quickly and without forgetting anything is very rewarding. Watching new arrivals go through the same process can be cheap entertainment, however offering to assist with your experience and wisdom is a pleasure in itself. Happy and safe camping all. Download these files if you would find them helpful: My sheet (print it A4, double sided and laminate; pdf). The .doc version of my sheet , to edit and make it your own. Or the .rtf version . The awning assembly order sheet (pdf). The awning space sheet (pdf). A blank awning space sheet to put in your own measurements (pdf). Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 13

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing Beautiful, free, birds & sunsets STOP and STAY Rays Rest Miriam Richardson A thoroughly relaxing, free camp on the Firth of Thames. Ray’s Rest is 4km south of the Kaiaua township, on the Hauraki Rail Trail and about the same distance from the Pūkorokoro–Miranda Shorebird Centre further south. No dogs, no fires, you must be self-contained, and a max of 2 nights. See the gallery for more photos Its a long flat area beside the sea with stunning views across the firth to Coromandel, and sunrises and sunsets refresh the soul, as do the flocks of birds that feast in the shallows when the tide is out. It’s a bit shallow for swimming, and a bit sharp underfoot for paddling. Those with boats go fishing. If you want to exercise rather than relax you can walk, ride or run the Hauraki Rail Trail (e-bikes 300W or less) to get to the fish and chip shop in Kaiau, or the shorebird centre (25min walk), or even do a day trip to Thames (5hr). haurakirailtrail.co.nz Lovely in any weather. Images ©2024 Miriam Richardson Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 43