Click on image for full view and caption Camping The Elgrand is self-contained for camping on its own, or I use it to tow the caravan. Flexibility. ©2024 Gary Stoneley Hey NZ Govt? You are messing with my mental health Gary Stoneley I go camping for my mental health. Bev and I have done this for over 25 years. It is our choice to go camping with a caravan, but I could use my Elgrand van if I wanted. I’m not happy with the NZ Government interfering with my choice of leisure time by restricting how I go camping. I consider myself a responsible camper and pretty much everyone I know is. Whether they have a tent, trailer camper, small van, housebus or caravan I have rarely seen fellow campers not respecting the environment. I remember in the 1990’s staying at a campsite somewhere, or maybe on a caravan club rally and being taught how to remove a patch of turf (to be replaced later) and let the kitchen waste water soak into the ground below the surface, or to have a bucket with a couple of holes in the bottom so all the solids were kept and water drained away. A loose cap on a waste container did much the same. That’s not something you see so much any more. It wasn’t uncommon for the caravan waste water to be used to water trees, away from activity areas. Any residual food matter was soon gobbled up by hungry little animals. Campers now, are far more aware of the negative effect of chemicals and the health risk of not disposing of waste water properly. But it’s not unusual in a rural setting to be told, just dump it on the ground or around trees. Didn’t dishwater deal to aphids on plants? The expectations placed on campers are now much higher than they were 20 to 30 years ago. The first New Zealand Self-containment Standard was published in 1990 and was a joint effort by multiple organisations and government departments working together. Initially only covering motorhomes and caravans — people were living in these it seemed — the Standard set some minimum expectations for both the occupant’s health and reducing environmental harm. A real plus about this was that weekend camping events could be held at venues like schools or reserves without facilities and organisers could say their campers were self-contained and took all their waste with them. It was an extension of the Caravan Club and wider camping adage of ‘Pack in, pack out’. Skipping forward a quarter of a century and self-containment has become a government regulatory tool for NZ’s vehicle campers. Yes, it is targeted and policed at those who chose to camp in a vehicle, with considerable infringement fees. And it is affecting my mental health and the mental health of thousands of NZ campers and our supporting industry. Why is the NZ government restricting and penalising NZ campers, who choose to use a vehicle to camp rather than a tent? Our family caravan has a permanently fixed, sealed, toilet, but the NZ government wants us to fit an external vent to it. It’s pointless and will just fumigate the camper next door. My trusty Elgrand I can’t enjoy for camping anymore, unless I permanently fix a toilet into it. Well that screws up putting sheets of gib in it now. It’s stressful just thinking about all this. Should I even bother getting a new ‘green’ warrant card for freedom camping? If I don’t submit, where can I camp at no cost? Hey, NZ Government, Stop screwing with my leisure time activity! It’s affecting my mental health! I just want to go camping. It’s healthy, its fun, and it keeps me sane. “Camping in all its different forms puts us on the doorstep of the great outdoors and provides a clear pathway to a healthier and happier lifestyle – one in which people appreciate nature more and are active outdoors. Given the many negative events that have been happening in recent times at home and abroad, anything that helps people to feel better about themselves and each other is vitally important.” Sabina Voysey, The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Director General Read the report: ckw.nz/outjoyment Download : ckw.nz/outjoyment-pdf DOC has also given us articles about 'outjoyment' A new free guide to help improve well-being by connecting with nature for therapy is available in Tairāwhiti, Gisborne. Short walks, sightseeing, photography, and bird and wildlife watching were the most popular outdoor activities for kiwi and international visitors. Articles in this issue on the freedom camping law changes: Predictable problems with the new CSC green warrant system (p2) Editorial (p3) Self-containment warrant cards: Which one is yours? (p6) So you want to freedom camp (p8) What is ‘self-contained’, anyway? (p10) Enforcement of freedom camping rules (p12) I am not freedom camping' cards (p14) Do your bit: Task of the week (p16) No more freedom camping (p16) Kaikōura: the freedom camping Wild West (p18) Hey NZ Govt? You are messing with my mental health (p20) 7 days a week (p21) Celebrating Summer (p5) ​ GO TO Celebrating Summer I just want to go camping. It’s healthy, its fun, and it keeps me sane. ​ Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 20 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 CONTENTS PDF BUY ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

Waiting on a law change Up Gary Stoneley, NZ Lifestyle Camping The Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Bill As this magazine goes to print we are waiting to hear the government select committee’s recommendation of the bill introduced by Stuart Nash MP. There are three parts to the proposed legislation, requiring certified self contained vehicles to have a fixed toilet, changes to the regulatory powers for camping on government controlled land and greater regulation of the certification process. Of greatest concern to NZ vehicle campers has been the draconian approach of requiring permanently fixed toilets which would unfairly penalise thousands of responsible NZ campers, in multiple types of vehicles and from all walks of life. Bringing in greater camping restrictions at a time when we should be encouraging NZer’s to be better prepared and more resilient in case of emergency has no logic. Lets hope that common sense prevails as in the words of Todd McClay MP: “This legislation has been poorly drafted and needs fixing. Labour should not misuse its Parliamentary majority to pass a poorly-written law that will unfairly restrict thousands of responsible campers.” See also What’s in a name? The power of bylaws If the law changes Up Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 In a time when we should be encouraging NZer’s to be better prepared and more resilient ... 1/0

4 Winter 2023 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up Let’s go south for a few weeks’ Angela Bryan Up Let’s go South for a few weeks.’ How many weeks?’ ‘Eight.’ ‘How about six?’ ‘OK. let’s see how it goes.’ That’s pretty much how the conversation with hubby went when I saw an opening to get him away in our 6.5m Leisureline caravan for more than a long weekend or a couple of weeks holiday. So after booking ferry crossings we were off. First stop over was the shores of Lake Ohakuri in the Taupo area. Early March had some decently nice days to just chill out and unwind from all the preparation needed to be away from our orchard for an extended period. Peace and quiet, nice cuppa and hot pools to relax in, although they were a bit cooler than normal due to the large amount of rain from the two recent cyclones. We had decided we would avoid the main highways where possible on this trip and get to see a bit more of the country — stop off at those places we just normally drive through, and have a look around. Our next destination was Raetihi, travelling the western side of Lake Taupo and the Tongariro National Park. There is some beautiful scenery through this area. ©2023 Angela Bryan So our next destination was Raetihi, travelling the western side of Lake Taupo and the Tongariro National Park. There is some beautiful scenery through this area. We rocked up to the Raetihi Holiday Park mid afternoon and got one of the last two powered sites they had. Who would have thought Raetihi is a busy place? Well it certainly is. The holiday park is the base for a lot of rafting and tramping trips and there were people coming and going constantly. A lovely small park with reasonably priced sites and the most amazing ablution block you will ever see. If you’re in this area stopping in here for the night is a must, just for the showers. Recently built, the block contains all the usual amenities. The lights turn on automatically when you walk into the toilets, nice but no big deal. When you walk into the shower cubicle, big enough for mum and a couple of kids, the light turns on, the fan turns on, and the heat lamp turns on . Yes, the heat lamp . There’s no reaching to the back of the shower to turn it on and getting wet at the same time, loads of room to keep clothes and shoes dry and the pressure, did I mention the pressure? The showers are free and the place is spotless. Well done Raetihi Holiday Park . I am impressed. Ohakune From Raetihi it is an easy drive to Ohakune to take a ride on the cycle track around the town, you can even get a shuttle up to Horopito and bike back into Ohakune. iSite staff assured me it is downhill most of the way, but I’ll take their word for it. We cruised around the riverside track and then stopped off at The Chocolate Éclair Shop for the biggest sweet treat ever. There are lots of cafes in Ohakune to suit every taste. It is an easy drive up to the Whakapapa ski field where there is nothing going on at this time of year but amazing views. Wanganui Lakeside was a perfect spot to base ourselves for some sightseeing around Wanganui, bike riding and paddle steaming, not to mention checking out the local cafés. ©2023 Angela Bryan From Raetihi it was on to Whanganui via SH4. We had been told about Lakelands Holiday Park on the shores of Lake Wiritoa on the outskirts of Whanganui. We were not disappointed, a lovely peaceful spot right on the shores of the lake and only a 10 minute drive into the city. A perfect spot to base ourselves for some sightseeing, bike riding and paddle steaming, not to mention checking out the local cafés. Mmmm that’s the second time I’ve mentioned cafés. When we’re away we feel some responsibility to contribute to the local economy so instead of going out for dinner, which can be a lottery when you don’t know the area, we have an early lunch at a café. This covers the morning coffee fix and keeps us going through until we are feet up with a cuppa and scones back at the caravan. Manawatu & CampFest After seeing Whanganui it was off to the Manawatu where we parked up at a friend’s place for a week while visiting friends and family in the area before heading to the CampFest at the Bulls Domain. This is a great free camping spot as well. I wasn’t sure what I had got myself into when I offered to help out at CampFest, but I must say it was one of the most enjoyable camping weekends we have ever had. Loads of chilled-out relaxed campers in every mode of camping you could think of and everyone generally had a great weekend. We will be back for next year to meet more of our fellow campers and make new friends. More on CampFest Cook Strait So it was off across Cook Strait to the South Island, the last sailing before all sailings were cancelled due to 11m swells. It wasn’t pleasant, but we got there. Canterbury On the mainland it was on to Canterbury for another family catch-up. We turned off at Amberley and took the scenic road through Rangiora and Oxford and down the southern side of the Waimakariri River. Waimakariri River ©2023 Angela Bryan There seemed to be lots of lovely spots that one could stop over for the night if the local freedom camping bylaws allow (we didn’t check as we were headed for family again). Have you ever stopped at Darfield? It is only 45 minutes out of Christchurch and on the main highway to the West Coast but it is well worth a stop. The best bakery around with a massive selection of pies, and loads of small crafty shops to browse around, and again, with a couple of lovely cafés. There’s a very easy cycle track and if you want to leave the village we found the local roads easy to navigate and there was not much traffic. But at some point we were biking into the wind — just as well our bikes have batteries. Hanmer Springs The DOC camp on the outskirts of Hanmer. ©2023 Angela Bryan From Canterbury it was back on the road up SH1 heading to Hanmer Springs to meet up with motorhoming friends. We arrived to a stunning sunny afternoon, 25 degrees, and parked up at the DOC camp on the outskirts of town. Nice flat spaces on the banks of a stream with a very serviceable toilet block (see picture in the slideshow), and sandflies, loads of sandflies. There is a very pretty forestry walking and bike track and even a bike skills park where you can test your balance abilities. Probably not on the e-bike. Over the next 24hrs the temperature plummeted to 2 degrees and by the time we left there was snow below the tree line. We drove through the Lewis Pass with light snow falling. Murchison The Buller river, from Lakeside Holiday Camp. ©2023 Angela Bryan Our plan for this trip was to see as much as we could of the Tasman area so we headed north, stopping off for a couple of nights at the Riverside Holiday Park in Murchison. The Maruia Falls, on the way, are well worth the stop for a short walk and there’s plenty of room to park up for a lunch break. Riverside Holiday Park is, as it says, right on the river. With a lovely walk through the Kahikatea Reserve right on the boundary of the Kahurangi National Park. ©2023 Angela Bryan It has a great communal kitchen area with a large deck looking out over the river, complete with couches and armchairs for just chilling out and relaxing. There is a jumping pillow to keep the kids happy and they have well laid out level sites, all with power and water right there. While in Murchison, a short drive up the Buller Gorge takes you to the longest swing bridge in NZ, very entertaining for those that have a head for heights. On the other side there is a bush walk to a 300yr old kahikatea and then you can take the flying fox back across the river. Tasman There is so much to see and do in the Tasman-Golden Bay area. Holiday parks galore and also loads of park over properties and places where you can freedom camp. There are the most amazing cycle trails. The Great Taste Trail goes from Nelson to Kaiteriteri, through the Motueka Valley to Tapawera and on to Belgrave, Wakefield and back into Richmond and Nelson. We conquered an easy ride through vineyards and into Richmond comfortably with a stop off for lunch to refuel. You could do more or less as the mood takes you. There is a plethora of tourist attractions in the area: a visit to the Classic Car Museum in Nelson and Hoglund Glass Blowing Studio ckw.nz/glass filled in a rainy afternoon for us. The Tasman area seems to have a township every 20 kilometres and there’s something to stop and see in every one of them. From downtown Nelson, Tahunanui, Stoke, Richmond, Hope, Brightwater, Wakefield — just loads to see and do. Wakefield has one of the best bakeries around with the famous Wakefield pies. Definitely worth a stop off. Then there is Appleby, Mapua, Ruby Bay and Rabbit Island. A detour off SH 60 via the Moutere Highway takes you to Upper Moutere Village, a visit here is a must. It is the home of the Moutere Inn, the oldest pub in New Zealand. Unfortunately it was closed for the two nights we were there so we didn’t get to check it out. But the village has some quaint shops, cafés and a really good fish and chip shop. On the western side of the Tasman area is Motueka, well worth a wander through the town. If you’re keen, you can cycle this whole area. Motueka also has the best dump station that we came across in our whole trip. Easily accessible from both directions for the biggest of vehicles and room for two vehicles to use it at the same time, plus a fresh water fill up. Golden Bay After not enough days in the Tasman area we headed west over the Takaka Hill. Now that is a hill. 257 corners, a lot of them hairpin. Unfortunately there is nowhere to stop and take photos of the amazing views when you are towing a caravan, but it is so beautiful. Cape Farewell ©2023 Angela Bryan We made our way through Takaka and Collingwood on to Pakawau where we based ourselves to visit Cape Farewell. There are tours that take you all the way out to the lighthouse on Farewell Spit but we decided to have a look around by ourselves for the day. Cape Farewell is a fairly impressive place but if you don’t like heights it is very unnerving. We decided to take a drive to Whanganui Inlet and perhaps go on to Mangarakau and see the West Coast. After an hour of driving on rutted, gravel road I felt like my bones were about to fall apart so we decided to turn around. Not a road I would drive again but the scenery is so worth it. It was back to camp and a nice long walk along Pakawau’s beach to relax. Anatoki Salmon Fishing and Café have a free camp area on the outskirts of Takaka. It is easily accessible and a large area for the biggest of rigs. This was a great base while we investigated the Takaka area with the added bonus that you can try your hand at fishing as well. They say fishing is about the vibes you send down the line, well we didn’t have the right energy flowing at all. No fish for us after a couple of hours of casting and reeling it back in. So time for a coffee and some lunch at the café and watch the people who stood just where we had been catch two fish in five minutes! Oh well, free entertainment; you only pay for what you catch, and they will smoke it for you as well. If you are in Takaka, The Wholemeal Café is well worth a visit or two, or three. It was recommended to us by fellow campers and it didn’t disappoint. One of the nicest cafés we visited on our trip, at least according to the other half. A stroll through the main street of Takaka, which is also the main highway, will fill in a good part of the afternoon, there are so many interesting shops to stop off and have a look at. The men might not agree, but hey… A short drive from Takaka is the Labyrinth Rocks . The outcrop of limestone rocks forms a labyrinth of paths that twist and turn and you never quite know where you will end up. Fun for all ages, just let the child inside free to imagine. The drive to Pohara, Tarakohe, Ligar Bay and Tata Beach is well worth it. You can stop off and visit the Abel Tasman Monument on the way which has amazing views of Golden Bay. At Port Tarakohe you can see where the road has been cut under the ancient rock formations. It was back over the mighty Takaka Hill into the Tasman area on Easter Friday, the traffic going to Takaka was bumper to bumper including a cyclist on the way down the hill — hope he had good brakes. Winblue Farm is a lovely park over property between Hope and Brightwater, quiet with free fruit from the gardens and within cycling distance of the Great Taste Trail if you are feeling like some exercise. Mapua Village is a quaint little village with quite a few boutique shops and art galleries, nice for a coffee and a wander. You can drive out to Kaiteriteri and around the bay to Split Apple Rock, or take a kayak tour via the water if you prefer. The rock sits just off a lovely secluded beach which is a 10 minute walk from the road, all downhill. Trouble with that is it is a long haul back uphill on the way out. You don’t realise how steep it is on the way down, but it is well worth the walk. Wairau Valley and Blenheim Departing Tasman we decided to take the long road to Blenheim via St Arnaud and the Wairau Valley. The scenery is just stunning, driving along the river and through the vineyards. Our park up for our last few nights in the South Island was at Spring Creek Holiday Park , a lovely park that has a creek running through it complete with friendly eels to feed. So much to do in Blenheim, a visit to the Omaka Aviation Museum is a must or on a Sunday you can grab a coffee and sit in the carpark and watch all the vintage planes come and go. If you’re lucky while you’re in Blenheim you might get to see the Passchendaele steam train ckw.nz/steam, we just happened upon it while we were visiting the iSite. According to locals it comes out for special occasions or if there is a cruise ship in port. Again there are some great cycle trails as well, through the vineyards and up into the hills. Port Underwood ©2023 Angela Bryan We took a drive out to Port Underwood and on to Picton from there. Now that is a road you don’t want to drive while towing the caravan, or in the motorhome. Thankfully we had some local advice and didn’t. It is only 60kms but takes the best part of two hours to drive. Must be one of the narrowest and windiest roads in the country, but when you get to the top the views are just astounding. It’s one of those roads that you are glad you drove, but you’ll never drive it again. So back north on Bluebridge’s Connemara and thankfully it was a pleasant sailing. Something we did on this trip that we’ve never done before was book a cabin on the ferry, both ways. It was well worth the $40 — on the rough sailing it was nice to have somewhere I could rest. We will definitely do it again, both the cabin and the trip. 23/09/23 Lake Taupo ©2023 Angela Bryan Durie Hill Tower ©2023 Angela Bryan lets_Cape Farewell 2_MW.webp Lake Taupo ©2023 Angela Bryan 1/25 Up Up ​

4 Winter 2023 ISSUE 4 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up Camping The Kiwi Way, Winter 2023 ​ Up Featured ‘ Let’s go south for a few weeks ’ ‘How many weeks?’ ‘Eight.’ ‘How about six?’ Greenies on the road : Managing food scraps. Winter's here : Some of our most glorious times camping have been in the winter season. Tips and tricks. Before the cyclone : Freedom Camping Eastern Hawke's Bay, Winter 2022. Kiwi Burn Hut Loop Track : We put it to a family-friendly test: with my toddler (and his dada) in tow, we set out. Self containment changes in brief RV & Camper business services : Self containment, LPG work, electrical work, motorhome work & more. Table of Contents 2 Small town friendly 4 Editorial: The good news 4 One hundred nights a year 4 Winter’s not going to stop Mavis 5 ‘Let’s go south for a few weeks’ 6 Why we chose our Swift Sprite Quattro caravan 7 I am on track 7 Eight degrees of harm 8 Halfway through my 73 days traveling 9 Greenies on the road: Managing food scraps 10 A stove jack 11 It was cold at Mavora Lakes. Plenty of snow around. 12 Winter's here... Tips and tricks 13 Pegs for tough weather 13 Quinneys Bush Family Holiday Camp 14 Get on ya bike 16 Two long blacks and a cheese scone 17 I did it! My very first solo camping and tramping trip! 18 Gold miner Wattie Thompson 19 Before the cyclone : Freedom Camping Eastern Hawke's Bay, Winter 2022 23 Winter at Nokomai Station 23 CampFest — Bulls, 2023 24 Kiwi Burn Hut Loop Track, Mavora Lakes : A family test 26 Waikato west coast road trip 27 Camping as a young family 27 Recipes for camping: Vege Nachos 27 Our morning view, heater on 28 Game: Fill in the grid 29 Kimbolton Sculpture Festival 2023 33 Stop and Stay The Store cafe and camp – Kekerungu (Marlborough) Lakelands Holiday Park , Whanganui 34 NZers go camping: clubs & groups : Life of Van 34 EVENTS — Camping 35 EVENTS — Festivals and show s 36 Self containment changes in brief 37 RV & Camper business services 47 Coffee Time Up Up ​ 1/0

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up Autumn, Issue 3, Camping the Kiwi Way Up Miriam Richardson Up Up We bring you travel stories, tips, wonderful places to visit, insight into political changes, some solid information, a puzzle, light reading, serious reading and some fun browsing. Buy a copy, subscribe for a year's worth of copies, read it on paper, read it here or read the pdf. The choice is yours. Only $12 a copy delivered, $36 for 4 issues. BUY Featured in this issue CAMP FEST Family friendly tramping A beautiful country but... Saving rural communities? RV businesses and services Camping the Kiwi WayMagazine Issue 3, Autumn 2023 ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSN 2815-827X (Online) © 2023 All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc Editor: Miriam Richardson editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz campingthekiwiway.org.nz Published quarterly by All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc & NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd Advertising editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz ckw.nz/advertising Classified Ads ckw.nz/classifieds Share your group in the next issue Contributions are invited from individuals and camping (or related) clubs. If your group or club is promoting NZers enjoying our great outdoors, we would like to share your stories.Tenting, caravanning, motorhoming, van camping, bike camping, hiking and more. • Your camping photos and stories. Your club stories and photos. Upcoming events that include camping. Opinion pieces on camping issues. Technical / helpful articles. Photos 1mb or more in size. Email words and (separate) images: editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz Contributions close • May 1 for the Winter issue For late-breaking articles talk to the editor. ​ 1/0 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 3 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up Autumn, Issue 3, Camping the Kiwi Way Up Miriam Richardson Up Up We bring you travel stories, tips, wonderful places to visit, insight into political changes, some solid information, a puzzle, light reading, serious reading and some fun browsing. Buy a copy, subscribe for a year's worth of copies, read it on paper, read it here or read the pdf. The choice is yours. Only $12 a copy delivered, $36 for 4 issues. BUY Featured in this issue CAMP FEST Family friendly tramping A beautiful country but... Saving rural communities? RV businesses and services Camping the Kiwi WayMagazine Issue 3, Autumn 2023 ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSN 2815-827X (Online) © 2023 All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc Editor: Miriam Richardson editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz campingthekiwiway.org.nz Published quarterly by All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc & NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd Advertising editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz ckw.nz/advertising Classified Ads ckw.nz/classifieds Share your group in the next issue Contributions are invited from individuals and camping (or related) clubs. If your group or club is promoting NZers enjoying our great outdoors, we would like to share your stories.Tenting, caravanning, motorhoming, van camping, bike camping, hiking and more. • Your camping photos and stories. Your club stories and photos. Upcoming events that include camping. Opinion pieces on camping issues. Technical / helpful articles. Photos 1mb or more in size. Email words and (separate) images: editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz Contributions close • May 1 for the Winter issue For late-breaking articles talk to the editor. ​ 1/0 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 3 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up Autumn, Issue 3, Camping the Kiwi Way Up Miriam Richardson Up Up We bring you travel stories, tips, wonderful places to visit, insight into political changes, some solid information, a puzzle, light reading, serious reading and some fun browsing. Buy a copy, subscribe for a year's worth of copies, read it on paper, read it here or read the pdf. The choice is yours. Only $12 a copy delivered, $36 for 4 issues. BUY Featured in this issue CAMP FEST Family friendly tramping A beautiful country but... Saving rural communities? RV businesses and services Camping the Kiwi WayMagazine Issue 3, Autumn 2023 ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSN 2815-827X (Online) © 2023 All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc Editor: Miriam Richardson editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz campingthekiwiway.org.nz Published quarterly by All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc & NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd Advertising editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz ckw.nz/advertising Classified Ads ckw.nz/classifieds Share your group in the next issue Contributions are invited from individuals and camping (or related) clubs. If your group or club is promoting NZers enjoying our great outdoors, we would like to share your stories.Tenting, caravanning, motorhoming, van camping, bike camping, hiking and more. • Your camping photos and stories. Your club stories and photos. Upcoming events that include camping. Opinion pieces on camping issues. Technical / helpful articles. Photos 1mb or more in size. Email words and (separate) images: editor@campingthekiwiway.org.nz Contributions close • May 1 for the Winter issue For late-breaking articles talk to the editor. ​ 1/0 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 3 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

4 Winter 2023 ISSUE 4 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up Camping The Kiwi Way, Winter 2023 ​ Up Featured ‘ Let’s go south for a few weeks ’ ‘How many weeks?’ ‘Eight.’ ‘How about six?’ Greenies on the road : Managing food scraps. Winter's here : Some of our most glorious times camping have been in the winter season. Tips and tricks. Before the cyclone : Freedom Camping Eastern Hawke's Bay, Winter 2022. Kiwi Burn Hut Loop Track : We put it to a family-friendly test: with my toddler (and his dada) in tow, we set out. Self containment changes in brief RV & Camper business services : Self containment, LPG work, electrical work, motorhome work & more. Table of Contents 2 Small town friendly 4 Editorial: The good news 4 One hundred nights a year 4 Winter’s not going to stop Mavis 5 ‘Let’s go south for a few weeks’ 6 Why we chose our Swift Sprite Quattro caravan 7 I am on track 7 Eight degrees of harm 8 Halfway through my 73 days traveling 9 Greenies on the road: Managing food scraps 10 A stove jack 11 It was cold at Mavora Lakes. Plenty of snow around. 12 Winter's here... Tips and tricks 13 Pegs for tough weather 13 Quinneys Bush Family Holiday Camp 14 Get on ya bike 16 Two long blacks and a cheese scone 17 I did it! My very first solo camping and tramping trip! 18 Gold miner Wattie Thompson 19 Before the cyclone : Freedom Camping Eastern Hawke's Bay, Winter 2022 23 Winter at Nokomai Station 23 CampFest — Bulls, 2023 24 Kiwi Burn Hut Loop Track, Mavora Lakes : A family test 26 Waikato west coast road trip 27 Camping as a young family 27 Recipes for camping: Vege Nachos 27 Our morning view, heater on 28 Game: Fill in the grid 29 Kimbolton Sculpture Festival 2023 33 Stop and Stay The Store cafe and camp – Kekerungu (Marlborough) Lakelands Holiday Park , Whanganui 34 NZers go camping: clubs & groups : Life of Van 34 EVENTS — Camping 35 EVENTS — Festivals and show s 36 Self containment changes in brief 37 RV & Camper business services 47 Coffee Time Up Up ​ 1/0

1: Spring 2022 ISSUE 1 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up Issue 1, Spring 2022 Miriam Richardson Up Buy a copy, subscribe for a year's worth of copies, read it on paper, read it here or read the pdf. The choice is yours. Only $12 a copy delivered, $36 for 4 issues. BUY We bring you travel stories, tips, wonderful places to visit, insight into political changes, some solid information, a crossword: light reading, serious reading and some fun browsing. Enjoy Up Up Your magazine 1/0 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 1 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

BUY PDF CONTENTS 5 Spring 2023 Up Cooking on the road: planning food for…off the road Up Junaya Binns ​ WInning an adventure This winning adventure package came with a 2 person tent, 2 camp chairs, a light for the tent, 2 self inflating sleeping mats and a cute little collapsible table. Thanks Kiwi Camping! We are van-life people, so we had to investigate the facilities in full, and we appreciated the help of Jonathan Collins from NZ Fun Adventures. No power or showers just long drop toilet facilities and the ground you camp on. And we don’t have a boat. No fridge. Jonathan loaned us a massive chilly bin. Getting there by water taxi meant space was of premium importance! How to carry enough food? The most enjoyable part of this adventure was experiencing the ‘true blue’, ‘pay it forward’ Kiwi nature. We had the absolute best site of this campground, right on the lake front, so we became the camp meet and greet, as everyone else camping there had boats. As people arrived, we would jump up and help carry their gear up to the elevated sites. Through this we met some wonderful people. Which gained us 5-minutes boat rides to the amazing natural hot pools that were otherwise a long, 1hr 30min, uphill trek! When we ran out of alcohol on the last night, a lot of those who we met and helped and engaged with in the evenings, quickly came to our rescue. Got to love NZ! So, if you want to get away from absolutely everything including reception, Lake Tarawera Hot Water Beach is the place to go. And so ... We won a 4-day camp adventure at Lake Tarawera Hot Water Beach in Rotorua for Easter this year, courtesy of NZ Fun Adventures. We are van-life people, and this site is only accessible via water, no van this time! How on earth were we going to keep food cold for 5 days? With the date, the tenting gear, a loaned chilly bin ready to go, it was time to plan. Let the planning begin To reduce the amount of carry-on I decided to pre-prepare the meals then flat pack freeze them in large snap lock bags for easy stacking in the chilly bin. Also freezing 8 large bottles of water to layer on the bottom of the chilly bin, as there is no drinking water available at this site, so as well as food we required enough drinking water for the 5-day escape. Top tip: Take baking paper to line your frying pan, we did not have to wash the pan once while away. Another top tip, for this site in particular —the ground is hot so forage for some logs and get your chilly bin off the ground. Dinners Night 1: After a long drive up from Wellington to ensure we met the water taxi on time. we set up camp. We are no strangers to tents but have not done it for a while, and dinner was going to be quick before daylight faded. So American hot dogs it was. We only took 1 frying pan so everything had to be one-pan meals. I packed the sauces into tiny containers so no wastage or leftovers floating around; pre-grated a small bag of cheese, just enough for the meal. Fried the hot dogs, filled the rolls popped them back in the pan, foil on top to get the delicious melty goodness, boom! All ready in 15 mins. The next 3 nights are meals that I had prepared and flat pack frozen at home. Night 2: Creamy chorizo and mushroom pasta. Night 3: Home made sweet and sour pork with udon noodles Night 4: Vegetarian nachos, just in case things weren’t so cold at this point. We topped them with plain yoghurt and of course piled high on the chips. Dinners covered, we then had to think about brunch food. Brunch We still wanted to tantalise the taste buds with holiday goodies like bacon and eggs and so on. So again, to combat the space issue, I decided to pre-make and freeze camp toasties! An absolute favourite of ours. These are no basic toasties by any means, chock full of all things breakfast. You can make them as amazing as your creativity takes you. Simply construct using your favourite loaf and wrap individually and freeze them fresh, no pre-toasting. Save the toasting for the one pan on the day. These also stack amazingly in the chilly bin. The rest To wrap it up, the only thing we had to make fresh was our coffee in the morning. Nothing took longer than 15mins to reheat or toast in the pan and like I say, baking paper was key!! No washing of the pan only the 2 plates, cutlery, and coffee mugs. We also took a 24-pack of water bottles just in case, which came in handy for teeth brushing and providing the hikers, that passed through daily, thirsty after their 5 hours walk, and not realising they couldn’t refill their bottles at the beach while they waited for the water taxi, to arrive to pick them up Junaya & Dan @adventures_of_the_escapegoats (instagram) Up Up I decided to pre-prepare the meals then flat pack freeze them Click on the gallery for a full size view The best site We had the absolute best site of this campground, right on the lake front. On the lake front, Lake Tarawera. We became the camp meet and greet On the lake front, Lake Tarawera. The best site We had the absolute best site of this campground, right on the lake front. 1/6

BUY PDF CONTENTS 5 Spring 2023 Up Small town: Waiau Up Miriam Richardson ​ A small, North Canterbury, gem of a town, with friendly, welcoming locals, walks, exhibits, cycle rides, shops and free overnighting. Perfect for a couple of nights. Or more. Waiau, in the Hurunui district, is on State Highway 70, the Inland Kaikōura Route, that links Kaikōura with Hanmer Springs and Amberley. It is a short side trip off SH7, the Lewis Pass highway. Settled in 1860, it is the oldest settlement in the region and the local historical society has created an intriguing range of exhibits to interest and inform, including the original gaol, a shed full of carriages, and museum displays in an old sod cottage and an old church. Plenty to explore, even out-of-hours. Three sad events hit Waiau in the last 7 years. Waiau was near the epicentre of the 2016 earthquake, suffering considerable damage to buildings and roads. The Waiau Lodge Hotel, red-stickered after the earthquake, burned to the ground in 2021. In 2022 the beautiful local campground was closed, taking the dump station with it. Where you can stay The Waiau Tavern offers free overnight stays (including tents), in exchange for you enjoying the tavern’s fare. Dogs are welcome. The parks are in the grassed-over space where the hotel once stood or on hard stand by the tavern. There is a toilet, also used by the tavern patrons, and a water tap, available on request. To the north of Waiau there is a freedom camping spot in a lay-by beside the Wandle Bridge. Hurunui (weirdly) requires you to arrive after 8pm and leave by 8am. Mt Lyford Lodge, 22km north, offers powered and unpowered campsites on 3 nights of the week. Facilities The Waiau Tavern serves the 300-odd locals and visitors with drinks, marvellous food (both dine-in and takeaway), a lovely outdoor area, really friendly locals, pool, and overnight parking. The town also has a dairy /cafe, Brenda’s on Lyndon, the well-stocked Waiau Foodmarket, a hardware store and two fuel pumps (one with 24-hour access). There is free wifi in the township. Look for the sign on the public toilets for instructions. A recycling depot is across the river. Walking, cycling, swimming, exploring in Waiau There are two 30 minutes walks, plus there is the Waiau historical trail, a meander with many interest points. There are 3 bike rides from the township, one 90, two 60 minutes return, a mixture of sealed and gravel surfaces. Waiau is on the 260km Hurunui Heartland Cycle Ride between Kaikoura and Christchurch. The swimming pool is open in the warmer months and visitors can get a key to use it. Waiau is a small town that welcomes visitors, enjoys meeting them, and has things to do and a place to stay. Time your visit to join in, or come along and just enjoy it. Miriam Richardson Links Waiau: waiau.nz Waiau Tavern: ckw.nz/waiau-tavern Cycling in Waiau: ckw.nz/waiau-cycle Hurunui Heartland: ckw.nz/hurunui-cycle The Alpine Pacific Route Join in with these Waiau events Events at Waiau Restore rally 13–15 Oct. A rider event, open to all over 18yrs. Bikes, trikes, all welcome. Fireworks fundraiser. Waiau pig hunt is on at Labour Weekend (21–23 Oct).A fund raiser for the fire brigade. Hurunui garden festival 26–29 Oct. Gardens, workshops, events, tours, food. Waiau fireworks 4 Nov. Fab night out with lots of fun, family entertainment, stalls. Pay with cash. Amuri A&P show Every March since 1916, in Rotherham, the neighbouring township. 6–7 Apr. For competent riders of off-road motorcycles and ATVs. Set on breathtaking farms. Basic overnight camping. School fundraiser. The old hotel’s stone fence bounds the camping area. Below, the old hotel entry. Up Up A gem of a town Click on the gallery for a full size view The Waiau Tavern Outdoors at the Waiau Tavern Rag rug closeup The Cob Cottage Museum The Waiau Tavern 1/31

BUY PDF CONTENTS 5 Spring 2023 Up Freedom inside the fence Up 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 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