7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Looking west, uphill Scottland Motorhome Park, Bannockburn. ©2024 M Richardson Looking up the valley to Carricktown Scottland Motorhome Park, Bannockburn. ©2024 M Richardson Looking down on Cromwell and Lake Dunstan beyond. Scottland Motorhome Park, Bannockburn. ©2024 M Richardson Looking east, downhill. Scottland Motorhome Park, Bannockburn. ©2024 M Richardson Dump station Scottland Motorhome Park, Bannockburn. ©2024 M Richardson Wind. There is wind. Scottland Motorhome Park, Bannockburn. ©2024 M Richardson a windy and dramatic spot with wonderful hosts STOP and STAY Scottland Motorhome Park Miriam Richardson On the top of a ridge looking down on Cromwell one side, and towards Carricktown the other. It’s a windy spot with dramatic views, dramatic weather and the history of the valley is dramatic as well. Read the handout at the registration shed. No tents, children or dogs. Must be self-contained. Bill and Jenny set up their POP (Park Over Property) to have all the things they want when they are travelling, so it includes, water, a photo-worthy dump station for cassettes (left), a washing machine and 2 clothes lines (use your good pegs; it sure is windy), rubbish and recycling as well as a bucket for chook scraps. For grey water, they appreciate it being delivered to their trees, up here in the dry. Also, plugs for e-bike charging, and e-bikes for hire. They have a produce stall at the gate with fruit, eggs, jam, honey and fruit leather, depending on the season (greengages! blackboy peaches! yum!). Activities: walking and cycling, near the Lake Dunstan Trail, and Carrick tracks; wineries, historical sites, galleries. Bill & Jenny 34 Quartzville Rd, Bannockburn 0274 331 761 | 0274 317 101 jenny@xtra.co.nzscottabgood.info $10 a night. NZMCA discount. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 39

8 Winter 2024 Winter 2024 ISSUE 8 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Autumn Gold Ngawi Dave Adamson Ngawi, a great spot. Interesting way to launch boats. Bulldozers are essential. Wairarapa. ©2023 Dave Adamson Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 27

Here’s the exciting opportunities for your stay and cycle journey on the Waikato River Trails. Summer 2023 ISSUE 6 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up Biking the Waikato River Trails Up Glyn Wooller, Waikato River Trails Waikato River Trails recently attended the motorhome and campervan show at Mystery Creek, Hamilton. We were delighted and slightly overwhelmed with the interest in cycling, particularly from those with ebikes, and the keen interest in the camping areas along the trails. Here’s the exciting opportunities for your stay and cycle journey on the Waikato River Trails. The Trails are just over 100km long, extending from Atiamuri in the south to Lake Karapiro in the north. Seventy km is off-road and just over 30km on-road. The Trails largely sit close to the beautiful Waikato River with stunning scenery along each bend and it touches the villages of Atiamuri, Whakamaru, Mangakino and Arapuni. Cafés await you at Whakamaru, Mangakino and Arapuni. About half the use of the Trails is cycling the other half walking or running. Now the great news, if you have a campervan or caravan. Thanks to South Waikato and Taupo District Councils there are a number of fantastic riverside reserves available for camping, each directly connected to the trails. Dunhams reserve, Lake Whakamaru, Whakamaru reserve, Mangakino Lakefront reserve, Lake Mareatai, Jones Landing, Lake Arapuni and Little Waipa Reserve, Lake Karapiro. The Waikato River Trails website has detailed maps including all reserve locations. For maps and more information about the Waikato River Trails visit our website waikatorivertrails.co.nz . Have a great summer and we hope to see you on the trail — enjoy the ride, the cafes and remember if you need a shuttle there are great operators to help you out. A request from South Waikato District Council Freedom camping is welcomed at the following South Waikato District reserves: Little Waipa, Jones Landing, Lake Whakamaru Reserve and Dunhams Point. All these camping reserves have public toilets, BBQ, rubbish bins and shower facilities. Also boat ramp access. Council ask that you get a camping permit from the council website, it only takes a few minutes: ckw.nz/waikato-camp-permit Glyn Wooller, Waikato River Trails Up Up Waikato River Trails Waikato River Trails Waikato River Trails Waikato River Trails 1/3

11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Mavora Lakes ©2025 Tony Kissel Piano Flat My home for the next few weeks. Piano Flat ©2025 Tony Kissel Piano Flat A busy day here today at Piano Flat. A long weekend. They will all be gone tomorrow ©2025 Tony Kissel Laundry, Lumsden ©2025 Tony Kissel Mavora Lake ©2025 Tony Kissel Mavora Lake ©2025 Tony Kissel Mavora Lake ©2025 Tony Kissel Mavora Lake ©2025 Tony Kissel Pleasant flat Downsized my tent for tonight, getting everything packed this afternoon ready for a quick getaway in the morning. ©2025 Tony Kissel Native orchids Heaps of native orchids growing above my tent, the smallest variety in the world, if my memory is correct. ©2025 Tony Kissel kissel_weka.webp ©2025 Tony Kissel Laundry day again. Hokitika. I still can’t bring myself to walk away and come back when the cycle is finished, someone might pinch my undies, so it’s sit here on Facebook for the next 35 minutes ©2025 Tony Kissel Bike clean and repair time It has been fun having my bike with me on this trip but I hadn’t taken into consideration the fact I’d be travelling nearly 200km on gravel roads, which turned out to be very dry and dusty, my poor bike was caked in it. The dust set like clay on my chain and sprockets, playing havoc with my gears. Bought some cleaner and lube in Hoki this morning. All sorted I hope. ©2025 Tony Kissel The memorial to the seven men who were slain in the Stanley Graham ‘incident”’in 1941. Visited the memorial to the seven men who were slain in the Stanley Graham ‘incident”’in 1941, New Zealand’s first mass murder. If you look through the hole in the middle you can see the place where the first men were shot ©2025 Tony Kissel Biked up to Dorothy Falls for my daily exercise, a lovely spot… The sandflies thought so too. ©2025 Tony Kissel A typical West Coast day, not a cloud in the sky. It’s nice to see the Southern Alps from the “other side’. ©2025 Tony Kissel Hans Bay, Lake Kaniere ©2025 Tony Kissel Hans Bay, Lake Kaniere ©2025 Tony Kissel A perfect morning for my last day at Lake Kaniere. ©2025 Tony Kissel Late Summer journey: Southland & West Coast Tony Kissel 8 feb: My home for the next few weeks. Piano Flat. A busy day here today at Piano Flat. A long weekend. They will all be gone tomorrow. 20 Feb: Mavora Lakes. 27 Feb: Pleasant Flat. Downsized my tent for tonight, getting everything packed this afternoon ready for a quick getaway in the morning. There are 38 vehicles here at 8am, some had already gone, most with multiple occupants, yet I didn’t see a single camp-fee tag on any tent or vehicle. No wonder DOC is always crying poverty. Heaps of native orchids growing above my tent, the smallest variety in the world, if my memory is correct. It’s a beautiful country we live in. 1 Mar: Laundry day again, I wish we had one like this in Oamaru rather than the Liquid Laundry which requires you to pre-load a proprietary card that can only be used at their outlets, and supply your own detergent. This one in Hokitika does it for you. I still can’t bring myself to walk away and come back when the cycle is finished, someone might pinch my undies, so it’s sit here on Facebook for the next 35 minutes. Bike clean and repair time, it has been fun having my bike with me on this trip but I hadn’t taken into consideration the fact I’d be travelling nearly 200km on gravel roads, which turned out to be very dry and dusty, my poor bike was caked in it. The dust set like clay on my chain and sprockets, playing havoc with my gears. Bought some cleaner and lube in Hoki this morning. All sorted I hope. 2 Mar: Visited the memorial to the seven men who were slain in the Stanley Graham ‘incident”’in 1941, New Zealand’s first mass murder. If you look through the hole in the middle you can see the place where the first men were shot. 4 Mar: Biked up to Dorothy Falls for my daily exercise, a lovely spot… The sandflies thought so too. 5 Mar: A typical West Coast day, not a cloud in the sky. It’s nice to see the Southern Alps from the “other side’. 10 Mar: A perfect morning for my last day at Lake Kaniere. On to Karamea in the morning. ©2025 Tony Kissel Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 13

7 Autumn 2024 7 Autumn 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Saw 21 sunrises and 21 sunsets plus billions of stars ©2024 Bette Cosgrove 30 + swims; 3 lakes 4 rivers 9 beaches ©2024 Bette Cosgrove 21 days #vanlife ©2024 Bette Cosgrove 3 Sunday pannekoeken days ©2024 Bette Cosgrove billions of stars So thankful Bette Cosgrove After 21 days #vanlife freedom camping: 30 + swims; 3 lakes 4 rivers 9 beaches 12 FREE camps 2 koha sites 2 DOC paid sites 21 days of a happy dog 4 dump stations 3 Sunday pannekoeken days 1 Christmas dinner BBQ in the rain 19 sunny days 6 hours on the paddleboard 5 nights in family or friends’ driveways 15 regions of Te Ika-a-Maui crossed 2 meals of amazing fresh fush n chips 1 paua pie Multiple new friends made in lovely small towns where we spent $$$ at every stop. Saw 21 sunrises and 21 sunsets plus billions of stars. Photos ©2024 Bette Cosgrove STATUS: Free camping with a non-fixed toilet. Impossible after law changes. Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 9

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Sunday morning caravan Lego Beverley Stoneley Sunday morning caravan Lego with our boys, Eddie and Boston. ◊ ©2024 Beverley Stoneley Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 9

9 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 ISSUE 9 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson ©2024 M Richardson A bit of a learning curve It was freezing Miriam Richardson This winter was my first in the Otago cold— a bit of a learning curve. I looked enviously at people blithely heading to a snowy Mt Cook, or up to Omarama to experience the hoar frost ( “is it still there?” ) but I was too timid about the cold to venture. I knew that my water pipes were not insulated. I knew that frozen water pipes can split. I knew how to stop them splitting. That was pretty much all I knew. Here is what I learned. Fill the kettle so you have water for the morning when pipes are still frozen. Turn off the water pump, open a tap. This releases the pressure in the pipe and gives space for expansion as it freezes. Pipes don’t always defrost before the afternoon’s re-freeze begins. (Eeek!). Hoar frost can last for many days. Being plugged in to power fixes the lack of solar problem, but doesn’t fix the frozen pipes problem. You need a water container, with enough volume to last for several days of frozen pipes. Campground water pipes freeze too but the camp-ground kitchen will probably have running water. There are microclimates. The Bannockburn Campground where I stayed is in a very cold patch (pictured), while 8km away, Cromwell had clear skies. Moving gave me the chance to buy the missing water container (and decant the water from a bucket, wedged carefully and hopefully in my door-well), but I didn’t really need it once I had removed myself from the hoar-frosted valley. Thankfully the freeze was inconvenient rather than disastrous for me, and now I am no longer afraid to head into the colder places. I would (will!) get my water pipes lagged, and I quite fancy having a remote temperature gauge underneath, so I know just how cold it is under there for my water pipes. ◼️ Images ©2024 Miriam Richardson Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 19

BUY PDF CONTENTS Spring 2023 ISSUE 5 Up RV services South Is Up Up Up 1/0

Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF CONTENTS Issue 10, Summer 2024 Cover image: Waiorongomai Valley ©2024 Greg Lokes Editorial Come Camping Stop and Stay Contribute About TESTING DYNAMIC ISSUE 10 Table of contents Double-digit highways Next SH 32/41, West of Lake Taupo Next SH45 The Surf Coast Highway, Te Ika a Maui North Island Next SH60 Richmond to Collingwood, Tasman Next Butchers Dam aurora Next We got bogged: “Because it’d be funner,” he said Next And people wonder why I like camping Next Springing Next What a difference a day makes Next Waitaki first day Next Ōtaki Rivermouth Next NIWA summer forecast Next Camp Fest ‘25 Next All roads lead to Camp Fest Next I really like the Waiouru Army Museum Next Camping in Tairāwhiti this summer Next Freedom camping news Next Self-containment warrant cards: Which ones are valid? Next But I am not freedom camping… Next A roof-top tent Next Revolutionizing Kiwi camping with Fix’n’Rail Next What is out there Next This is the summer to visit Queenstown Next The Wairau Next Getting your camping vehicle certified Next Dealing with a caravan flat Next Sunday morning caravan Lego Next Old Blue Next Kea attack Next First time out with my new tent Next Thornbury-Aparima Bridge Reserve Next Temple Stream Next Marfells Beach Next Exploring Clandyboye Next Being able to get out into nature Next Making camping more accessible for everyone Next Caravan tales Next Dannevirke Holiday Park is making its facilities more accessible Next What a view to wake up to Next Danseys Pass Next From rugby to pets — How Covid19 started the tail wagging on HELPP VET Next Pippa in the hammock Next Planning to camp with your pet? Resources Next My day at the Ellesmere A&P Show Next The Slow Road Next My day at Ferrymead Next NZ Cheese Festival Next A long weekend on the Waikato River Next Safe toilet chemicals Next The fairy forest walk Next Teeming at Terako Downs Next Terako Downs entrance Next Up, up the Waiorongomai Valley Next Favourite and quick camping meals Next Alice cooking dinner on the BBQ Next Heating a pie Next Ordinary cycle Next Fishing in the snow Next Trying out my new quilt Next GAME: DOC campsites 4: Lower North Island Next HOBBIES: Disc golf Next Stop and Stay: City dwellers: 2nd camp: more adventurous Next Lake Poaka Next Rays Rest Next DOC update Next Uretiti Next King’s Birthday camp at Kekerengu Next Foxton Beach Next Three nights at Conway Flats Next Fantastic time at the Onearo campground Next Come camping Next Festivals Next The All Points Camping Club of NZ Next A summer of content: editorial Next Councils & Government Camping in Tairāwhiti this summer Read But I am not freedom camping… Read This is the summer to visit Queenstown Read Getting your camping vehicle certified Read Thornbury-Aparima Bridge Reserve Read Being able to get out into nature Read Making camping more accessible for everyone Read Dannevirke Holiday Park is making its facilities more accessible Read Safe toilet chemicals Read A summer of content: editorial Read Self-containment & Freedom Camping Camping in Tairāwhiti this summer Read Freedom camping news Read Self-containment warrant cards: Which ones are valid? Read But I am not freedom camping… Read This is the summer to visit Queenstown Read Getting your camping vehicle certified Read Thornbury-Aparima Bridge Reserve Read Being able to get out into nature Read Making camping more accessible for everyone Read Caravan tales Read Safe toilet chemicals Read View More

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Marshmallows in the rain Diana Ireland Marty toasting marshmallows in the rain. Thanks Quinney’s Bush for providing a brazier. Diana Ireland Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 27

8 Winter 2024 Winter 2024 ISSUE 8 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption The family at Rotorua ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan Coopers Beach ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan Coromandel Amodeo Bay Anglers Lodge ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan Russel ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan Cape Reinga ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan The family at Rotorua ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan GO TO Autumn Gold time to dream up and follow through on ridiculous ideas The road less travelled: ten lessons learned on the road Kimberlea Turner Three years ago we decided to trade the hustle and bustle of everyday life for the open road. Hitching up our caravan and waving goodbye to house-life, our family of four hit the road to explore our country, Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s been a whirlwind of experiences from picture perfect campsites, overnight hikes to breath-taking views, kayaking and sailing the stunning coastline, playing tourist in our own backyard and meeting a whole load of amazing people along the way. Sure, there have been some hiccups, (a flat tire in the middle of nowhere at 10pm at night comes to mind!) but the highs have always outweighed the lows and we find it so important to take some time to reflect on our incredible journey so far. Here’s a deep dive into 10 invaluable lessons we’ve learned from 3 years of full-time family travel. 1. The first year is all about learning, the second year is when you really start enjoying the journey. The first year can be tough — you learn to live in a confined space with your family, you spend half your life in search of the next dump station (or laundromat, water source, rubbish and recycling, supermarket or fuel station), setting up and packing up your rig, and juggling the travel/work/homeschool balance. Somewhere along the way this becomes organic, leaving you more time to dream up and follow through on ridiculous ideas… Like buying a sailboat. 2. The old cliché, don’t forget the journey. Initially we rushed everywhere to get to the destination (the classic, kids are sleeping — let’s just keep driving!) but the more we travel the less distance we cover and the more breaks we take. Waterfall walk on the side of the road? Sure, lets stop! Kids spot a playground? Why not! 3. You will bicker, and that’s ok. When you have multiple personalities packed into a confined environment, especially after a few days of rain, there will be some tense times! But you will make leaps and bounds in learning to communicate better and when to give others some space, or take some yourself. 4. Opportunities are endless Opportunities are endless once you’re available to take them. The best opportunities we’ve had along our travels (and consequently the friends we’ve made from them) have been as a direct result of us living on the road and being able to accept opportunities on a whim. 5. There will be some soul searching. You’ve left your job, got rid of most of your possessions and hit the road and it feels so freeing! Until eventually you discover how much of our identities are tied into the jobs we do and the lives we live. Who are you outside of what you do? Who do you want to be? What exactly do you want from this chapter of your life? There will be some soul searching… Spoiler alert: who you are when you hit the road is not the same as who you will be 3 years down the track… Personal growth, baby! 6. Home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling. It certainly helps we tow our 14m2 home on wheels behind us wherever we go, and when we’re tucked up at night we feel right at home no matter what landscape is outside our 4 walls, in fact, sometimes we have to crack a blind in the morning to remember where we are! But we’ve discovered that home isn’t the place we live, it’s the people we surround ourselves with and as long as our family is together, we feel at home wherever we are. 7. Take a moment to be in the moment. It’s so easy to get lost in the long list of things you want to do and see next or get frustrated when life inevitably throws a curve ball. We never would have dreamed 10 years ago we’d be doing what we are today and wouldn’t trade the experience for the world. Sometimes we need to stop and remind ourselves of that and take a moment to look around and appreciate where we are and the journey we’ve had along the way. And on that note… 8. You can see a lot, but you can’t see it all. How cute were we when we thought we could whip around New Zealand in a year or less?! 3 years later and we’ve been as far North, South, East and West as you can go and zig-zagged all over the middle. While we’ve ticked a lot off the list, we know we could do another 5 laps and still see new things each time. Have a list of top spots you want to visit but make time to follow your nose and ask for recommendations from locals and other travellers along the way. Be present and embrace the adventure. 9. Always have a plan B. Life happens, just have a plan B. 10. Just go. The rest will sort itself out. Looking back at all we’ve learned and the memories we’ve made, we can confidently say: we wouldn’t change a thing. See you out there! All photos ©2024 Two Kids and a Caravan facebook.com/twokidsandacaravan Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 5

Winter 2025 ISSUE 12 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption chilly-puffer_H.webp chilly-puffer.jpg GO TO CHILLY CHILLY CHILLY OUT THERE Plus a hottie! HUH ! Cracked it! Nick Hope It’s a pressure issue. Too cold. Turned fan on. Went for a couple of seconds, intermittent for a couple of bursts. Stopped. Bought a size 20 puffa jacket. Perfect fit for the gas bottle. Plus a hottie. Heated water to about 60°, and stuffed the water bottle in the jacket against the bottle. Whadiya know. Couple of mins later we got heat. 🏕️ Facebook comment: You’ll need something waterproof over it if you’re in the south or in a snow area. If it gets wet then freezes you wont get it off. I use waterproof synthetic horse rugs on my water and gas bottles. Been in -8° with 2 foot of snow on top: sweet as. Up Up 12 Winter 2025 , p 11