Summer, Issue 2, Camping the Kiwi Way

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This issue is kindly sponsored by the 
All Points Camping Club of NZ and 
NZ Lifestyle Camping.

Taking a left turn

Are you a mainstream traveler, always following the main highways or are you a diversionist, taking that chance to detour from the main route to explore and maybe encounter something new or different? On our recent trip north we decided to veer from the main flow of traffic and take a left turn.

Editorial: A long hot summer

As we move towards summer the cabbage trees are in full and generous flower, the sign of a long hot summer to come, I am told.

Gore Bay

Gore Bay Camp is a small camp. The facilities are old, but usable. Such a great place to go for a weekend break close to our home in Christchurch.

Cycle touring: Part II, Southland to the West Coast

After my ride from Canterbury to Southland, the next step was to continue my clockwise circuit of the Island.

Ready for tomorrow’s ride

I’m in Rotorua today (MTB Mecca) ready for tomorrow’s ride, the Whakarewarewa Forest Loop: 33km, 3hr. Another one of the 23 Great Rides of NZ. ckw.nz/great-rides ©2022 Andrew Morton

Freedom camping, November 1964

One of my first memories of camping was at ‘Spec Creek’. You won’t find it on a map — it was just some little creek on the side of the road, somewhere in Central Otago, where our car broke down. There was nothing there.

How many freedom campers are there?

Nobody knows. The Ministry has made some guesses.

Talking to four van loads of international tourists

On my last roadie I met and chatted with four van loads of international tourists from UK, Australia and Germany who have been freedom camping around NZ in small (slider-type) hire vans from Escape or Jucy.

#vanlife #ontheroadagain #freedomcampingnz

Pick and pedal

Is that e-bike right for you? Many New Zealanders are now moving to e-bikes and they definitely have health advantages while being cheap to operate and maintain.

Camping / caravan tips — Setup / packup

Do you struggle when you set up your camp or your caravan?

Back in the days — Circa 2008

Back in the days — Circa 2008. That caravan was damned heavy behind the bike.

Implications for councils of the proposed ‘Nash bill

Here are the issues to consider with the major legislative change which is currently proposed and going through Select Committee hearings.

Buckets, gladwrap, and gossip

The Minister of Tourism the opened the speaking with gossip of buckets covered in gladwrap being used as toilets in motorhomes.

Wild camping with a dog on a wet wild night

It was a very wet, rainy camp with my dog in a dense bush.

It was Bentley's first overnighter using a tent & fly.

Choosing an internet provider

It’s a thorny problem, deciding how to connect to the internet on the road — so many different choices, plans and options; so many unfamiliar concepts. Here’s a ‘simple’ guide.

Here are the steps: • First: understand what you want or need. • Second: find out what is available and what it costs. • Third sleep on it, ask around, sleep on it again. • Fourth: decide between using a mobile phone, a modem (or satellite) for the internet. • Fifth: review available plans. Choose. Maybe sleep on it again. • Sixth: Sign up.

The Wild Wairarapa Coast

We spent a few days on the coast out from Martinborough, Te Awati camping area and then back to North Tora Reserve, some very rough coastline.

Ready for a family weekend away camping

Ready for a family weekend away camping.

National Parks : Game

Can you place all the national parks?

How we solved a problem and started a new business

It’s four years now since John first decided to do something to make emptying our toilet cassette easier and cleaner.

dumpmate.co.nz

Overnight beside the Aparima River

I slept overnight beside the Aparima River near Opio (Southland).

Worth a detour: The Marokopa River Valley

Next time you’re in the Waitomo area (the Waikato region of the North Island) it’s worth the detour to check out three natural landmarks that are really close together, on the Te Anga Road.

Freedom camping on the East Cape

Gisborne District Council have very clear freedom camping bylaws which demand waste management, #leavenotrace principles.

These bylaws clearly follow the intent of the Freedom Camping Act and look to be the perfect example for other districts

Nokomai station

Nokomai station on the way to Queenstown. We went there as kids; now we take our kids there.

Caravan & Motorhome Electrics by Collyn Rivers

This is a book for people who want to understand how their electrics work as well as for people who are designing / building / converting a caravan or motorhome.

Fishing at Kingston

Secured a magical spot beside the lakes edge at Kingston freedom camp and went fishing.

South Island Lakes: Game

Can you fill in the blanks?

Camping without a fridge: chilly bins and cooler bags

In the old days, people used “meat safes” or “safes” but my experience is with chilly bins or Esky cooler bags.

Evaporation can lower the temperature as much as 15°C

Pannekoeken for breakfast

Every trip we make a breakfast fruits pancake. Usually apple pannekoeken.

Best brunch option ever, and a traditional favourite!

Hitting the Northland beaches — Stop and Stay

Heading up to the top of the North Island to see Cape Reinga is on most people’s bucket lists. For those who enjoy a bit of camping, finding that perfect spot to stay is an added bonus. Finding two such places is something special. Tapotupotu DOC campsite. Matauri Bay Holiday Park

TIP: Solar panel cleaning

Except in rainy areas solar panels need cleaning from time to time.

Never wipe them dry and especially do not polish them

Finally made it out to Ocean Beach

Finally made it out to Ocean Beach in Whangarei. Mavis in her natural habitat.

Hints and tips on toilet cassettes

I figured Heather and John had put lots of time into thinking into how best to manage a toilet cassette as they developed their Dump Mate, so I asked them to share their best tips with us. Editor

A DIY tool to unscrew the top of the cassette

This tool takes some of the pressure off the plastic lugs, that get some stress every time you open up the cassette for cleaning.

Katikati coastal estuary cycle way

Cycling on a stunning Spring day around the Katikati coastal estuary cycle way.

Instagrammable: making the most of instagram

So many travellers, campers, and vanlifers are recording their journeys on 'the gram' these days, sharing snippets of their lives, packaged neatly in squares or reels.

Beware of what you see though stories

Purakaunui Bay Campsite

What a stunner this place was! Nothing like falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the beach.

Test the person not the vehicle

RCAi is a strong advocate for positive solutions to any freedom camping issue, working to protect the right to freedom camp on public land in line with the current permissive Freedom Camping Act, and the Bill of Rights Act.

Responsible camping — whether using a pup tent or staying in a house-bus — is at the heart of our mission.

Another beautiful day at Tangimoana

Another beautiful day at Tangimoana. (Manawatu)

Preparing for the cold winter "brrrrrr's"

Darn, we could only get the new heater up to 10ºC on that night, and woke to a -3ºC frost. We opened the oven door, lit the gas and waited for sunshine.

Now’s the time to plan or prepare your caravan, bus or motorhome for next winter. I asked Linda to tell us about her journey to warm up their bus. Editor

Tanners Point

Paradise is when you coddiwomple to a pristine tidal bay for a swim and discover what the locals already know.

Articles from Collyn Rivers

Three helpful articles on electrics.

Clifden Suspension Bridge

Car camping allows me to still enjoy the outdoors, here at Clifden Suspension. Bridge

NZers go camping: clubs & groups on Facebook

Found on Facebook: NZ Cycling groups; NZ Women travelling; NZ Camping groups

EVENTS — Camping

Camps advertised by All Points Camping and NZ Fun Adventures

For more camps keep an eye on allpointscampingnz.org/events & ckw.nz/nzfunadventures-events (FB)

EVENTS — Festivals and Shows

These events offer an opportunity for people to overnight while they attend. Some are restricted to certified self contained vehicles, some restrict or ban pets. Check the event website for details.