Important tenting hacks for a stress-free vacation

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January 22, 2022 4:00 p.m5 minutes to read

Make the most of the summer season with a breezy camping trip. Photo / Getty

If our Best of Summer campaign inspired you to book a trip to one of the top 10 campsites in the country, use these tips to ensure your vacation is a success.

Always have a campsite
insight

Download the CamperMate app for lists of campsites and holiday parks across the country. Many of the accommodations are bookable through the app and the information includes local attractions and reviews from other users of the app.

Get the most out of campervanning with NZMCA

For an annual fee of US$90, registering as a member of the NZMCA secures membership of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association, a worthy investment to gain access to the organisation’s benefits including fuel savings and discounts at a wide range of retailers.

An NZMCA membership really proves its value with exclusive members including their annual travel directory listing thousands of overnight campgrounds across the country.

Experience the best of New Zealand in a motorhome. Here’s how..

Top hacks for a successful camping trip. Photo / Getty

Camping with the family? Safety comes in numbers

For family campers, there are two key economies of scale when you have a large crew at your campsite: cooking and childcare. By taking turns mentoring half a dozen kids on a kayaking trip or a morning fishing trip to a nearby estuary, you buy yourself a few afternoons of freedom when another adult takes on the duties of the kids’ fight.

Mass cooking is a drag on the one night of the week you do it, but wonderful on the six nights you sit back, grab something cold and watch dinner appear.

Winston Aldworth has a whole host of camp survival tactics, click here to see the best of them.

Kiwi birthrights are numerous and glorious – one of the finest is the family summer camping trip. Photo / Getty

Keep your food fresh and delicious

Smoked fish is ideal for salads and sandwiches. It has a pretty strong flavor so you don’t need that much of it. Smoked trout or mackerel is delicious in a pasta salad with pickled ginger. Smoked chicken also keeps longer than fresh chicken.

Most fresh vegetables will keep for several days as long as they are not mashed. Alternatively, cans of beans or corn kernels are almost flawless.

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Buy your meat from your butcher and have it vacuum sealed. It will last three to four days longer than non-vacuum packed meat. Another great idea is to freeze the meat beforehand. This has a double effect, on the one hand it acts like an ice pack and keeps other things cold, on the other hand the meat thaws on the first day and should last for another two days.

You can find more tips on keeping food fresh when camping here.

Have a good time even if you’re a Camp Scrooge

If “I hate camping” is the first thing that comes to mind when suggesting pitching a tent, you might find yourself an outlier among friends: any attempt to propose a creek is thwarted by plans to pitch at a DoC campsite instead of. Fear not Campinggrinch, you can still master the camping game and enjoy it.

To enhance the experience — and maybe make it a little less wild than you’d fear — invest in a quality cooler (then freeze food and drinks before they go into the cooler). Always check your tent gear before setting off – a branch is no substitute for a tent peg. A headlamp saves you from trying to balance a pot, spoon and flashlight when preparing dinner, and finally, “liner shoes” are essential for a clean tent.

For more camping tips from one tent hater to the next, click here..

Improve the longevity of your tent

A well-cleaned and packed tent can make a world of difference, not only in how easy it is to use next time, but also in how long it stays in good condition.

Sweep, clean or dry your tent first. It is important to do this as soon as possible after arriving home. It will be easier to clean and avoid damage. Next, clean a small stain with some dish soap and a sponge. Avoid using bleach or stain remover as this may damage the material.

When you’ve used your tent for several days, it’s time for a full wash: clean the tent body and flies in a basin of lukewarm water and outdoor gear detergent. Stay away from regular detergent and let it dry thoroughly. And don’t forget to wipe down the poles and pegs with a damp rag. Be careful of the ferrules that are inserted into the next segment as they can rust or get muddy and damage the rods.

Spick and span tents don’t come easy. Click here for the full deep clean..

Follow these camping tricks and tips to ensure a flawless summer camping trip. Photo / Getty

A golden rule to master them all

Wear Jandals in the shower – if you have to ask why, you really don’t want to know.

Visit newzealand.com/nz for more travel inspiration.

Before travelling, check traffic light settings and advice from the Department of Health at covid19.govt.nz