This was us camping this year.  Kennedy Park in Napier, so a 'Top 10' style facility.  Kids love it, it's pretty chilled.

jonb:

 

I'm off for first camping trip in quite some time on Wednesday.  To a Top10 park, so most things are covered, but wondering what some tips for handy items to take along.

 

My camping style has been described as 'Caveman with Four Square' so nothing too flash..

 

Toilet paper, insect repellent and flyspray.

Soap optional.

So we're heading off to Sandspit with the kids on the 3rd for 5 nights. We set the tent up yesterday to check it over and give it a clean. One thing led to another and we were sleeping there last night. What's everyone's camping plans this summer?

Handle9:

 

What's everyone's camping plans this summer?

 

Taupo a bit later in Jan.

Weather has been a bit all over the place this Christmas/New Years period.  Hoping it settles down later in the month...

Jaxson:

Taupo a bit later in Jan.

Weather has been a bit all over the place this Christmas/New Years period.  Hoping it settles down later in the month...

Handle9: Two nights in and we are really enjoying Sandspit. The camp ground is very cool and has kids activities everyday (yesterday was a scavenger hunt). It's very friendly and has a nice little beach, although when the tide is out it becomes mud flats.

The campground has kayaks and life jackets free to use and a trampoline which is very popular.

Highly recommended for youngish kids, not so much for rowdy teenagers.

Handle9:
Taupo is neat to camp at. Are you staying up the back or by the lake?

Top 10, which has that epic new pool facility.  Can't take the kids to Fiji, but can take them to Taupo lol...

Another factor is that some tents handle the wind better than others, and most tents get really really hot after about 8am during summer. Saw some nice Freedom tents over the holidays, big windows and some of the expensive ones have an extra kind of ventilation cover that seems to take the heat out of it. A shelter/gazebo is another thing thats handy if you go camping. Sounds like it might be a compromise between weight and size if you are likely to be hiking up a river...

Jaxson:

Handle9:
Taupo is neat to camp at. Are you staying up the back or by the lake?

Top 10, which has that epic new pool facility.  Can't take the kids to Fiji, but can take them to Taupo lol...

Jaxson:

Handle9:
Taupo is neat to camp at. Are you staying up the back or by the lake?

Top 10, which has that epic new pool facility.  Can't take the kids to Fiji, but can take them to Taupo lol...

Wade:

Handle9: Two nights in and we are really enjoying Sandspit. The camp ground is very cool and has kids activities everyday (yesterday was a scavenger hunt). It's very friendly and has a nice little beach, although when the tide is out it becomes mud flats.

The campground has kayaks and life jackets free to use and a trampoline which is very popular.

Highly recommended for youngish kids, not so much for rowdy teenagers.

Ironically, I was there yesterday to collect my 11yo, she spent a week up there with her bestie's family. She had an absolutely fantastic time, most likely spent time with your kids as it sounds like all the kids form a fairly tight knit group and occupy themselves well.

Facilities are impressive from what I saw of a quick tour, madam is already requesting we go back as a family next year :P

I'd like a recommendation on a rechargeable pump for blowing up air mattresses, and also sports gear like balls. Would need the standard connections for balls and mattresses. 

Does anyone have one they recommend, hopefully not too expensive. 

Any reason it needs to be rechargable? I've always found the car powered ones pretty useful for that sort of thing.

Sometimes the tent and the car aren't close enough together. 

I'm with you, but my wife, adamant. Nothing else will do.