Christmas camping a laid-back oasis of fun
Sun, tents, barbies, bush walks and games.
It’s the classic Kiwi Christmas and every year thousands of families stake a claim to their slice of paradise at campgrounds around Manawatu¯.
The small cluster of tents and tables around the driftwood sign that marks Camp Carter and Clark has been a fixture of the Totara Reserve campground in the Pohangina Valley for the past 12 years.
It’s a tradition for the two branches of the family to meet at the campground for three weeks through Christmas and New Year, and 11 members of three generations came along this year.
Katrina Carter said they loved to celebrate the holidays with a laid-back camping trip away from the hustle and bustle of Palmerston North and the season.
‘‘We love that kids can be kids out here, and... it’s all about the memories you make’’ Carter said.
Poppy Derbidge, 11, said she loved the freedom of being away from their home routine, and Camp Carter and Clark’s special little rituals.
‘‘We get up and make breakfast [while] we chat about our dreams and what we heard about the campground last night.
‘‘Then we just do whatever we want the rest of the day.’’
A highlight of the season is the friendly rivalry with another family that usually sets up next to Camp Cater and Clark.
The families face off in a tournament of games and scavenger hunts, culminating in a massive water fight on New Year’s Day.
A few tents down on Monday, the Price family had just arrived from Palmerston North.
Aaron and Nicole Price are regulars at the Totara Reserve too, and bring their daughters, 8-year-old Layla and Emme, 7, out every New Year.
‘‘I used to come out here as a kid. Those aremy best childhood memories,’’ Nicole Price said.
‘‘So now we’ve got kids, wewant to give them the same kinds of happy memories.’’
While the adults set up camp, their daughters rushed off to show off the camp playground to their friend Isobella Nicol, 10.
Price said with no traffic or big crowds it was safe for the children to roam freely, as long as they kept theirwalkie talkies on so their parents could keep tabs on them and call them in for dinner.
‘‘So it’s all peace and quiet. Phones down, ipads down and just exploring.’’