Loving life at the Waitaki lakes
The couple live in Oamaru, about 90 kilometres from Lake Aviemore, and try to get to the lakes most weekends during the season where they play golf at Otematata, which is walking distance from their campsite.
Isabell said she had noticed changes at the lakes over the years.
‘‘It started with a donation, then they started charging people.
‘‘More and more people have caravans. ‘‘More people are doing it each year because it is a cheapish holiday for families.’’
At Fisherman’s Bend, a popular camping spot for young families, Andrew and Kelly Hughes have their annual trip with a caravan and tents from Oamaru with their daughters, aged 13 and 11.
‘‘There is quite a bit of effort that goes into it, it takes about three or four days to get set up and packed down,’’ Andrew said.
That includes a gas califont (a gaspowered water heater), solar panels and an inverter generator.
‘‘Me and Kelly grew up camping at the Waitaki lakes.
‘‘We have been bringing our daughters here since they were babies.’’
Hughes said they had camped at numerous spots over the years but found Fisherman’s Bend to be more user-friendly in terms of their children.
‘‘There are no arguments where we are in terms of favourite spots, everyone just gets on well. It is nice and sheltered; my parents and my cousin camp there as well.
‘‘I think it is going to be busy this summer
in light of Covid-19, a lot more people will be camping who have not camped before.
‘‘It is just close to home, it is a cheap holiday, and the kids love the water.’’
Andrew said they had made friends over the years as the same people often returned to the same spots.
‘‘It is good catching up with people, you wouldn’t do it if you stayed at home.
‘‘It is about being social as well and getting the kids away from their devices. ‘‘It is also good fishing and water skiing. ‘‘It is good to do the camping thing and teach our kids about the outdoors, plus we have other families with us who we know as we all camp together.’’
It is not the flashest caravan ‘‘but it does the job’’
On the banks of Lake Benmore, Sam Small, 26, and partner Emma Te Maiharoa, 38, of Timaru, are camping in their ‘‘old school machine’’, a Zephyr caravan.
‘‘It is a four berth with a double and two single beds. We have got a stereo in there, there is a battery and a solar panel,’’ Sam said. ‘‘It is probably not the flashest but it does the job. Emma bought it off her mum.
‘‘We have both been camping since we were kids. We used to camp around different places but we have been coming to the same spot at Lake Benmore for about four years.’’
The couple have motorcycles and take advantage of a variety of off-road trails, often making their way through the winding Omarama Saddle.
The couple also have a boat, and enjoy fishing and wakeboarding.
They have made friends at their site who join them in the same vicinity each season.
‘‘It is always good to have a few brews, you don’t need much to go out and camp, and we have a bit of fun here.’’
‘‘It is always good to have a few brews, you don’t need much to go out and camp, and we have a bit of fun here.’’
Sam Small and Emma Te Maiharoa