Camping

In New Zealand, when not staying with family and friends we went camping! We went far, far out in the middle of nowhere, guided by scary-looking Maori to tiny campsites next to waterfalls, or walking through the forest to Solscapes no-cars-allowed Tipi retreat, or we just drove into more accessible "family parks" with proper kitchen and refrigerators and hot showers and kid's playgrounds and all. Most of all we enjoyed the not-so-touristic DOC campsites, run by the department of conversation.

Mangamate, next to Whirinaka Forest Reserve

Solscapes Tipi retreat outside the little west coast surf town Raglan.

Then, to Keisukes surprise, mum took almost full responsibility for cooking and actually enjoyed making pasta or risotto on the little gas stove outside (if not inside, when raining...) the tent! Kai helped Keisuke set up the tent every day, unless there were something more interesting around the corner, like a beach or a playground with a trampoline. On few vacations I have had as much wine as on this one...