Staying in a Tent
The cheapest accommodation option for a traveler in New Zealand is to stay in a tent. While most people think that it would be too uncomfortable, I will give advice on how to make your stay in a tent more comfortable. Believe me, all this information comes from a personal experience and from experience of people I know.
Tips that will make your stay in a tent more pleasant:
- Buy a good tent. Don’t settle for something cheap. Your tent has to be absolutely waterproof, but also has to be ventilated, and have a good insect netting. It also should have enough room for people and gear. It is best to buy a tent that can stand by itself, without being held by pegs because sometimes you’ll have to put up a tent on a hard surface and it will be difficult to hammer in pegs. If you will use pegs – buy a hammer.
- Sleeping mats. Go for self-inflatingcamping sleeping mats. They will provide better comfort together with good isolation from the ground.
- Sleeping bags. Buy a professional sleeping bag for cold conditions (-5 or even -10 degrees Celsius). It is better to sleep on top of your sleeping bag in a warm weather than feeling cold when camping in highlands.
- Flashlight. You want to be able to see thing inside your tent after dark. It is best to buy a headlamp so that your hands will be free.
- Put up your tent while you still have sunlight. It will be much easier and more convenient.
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January 14th, 2009 at 2:18 am
Kia ora Greg,
Having just ended my Kiwi summer holiday of over 5 weeks, and spending much of it in my tent, thought I would add my two cents.
I don’t think ANY tent is absolutely 100% waterproof under days of rain or a deluge, but it is just as important where you pitch your tent as to keeping water out, preferably on a raised area. My tent has a door and vestuble on either side, meaning if two people are in the tent each has a dry area outside the tent covered by the fly, as well as not waking the other person up to go outside during the night. A big advantage.
If tramping weight can be an obvious concern, but also having a good carry sack, and even an extra plastic bag to keep it dry while strapped to a pack.
And obviously, if new, practice setting it up, taking it down, packing it away a few times before using, you never know in what conditions, and how fast you may need to set it up.
In the mountains and bush one should always carry a least a bivvy bag or some type of shelter, and in summer it is good insurance against full huts or coming across a cool camp site. And even in the campgrounds the points you make are excellent ones, and certainly lead to a more comfortable nights sleep. Have a great day Greg.
Cheers,
Robb
January 15th, 2009 at 2:36 am
Kia ora Robb!
Thank you for your comment, you are absolutely right about everything you said, except, I think, one thing – no tent being waterproof 100%. I think this is controversial.
For example I had a tent, and not an expensive one, which never had a leak, and I had times when this tent stood for two-three days under heavy rains.
Of course if you place it wrong then water can get inside from underneath.
From my experience, best waterproof tents are those who have separate waterproof cover.
Have a great day yourself !