Mt Cook National Park is one of the most popular national parks in NZ. With plenty of hikes, and scenic views – this has to be on your list! This blog post contains everything you need to know including, accommodation and what to do.
Undoubtably one of the most beautiful hikes in all of New Zealand! This blog post contains everything you need to know to hike the Hooker Valley Track in Mt Cook National Park.
A popular short day hike located in the Mt Cook National Park. Sealy Tarns is a hike that shouldn’t be missed if you are even visiting this area!
Now…I’m well aware that a Pajero isn’t usually someone’s first choice when it comes to choosing a car for touring, It’s usually a Landcruiser. However, I am absolutely in love with my Pajero and what improvements I’ve been able to do to it. Not to forget to mention the 4WD capabilities. Before my Pajero was MY Pajero, it was my dads. Even before I started my own adventures, I had been on many adventures in that Pajero with my family. I’ve seen how easily it can get out of hard 4WD conditions, how reliable it was, fuel efficient, how it drives like a car and not a truck, and so much more. This is what spiked my interest in getting one for myself. I searched for one for a while, but majority of them were way over budget. Then, my dad decided to sell me his (which I’m pretty sure he regrets), and that’s how I got my Pajero. Thanks dad!
I’ve put in a lot of time and money into my car, do I regret it? Absolutely not. Lets be honest, there is a lot more I’m going to do to improve it too. Now, lets get into the details!
I was lucky enough when I brought my car it came equipped with a SmartBar bull bar, HID spotlights, LED lightbar, OCAM roof rack, OCAM extendable towing mirrors, 2 inch lift kit; Bilstein B6 shocks and Kings springs (100kg in the front and 300kg in the back), IDRIVE throttle controller, Provent Catch can, 3 inch turbo back exhaust; with 200 Cell cat and a full service. Not a bad deal, and again…thanks dad! I’m sure you’re wondering what I’ve done, so lets get on with it. I’ve put on 5 new BFGoodrich all terrain 10 ply tyres, and fitted a duel battery system; Redarc DC-DC 12volt battery charger with a Kings 160W fixed solar panel. This gives me more then enough power to live off grid, however another battery and invertor might come into play in the future.
I’ve fitted a Kings Grand Tourer MKI aluminium roof top tent, one of the most spacious roof top tents I tested (even though the MKI does need a few modifications, these were fixed on the MKII). My roof top tent is equipped with lights, a double memory foam mattress and I whip out my Evapolar air con when needed.
On the passenger side, I have a Darché Eclipse 270 degree awning, fitted with Hard Korr orange LED lights, along with wall 1&2 for extra privacy. I did a fair bit of research on awnings. I knew I wanted a 270 degree awning, but a lot of them looked like they would break in a light breeze. This one had strong aluminium swivel hinges and could withstand a grown adult hanging on it, that sold me for strength. It gives heaps of shade and is easy to put up, only taking about 5mins. I will like to note that it can be a bit of a b*tch to roll up and put back in its transit bag, but practice is key!
On the drivers side, I have made my own shower. Its fairly simple to make and this was a much cheaper alternative to buying a new one. Its made from PVC pipe, PVC pipe fittings, black spray paint, hose and accessories, Whale 12 Volt in line pump, garden tap and a hose nozzle. Took about half a day to make and cost about $130AUD. Does it work? I’m pretty sure it works just as well as the other showers on the market. When its hot, it gets hot and when its cold I chuck a kettle of boiling water in it to make it warm. When you’re on the road living out of your car, that’s luxury.
In the back I have made my own flooring out of thick plywood, so I could access my ‘third seat storage’. The plan with this space is to eventually put in a water tank and a fitted air compressor. Both will be accessible to use via hose attachments underneath the car. For now I have a cargo barrier cage, 2 XTM 4wD drawers, a 55L Domenic fridge, self made power board and my Kookabox kitchen. Now, for all my 4WD car camper owners out there that can’t fit any of these new slide out kitchen drawers, I’d like to introduce you to the Kookabox. I found this beauty when searching for camp kitchens, they are an Australian business and I think have a great design for camp kitchens (they are portable too). They come will all the pans, plates, cutlery that you will need all nicely stored in the box. It comes with a spot to put your stove (1 burner), an ice box; I use this to store other utensils, a condiment drawer and a 5L water tank with electric pump. This isn’t sponsored I just generally think it’s a great idea and more people should know about it.
The pretty much concludes what I have done to my rig so far! I’ve got a few things I’d like to improve and include, which gives me something to look forward too. If your in the market for a 4WD I’d definitely look into a Pajero, mine has never failed me and as you can see above, you can do a fair bit to make it into a functional camper!
Oh by the way, my Pajero is named Patty, Patricia when she’s being fussy.
It’s safe to say I’ve done my fair share of camping and have had multiple opportunities to fine tune my camp kitchen. These are items which I’ve added to my camp kitchen over the years, and items which I have wish I had when out camping.
This list doesn’t include every items you will need for your camp kitchen, but it does include ones which people don’t think about or wouldn’t usually consider. If I’ve missed anything and think I should add to this list, let me know in the comments!
My top tips for choosing items in your camp kitchen
Choose items which are lightweight.
Anything that is stackable or collapsible will help save space.
Only include items that you use regularly at home
Don’t over pack your kitchen! If you only travel with 2 people, have everything you need for 2 people – you don’t need 4 plates, bowls etc.
If buying gadgets or appliances for your camp kitchen, make sure to check to voltage and wattage.
Portable Coffee Maker
My favourite gadget that I have in my camp kitchen! I am a sucker for pod coffee and a bit of a coffee snob, which is where this gadget comes in handy. You simply put the pod in the bottom, fill the top with hot or cold water and press the button. The gadget does heat up the water if it is cold, but I recommend hot water, as you will get alot more uses out of one charge.
Collapsible Kettle
You will start to see a theme with this list, and that’s that a lot of items are collapsible. Why is this? Because it saves a lot of space in your camp kitchen, which trust me you want to do.
Collapsible Containers
I recommend having a few of these collapsible containers in your camp kitchen for leftovers or holding cut up fruit or vegetables. They are easy to clean and take up little storage space.
Light and Compact Pots and Pans
Compact pots and pans are a must for your camp kitchen, especially if you only plan on cooking on a stove top (don’t use these on a campfire!). There are heaps of sets out there that include pots, frying pans and other accessories. They all stack into each other, which saves heaps of space.
Sea To Summit Wilderness Wash
This is the best wash for both camping and hiking. It can be used as a dishwashing liquid and laundry liquid. It is biodegradable and you only need a small amount for each wash.
Collapsible Sink
If you have a van or a caravan you won’t need this item. However, if you have a similar set up to mine which does not have a sink or built in kitchen, a collapsible sink is a great addition to your camp kitchen. I prefer getting ones with a drainage hole so I can use it to dry my dishes as well. These also double up as a washing basket for your clothes.
Coleman Fold N Go 2
This has got to be one of my favourite camping stoves on the market! It’s a double burner stove which folds up to the size of a single burner stove. It also operates off propane gas bottles – which are fairly small and easy to store. I’d also recommend getting a windshield for your stove.
Reusable ZipLock Bags
When I travel I try to use as little plastic as possible, which is where these reusable ziplock bags come in handy. As a solo traveller these are great for holding any ingredients or meals that I want to use for another day. They are also freezer proof which is very handy. If you don’t want to get reusable ones, I do recommend getting ziplock bags as they do come in handy!
Bag Sealing Clips
These clips are extremely handy to have in your camp kitchen and they are cheap! They are great for sealing packages such as chips, pasta, bread and more.
Sea to Summit Delta Camp Set
This is just one of the many camping sets on the market. What I like about this one is it is lightweight and comes with everything you need for one person including; a cup, knife, fork, spoon, plate and bowl. You can of course choose whatever bowls, plates and cutlery you want. I personally wouldn’t choose collapsible plates or bowls for your camping set up because I’ve had a few moments when I’ve been carrying them wrong and have lost my whole meal *whoops!*.
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Beck is a micro social media influencer, travel blogger and vlogger, passionate about adventure and solo travelling. Known for her photography and editing style that is sure to ignite a sense of wanderlust.Beck loves travelling, hiking, mountain climbing (beginner) and loves to share her experiences with her followers. She has a Youtube Channel where she Vlogs about her travels, sharing tips and experiences along the way. She also enjoysworking on her Pajero and converting it into a camper.
Beck is dedicated to inspiring people across the globe to travel solo, explore beautiful destinations and make the most of life.
COLLABORATIONSSocial media is a powerful way to drive engagement and build awareness of your brand. I provide content related to travel, hiking, lifestyle and photography.
– Photography and Drone Photography – Hotel Collaborations – Sponsored Instagram and Blog posts – Freelance Writing
– Content Creation
– And much more!
PAST COLLABORATIONS:
– Blue Dinosaur Bars: Branded Instagram post
– Ascent Footwear: Branded Instagram post, reel and guest blog post
– Lay it Down: Branded Instagram post
– Perth Happenings: Guest blog post
– Stuf. Skin: Branded instagram post
– AmazingCo Experiences: Branded Instagram post, reel and stories
– Tesalate Sandfree Beach Towels: Branded Instagram post
– Knobby Underwear: Knobby Legend, branded Instagram content and stories
– Wavee Seltzer: Branded Instagram post, professional photos and videos
– Madcampers, New Zealand: Branded Instagram and blog post
– Naivasha Tiny Home: Branded Instagram/blog post, professional photos
For all collaboration inquiries, you can contact Beck at [email protected]
Recent Work
Lay it Down Tesalate Beach Towels Stuf. Skin Stuf. Skin Stuf. Skin Wavee Seltzers Wavee Seltzers Knobby Underwear Mad Campers, NZ Mad Campers, NZ Naivasha Tiny Home – Tasmania
Beck is outstanding. Not only was she highly timely in her responses and communication previously before the contract started but as well as during. The content she generated felt like it came right out of our inspiration Pinterest board. We gave her creative freedom and some requirements. She checked all the boxes of her deliverables on time. Look no further for your content creator. Beck is out favourite! And we will be offering her more paid opportunities in the future.
Hayley, social media manager of wavee hard seltzer
Tesalate Beach Towels Stuf. Skin Stuf. Skin Stuf. Skin Wavee Seltzers Wavee Seltzers Knobby Underwear Mad Campers, NZ 
Mad Campers, NZ 
Naivasha Tiny Home – Tasmania