Camping is about getting back to basics, not going backwards. The days of heavy canvas tents and uncomfortable stretchers are long gone. What remains is the good part: space, freedom, and time together.
For kids, it’s a chance to step away from devices and into the real world. To explore, get dirty, make friends, and figure things out for themselves, all in a safe, open environment where adventure still feels natural.
Cambridge makes that easy.
Set up a tent, park the caravan, or book a cabin, whatever works. It’s not about roughing it. It’s about the moments that matter: bikes skidding to a stop, marshmallows over the fire, and laughter carrying across the campsite.
Along the Waikato River, the pace slows down. Mornings start with birdsong, days unfold without a schedule, and kids have the kind of freedom that’s hard to come by elsewhere: room to roam, build, and explore.
When it’s time to get moving, there’s plenty nearby. Ride the Te Awa River Trail, take a stroll at Sanctuary Mountain (see page 40), loop the lake boardwalk, or head to the aquatic centre for a swim.
Camping with kids isn’t complicated. It’s the simple rituals that make it: setting up together, card games by torchlight, early nights, and full days.
And when you want a break from camp life, Cambridge is right there. Good coffee, easy dining, and local markets, all within a short drive.
Get back to what matters. Fresh air. Freedom. Time together.
For more on where to camp in Waipā, visit: www.cambridge.co.nz/guide--camping-in-our -district/
