Angie Belcher: Carry Cash if You're heading to the Caitlins

If you are heading to the Caitlins, that wilderness region in the South Island, New zealand, make sure you carry cash. The real stuff. Coins and notes. Not because you are going to want to go shopping because apart from a few kiwi calendars, printed tea towels and fridge magnets there isn’t much else to buy. No. You need your cash for getting access into various sights $2 for Moeraki Boulders if you enter passed the cafe, $5 for Cathedral Caves as you’re walking through privately owned land (and the most beautifully maintained walkway) and you’ll need that cash for paying for DOC overnight stays and coin operated showers.

So, what happens when you arrive and have no cash? We haven’t seen an ATM since we arrived in the area and hadn’t given a thought to getting cash when we paid for our last decent coffee.

How does a traveller deal in these situations? Well, this is how we’ve coped. (Hopefully we’ll remember to carry cash next time.)

1. Overnight camp in a POP campground. That is: Parked on Private Property usually owned by members of the NZCMA (New Zealand Motor Caravan Association) In most cases these sites have an honesty box and charge a small fee (about $3-$5) sometimes more. We had no cash and no one was around for miles. We turned the bus inside out looking for stray coins but without a couch to put our hands down we found nothing. A strong Catholic upbringing sent waves of guilt as we set up camp. A last look among the hoards of dockets in my jacket pocket and I found....two petrol voucher! One would be enough. It was a little more than we wanted to pay but the fabulous views from the property made it worthwhile. Everyone needs petrol.

2. Overnight camp in a DOC campground near the Caitlin River. $8 per person. No cash. Fortunately another camper was happy to exchange my last petrol voucher for cash. Problem solved.

3. A second POP site on farmland in the middle of nowhere. A farmhouse nearby. What can I offer? I look in my barely operational pantry. There was plenty of Weetbix. I whip up a batch of Weetbix delight, slightly overcooked by the grill in the tiny camp cooker, lather it with icing and deliver it to the door. Happy farmer...happy camper.

4. No money for showers? Don’t have one. The rivers, lakes and sea are an invigorating alternative and leave lasting memories.
We’re just about out of the Caitlins now. The wildlife and wilderness has to be experienced. The days without internet made me realise just how connected I DON’T need to be as well as just how hard is not to be connected. And, as for a cashless society? We're not quite there yet.