Welcome to those attending the Gaidhealtachd for the first time, and also to our regulars! This page is to inform you of the facilities available and to suggest a few items that you might like to bring so as to make your stay more comfortable

The Camp

Location: Maungaturoto Country Club, 84 Bickerstaffe Road, Maungaturoto 0587

Directions:
Turn onto SH12 at the southern end of the Brynderwyns, travel 7.2km then turn left onto Bickerstaffe Rd. The MCC is 850m from the turn. Please take care turning off SH1 during this time of year.

Dates:
Wednesday 1 – Wednesday 8 January

Tuesday 31 December is a set up day/evening for the Trust Board and helpers. Those who wish to celebrate New Year’s Eve are welcome to come and set up camp on the Tuesday. If you are able, lend a helping hand!

The Maungaturoto Country Club is 7 minutes off SH1, at the south end of the Brynderwyns, approximately 1 hour 30 mins from Auckland and 1 hour from Whangārei. There is space galore – large dining area, commercial kitchen, hall, theatre – all on 140 acres in a beautiful rural setting, ideal for outdoor workshops under the marquee.

In addition, we will hire a portion of Otamatea High School (which is very close by) and the local Maungaturoto hall. There are multiple spaces available to us on the site as well for workshops and plenty of facilities.

Please note that there is a river at the bottom of the site. Any guest visiting the water is doing so at your own risk.

The camp is smoke, vape, pet and alcohol free.

Accommodation

• Camping only – There are ample camp sites available to those who would like to camp or bring campervans or caravans. If you need power to your campsite for medical reasons let us know.
• There will be the usual space put aside for music instrument storage.
• There are ample toilets and showers.
• There is no discount for staying off-site.

We will have a ceilidh in the MCC hall each night, one of which will be the children’s and of course our usual banquet! On Saturday 4th January, we will be holding a public ceilidh in the town hall to encourage local participation and share what we do.

Tea/Coffee
We have a dedicated tea-making area that is available for use throughout the day. We supply:

Tea, instant coffee, Milo, sugar and milk

Taking care of the site  – job rostering
The Gaidhealtachd is run purely on a volunteer basis. The Convenors and organisers receive no fee. Therefore we must all take care that the site is tidy and safe for everyone. Job rosters are posted in the main area for bathroom cleaning, pool supervision etc. You can add your name to a job or roster that suits you, and even if there’s no space on a roster, please keep an eye out for things that may need doing.

Everyone who attends is expected to help put the school back in order and clean up on the final day. A lost property table will be set up in the covered quadrangle. Please be sure to check that you have not left anything behind because we have nowhere to store it. Lost property not claimed will be disposed of or put out with the rubbish.

Evening Security & Protocol
As this is very much a shared space, we ask you to keep noise to a miminum after 10pm.  After the Ceilidhs, once the kids have been put to bed, there are generally sessions which can carry on into the small hours, for those who want to carry on singing dancing or playing – please ensure these are held in place where you are not disturbing those needing sleep. Be very quiet when crossing the field… some people do go to their tents to sleep after the Ceilidh!

 First Aid
We have a First Aid Kit for emergencies only, but you are expected to bring your own basic first aid kit for any minor incidents. At the first meeting we will make it known of any health professionals that are amongst the attendees, should any emergency occur – if it isn’t an emergency, remember they are on holiday!! Everyone is expected to behave in a manner that doesn’t endanger each other, and it is important that we look out for each other throughout the week.

We do not supply:
Cooking utensils
Plates / bowls / cutlery
Food (apart from catered meals if you have pre-ordered and paid for them, and on the banquet evening we supply meat & potatoes and vegetarian fare.)

 Camp checklist:
Your normal equipment for camping
For camping – an extra blanket or two as the nights can get chilly
Plates, cups, cutlery (We are hoping that the Maungaturoto Country Club will be able to supply – to be confirmed)
A water bottle for each member of your family, clearly labelled
Chilly bin for your own campsite, a box if you intend to use the chillers inside
Tea towels and bath towels
A torch
Earplugs if you are sensitive to snoring or people around you!
A hat & sunscreen – ESSENTIAL
Swimming togs (and any swim rings etc for little children)
First Aid kit for minor ailments (painkillers, bandaids, antiseptic creams, etc)
Cash (no eftpos on site)
Shoes and clothing suitable for dancing in