Thank you for choosing Gilbert Lodge for your camp. We would like you to enjoy your stay and experience of this natural wonderland. We ask that you read, understand, and follow the below requests to help you and future users to enjoy the same.
Our only neighbour is Tasman Pine Forests Ltd (TPFL), who own all the forestry land surrounding the Gilbert Lodge Scout Campsite. Friends of Gilbert Lodge (FOGL) have continued to enjoy a great working relationship with TPFL for a number of years. For health and safety reasons, TPFL have requested that all users of Gilbert Lodge and the surrounding campground must stay out of any adjacent Forestry land, including the road past the camping grass area. This will be strongly enforced and any users of Gilbert Lodge trespassing in the TPFL forest areas will be responsible for our good relationship with TPFL being jeopardized.
Please contact TPFL through their website well ahead of your camp, and apply for the appropriate permit should you need access to use any areas of their forest areas for any of your activities (e.g. a blind rope course or walks).
FOGL would really appreciate all Gilbert Lodge users abiding by this request. This will help keep our access through the locked forestry gate into this forest area open for Scouting users in the future.
Liability:
Please read and understand
- All users are required to exercise all reasonable and practical care whilst staying at Gilbert Lodge.
- This includes the adequate supervision of youth.
- Fire liability – Forest fires can cost Millions $$. There is no insurance, and you are liable if a fire is accidently caused by your group or visitors with your group. Don’t be the spark that caused the raging inferno. Careful risk decisions are needed before lighting an outside fire. Even with a permit, you are liable for any fire damage to the forest, the DOC reserve or to Gilbert Lodge.
Arrival Information
On Arrival
- Turn tank water valve on,
- The valve can be found on the on the tank stand on the east side of hut. Boil all drinking water, as the water in the tank is rain water collected off the roof, and is not potable water.
- Kitchen gas califont hot water heater,
- operation instructions can be found on kitchen wall.
- Lounge log burning fireplace,
- Ensure water flows from hot tap in the kitchen sink prior to lighting the log fire. If water is not flowing – you cannot use the log fire.
- Vermin,
- Rat poison is regularly placed in locked bait stations under the bunks in both rooms. Please do not touch and warn youth not to touch.
- Outdoor Cooking Fire and Campfire,
- Use only with a fire permit which you need to obtain by applying to Fire and Emergency NZ well in advance of your camp.
- Firewood – BYO firewood that you intend to use and leave some behind for the next Scout group.
- Do not burn anything that will harm the environment.
During Your Stay
- The Forestry Road Gate must always be kept closed.
- There is no phone or cell phone coverage on site. Brightwater is approximately 30 minutes drive away and has reliable cell phone coverage.
- The nearest house is 5 kilometers away (for emergencies only)
- FOGL Emergency Contact – Pete de Jong 021 790775
Departure Information
Prior to Departure
- Clean,
- Toilets – sweep, wash and disinfectant,
- Kitchen benches – clean and wipe.
- Sweep and mop floor.
- Sweep,
- Remainder of lodge floors,
- Bunks (leave mattresses in upright position against the wall).
- Water,
- Turn off water valve on tank stand,
- Winter (May–Oct) Once tank valve is off, drain water pipes by turning kitchen cold taps on. This will prevent pipes from bursting due to freezing.
- Cooking Fire and Campfire,
- Fire remnants to be well wetted out.
- On departure double check the fire is out leaving only ashes in the firepits.
- Sweep and tidy around fireplace.
- Lighting,
- Turn 12 volt main and light switches off (down).
- Rubbish,
- Take all rubbish back home with you.
- Damage,
- Report any damage to Bookings Manager David McCabe – 027 2209719 (include photos if possible).
