Perfect picnic? Follow these pointers.

There’s something magical about enjoying a meal with friends and family in the great outdoors.
With a little preparation, and these pointers, you can make sure you picnic like a pro, and avoid some of the common mistakes when planning a picnic.

Look local. Why drive for an hour up the coast when there could be a perfectly good picnic spot right under your nose? Most big cities and smaller towns have parks with playgrounds, picnic tables and even communal barbecues to use, so take the time to research your local hidden gems.

Check before you cook. There’s nothing better than a classic Kiwi BBQ (we would say that!) by the beach or lake but sometimes the fire risk can mean that even an LPG BBQ is off limits. Remember to obey any signage you see on the way to your picnic, or visit this great site from FENZ that tells you what fire restrictions are in place around the country: https://www.checkitsalright.nz/

Avoid rush hour. Some of our most popular picnic spots can feel busier than city motorways – and who wants to be stuck in a weekend traffic jam? You can sometimes find out when the busiest periods are by using the “Ask” feature in Google Maps. Mostly this will be the middle of the day, so you’ll often have a better chance of getting the best spots (and car parks) if you aim for a brunch picnic rather than a lunchtime one. And with daylight saving adding some extra sunshine hours in the evening, don’t rule out a picnic dinner!

Beat the heat. Sunburn can be more than a short-term nuisance; repeated sun damage can lead to skin cancer and other conditions. Keep your family safe with hats, clothes that cover the skin, portable shade tents and of course plenty of sunscreen! Don’t forget to re-apply regularly, especially after swimming.

Don’t forget food safety. Warm weather can increase the risk of nasties getting into your food. To minimise the risks, keep everything in sealed containers until it’s time to cook or eat, and make sure your chilly bin or bags have ice or chiller pads in them to keep things cool. The New Zealand Government has some great tips on food safety here too:
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news/media-releases/serious-food-safety-tips-for-the-silly-season

Refill and save. If you’re planning to take a portable LPG gas stove, boiling ring, cast iron burner or BBQ with you (genius move, by the way) make sure you’ve got enough LPG to go the distance! Rockgas Refill and Save locations are all around the country, ready to fill your trusty LPG bottle so you won’t run short mid-meal. You can find a location here: https://rockgas.co.nz/get-connected/find-a-rockgas-outlet/