Plinkers Band Camp 2025 (22-24 Aug 2025)
Rotoiti Outdoor Education Lodge, Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes
(Map last page)
***NOTE Details to be updated - this is last year’s info. Workshops yet to be confirmed ***
REGISTRATIONS OPEN 1st MAY - contact me if you are coming from afar and need to book travel early.
Bandcamp is at Rotoiti Lodge, St Arnaud/Rotoiti. Attached is all the info as well as internet banking instructions for paying. Please fill in the registration form as this will be the only method to secure your place. If internet banking is too complicated I’m happy to accept cash from you nearer the time or at BandCamp
Everyone is invited to Bandcamp, even non-Plinkers. We will have workshops on the Saturday and Sunday as well as a variety concert on the Saturday night. We stay from Friday – Sunday. The accommodation is shared bunkrooms and the food is paid for by Plinkers. The Saturday lunch will be catered to allow us more time at workshops. Sauturday evening is soup made by a few food volunteers (please put your hand up!!) and everyone chips in to do some kitchen duties.
Tarrif is at the discounted rate of $100 for Plinkers and spouse, and full rate of $160 for Non-Plinkers for the weekend. That includes bunkhouse accommodation Fri & Sat nights, all meals, workshops, tea/coffee and catered Saturday lunch. Motorhomers can park by the lodge but will be required to pay the same fees as lodge guests, alternatively there is a Park Over Property for NZMCA members by the St Arnaud Tavern (POP 6350 -15 Beechnest Dr. St Arnaud).
Tarrif for day visitors/those staying elsewhere is $25 per day and the option of paying extra for the catered Saturday lunch (see registration form for all the tarrifs).
Accommodation subsidised by Plinkers funds and all food supplied for weekend. Anyone welcome that will be involved in playing and learning ukulele – especially our Motueka, Blenheim and Picton ukulele players. Spouses are welcome and children/teenagers are limited to ukulele players that will be involved in the weekend’s activities.
Anyone not a Plinker, or don’t regularly contribute to weekly koha, we will appreciate a koha at bandcamp to help cover costs and/or help with food, dishes etc. Bring your own alcohol.
If bunk rooms are not your thing, feel free to book in at nearby motels, lodges and holiday homes.
FOOD:
Valerie Weir Van Til and Darryl Lye will be our kitchen managers for the weekend. Volunteers will make crockpot soups (Sat evening meal) and cakes/slices. The food coordinators will organise the volunteers to make a soup for Saturday evening tea.
We will have catered roast for main meal (lunch) and vegetarian options. Dessert is gluten free sticky date pud. Plinkers will also have a couple of gluten free loaves of bread for breakfast but please bring your own food for special dietary needs.
Friday night at Band Camp is always informal as some arrive early to enjoy a bush walk while others arrive late travelling after work. Fri night dinner not supplied by Plinkers but you can buy Fish’n’Chips next to the petrol station or BYO.
At the lodge we have an Invitational Concert of the local hosts and invitational guests.
Saturday night show is "Best of Bandcamp: Blackboard Concert". As usual we invite all Plinkers to get an item together with friends or show off your solo talents and now is the time to get inspired with ideas. Non-ukulele items welcome.
Sunday Lunch
Lunch is provided on Sunday (savouries and leftovers) and this year we will pay for cleaners to cleanup.
Workshops (FREE for everyone)
Catherine Walker of Taranaki, T'Atiawa, English and Irish Descent will do another Waiata-a-Ringa for us all to join in. A Bandcamp favourite!
Paul Jonson, Blues, Ragtime & Boogie maestro on uke (and spoons!!). Workshop to be announced
Paul will also bring a selection of ukuleles down to sell that have been set up to the highest standard, as well as his selection of ukulele accessories and technical expertise.
Tony Bowman, musician and poet will host the Sunday morning poetry session. Bring a poem to read - can be your own or someone else’s.
Dominic Firkin, Star of Plinkers from Taranaki will be back again this year to host a workshop!! Details to come
Paul Lee, former Music tutor at Christchurch School of Music, provisionally booked to come to BandCamp again this year
BEDDING
Bring a warm sleeping bag, blanky and pillow. The mattresses are plastic so a blanky is a must underneath your sleeping bag.
A reminder to all going to bandcamp to bring slippers as there are no shoes allowed inside!
NO DOGS
Rotoiti is a wildlife protected “mainland island” for native birds and dogs are not allowed.
MONEY
We prefer internet banking but will still accept cash. Registration form must be filled in for each person attending and scanned/emailed/given to me (Karen). Electronic receipt will be acknowledgemet of payment.
For Internet Banking:
(Nelson Building Society)
Payee: Plinkers
Account: 03 1354 0263400 030
or 03 1354 0263400 30 (if only two spaces available)
Also check out other Music events in Nelson, Entertainment events in Nelson, Workshops in Nelson.
