Vinegar Hill is a camping area on the Rangitikei river, within the Putai Ngahere reserve in the Manawatū -Whanganui region, just north of Hunterville.

Each year from mid December to early January, gay, lesbian, transgender, and rainbow folks and their whānau gather for camping and D.I.Y. community events over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

It is not a commercial festival or event, but simply a gathering of community at a camp ground.

Campers come to unplug and unwind, enjoy nature, see old friends and make new ones, swim in the beautiful Rangitikei awa, sit around a camp fire, host or attend community-run events, dance, and party.

Find out more

We set up this website in 2020 to help people know what to expect and how to prepare. On this page you’ll find basic information on the following topics. Click the link to scroll to the section.

Facilities

It’s not quite “roughing it”, but there are no hot showers or BBQs provided, and no cellphone reception.

Bathrooms and drinking water

Provided by The Manawatū District Council.

At the southern (gay) end of camp you’ll find:

• Accessible all-genders toilet block.
• Untreated drinking water tap outside the toilet block.
• Lockable cold showers.
• Portaloos (from Boxing day)

At the northern end of camp you’ll find:

• Accessible all-genders toilet block.
• Untreated drinking water tap outside the toilet block.
• Accessible and lockable cold showers.
• Portaloos (from Boxing day)

There are also portiloos (from Boxing day) midway between each end, near the road into camp.

Rubbish and recycling

Provided by The Manawatū District Council

Glass recycling and trash skips are provided, and can be found at the borthern end next to the toilet block, or at the southern end in the field semi-opposite the toilet block.

Security and gate closures

Provided by The Manawatū District Council

There are Police and security services stationed near the gate on New Years Eve night.

No vehicle entry to the campground is allowed after 7pm on new years eve, so make sure you arrive before then.

What to bring

You will be 100% responsible for bringing everything you need.

That includes things like:

• Sleeping stuff – like a tent, bed roll, blankets, ear plugs.
• Personal care items – like towels, medicines, a first aid kit, sunscreen, bug spray, toilet paper.
• Cooking facilities – like a gas cooker, firewood, a chilly bin, pots and pans, a cup, plate, cutlery, rubbish bags.
• Comfort items – like a chair, beanbag, table, solar lights, a torch, clock, mirror, or bicycle.
• Food – please make excellent plans to eat! There’s a good list of foods that last without a fridge and are easy to prepare in the “Camping for beginners” article linked below.
• Clothing – like sensible shoes, warm clothes, a sunhat, and togs.

You can find camping advice for beginners at the following places:

• Camping for Beginners – Gender Minorities Aotearoa.
• Camping Checklist – Rei Co-Op.

Local shops and services

Hunterville is the closest small town, about a 10 minute drive from the campground. It has a grocery store, farm supply store, gas stations, op shops, great hot dogs, and great burgers. It also has doctors and an ambulance. You can find out more about Hunterville here.

Marton is a bigger town with supermarkets and a lot more shops, about 30 minutes drive away. The closest cities are Palmerston North and Whanganui, both about an hour’s drive.

Rules and fees

Camp rules

1. Be respectful and considerate of other campers.
2. Keep dogs in a pen or on a leash, and clean up after them.
3. Turn generators off at 8pm.
4. Turn music off at 11pm (2am on new years eve).
5. Supervise kids near the river and fires.
6. Use the toilets provided (not the bushes or riverbank).
7. Use the adults only maze if you want to hook up outside your tent – no sex in public areas.
8. No fires are allowed except for in designated safe fire pits.
9. Respect Papatūānuku – take only photos and leave only footprints.
10. Leave your fireworks at home.

Camp etiquette

• Remember that each campsite is someone’s house – even if you know the person, you should always ask before wandering in.
• Get to know other campers, join in community events.
• If you’re using substances (like alcohol, etc) do it safely, let your friends know, and stay out of the river if the substances could affect your water safety.
• Be cool – transphobia, misogyny, racism, non-consensual touching, and other crappy behaviour is not welcome. If you see these things happening, say something or talk to the Queen.
• Lock any valuables in a vehicle on new years eve if your campsite will be unattended.

Book with Manawatū District Council

Camp fees are paid to Manawatū District Council. They allow you to camp within the campground, but specific campsites are not allocated. This means that you’ll need to arrive early if you want a specific spot (like under a tree, by the river, or near the bathroom).

Visit the MDC website to book online.

Queens tax

If you’d like to attend community events and enter competitions, or you’d just like to help make sure we can all keep enjoying this great community, you can pay a “Queens’ tax” at The Palace, which is signposted.

The Queens’ tax helps to cover community costs, such as the stage, trailer hire for collecting bonfire wood, sound and lighting equipment, etc. The cost is usually around $10, and you’ll get a rainbow wristband (or something similar). If you’re only coming for the New Years eve party, Queens taxes are half price.

Problems at camp

Anyone experiencing problems can go to The Palace (signposted) and talk with the Queen, who is our liaison with the council and the community, and can help sort out any issues.

Medical help

If you need minor medical help, there are often campers with experience as nurses, medics, or paramedics. Ask the Queen or anyone nearby who knows where to ask.

If you need an ambulance, you will need to leave camp to get reception and call 111. If the person who needs help can be safely moved, you may want to meet the ambulance at the camp entrance, or at the intersection between State Highway 1 and State Highway 54 near Cooks Road.

If you have first aid or medic training and could assist in an emergency, please contact the Queen.

Community

Vinegar Hill draws people from near and far, from grandparents to mokopuna. Some have been coming for decades, and every year there are new faces and new returns.

The Vinegar Hill community is diverse and varied, all genders, ages, sizes, ethnicities, and backgrounds, from all around Aotearoa and beyond. We value the differences between us, as well as our shared histories and experiences.

Why we come together at Vinegar Hill

In an anonymous survey, we asked campers the following questions. Here’s what they said.

Check out the 2023 Vinegar Hill Census Report to find out more about the Vinegar Hill Camp community.

Ryan’s social spot

You will find a big community table near the bathroom block at the southern end of the campground, where you can make a cup of tea or coffee and meet other campers!

Bring your breakfast and come say hi!

Community events

Usually there are a series of events from Christmas/Boxing Day to New Years Eve. Most events are family friendly, some are adult themed (generally after 8pm).

The events are organised by campers – anyone who wants to organise an event can do it.

If you organise an event, and would like to ‘advertise’ it for other campers to attend, the best way is to talk with the Queen before December so your event can be added to the timetable.

Past events

Probably current events

These are popular and long-running events that will probably be held most years.

Queens’ Cuisine

Queens’ Cuisine is a cooking competition, featuring both amazing dishes cooked at camp, and very silly joke dishes. Usually hosted by Ryan’s Social Spot and the Queen.

Softball

The annual softball game has historically been ‘boys vs girls’ (with non-binary people choosing a team). There is a trophy, and most years the girls win it. In recent years we have seen all kinds of twists on the teams – but its yet to be tents vs campervans and we’d like to see that!

Queer quiz

The Queer Quiz is a big gay trivia competition – team up with friends to compete. Hosted at Ryan’s Social Spot.

Stitch and build

Stitch and Build is a craft event where you can work on an existing project or start something new. Hosted by Camp Alphabet Mafia.

Fashion of the fields

Fashion of the Fields competition and runway involves campers finding items around camp and in the bush, and turning them into amazing outfits. Hosted by The Hilton and the Queen.

Flea market

Most years we have a community flea market, where campers can sell or swap their arts, crafts, baking, clothing, massages, or other goods and services.

Karaoke

What it says in the tin – fire up your vocal chords and sing to the stars. Hosted by Camp Flamingo-Hoes with DJ support from Camp Not a Cult.

Circuit parties

Themed circuit parties with high energy electronic dance music. Often hosted by Camp David.

Adults Maze

Some years people have set up a discreet adults only maze with safer sex supplies, provided by Burnett Foundation and NZPC Sex Workers’ Collective. The maze is for those who prefer to take new friends somewhere other than their tent at night, and to make sure adult activities are only happening in discreet areas. If you’d like to help with this, talk with the Queen.

New Year’s Eve Party

Entertainment usually kicks off around 8pm with the lighting of a huge bonfire.

This is followed by on-stage competitions and performances from fresh new amateur acts and seasoned professionals among the community; poetry, drag shows, stand up comedy, folk bands, metal, hip hop, burlesque, or anything else the community wants to offer.

Around 11pm entertainment switches to a DJ, then shortly before the new year count down prizes are given for the Best Campsite, Best Costume, Friendliest Camper, and other awards, followed by the coronation of the new Queen, and a dance party till 2am.

Host a community event

If you would like to host a community event or party at your campsite or in the communal area, please talk with the Queen in advance so it can be put on the community notice board program. You can contact the Queen in the Facebook group during the year, or in person at The Palace (at camp).

Perform on New Years Eve

You don’t have to be a professional to perform on New Years Eve! You could offer your poetry, singing, drag show, a competition, MC skills, stage management, or any other help with the entertainment. Please talk with the Queen – there is usually a performers meeting a day or 2 before NYE.

The Queen and Queen’s Council

Members of The Queens Council hold a meeting or meetings in December each year to elect a new Queen. The new Queen is crowned shortly before midnight during the New Year celebration, and will reign during the following year’s celebrations.

The duties of the Queen include liaising with the Manawatu district Council, organising the stage, MC, performers and entertainment, and wood collection for the New Year bonfire, collecting the Queen’s taxes, etc. The Queen’s name is engraved on the Vinegar Hill Queens’ trophy.

To be elected Queen, a person must have attended for at least 5 years, and have provided significant service to the Vinegar Hill community.

The Queen’s Council is made up of former Queens. As well as nominating and electing the new Queen each year, it is the job of the Queen’s Council members to advise and assist the Queen in organising for community life at camp.

Contact the Queen

The Queen is a volunteer position which lasts 1 year and isn’t held by an organisation. This means there isn’t a consistent phone number, email address, or other way to contact the Queen.

However, there is a Facebook group. If you don’t use Facebook, you’ll have to wait until camp to talk with the Queen.

History

Six gay men first camped at Vinegar Hill in January 1975 or 1977, a decade before Homosexual Law Reform decriminalised sex between men in 1986.

By the early 1980s, Vinegar Hill had developed it’s own culture. The first Queen, Bill Armstrong, was appointed in 1985 to reign at the 1986 camp, by Mal Kennedy-Vaughn of Wellington’s gay bar Scotty and Mal’s (or S&M’s).

Initially, the idea of “Queen of Vinegar Hill” was based on a comedic idea of beauty queens, but this later developed into an idea of appointed royalty. Some of the early coronations were recorded under their drag names.

Former Queens include: Wellamiena Armstrong, Mal Kennedy-Vaughan, Pearl Pawson, A-Malcolm-B, Wanda Wilkinson, Dorothy Gibbs, Lilac Draper, Mike “Bikie Binzi” Binis, Slimmy Simmy, Sheela Shitface Johnston, Daniel Fielding, Ian Heteraka, Lyn and Heather, Jimmi Hart, Kim and Chris, Neil Day, Geoff Robinson, Calum Bennachie, Colin Waterhouse, Toni Farrow, Marc Smith, (Celine) Dion Leslie, Jenni James, Daniel Corney, Aaron King, Lynette Knox, Murray Smith (Muriel), Andrew Morgan (Nurse Gladys), Shane Young, David Playle, Iria Pene, Andrew Fletcher, Ian and Tisha Klien, Gary Duncan, Jamie Gardner, Shayno Baron, Samantha Harrison, and Patsy Gibson.
Check out the Wikipedia here.

This website was created and sponsored by Gender Minorities Aotearoa since 2020.