Join Sherwater for our traditional 'hard camp'.

Easter camp is our anniversary event in Sherwater, and this year it is our first as a full shire. Come celebrate with us!

This is a very relaxed event. We camp, we cook over open fires (yes, we've been lucky so far and are allowed fires - and firewood is provided as part of the camp fee), we craft, we do archery, and whatever else takes our fancy. If you want to see an activity, let us know. Or even better, offer to run it!

The site is Eketahuna motor camp, a delightful camp tucked away in a bend in the river. It is a shared site, and we have one end roped off for our use. There are powered and unpowered camp sites, showers and also a shared kitchen on site. If you want more comfortable lodgings, the Eketahuna Inn has newly refurbished hotel rooms - contact them directly to book!

You can book the event for individual days. This means you can come out for Easter, go back home to do work, and then come back out for the second weekend. You can leave your tent set up during this time - there is a small charge payable, and we'll do our best to keep an eye on your belongings, but we can't take responsibility for your things. If you have more than one tent for your setup, such as a kitchen tent or similar, please book an extra tent site for this.

Accomodation cost per night:
Adult member - powered tent site $26.00, unpowered tent site $19.00
Child - powered tent site $21.00, unpowered tent site $19.00
Daytripping (staying elsewhere) $5.00 per day plus non-member fee if relevant
Tent only per night $10.00 (unplugged if at a powered site)
Extra tent (i.e. kitchen tent) $5.00

Adult non-member - add event membership $2.00

Costs included in the fee: camp site fees, common area infrastructure, firewood, tea & coffee 'on tap', site insurance and kingdom levies.

We do allow dogs on site, as long as they are leashed at all time and properly secured at night; there are other dogs, the camp cat, and native birds such as kiwi in the surrounding forest! Common sense is expected - if your dog is aggressive, don't bring them. If your dog causes an incident you and your dog will be asked to leave site by the site managers.

If you have any questions, contact the Steward - Fru Marina Jensdatter - on sca.wairarapa at gmail.com

The Pestle and Pie will again be offering an optional food plan with two tiers - the paupers' plan consists of porridge in the morning, and a basic soup or stew for lunch and dinner. Simple fare, but for $10.00 per day ($80.00 for the week) you can't beat it! The Nobles get a somewhat fancier menu, and costs $20.00 per day ($160.00 for the week). The food plan is available from breakfast Saturday 4th through to breakfast Sunday 12th April. If you have young people 5-12 years old, they can book the Young Nobles at $80.00. There is no discount on the Paupers' plan.

Important: The Paupers' plan cannot accomodate any food allergies (due to cost management). The Nobles plan can cater for Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians, Gluten- and Dairy Free. If you have specific allergies, please contact the Pestle and Pie before booking. If you want to book only some of the days, contact us first. Bookings for the food plan close at midnight on the 19 March 2026 to give the cooks time to shop and prepare. Email pestle_and_pie at gmail.com with any questions.

Tentative Event Schedule - subject to change

Good Friday - set up day. Cars allowed on site until midnight. After this no cars will be permitted in the camping area until the second Sunday. If you are leaving the event during that time, ensure you are camped at the top of our area, or carry your gear out by foot.
Easter Saturday - heavy tournament. Food plan available from breakfast.
Easter Sunday - market, archery competition
Easter Monday - fibre day
Tuesday - excursion day (lunches will be packed)
Wednesday - brewing day
Thursday - excursion day
Friday - TBA
Saturday - mini market, fencing tournament
Sunday - pack down day, cars allowed on site from 8 a.m. Food plan ends with breakfast this day.

Event rules
Please note that due to past incidents on the site, we have had to develop a code of conduct for the event site. This will be strictly enforced, so read through carefully – you will be asked to sign off on it at the gate.

Sherwater Easter camp code of conduct

These rules are expected to be followed at any part of the event, including but not limited to setup, during event, cleanup and takedown. If a participant breaks these rules a warning will be issued. If the same or another rule is broken again, the member will be asked to leave the event without a refund.

These rules have been developed as a result of past experiences, where behaviour has negatively impacted other people at the camp site and/or other members’ enjoyment. We expect our events to be fun and relaxing without generating discomfort or distress to our participants, and to not impact our ability to return to an event site.

These rules are a complement to existing Kingdom, society, and incorporation rules.

Event rules:

• No yelling or aggressive arguments. If two or more people have a disagreement, please remove yourselves to an area where the issue can be resolved without impacting others.

• No physical altercations will be tolerated and you will be asked to leave the site immediately.

• Only martial activities approved by the steward and event martial are allowed.

• All marshal activities must be conducted in an approved area that is safe and properly secured.

• Marshal activities must be supervised by an authorised marshal.

• There will be no siege weapons allowed on site. No projectile weapons will be permitted, except for archery equipment.

• Tree cutting/felling, digging of fire pits or other site modification, can only be done after approval from the event steward and site management.

• Keep the site clean and clear from obstacles. Do not block access to any part of the site with your vehicle.