Adventures are always better when shared — especially with dogs who love exploring as much as we do. For Balto and Togo, a trip to Lake Taylor in North Canterbury meant swimming, paddleboarding, camping, and plenty of quality time together as a family. With the right preparation and gear, their first campervan adventure as a pack of four became a memorable outdoor experience full of fun, freedom, and muddy paws.
Arctic Sammy: Who is part of the adventure team?
Sasha: This would be me, my husband Max and our dogs Balto and Togo. Balto was our first dog and a few years later we rescued Togo. They became brothers and best friends really quickly! We love adventures and travelling with our boys and are always looking for fun things to do together.
Arctic Sammy: How do you travel with the boys? Tell us about your Campervan :)
Sasha: My husband converted an empty van into a campervan so that we could explore more places together and stay comfortably with our two dogs on the road. It allows us to travel flexibly, reach more remote spots, and always have a cosy space to return to after a day of adventures. Our first trip away as a family of four was to Lake Taylor in North Canterbury, which felt like the perfect destination to properly test our new little home on wheels! The boys are traveling in the back of the van. To keep them both safe, they each wear an Arctic Sammy Adventure Dog Harness and are buckled in with car tethers. The road to Lake Taylor takes you onto a 50-minute trip on a gravel road so it is important all occupants of the car are safely secured.
Arctic Sammy: What have you guys been up to at Lake Taylor?
Sasha: As our adventure took us to a lake, swimming is a must for Balto and Togo, no matter the weather ;). Cocker Spaniels are water dogs, so we took them both onto a quick swim on our paddleboard! Balto is a pro on a pedal board, and he adventured on it multiple times now, but it was the first time for Togo! And I am pleased to report he has done so well! He was calmly sitting on it and enjoyed the view. We only did a short run along the shore to test if both the dogs would stay on it and we made sure they are buckled in to the board with their waterproof Terraflow Leashes.
Arctic Sammy: Talking about gear - what did you bring for them on your trip?
Sasha: Both Balto and Togo wear Arctic Sammy’s Waterproof Terraflow collars. I love the bright colours and the material, which doesn't smell and is so easy to clean. Togo is an adult rehomed dog, so it is crucial for us to build the trust and make sure he is safe when adventuring with us. When swimming, we use the 10m Terraflow longline on him to ensure he can enjoy the fun while being within safe distance from us.
Back at camp, we set up our Basecamp Zipline. It allowed the boys to move around while being safely leashed. Don’t worry, they did get a big run around the farm where we stayed to get all that adventurer-cocker energy out!
We love travelling with our dogs and we are glad that Arctic Sammy gear is built to support our adventures! 🐾
Arctic Sammy: What makes travelling with your dogs so special?
Sasha: After dinner, we cuddled up in our van and just like that, the day of adventures on the lake was over. There is something really special about slowing down, being surrounded by nature, and sharing those quiet moments together after a full day outdoors.
When we got our first dog Balto, we made a promise to ourselves that we will show him as much of New Zealand as possible. Now, we have two dogs, and the promise is now extended to both the cockers. Travelling with them makes every trip more memorable — whether it’s watching them discover a new beach, run through open landscapes, or simply settle happily beside us after a day full of adventure.
Arctic Sammy: Would you recommend Lake Taylor with the dogs?
Sasha: Yes, 100% and we will go back in spring. The area is stunning, there are not many people around and the lake is beautiful for swimming and alls sorts of water activities. There can be life stock around but keeping the dogs on leash is easy and doesn't hurt the fun ;). Don't forget to bring bug repellent as there can be sandflies!
