ALL ABOARD
Image courtesy of kiwisflythecoop.com
HEADING SOUTH
I Ali Jones Writer, broadcaster, and housebus adventurer @housebusdylan @dylanthehousebus
but the place we had planned to park up n January, Dylan the house bus and Edith was a tad manky), almost camped on the the Suzuki made their way up the West Coast of the South Island, carrying Billy the beach itself. It was awesome. With Dylan’s new, larger water tank (up Greyhound and his humans, Ali and Rob. We left Christchurch on 31 December and headed from 180L to 480L), a correspondingly larger waste tank, more storage (roll-out drawers for the New Year hot spot of Oamaru (hey, for pantry and clothing – not together), and why not?) after which we had booked two the curtains I had shortened for the front nights at the Omakau races as part of a New cab area and side windows, we realised how Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) important it has been to travel for a while to package (entry to races on 2 January, a race figure out how we would live in the bus and book, and a tip sheet). Just before midday, what we needed to do. Lifestyle Motorhomes with temperatures soaring into the early 30s, in Ashburton did excellent work before in they came: children, ladies dressed for Christmas. They are awesome professionals. the fashion competition, men wearing their On the other hand, the curtains were not best shorts; greeting one another with New flash. Despite desperately wanting to be Year’s g’days. It was fabulous. No wins on the good at sewing, Christchurch Girls’ High gave monetary front but plenty from the human me an ‘E’ for the subject, and in those days, experience perspective. Also, Billy was a very ‘E’ didn’t mean “Excellent”. Anyway, the well-patted pooch. curtains were up, providing much-needed We had intended to help our son move shade and privacy. into his new Dunedin flat in early January, This time I haven’t had room to include which was why we were initially heading Franz Josef, Lake Mapourika, Hokitika, south, but he didn’t need us, so after Omakau, we veered towards the West Coast. Greymouth, Punakaiki, and Fox River (the Sunday market is always worth a visit – great Using the NZMCA and Rankers apps, we food, music and stalls). pulled into the Makarora Country Café – a Next, it’s Golden Bay and onto Kaikōura as beautiful green back garden with powered sites, laundry, and showers. One night here, we head back to Christchurch. After that – who knows? one at Rapahoe Beach (unintended stop,
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