Motorhomes, Caravans and Destinations Issue #194

CELEBRATING AN ICON 70 YEARS OF THE VW KOMBI

19 MAY–10 JUNE 2020

WHERE TO NEXT?

9 inspiring travel destinations inside

WARM UP YOUR WINTER 8 great natural hot pools

ISSUE 194 19 MAY – 10 JUNE 2020 $9.95

MEET ‘ABE THE BABE’ – FROM OLD RUST-HEAP TO CARAVAN CHIC MOUNTAINS TO SEA TRAIL Riding through rail history

READY TO HIT THE ROAD? Tips for your first RV trip

PLUS RV reviews, life on the road stories & more

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CONTENTS FEATURES 32

GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

The little caravans with a big following in New Zealand

24

THOSE WERE THE DAYS

34

HEY GOOD LOOKING

46

ISSUU FAQS

PEOPLE 68

GOING PLACES

72

JACKIE’S JOURNEY

76

ADVENTURES WITH ROSY

A look at the fascinating early history of the VW Kombi

Meet Abe the Babe, a restored Concord caravan who was given a second chance

Tips on how to make the most of your digital editon of MCD magazine

48

EXPLORE 14

MUST-DO DESTINATIONS

38

RIDING THROUGH RAIL HISTORY

Lock-down is over, time to find your travel inspiration!

Tackling the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail

44

REWARDS OF THE ROAD

Jill Malcolm shares her latest adventures and experiences from the road

WHEEL ESTATE 48

FAMILY FRIENDLY

54

AUSSIE CHARM

60

GOOD LOOKING, EASY DRIVING

Auto-Trail F72

Millard MFlow 196

Pilote Pacific P690c

14

Gail and Bruce Hudson share memories of their 15 RVs This month, Jackie and Gareth discover a wonderful mistake Meet a family of five exploring NZ in their Jayco caravan

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On holiday for over 60 years.

The TrailLite story is a classic Kiwi innovation tale that dates back to 1954.

Back in the day It was the 1950s and caravans were taking off. The ability to roll up and stay at some of the most picturesque locations in the country meant Kiwis were latching them to the back of their cars and hitting the road in droves.

Innovation’s been in our family since 1954, and it was obvious to us that our skills as cabinetmakers translated perfectly to form the foundation for creating top notch caravan interiors.

When the first one rolled off the production line it wasn’t long before our knack for it became obvious to the public too; they were lining up to get one of their own!

Over the course of more than 60 years, we’re still family owned, and our continued commitment to quality, service and innovation has earned TrailLite the reputation as leading manufacturers and suppliers of motorhomes and caravans.

Quality and innovation are our legacy Throughout our history we’ve built a reputation for setting the benchmark in cutting edge motorhome design

Auckland 77 Paerata Rd, Pukekohe

and expert craftsmanship. And we’re always looking to improve that by introducing new, exciting innovations.

We search the globe for new trends and ultimately listen to our customers (or product designers, as we like to call them) to deliver the best motorhome experience and product on the market.

So much choice We have over 20 different TrailLite models to choose from, with the option to upgrade and design your own bespoke interior flavour. Or you can choose from our carefully selected international range of Benimar and Auto Sleeper motorhomes and Bailey Caravans. We know New Zealand roads and conditions so only import the very best options that we know can handle them.

TrailLite get together With TrailLite, you’re more than just a motorhome or caravan owner, you’re part of a family. Every couple of years we organise the ‘TrailLite get together’ where other passionate motorhome and caravan owners gather together to share their stories, swap tips, and generally have a good time.

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Why choose TrailLite?

No matter if it’s a TrailLite built or TrailLite backed product, we’re all about enjoying life on the road.

So, wherever you go, whatever you need, we have you covered.

• With our TrailLite care programme your motorhome is covered by a little TLC. • We’ve been in operation since 1954 so you know we’re here for the long haul.

• A full, comprehensive handover with our dedicated handover and after sales care expert.

• We have the industry’s best resale values.

• Our on-site, factory supported Service Centre in Pukekohe is purpose built and fully stocked with all the parts and expertise you need to keep your vehicle in excellent condition.

• Built for your long term needs, you’re less likely to outgrow a TrailLite.

Added up, this all amounts to peace of mind and a lower total cost of ownership.

TECHNICAL TIPS 66

38

READY FOR THE ROAD?

Tips on preparing for those first few trips in your new RV

EVERY ISSUE

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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INBOX

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RECIPES

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BOOKS

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PUZZLES

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LISTINGS FORM

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EDITOR’S LETTER

W

elcome to issue 194. I hope this month’s issue finds you and your family well and enjoying the increased freedom of Level 2.

As I write this, it is day one of Level 2 and I’ve just enjoyed a quick walk past our local shops. It was so heartening to see our little community businesses wide open. During lockdown, it was sad to see our local florist with its doors closed and bunches of dried brown flowers in the window. Today big, bright bouquets took their place, matched by the equally big, bright smiles of the staff and customers inside.

For many, May 14th was the first day in over seven weeks that we were free to hit the road again. And while we still need to remain vigilant about hygiene and distancing, I’m sure you’ll agree that having the freedom of the road back has never felt so good.

Right now, there are small businesses, from coffee shops to holiday parks, all over the country that are waiting on Kiwis to get back out there and support them. And I know that, already, many of our wonderful community of travellers are doing exactly that. Enjoying lunch at a small café, stocking up on supplies at a locally owned mini mart, or booking a long weekend at a campground. You could also show your support by sharing photos and experiences on social media

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and encouraging others to visit. And if you have someone special in your life celebrating a birthday or anniversary soon, consider a gift voucher that supports a small business who may be struggling. We’ll certainly be doing our bit here at MCD by continuing to showcase many of the great businesses around the country that would love you to visit.

It’s going to take time for our country to recover. But we have started. Every day, there are stories of Kiwis helping out other Kiwis, of communities coming together and giving vital support where it is needed most. We’ve worked together as a nationwide team for the past seven weeks, and despite us all being separated, we’ve come together like never before. So let’s continue to keep an eye on each other, and to understand that while we each have different ways of coping through difficult times, we all want the same result and that is to enjoy the freedom that we are all so fortunate to have in this country.

Travel safe,

Claire Smith, editor

nzmcd.co.nz

claire@nzmcd.co.nz

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READY TO EARN? EDITORIAL Editor Claire Smith | claire@nzmcd.co.nz Art director Kavita Kumar Image retouching Chrissy Pownall Digital content management Fleur Covich, Carly Hitchcock

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INBOX

INBOX Share your stories and feedback at claire@nzmcd.co.nz or Facebook.com/ mcdmagazine

Last month, we asked for your sustainability tips. What advice to you have on being environmentally friendly as you travel? Our lucky winner is Kirsty Glasgow offered this great tip: “We reuse the paper bags we receive our groceries in as bin liners and to collect groceries in during our trips away.”

Here are some of the other reader comments: We harvest rainwater from our awning via a spout and hose directly into our tank. We use eco-products for all cleaning, and we purchase from Will&Able NZ who use eco products in recycled packaging and employ people with brain injuries/ disabilities.

- Lynda White When we boil the kettle for hot drinks, we always put leftover hot water in the 2L thermos flask. Gives us enough for a hot drink at night, and tea in the morning, and when it is put back in the kettle it boils very quickly.

This saves gas and power when using the jug on a powered site. We use bikes, one my wife uses is an e-bike for traveling instead of towing a vehicle, and a double sea kayak for fishing carried inside the bus, saves fuel towing a boat and running it. Only fuel needed is extra food, beer and wine lol.

- Alan Hane Make it a rule not to buy bottled water – invest in a good quality stainless steel drink bottle that will last for years.

- Jessie McKenzie

We reuse our bread bags for poop bags when walking the dog instead.

- Dana Fagan Solar power panels on our caravan. They are great.

- Bronwyn Cavanagh

Use e-waste recycling programs to dispose of your electronics.

- Boyd Rudd Solar panels for power which includes recharge of e-bikes.

- John Hunt

Always take a hottie and bed socks for the cold nights and fill the hottie during the day if cold.

- Lesley McIntosh I replaced about six beauty products with just coconut oil – it’s a great moisturiser, lip balm, hair product, after-sun product, and it’s natural.

- Eden Matlock Most supermarkets now sell ‘green’ bags for using when buying fruit and veges, much better than the plastic bags.

- Jill White When making hot drinks only boil as much water as required.

No excess wastewater to dispose of and less use of gas.

- Bob Osborne

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK AND WIN A PRIZE PACK OF BOOKS This month, we have another prize pack of books to give away. To be in to win, tell us about your first RV ‘escape’ after lockdown – where did you go and how did it feel being back on the road again? Email us at claire@nzmcd.co.nz or comment at facebook.com/mcdmagazine. We’ll draw a lucky winner on 5 June 2020.

Email your feedback to us at claire@nzmcd.co.nz or comment at facebook.com/mcdmagazine.

12 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

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EXPLORE | MUST-DO DESTINATIONS

MUST-DO DESTINATIONS

IMAGES BY HEATHER WHELAN/JACKIE NORMAN/NINA MERCER/DESTINATION KAIKOURA

Now that lockdown is behind us, those dreams of travelling freely again loom large. To help inspire your future travel plans, here’s a look back at some of the destinations we’ve featured over the years that you may like to add to your travel list for the future.

The Italian Renaissance Garden at Hamilton Gardens

14 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

The Indian Char Bagh Garden

HAMILTON GARDENS WORDS BY NINA MERCER/CLAIRE SMITH

If you haven’t yet visited Hamilton Gardens, you’ll want to put this incredible destination at the top of your ‘must-do’ list next time you’re in the Waikato. The gardens are simply magical for all ages, at any time of the year.

Spanning 54 hectares, Hamilton Gardens ranks as one of the best international garden destinations, and it is easy to see why. Stretching between the Waikato River and State Highway One on the edge of Hamilton East, the green estate offers large areas of themed landscapes for picnicking and strolling through, as well as intricately designed enclosed gardens.

Made up of five different collections, each comprising several themed gardens, every garden is remarkable and beautifully thought out. They range from an English flower garden showcasing the Arts and Crafts movement, through to an Alice In Wonderland-inspired fantasy garden.

The Paradise Collection is perfect for a quiet wander and for taking time to sit and contemplate. Each of the six gardens in this collection is based on traditional small garden designs and includes the Indian Char Bargh Garden, which is characterised by an open pavilion looking out over a carpet of beautiful blooms.

Water is a significant feature of the Japanese Contemplative Garden, also in the Paradise Collection. The style dates back to the 1300s. Carefully planned, it is designed to offer ‘visions of natural landscapes’.

Indeed, the green trees, mossy rocks, and still waters provide for a relaxing ambience that transport you to a wild valley.

With its beautiful fountain and symmetrical layout, the Italian Renaissance Garden attracts with its orderly beauty.

Renaissance artists of the 15th and 16th century designed their gardens based on

mathematical principles. For the rich and powerful who could afford the luxury, these became a symbol of status and a place for impressing and entertaining visitors.

The Productive Collection is home to the impressive Te Parapara Garden. Based on traditional Māori practices and ceremonies related to food cultivation, it is New Zealand’s only such garden and a project that partners with local iwi, Nga Mana Toopu.

For something completely different, enter the world of the Fantasy Collection with its maze-like Tudor Gardens, and the strange world of the Surrealist Garden where you’ll find a 1930s garden and passageway where everything is five times the normal scale and the rose plant grows noses, not roses!

Plan to spend at least a full day at the gardens. There are some lovely picnic spots and the onsite café offers good food and coffee. There is plenty of parking available for motorhomes.

H A M I LTO N G A R D E N S

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO

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Waiheke Island - picture postcard perfect!

WAIHEKE ISLAND WORDS BY HEATHER WHELAN

It always seems to be summer on Waiheke Island. White sandy shores frame sparkling blue water, the vibe is relaxed and the pace is just that little bit slower. Whether lounging on a beach, enjoying lunch at a winery or admiring local artwork at a gallery, Waiheke has something for everyone. What I didn’t realise until my last visit, though, was that Waiheke has a continuous network of walkways that loop the island. Called Te Ara Hura, the walkway has 100km of track, taking the walker through bush, along headlands and beside beaches. We sampled some of what Te Ara Hura offers recently, incorporating all the things that make Waiheke wonderful, with some short walks.

16 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

The island’s walking network is divided into themed areas: Headlands, Beaches ‘n’ Baches, Forest Heart, and Far End. The Headlands brochure promised “milliondollar views over the Hauraki Gulf ” – and we weren’t disappointed. We strolled along beside the coast from Matiatia Bay (where the passenger ferry arrives and departs from) to Owhanake Bay. The sea glistened in picturesque bays and the Gulf islands seemed to float on the horizon.

Sandy beaches beckoned, and what better way to end the day than with fish and chips on Oneroa Beach. Oneroa means ‘long sandy beach’ in Te Reo Māori and it is just one of the beautiful spots along Waiheke’s northern shore.

We spent the following morning sampling the delights of Little Oneroa, Sandy Bay, Palm Beach and Onetangi.

WAIHEKE ISLAND

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO

The quirky-looking Red Shed at Palm Beach lured us in to look at more island art. This unique gallery is set up to support new and emerging artists on the island and offers exhibition space, workshops, school holiday programmes, and free studio space for its members.

It was time for a bush walk, so we headed to Whakanewha Regional Park. The Nikau Track led through an area of bush to the Cascades, a series of small waterfalls and pools. The track lived up to its name; the bush was crowded with nikau palms, giving welcome shade on a sunny day.

Back at Whakanewha (Rocky) Bay we admired a grand sculpture that celebrates guardianship of the New Zealand dotterel.

Part of the adjacent beach was fenced off to allow these rare birds to breed. The northern headlands had been alive with tūī and native pigeon, but the shelly beach here was home to oystercatchers, pied stilts, white-faced heron, godwits and other wading birds.

Whakanewha Regional Park has a campground at Poukaraka Flats and selfcontained vehicles can stay at the Sculpture Carpark. We had come by car, not in our motorhome, on this visit to Waiheke – but this looked a great spot for a peaceful night on a future occasion.

FIND OUT MORE • F or those who want to experience more of Waiheke’s walks, there is an annual nine-day Walking Festival, with trails from ‘night sky’ to ‘forest bathing’; the programme also includes the five-day Te Ara Hura circuit. For this year’s dates see waihekewalkingfestival.org.

• Information about selfcontained parking and camping at Whakanewha Regional Park can be found at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

• The Sealink vehicle ferry timetable and other information can be found at sealink.co.nz • Several operators offer wine tours on Waiheke Island. Check them out online to find the one that suits you.

DOC SITES WORTH A VISIT WORDS BY JACKIE NORMAN

One of the best things about living on the road is being able to really get away from it all and camp out in the middle of nowhere. Whether it’s nestled in the

bush, at the edge of a lake, or at the foot of a mountain, no expensive hotel can ever compare with how close you can get to nature in a motorhome. We are incredibly lucky to have more than 200 Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites around New Zealand, for as little as $8 per night.

Here are a few worth checking out: MAVORA LAKES

Located between Mossburn and Te Anau, Mavora Lakes is a tourist drawcard, thanks to its Lord of the Rings claim to fame as the location of Nen Hithoel. Don’t let that put you off, though, there’s more than enough room for everyone.

Access to the campground is via a 39km gravel road, which can make for slow going, but the road is well maintained, and the destination is absolutely worth going so far out of your way for. Once you arrive, there is plenty to do, with opportunities for fishing, boating, hunting, mountain biking, and more.

Keen trampers can choose from day walks through to a 50km, four-day hike.

With two main camping areas comprising 60 non-powered sites, Mavora Lakes has it all. What makes it special is the otherworldly atmosphere. Set up camp at the water’s edge, light the fire pit, and

Dolamore Park is stunning all year round

17

“For breath-taking views as far as Stewart Island, Poppelwells Lookout is a must-do”

enjoy being as close as you can get to one of Mother Nature’s most stunning backdrops. Dogs are also allowed here, and they’ll love having plenty of forest to explore.

As with many DOC campgrounds, sandflies are rife so don’t get caught out.

Bring plenty of insect repellent, and you’ll have a peaceful and enjoyable stay.

WENTWORTH VALLEY

Located just a few kilometres out of Whangamata, on the Coromandel Peninsula, the Wentworth Valley area is popular for its swimming holes and bush walks, and the campground provides the perfect central setting. It’s so spacious, with 60 non-powered sites, as well as powered sites, if required. Just ring ahead first to check availability.

We loved our secluded spot, tucked away among the ferns. With plenty of shade in summer and open areas for games and activities, Wentworth Valley is the perfect place for families. It’s a paradise for dogs, too.

Dolamore Park

18 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

A number of walks for all abilities start at the campground, featuring mines, waterfalls, and extensive views of the Coromandel ranges. Despite the campground’s remote location, the beautiful beach at Whangamata is just a short drive away.

Facilities include toilets, hot and cold showers, food preparation, and cleaning areas, as well as an on-site manager. Enjoy a leisurely stay in the heart of the bush, next to the Wentworth River.

D O C PA R KS

DOLAMORE PARK

Dolamore Park is located just a few kilometres out of Gore, and if you are lucky enough to be able to camp in this beautiful setting, we definitely recommend it. As DOC camps go, this is up there with the best for facilities, including kitchen and shower facilities, electric barbecues, and an impressive children’s play area.

Tent sites are unlimited and there are also 22 powered sites available. At just $10 per night for adults and $2 for school-age children, this place is excellent value.

There are many great, well-maintained walking tracks, ranging in length from 10 minutes to four hours. For breath-taking views across Southland as far as Stewart Island, Poppelwells Lookout is a must-do, as well as the picturesque Whiskey Creek Falls. Keep an eye out along the way for native bird life, as well as the Brown Trout,

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO

eels, and freshwater lobsters who inhabit the Waimumu Stream.

The park looks spectacular all year round and is famous for its rhododendrons. Even if you don’t stay there, it’s a fantastic place for a day trip.

Bring a picnic and the grandkids and make the most of this delightful and immaculately kept Southland paradise.

For more information on campground prices, facilities, and motorhome access, visit doc.govt.nz/campsites.

Waimangu’s famous blue Inferno Crater

WAIMANGU VOLCANIC VALLEY WORDS BY CLAIRE SMITH

About 25 minutes’ drive southeast from central Rotorua is Waimangu Volcanic Valley, where visitors can immerse themselves further in the fascinating history surrounding the Tarawera region.

Before the 1886 eruption, the Pink and White Terraces on the shores of Lake Rotomahana attracted intrepid tourists from around the world. Formed by geothermally heated water rich in siliceous sinter, the beautiful terraces and pools were considered to be the eighth wonder of the world. Sadly, the terraces were destroyed when Mount Tarawera erupted, covering them in thick sediment and submerging them 50 metres beneath the lake – which increased by 20 times its size after the eruption.

Today, visitors can take a self-guided walk through Waimangu Volcanic Valley, with a variety of walking tracks ranging between 1.5km and 4km. As you start out on the path, it’s a little like taking a step back in time. The vast valley of green bushland stretches on for miles, an everpresent shroud of thermal mist hanging lazily in the air. The only sound, an

occasional call of a kererū or the peeps of busy fantails seeking out bugs for breakfast.

The walk takes visitors past geysers, a hot water creek, hot springs, crystal formations, and craters – including the brilliantly blue Inferno Crater. At the end of the walk, visitors can board the Ariki Moana vessel for a 45-minute cruise across Lake Rotomahana to learn more about the history and eruption of Mt Tarawera, including visiting the sites of the Pink and White Terraces.

WAIMANGU VOLCANIC VALLEY

KAIKOURA WORDS BY CLAIRE SMITH

Known for its abundant marine wildlife, the peninsula township of Kaikoura lies between the snow-capped Seaward Kaikoura mountain range and the Pacific Ocean. There are few places in the world that have such a rich array of wildlife on its doorstep. Part of the reason for this is the 60km long Kaikoura Canyon – around 800 metres southwest of the Kaikoura Peninsula – that extends more than 1200 metres beneath the sea. The canyon is part of the Kermadec Trench system which provides a concentrated source of nutrients from the deep ocean, encouraging a food chain from

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO

tiny plankton right up to the whales and dolphins Kaikoura is renowned for.

If an up-close encounter with whales and dolphins is top of your bucket list, then Kaikoura is certainly the place to tick it off. I was lucky enough to enjoy four fabulous days in Kaikoura last year.

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With the flick of his tail, the whale heads down into the depths

Without doubt, the whale watch was the highlight of my visit.

Kaikoura’s award-winning Whale Watch tours are owned and operated by the indigenous Ngāti Kurī people of Kaikoura. The eco-tourism company has been operating since 1987, with a focus on conservation and sustainability.

As our tour group headed out early on a Sunday morning, we learnt more about the unique environment of the Kaikoura canyon and the marine life it is home to.

Apparently, Kaikoura is one of the few places in the world that sperm whales can be seen year-round close to shore, and being witness to their natural behaviour in this unique environment was an unforgettable experience.

Once we neared the whale-frequented waters, our boat came to a stop while the skipper lowered a hydrophone to listen for the whales’ echolocation. With the familiar clicking of the sperm whale quickly picked up, we were encouraged to look for water spouting or splashes from a surfacing whale. It was an exciting moment when a spout was spotted a short distance away.

On a crisp and cloudless morning, 20 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

Kaikoura should be on every Kiwi’s bucket list

backdropped by the magnificence of the snow-capped mountain range, the sight and sound of this incredible beast gently cruising quietly through the glassy water provided what can only be described as a spiritual moment. A moment made even more special when a second whale surfaced – taking everyone by complete surprise – blowing a huge waterspout into the air, capturing a rainbow of colour in its droplets.

Our tour group sat quietly watching, cameras and video capturing every moment, until both whales decided to head back down into the 1200 metres deep Kaikoura Canyon, signalling their farewell with a flick of their giant tails.

Back on land, a walk around the peninsula to the Point Kean fur seal colony provided endless photo opportunities as sunbathing seals lazed about, yawning and scratching, and occasionally lolling back into the water to cool off. At low tide you can now walk out about kilometre on the seabed, and at low tide you can walk around the entire peninsula, something that wasn’t possible pre-quake.

To top off a few hours of seal watching and peninsula walking, I’d recommend a stop at The Original World-Famous Kaikoura Seafood BBQ (on Fyffe Quay – you’ll pass it on the way to the point).

Choose a freshly caught crayfish from the chilly bin, take a seat at one of the seaside picnic tables, and get ready to tuck into a juicy plate of perfectly barbecued cray and salad. Kaikoura is famous for its crayfish, in fact (Kaikoura literally translates to mean ‘to eat crayfish’, and it would be a shame not to while you’re there!).

KAIKOURA

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The journey across to Kapiti Island takes around 20 minutes

KĀPITI ISLAND WORDS BY JACKIE NORMAN

It’s a wonderful thought that some of the best days of our lives haven’t yet happened.

I never imagined that at 46, I would still be constantly amazed and delighted on my travels. That’s life on the road for you – as I’m sure many will agree. Even so, few days come close to the one we spent exploring Kāpiti Island recently, courtesy of Kāpiti Island Eco Experience.

We boarded our vessel bright and early on Sunday morning and were greeted warmly by owner-operator Glen ‘Coops’ Cooper. “Today is mint,” he said and assured us the overcast conditions were perfect for spotting the multitudes of wildlife on one of New Zealand’s most significant nature reserves. Pleased, we relaxed into the 20-minute journey out to sea, along with the rest of our tour group, made up of visitors from all over the world.

Stepping off the boat at the island’s Southern Landing, we began making our way to the visitors’ shelter. As we walked, our guide, Rob, told us that this was where Sir Peter Jackson filmed King Kong. He also shared some of New Zealand’s fascinating history and facts about wildlife. I learned more in 15 minutes of listening to Rob than I had in almost 30 years of living here.

By the time he had finished, we were ready to be let loose on the island. Kāpiti Island Eco Experience offers both guided and unguided tours, and from here our group dispersed accordingly.

There are two walking routes open to the public that will take you to the highest point of the island. Both take about two hours to reach the summit.

The main one is the Wilkinson Track; a well-maintained walk with a steady uphill climb. The other is the Trig, which is more challenging and should only be attempted by experienced trampers. Gareth and I assumed correctly that most of the group would opt for the easier track and so we quickly set out to climb the Trig. It was here that we found ourselves alone, and the magic began.

The bush was unlike any other we have ever seen. So thick and lush, the two of us felt like intrepid jungle explorers, brushing past enormous palm fronds. This really was King Kong country. As we made our way up the track as stealthily as we could, so as not to disturb the wildlife, all we could hear was our breathing. Before long, however, the air was full of birdsong, the likes of which we had never heard before, and the first of the residents began to show themselves.

21

Rob had done a sterling job of imitating the different calls and, delighted, we were able to pick them out – from the ‘stitch’ sound of the hihi and the joyful screech of the kākā, to the mournful call of the kōkako.

We sat for a while at the hihi feeding station before the Trig joined the Wilkinson Track and we continued making our way to the summit. We started to see people again,

KĀPITI ISLAND

but nothing could dampen our joy at having had this precious time to ourselves, with the robins, weka and the rest of the merry throng. At last, we reached the top – Tūteremoana – and enjoyed a picnic, with the clouds swirling around us before reluctantly making our way down.

I felt like a small child who didn’t want to go home and was overcome with such overwhelming sadness, I was glad the sun had decided to come out at last so nobody could see my eyes welling up. What a day, what an experience.

MOERAKI WORDS BY HEATHER WHELAN

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO

View from the penguin hide

22 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

Most New Zealanders are familiar with the images of the bizarre boulders of Moeraki. But if you haven’t managed a first-hand look, you might like to add this iconic destination to your must-see list and check out the local townships while you’re there.

The Moeraki Boulders are a group of large spherical stones on Koekohe Beach on the Otago coast. Each boulder weighs several tonnes and is up to two metres high. The boulders are actually concretions that have been exposed through shoreline erosion from coastal cliffs. Although according to Māori

legend, the boulders are gourds washed ashore from the great voyaging canoe Araiteuru when it was wrecked upon landfall in New Zealand hundreds of years ago.

Koekohe Beach is located between the towns of Moeraki and Hampden. It’s a beautiful, scenic drive on State Highway One from the north or south.

The area around Moeraki township is well worth investigating. There are no through roads. Most of these ‘no exit’ roads lead to clusters of old cribs huddled beside ruggedly picturesque beaches. Follow Lighthouse Road, however, and you will eventually arrive at Katiki Point Historic Reserve/Te Raka-a-Hineatea and its lighthouse, built in 1878.

A walk leads from the lighthouse to the old pa site at Katiki point. The pā was occupied in the 18th century and had terraces and houses with stone fireplaces.

Little trace remains of the settlement today and the land is only home to wildlife. We set off to walk to the headland, but the first attraction was the penguin hide. This is a 5-10 minute walk downhill following a formed track and is one of the most significant breeding sites for yellow-eyed penguins/hoiho in North Otago. A wooden

The Moeraki Boulders are quite captivating

structure allows the penguins to be observed in their natural habitat. The best times for viewing are before 9am and after 3pm as the adults leave their chicks for the ocean each morning, returning in the evening.

Since we were there a little before 3pm, we enjoyed looking at the colony of fur seals basking on the rocky beach below.

As we made our way back up the track, we were surprised to see two yellow-eyed penguins standing behind the predatorproof fence looking out at us. We watched as they waddled off deeper into their bush habitat.

The headland walk passes alongside the top of the penguin reserve and below the lighthouse. The lighthouse keeper’s house is run by the Katiki Point Penguin Trust as a rehabilitation centre for injured or sick penguins. Over a stile, the walk continues across grassland and rocky shores to the headland. There are great views and a variety of birdlife. Gulls were using the wind to soar around the cliffs while a

solitary yellow-eyed penguin rested on the grass.

The walk is around one-hour return to the reserve car park but wildlife lovers could spend the whole day there. Return in time though, as the gates are closed during the hours of darkness for safety reasons.

We freedom-camped at Back Creek, which is a little further along State Highway One, in one of several areas between the beach and the road south of Katiki Point.

The day after our surprise encounters with yellow-eyed penguins and fur seals we walked along Katiki Beach, which can be seen from Katiki Point but only accessed from SH1. The attraction here was not wildlife but more boulders. Like Moeraki Beach, Katiki Beach is home to spherical boulders called concretions. I have seen Moeraki Boulders and the larger spheres called the Koutu Boulders in the Hokianga but I had never seen hollowed-out boulders like the ones on this beach. They reminded me of a series of rustic spa pools. Whatever

the imagination suggested, or the science revealed, it was certainly an interesting beach walk. â–

MOERAKI

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO

23

EXPLORE | XXXXXXXXXXX

THOSE WERE THE DAYS The classic VW Kombi holds a special place in many people’s hearts. Jill Malcolm shares her own love of this iconic RV and takes a look at a little of it’s fascinating early history.

An early VW T2 van known as a Splittie because of its divided front windscreen

O

n 29 September 1969, when South Africa experienced its worst earthquake on record, I was undergoing a minor upheaval of my own. That day my husband and I were waving goodbye to our colleagues of two years at the Oppenheimer Hospital in the Orange Free State to begin a lengthy expedition of the African continent. For this purpose, we’d bought a Type 2, T1 Volkswagen Kombi van. It was one of the earlier models, shaped like a shoebox on wheels and known as a ‘Splittie’ because the windscreen was divided in two.

The interior was empty before we installed a plywood settee/bed, under which we stored our clothes, camera and shoes. Above the lift-up door over the rear engine was a boot on which we placed a basin and a two-ring gas cooker which served as the kitchen. Water was carried in a large container and ablution was by way of a bucket. We decked the windows 24 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

Ablutions, Kombi style (Africa, 1969)

the engine became peppered with sand and layered in mud but it kept going without complaint and in our minds our Splittie became personified - the third member of the team. We referred to her as ‘she’ or ‘her’ and applauded the way she looked after us.

Our eventual parting was a wrench and I’ve had a love affair with Kombi campers ever since.

The configuration of an early Westfalia kitchen with a fold-down cook top sink fridge and storage cupboard

A Westfalia settee/bed and foldaway table

IMAGES BY JILL MALCOLM/VOLKSWAGON

and the bed’s squab in smart yellow and green check fabric and just before we set off on our year-long odyssey, a friend painted two large kiwi on the driver and passenger doors. Even though the fit-out was a primitive affair I can’t remember being particularly uncomfortable.

In the 50s, 60s and 70s, Kombi campervans were a-la-mode for explorers, itinerants and the counterculture of freespirited idealists (aka hippies). The VW Type 2s were workhorses, practical, easy to manoeuvre and simply constructed. Their air-cooled engines were not necessarily more reliable than others but simply designed and easy to fix.

We drove thousands of kilometres across sand, through mud and water and on bone-juddering roads and had very little go wrong. Where heavy Land Rovers floundered in sand (sometimes beyond rescue in places where there were no trees to support their winches), the much lighter Kombi skipped along, and if it bogged could be freed with little drama. In time,

Knut Erb’s 1973, original Westfalia Kombi with pop-top and typical check curtain fabric

25

The Type 2 Kombi (short for ‘Kombinationsfahrzeug’, which loosely translates as ‘combination vehicle’) It was known officially (depending on body type) as the Transporter, Kombi or Microbus, or, informally, as The Bus (US), The Camper (UK), Pão de Forma – Loaf of Bread – (Portugal). In Europe it was commonly nicknamed the Bulli.

The Type 2 was the second model of Volkswagen. The first was the immensely popular ‘Beetle’ (Type 1) which had been developed in Germany pre-WW2 to fulfil the aspirations of Adolf Hitler and Ferdinand Porsche. These two men were not politically aligned but they shared the same objective - to develop a simple and reliable car that millions of Germans could afford. They more than succeeded. In the following years people all over the world clamoured to own a Beetle.

Dutchman Ben Pon was an enthusiastic Beetle importer and had a big impact on what came next. After the war, in 1947, while he was visiting the VW factory

A beautifully restored and thoroughly used classic Kombi.

26 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

in Germany, he conceived the idea of designing a commercial transporter using VW running gear. The concept was simple – a box on wheels with a driver at the front and the engine at the back and plenty of cargo room in between.

Two years later the Type 2 van was launched. It had an air-cooled engine hidden under the floor at the back and nothing in front of the windscreen. The driver perched over the front wheels and steered by means of a bus-style steering wheel. Bullis became highly sought after and served a myriad uses as delivery vans, people movers, pick- ups, and school buses.

For the next four decades, although there were many variations and generational changes, the basic design concept remained the same. Over that time roughly five million Bullis rolled off production lines in several countries around the world.

Soon after the Kombi was launched in 1950, a German coachbuilding company called Westfalia produced an ingenious modular camping package marketed as

A 1966 Kombi advert

The Camping Box. At first, the camping component was removeable so the van could be used for other purposes and coverted for holidays, but as interest surged it became a permanent fixture.

Standard equipment for campers included beds, electric hook ups folding tables plywood interior panels iceboxes laminated cabinetry sinks and maybe chemical toilets.

Many were fitted with hinged pop tops to increase the height, or awnings to increase the living space.

Although not the first ‘driving house’

Bogged in sand or mud the Kombi could easily be dug out

(as my five-year-old friend, Archie, calls a motorhome) the VW Kombi camper is often credited with kicking off the massive worldwide phenomena that motorhoming is today.

Westfalia conversions were only the beginning. As interest in VW campervans soared, an army of manufacturers in many countries began to produce their own versions of fit out. These varied drastically in quality, layout and luxury and not all were sanctioned by the Volkswagen Company. Volkswagen never did its own conversions but partnered with some convertors such as Westfalia. For classic Kombi aficionados today nothing is quite as revered as the ‘Westie’.

Over the years new Type 2 models appeared – too many to describe here.

Notably in 1968, Bay window models (the T2) were introduced to replace the split screen style and there were many other variations that followed. By now VW factories had also been set up in Australia,

Brazil, Mexico and South Africa.

Manufacture of the T2 finished in Germany in 1979 because it had been replaced by the vastly altered T3 (also known as the T25 in the UK and as a Vanagon in the USA). The T3 was a radical jump forward from Splitties and Bays, a total redesign that was wider with larger windows, a tailgate, and a new front style. Very little was carried over from the previous models.

But T2 Kombi production continued in other countries and eventually the very last of these ‘hip on the tarmac’ icons rolled off the one remaining production line in Brazil on New Year’s Eve, 2013. Over 10 million Volkswagen T1 and T2 vans had been produced since the model was first presented in Germany 63 years before.

Any of us over 50 who once had a splash of hippie or wanderlust in our blood, felt a twinge of regret for the demise of the fabled van that, converted to a camper, had offered us the freedom of the open

road. Later models do not have quite the same iconic status of the Splittie and the Bay even though they too were massively successful, selling in huge numbers and enjoying a loyal following.

Whatever the model or style of fit out, the classic T1 and T2 van are instantly recognisable invoking in many of us nostalgia for our youth and times of carefree adventure. And 2013 was not the end of the road for this endearing workhorse. Today, restored as original or refurbished in retro chic, old kombis command high prices all over the world.

Developed from the car that Ferdinand Porsche designed in 1934, some of them now cost nearly as much as the sports car that carries his name.

Back in New Zealand I met up with Knut Erbs, who, in 1984, bought a German manufactured 1973 Westfalia in original condition. His passion for VWs and Kombi vans in particular has never diminished.

He is a mine of information.

27

The modern VW electric ID Buzz concept (right) recalls the shape of the legendary VW T2 (left)

There’s nothing traditional about the interior of the ID Buzz

In September last year his interest took him to the Frankfurt Motor Show where he was captivated by the concept of an electric VW Kombi which is reportedly due for release in 2022. It is called the I.D. Buzz and is designed to recall the T2 with sleeker lines but the same compact exterior and spacious interior. The continuation of the front V in the body work and the two-tone livery gives it a profile that is both modern and timeless. It claims to have an estimated 600 kilometre range and with a fast charge system can recharge 80 percent of its energy capacity in 30 minutes – a king of the road that may well match the love VW fans hold for its legendary predecessor. ■ 28 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

Lifestyle Gear - bringing you simple but practical complementary products that will enhance your outdoor entertaining and comfort. www.lifestylegear.co.nz

Authorised Distributors of Dethleffs, Niesmann+Bischoff & Authorised Distributors of Frankia, Dethleffs, Morelo Motorhomes Frankia, Niesmann+Bischoff & Morelo Motorhomes

0800 222 0800 222 108

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EXPLORE | 8 GREAT NATURAL HOT POOLS

Hot Water Beach, Coromandel

Nothing is quite as relaxing as a long soak in a natural hot spring in the winter. Thanks to New Zealand’s natural geothermal activity, we’ve got plenty to choose from. Here are 8 great natural hot pools worth a visit if you fancy a warming soak.

HOT WATER BEACH, COROMANDEL Two hours either side of low tide, Hot Water Beach fills up with visitors eager to dig their own spa pools in the sand.

Located on the Coromandel Peninsula between Tairua and Whitianga, this thermal wonder often rates as one of the world’s most renowned beaches – and an experience that should be on your bucket list. Either dig with your hands or hire a spade and, while it’s perfectly fun to soak here in summer, on a cold winter’s day it’s hard to beat. At night,

30 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

when the moon is out and the stars are twinkling, it’s simply magic. But do be warned, the open sea can be rugged so less experienced swimmers must take extra special care.

POLYNESIAN SPA, ROTORUA The biggest collection of natural hot springs in New Zealand is in Rotorua.

Polynesian Spa’s geothermal hot mineral waters are sourced from two natural springs and feed into 28 hot mineral pools. Choose from a range of temperatures and mineral compositions in a beautifully landscaped lakeside environment or opt for a luxurious spa therapy service with seaweed and mud wraps, and massage. The slightly acidic Priest Spring waters relieve tired muscles, aches and pains while the alkaline waters of the Rachel Spring nourish the skin.

TE RATA BAY, LAKE TARAWERA On the southern shore of Rotorua’s Lake Tarawera, Te Rata Bay (also known as Rotorua’s Hot Water Beach) is

understandably popular. Fringed with pōhutukawa trees and alive with native birds, as well as wild wallabies, the thermal vents on this beach help keep campers’ coffee hot while they roast their daily catch in sandpits. Accessible by boat or via a fabulous five-hour bush walk (the 15km Tarawera Trail), you’ll need to plan ahead to visit the beach.

If you plan to stay overnight at the campground you must book, and stock up on supplies as there are no shops.

Happily, water taxis are easy to arrange through Totally Tarawera, with plenty of options for enjoying this area either overnight or as part of a daytrip.

KAITOKE HOT SPRINGS, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND The largest and furthest-flung island in the Hauraki Gulf, Great Barrier/Aotea is 90km from Auckland. A rugged rock that’s completely off grid, Great Barrier is renowned for unspoiled beaches, impressive wildlife and rich history.

It’s also home to a picturesque thermal pool. Kaitoke Hot Springs is an easy

IMAGE BY TOURISM NZ / DESTINATION COROMANDEL

8 GREAT NATURAL HOT POOLS

45-minute walk from Whangaparapara Road. Take any provisions you need with you, as aside from two longdrop lavatories, this beautiful spot is completely non-commercial. It was recently awarded International Dark Sky Sanctuary status, so be sure to look heavenward after dark.

KAWHIA OCEAN BEACH, WAIKATO One of the Waikato’s best kept secrets is Kawhia Hot Water Beach. Less crowded than Coromandel’s Hot Water Beach, the hot springs can be enjoyed for two hours either side of low tide. Steeped in history, Kawhia is where the Tainui waka (one of the original canoes carrying the first Polynesians) came to rest after its epic trans-Pacific voyage, and today is a sleepy little spot, far from the madding crowds. To access the hot water beach, drive to the end of Ocean Beach Road, walk over the sand dunes and down to the beach. If you’re not sure where to dig, ask one of the friendly locals who will likely show you the way.

HANMER SPRINGS THERMAL POOLS & SPA Surrounded by mountains and forests, the township of Hanmer Springs has a resort-like vibe that infuses a sense of relaxation. The star attraction of the town is the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa, the South Island’s main natural spa resort with a range of 22 outdoor thermal pools including the new cascades, relaxing rock pools, soothing sulphur

Welcome Flat Hot Pools, West Coast

pools, an array of water jets and bubbles, at a range of temperatures.

WELCOME FLAT HOT POOLS, WEST COAST Located 20km south of Fox Glacier, Welcome Flat Hot Pools have some of the best views in the country.

Surrounded by snowy peaks and forest, there are several temperature options, and if you go in November you can sit in the pools and watch avalanches cascading down the opposite face.

The pools are accessed via the Copland Track, which is 18km one way (it takes about seven hours to complete), so ensure you book ahead for one of the 31 beds in the DOC hut. Of course you’ll need to take your food, sleeping bag

and swimsuit as well. It’s open yearround, so pack for the conditions and keep an eye on weather reports.

WHALE ISLAND (MOUTOHORĀ) Moutohorā/Whale Island is a pest-free oasis that is home to many of New Zealand’s rare and endangered plants, birds, and reptiles. Located off the coast of Whakatane, the island can only be accessed through a DOC approved tour operator. Enjoy a tour of this precious wildlife sanctuary before warming your toes in the hot waters of Onepū/Sulphur Bay. Tour guides will provide spades for digging, so be sure to bring your swimming gear and indulge in a relaxing soak on this incredible island. ■

Kaitoke Hot Springs, Great Barrier Island

31

FEATURE - LILLIPUT RALLY

A 12.6 Special and three 10.6 Lilliput Gazelles at Lake Rotoiti, St Arnaud

GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES They may be small, but the iconic Lilliput Caravans have a big following in New Zealand.

M

any readers will be familiar with the gorgeous little Lilliput Caravans created during the early 1960’s by Bruce Webster, a wrought iron engineer of Hillsborough in Auckland.

After building a few standard-sized caravans to order in the mid to late 50s, Bruce decided to make a caravan for himself. It was much smaller than those he built to order, at just nine feet long and six feet wide. The caravan was named ‘Lilliput’, as suggested to Bruce by his young son Paul, who at the time was reading Jonathan Swift’s classic tale Gulliver’s Travels.

Upon returning from the first ever trip in the van, the family was followed home by a stranger who stopped them and insisted that Bruce should sell it to him – which he did. Buoyed by this immediate success, Bruce then set out to build more of these small vans, both in 10ft and 12ft sizes, mainly out of marine ply with aluminium cladding and fibreglass roofs32 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

all being constructed in the basement of the Hillsborough house ( the height of the doorway governing the height of the vans.).

Over the ensuing 20 years or so Bruce, and his successor for the last three years John Rolfe, made around 300 of these small voyagers, until the unannounced introduction of a crippling sales tax in 1979 put paid to a lot of the caravanning industry – sadly including the Lilliput business.

Lilliputs were, and still are, very popular given their small size and exquisite design – especially with the later models being mainly of fibreglass – which makes towing and handling very convenient and easy.

In 1988, around eight years after the last van was made, 50 or so keen owners got together in Taupo for an inaugural rally, and the Lilliput Caravan Club of New Zealand was born. It is the only ‘one make’ caravan club in New Zealand, and accordingly has attracted a keen following by owners and admirers alike. The club has existed ever since, albeit only very few of the original owners are left.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of

the club in 2018, club members decided to commission a book to ensure the significant motoring and caravanning history of these beauties was captured for all time. Three years later the 455-page hard-copy One Man’s Dream – The Unique World of Lilliput Caravans was launched at the Club’s AGM in Taupo. It was originally planned by life member and past secretary/treasurer of the club, Margaret Larsen, but sadly Margaret passed away during the early research stages, and another club member, Rob Carthew, bravely took up the mantle and completed the book after three years of intensive research and having interviewed nearly every Lilliput owner in the country. With its coloured pages detailing some 250 caravans and 30 years of individual van and Lilliput history, the book is tribute to an endearing symbol of a Kiwi way of life.

Whilst researching the book, Rob noted there had never been an ‘official’ Lilliput Rally from the north to the south in the club’s 30 year history, so last year several club members worked incredibly hard to put together the club’s first ever official North to South Island rally – this being

IMAGES SUPPLIED

done in conjunction with Hospice South Canterbury – for whom it was agreed funds would be raised by the club during the journey to support the Hospice annual Rock and Hop Rally in Timaru.

Accordingly a ‘Rock and Hop Rally’ of around 20 Lilliputs from as far away as Auckland, Thames, Matamata and other northern regions set off from Havelock in early March of this year. The rally travalled the West Coast and down through Haast as far as Dunedin, then turning north, ready to lead the Friday night parade through Timaru at the commencement of the Rock and Hop event itself. The plan was to set up camp at Caroline Bay, in the midst of the Rock and Hop gathering of classic cars and caravans, and finish the two week rally at Geraldine.

With the help of local radio stations, traffic police, and local council administrative staff along the way, public interest in the vans, and their reason for the rally, was strong. Many turned out to see and enjoy Lilliput parades in towns such as Havelock, Westport, Hokitika and Wanaka. Van inspections in holiday parks, street collections, and sales of the Lilliput book earned considerable funds for Hospice from a generous public.

Sadly, like many wonderful events recently, towards the end of the rally the Rock and Hop itself was cancelled at short notice due to Covid-19, but the Lilliputs were fortunate enough to find alternative sites in Timaru, and were able to conduct their own ‘Rock and Hop’ to the delight of all participants.

Fortunately, all those from the North Island were able to return home before final Covid-19 Lockdown – albeit by way of the last ferry to leave.

Several South Island-based Lilliputs were able to join in the rally on its way through the South Island, and as a result there is now a new southern division of the club.

This should see further gatherings of these vans in a variety of locations once the current difficulties with travel are finally overcome.

Further good news is that Hospice South Canterbury has already announced dates for 2021, and who knows – the Lilliputs could well be back! We’ll keep you posted. ■ To find out more about these cute caravans, visit www.lilliput.org.nz

Rob Carthew with his Lilliput Sybil and matching 1951 Bentley Mark VI

The Lilliput and Rock & Hop logos

Lilliputs travelling through Haast

33

FEATURE | CARAVAN MAKEOVER

The comfy bed

Abe the Babe after his makeover

The kitchen area

HEY GOOD LOOKING...

In this issue, we’re revisiting one of our amazing caravan makeovers from a few years back.

Here’s a look at Abe’s journey from a rusty rubbish heap to Abe the Babe. Words by Trena Marshall.

I

was the first to admit Abe wasn’t a looker – far from it – and as an added indignity, he had to be completely stripped.

Lined up against a wall with some other old caravans at an East Tamaki workshop, Abe was 13 feet of ugly, yet as I passed him by I caught a whiff of an old charm beneath the rust, the mouldy paintwork, the sagging tyres, and the taped-shut windows.

I wasn’t looking for a caravan. I was there to interview Paul Cooper for a holiday feature in NZX Agri’s Country-Wide magazine. Paul restores those retro ‘vans which never fail to make Kiwis smile.

He is such a fan of caravans he has built 34 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

a business out of restoring them. No bach for him: “Give me a caravan, every time.

No lawns to mow. Just get in and go.”

Abe is a Concord, which were originally manufactured during the 1960s and 70s.

They are made in one piece from fibreglass, so are low-maintenance, lightweight and thus easy to tow, and strong. In recent years there has been a surge in interest in retro caravans, and the distinctive rounded shape of the Concord is popular. Abe’s two-phase door puts his birth date at around 1968.

Abe the Babe was hauled full of rubbish from beneath tangled vines on a back section in Mangere. From there I ‘grasped the nettle’ and began drip-feeding Paul

money for the restoration. His mission was to transform this faded left-out-inall-weathers memory into an insulated, refitted, rewired, tanked up and repainted retro as good as new – literally a new caravan wrapped in a 44-year-old shell on a brand new chassis.

My task was to design the inside to my specifications. Restoring a caravan is like renovating a house, only on a smaller scale.

The same attention to detail is involved as you – the chief planner – decide where to put the new power points; what sort of galley to put in; whether there is to be a shower and a loo; bed configuration; seating, cupboards, what sort of lighting

IMAGES BY TRENA MARSHALL

and flooring; roman blinds or curtains, a solar panel, an awning …? It all needs to be decided upon before the rebuild begins.

So as Paul lifted Abe clear of the chassis and sent that away for galvanizing, new wheels, a new drawbar, axle, brakes, park jacks and tow hitch, I began scribbling plans for the interior layout.

Some ‘vanners are retro purists but I wanted a modern interior. The first thing to consider was seating. The space given to this in caravans has always bothered me. If the sun is shining I will be outside with any guests. If it isn’t, the fixed double bed across one end of the ‘van can become a comfy couch – just add large cushions and a crocheted blanket. (The genuine, all-wool article presented itself in a secondhand shop in Raglan).

So I drew in a single seat of generous width and I will stow a stool that can be pulled up to the table for dinner for two.

I found just the thing in a corner of my mother’s garage.

Next I wanted to toss the big wardrobe.

Who needs it? I plan to be in shorts and t-shirts, or jeans and jersey. Anything dressier can be hung in a slim cupboard below a set of handy shelves.

Another immutable was that I wanted the caravan to be self-contained so that I can park up anywhere – fresh and greywater tanks and associated plumbing needed to be fitted.

Paul provided a quote for my wish list and I opted for a cassette toilet. A shower adds a bit to the cost so I set that aside; I can get that later if I become a seasoned traveller and upgrade to a 16-footer. For now, it will be a solar shower – 40L of hot water at a one-off cost of about $25 for a bag hung in the sun.

I wanted an old-look lino on the floor and as luck would have it, Flooring Xtra in my hometown had a product called marmoleum. Commercial grade, it looks just like what our mothers used to have in their kitchens, and for $300 I could lay it over the whole of Abe’s new plywood floor.

By the time I got that to East Tamaki, it was time for another board meeting inside a newly-insulated and wired Abe. More decisions involved overhead lockers – and Paul’s advice was to put them only above the bed, to avoid a closed-in feel at head height in the rest of the ‘van. Bookshelves would go in any spare nook and cranny, lights were needed by the bed, and vital was a drawer tall enough to stow the bubbly.

Abe being lowered onto his new chassis

Abe had... potential

Where to start?

Getting there!

35

THE RESTORATION PROCESS:

1

T he body of Abe is lifted clear of the chassis, which is then sent off for galvanising, a new drawbar, new axle, new brakes, wheels, tyres, park jacks and tow hitch.

2

Interior stripped, then insulated and rewired. The interior walls and ceiling are relined.

3

Abe gets a new fibreglass skin, primer, and new paint job.

Exterior road lights refitted, door put back – including new fibreglass inner door, which was missing.

Abe’s new contemporary and fresh interior

Little extras have been bought along the way: a heavy-duty plastic footstool ($39.95) so exiting Abe with wine in hand goes smoothly, and vinyl lettering ($69.95) because Abe needs to have his name up there.

I took advantage of a bed outlet’s sale to get a good mattress ($1300) because I don’t see the point of going on holiday to get a crook back. Beds R Us in Hamilton kindly stored it for me until Abe was ready.

A new gas cooker was sourced online for $310.

Another critical decision had to be made – what colour, and to what degree, on the outside? The trail to this began when I was saying little in my dentist’s chair. Rob Aitken suggested I visit a friend of his who had bought Rob’s old racing car painted a Toyota colour, Brilliant Persimmon. “Go and see it Trena. You’ll love it.”

So I did, and he was right. That colour became the band around Abe’s middle, added dash with a couple of flashes, and delineated the distinctive door. Beautiful.

36 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

The interior is white, to give a sense of spaciousness, and the drawer fronts and shelves remain just varnished ply – except for a splash of Brilliant Persimmon on the vanity shelf.

When I got the call from Paul telling me it was time to collect Abe, I had another set of challenges. First, I arranged registration ($92), insurance ($340 a year), and joined the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association ($200). Abe now has fly screens ($500), a solar panel stuck to the roof ($630) and gas and electrical certificates. Other items for the immediate future are roman blinds and an awning.

This caravan was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Now I wonder what it is going to be like to be on the road? Will I like caravanning?

First, though, I am off to buy a wheel clamp ($59.99 on special), because ugly duckling Abe is now looking so darn attractive it is making me nervous. ■

4

Windows are replaced, with new rubber fitted on all.

Exterior tracks and fittings are reinstated.

5

Back to the inside. The lino goes down. A forward galley is built to include two-burner gas hob and basin. Fixed double bed built at rear with drawer beneath.

6

D rawer/wardrobe unit built with space for three-way fridge, small desk area above.

7 8

S mall toilet area created.

F resh and grey-water tanks fitted with associated plumbing.

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E lectrical and gas fittings and roadworthiness checked and certified.

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EXPLORE | MOUNTAINS TO SEA CYCLE TRAIL

RIDING THROUGH RAIL HISTORY Eleanor Hughes completes a history lesson on wheels, cycling along a trail where coach and horses once travelled.

O

hakune in the summer is fairly quiet; it’s more a winter destination. But Mountain Bike Station was doing a steady trade when we picked up our hire bikes, e-bike and mountain bike with knobbly tyres and panniers, for our five-day adventure on the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail from Tūroa to Whanganui.

DISCOVERING OHAKUNE

With bikes sorted for the following day, we wandered the main street. A number of places were shut for the season including, disappointingly, ‘The (famous) Chocolate

Biking the Ohakune Old Coach Road

38 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

Éclair Shop’. The ‘Big Carrot’ marking the town entrance recognises Ohakune’s market gardening history, established in 1925.

Just past the i-SITE, which had a huge amount of information on the outdoors and attractions specific to Taranaki, the Tongariro/Mount Ruapehu area, Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail and Whanganui River, there are easy walking trails in the Jubilee Park Scenic Reserve.

We walked through lush bush dappled by end-of-day light, along a stream, then came across a wooden bridge leading to Ohakune Top10 Holiday Park.

The camping ground had a number of motorhomes parked up, and lots of cabins. Two minutes’ walk back to town and things had livened up, with people enjoying the warm evening at tables and

chairs on the pavement outside ‘The Mountain Rocks’, a café, restaurant and bar. Easily seen at the end of side streets, distant Mount Ruapehu still had streaks of snow in its upper valleys, its peak covered by cloud.

We passed colonial-era houses on the town’s outskirts on our 19 kilometre drive to Tūroa ski-field – more a rock field in January – to see the sunset. It was sweltering in Ohakune, but bleak, chilly and deserted at Tūroa. Cloud cover was too low for a view. On our way down, the sunset blazed orange behind trees, as if on fire.

We detoured to Ohakune Railway Station. The closed-up, 1908 yellow wooden building made striking with deep-red window frames has Historic Place Category 2 status.

Lush forest has taken over what was once a coach road

The Northern Explorer from Auckland stops here at 1.44pm, Monday/Thursday/ Saturday, and from Wellington at 12.45pm Wednesday/Friday/Sunday.

IMAGES BY ELEANOR HUGHES / VISIT RUAPEHU

A SURPRISE AT HOROPITO

We didn’t begin the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail at its Tūroa start point. We cheated and took a shuttle to Horopito, cycling back to Ohakune. It’s downhill that way.

Steph from Mountain Bike Station dropped us at the Old Coach Road trailhead.

Less than 100 metres away, thousands of rusting cars, tractors and trucks from the 1920s to 1970s, perhaps beyond, cluttered acres of dry brown fields. Vauxhalls, Valiants, Cortinas… doors hung open, bonnets up, some balanced on another. Mainly rust-red, a few newer models gave a splash of colour.

Horopito Motors, pretty much the only thing in Horopito, is a car enthusiast’s dream. For $10 you can wander among them. The few wooden buildings, used to store parts, looked like something from an early 1900s movie set. The business, better known as ‘Smash Palace’, appeared in New Zealand movies Smash Palace and Goodbye Pork Pie in the 1980s.

A vehicle graveyard at Horopito

39

Checking out the twin histories of the Old Coach Road at the start of the trail

Wairere Falls

The trail is graded intermediate, and a relatively easy ride

40 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

ON THE OLD COACH ROAD

Back at the trailhead, an information board informed us the trail follows two stories; of coach travel, and rail. In 1906, the rail line from Auckland stopped at Raurimu, and from Wellington at Ohakune. A coach road was built between the two while engineers planned how to join the lines, which would involve constructing three major viaducts. By 1909 the job was completed and the forest took over the now barely used coach road.

Reclamation of 15km of the road began in 2001.

The trail is graded intermediate. Not being regular bike riders, we still found it relatively easy. On the shaded trail that traversed Tongariro National Park’s edges, we rode over setts (handmade cobbles) which had our tyres skidding at times.

Rātā trees choked rimu trees, a stand of lush, tropical-looking mountain cabbage trees grow near concrete piers being swallowed by grass and bush, the remains of Haeremaere Bridge. Boards told of engineering feats, coach journeys when windows iced up and icicles hung from

Taking in the view from the new Hapuawhenua Viaduct; the mighty overpass has been converted into a cycleway

the ceiling, of building the railway line with nothing more than picks, shovels and wheelbarrows, and workers’ harsh lives living in tents in the coldest, wettest place in the North Island.

VIADUCTS AND TRAINS

Unused since 1987 when the line was straightened, the rust red Taonui Viaduct stretched and curved high above a green canopy. This man-made intrusion could be a blot on the landscape, but instead I found it stunning. The three towers supporting it, as the information board suggested, look like giant, early 1900s Meccano pieces.

Riding through dense bush, our peacefulness was disturbed by an intensifying roar. I expected something to hurtle at us but the sound diminished then died away. Not long after, we rounded a corner to find the Hapuawhenua Viaducts, long lines cutting across a never-ending green backdrop which they disappeared into. The only cyclists we’d seen told us the Northern Explorer enroute to Wellington had just sped over the new viaduct.

The old Hapuawhenua Viaduct is a rusty but strangely beautiful relic

41

MORE INFORMATION A freight train hurtles across the new Hapuawhenua Viaduct

• Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail information: mountainstosea.nz • Ohakune Top10 Holiday Park is handy to bike rentals, i-SITE and a supermarket.

• DOC’s Mangawhero Campsite is 5km from Ohakune and is suitable for motorhomes.

• On the banks of the Manganuioteao River, 17.4 from Ohakune, Ruatiti Domain has freedom camping. The river can be swum and trout fished.

The Horopito to Mangapurua Trail leg of the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail (43km) runs past on a mixture of gravel and tarseal, mostly flat or downhill. Pre-book a shuttle back to Ohakune, or get non-cyclists to drive the motorhome to Ruatiti Domain.

Find out more.

Cycling into open country on the Old Coach Road

Cycling the old one, which in 1904 was the longest, curved overpass in the Southern Hemisphere and has Category 1 Historic Places Trust status, was slightly scary when looking over the rails at a carpet of shaggy greenery far below.

I found it incredible as to how, faced with such a steep, deep valley, workers managed to construct the 43 metre-high bridge.

Sounding like a helicopter, an engine appeared pulling red and yellow goods wagons across the new viaduct southbound.

In the past trains have powered through the dark Hapuawhenua Tunnel. We rode it, a pinprick of light at its far end.

I thought we might spot glow-worms, but 42 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

there was nothing but a locked gate at the end looking out onto bush.

Shortly afterwards there were forever views over rolling farmland. Leaving Old Coach Road, we cycled the scenic trail along Mangawhero River, flat farmland on the opposite side.

Almost four hours after starting the trail we arrived back in Ohakune. Time to laze before the following day’s leg along Middle and Ruatiti Roads. From Ohakune, it’s a ride of 57km... but we were cheating; again.

We had a shuttle booked to take us to the junction of State Highway 4 and Middle Road, which knocks off nearly 14km of cycling. After all, we were on holiday!

• Pipiriki, 38km from Ohakune, is the start of the Whanganui River Road section of the Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail. Pipiriki Camping Ground is run by Whanganui River Adventures, who operate jet boats along Whanganui River, visiting the Bridge to Nowhere.

• Whanganui River Road undulates, following the river.

Freedom camping is available at DOC’s Otumaire, 39km from Pipīrīki. 48km away, Rivertime Lodge accepts caravans and motorhomes.

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EXPLORE | REWARDS OF THE ROAD

Waikite’s natural thermal waters are blissful for weary winter souls

TEMPERATURES RISING Jill Malcolm shares her latest adventures and experiences from the road

I

n the late 1850s, Ferdinand Von Hochstetter, an Austrian geologist and botanist, visited New Zealand. Among his many wanderings he came across a boiling spring and swamp in the Waikite Valley called Te Manaroa tucked between the hills halfway between Taupo and Rotorua.

Later, in the book about his wanderings, Ferdinand described this wonder as, “A spot that one day will be selected by members of the lost tribes as a central sanatorium for restoring and invigorating jaded mortals from all parts of the world”.

I’m not sure what lost tribes he was referring to. Well before Europeans came to this country, Maori people were enjoying the comforts and health benefits of the thermal waters they called Paparata – the Earth Doctor.

The first public pools were built in 1969 after weeks of fund raising and 44 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

4000 hours of volunteer labour by the local community and they were opened in 1972, more than a hundred years after Ferdinand’s prophesy.

Today steaming water gushes from the far side of the car park and flows through a pipe to trickle slowly down a man-made ‘cascade’, which is really a series of downsliding rocks. When the water comes out of the pipe it is 98°C, and as it flows over the rocks it cools to 30-35°C before it flows into the pools.

After or before dipping your ‘jaded mortal self ’ into the comfort of Paparata, a worthwhile jaunt which won’t tax your strength is a bushland walk beside a steaming river to the boiling cauldron of Te Manaroa Spring. Here, clouds of steam rise from a pit of roiling water so deep that it’s measurement is unfathomable. The boiling water is discharged at a rate of 40-

50 litres a second.

Microorganisms that live in this unlikely environment are thought to be related to the very first life forms to appear on earth. They are known as extremophiles because they survive in extreme conditions. Mesmerised as I was by this scalding phenomena, I took care not to peer too closely lest I tipped in and ended up over cooked and not able to survive at all.

On the banks of the hot river (the Otamakokore ) that flows from the spring, grow ancient mosses of a species that existed 380 million years ago. This blistering river only runs for about three kilometres before tipping into a cool stream adjacent to the modern pool complex. But before it does, much of the vegetation that marks its course has been steam-cooked or browned to a crisp. Its

Waikite offers six outdoor bathing options

WAIKITE VALLEY

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO

IMAGES BY JILL MALCOLM /CLAIRE SMITH

The steaming water of the Otamakokore river

rocky bed is streaked with white tracery formed from calcite and silica and on the water’s surface the swirling crusts of white material are the result of the high mineral content.

Back at the pools I had coffee in the on-site Pukeko in a Ponga Tree Café with Mark Bowie who, with his wife Lisa, is current owner of these assets. He explained the improvements that have been made over the past 14 years, pointing out how each private pool now has its own shower and a small balcony looking out over flaxes and ferns. The other soak pools and the

large sheltered swimming pool are also set among rocks and attractive plantings.

“The camping ground right next door is a bonus,” Mark said. “It overlooks the rivers and has powered sites and thermally heated drying facilities. Unlimited access to the public pools is included in the camping fee.”

When we called in the Waikite Valley Thermal Pools we hadn’t intended to stay, but I’m pleased we did. We ate a light meal, luxuriously soaked our mortal selves for half-an-hour as we watched the stars wheel across a velvet sky. We changed into night

gear in the poolside dressing room and sloped off to bed for dreamless sleep. It was one of the few times that ‘getting into hot water’ had nothing but pleasure attached do it.

LOCATION Just 35 minutes from Rotorua and 45 minutes from Taupo. From Rotorua, travel South towards Taupo on SH5 (on the way to Tamaki Maori Village, Waimangu and Wai-o-tapu). Turn right opposite Wai-otapu onto Waikite Valley Road and travel 6kms - just follow the signs. Book by phone on (07) 333- 1861.

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2. HOW CAN I MAXIMISE OR ENLARGE THE SCREEN FOR EASY READABILITY?

To enlarge the screen, click on the square frame icon in the corner of the magazine screen. To minimise the screen and make it smaller, click the square frame button again.

3. HOW DO I TURN THE PAGE AND NAVIGATE THROUGH THE SCREEN?

TIPS FOR READING MCD ONLINE As you may have heard, over the lockdown period we have been unable to print our regular monthly edition of Motorhomes, Caravans & Destinations (MCD) magazine. We expect to be back in print later this year, but in the meantime, we are very pleased to be able to bring you all our usual great content in a digital format. It also means you can enjoy MCD wherever you are in your travels! Here are a few tips to help you get the most of your digital edition.

The arrow icon on the right of the page indicates that the page can be turned.

4. HOW DO I USE THE ‘CONTENTS’ PAGE?

READING YOUR COPY OF MCD ONLINE WITH ISSUU 1. CAN I READ THE DIGITAL EDITION ON A MOBILE PHONE? Yes, though we recommend reading on a desktop computer or tablet for the easiest reading experience. If you are reading the magazine from a mobile phone, downloading the Issuu phone app makes reading the magazine easier.

For iPhone users, download the Issuu app at the Apple Store here.

For Android (Samsung, etc) users, download the Issuu app from the Google Play Store here.

46 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

The ‘Contents’ page is at the beginning of the magazine and is an easy way to go directly to a story. To do so, hover the mouse over the photo (or headline) of the story you wish to read and click to jump directly to that story.

5. WHAT ARE THE BLUE BOXES WHEN I HOVER OVER A STORY OR IMAGE?

8. I HAVE A BAD INTERNET CONNECTION; CAN I DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE TO MY COMPUTER OR DEVICE?

When we feature small businesses like tourist destinations, holiday parks etc... we usually include their website at the end of the story.

Just click the link (indicated by the blue box when you hover) to learn more.

To download the magazine and save it as a PDF, click on the download arrow at the top of the screen. A PDF file will appear in your downloads, which is often in the left corner of your screen. You can read the PDF with a programme such as Adobe Reader:

6. HOW DO I ZOOM IN AND OUT ON TEXT?

9. CAN I SHARE THE MAGAZINE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY?

To zoom in on the page, drag the plus and minus symbols to the right. Move the mouse over the page to the place you want look at closely.

Yes, you can share the magazine by clicking on the share icon (at the top of the screen). Select the sharing method from the pop-up box (e.g. click on the envelope to email the magazine to friends).

7. CAN I FAST FORWARD OR QUICKLY FLICK THROUGH THE ISSUE?

10. HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT AN ADVERTISEMENT?

Fast forward through the issue by dragging the bar at the bottom of the screen from left to right. You can return to the front of the magazine by dragging the bar from right to left.

Click on thedvertisement to open a new window with more information about their service or product.

47

WHEEL ESTATE | NATIONWIDE - AUTO-TRAIL TRIBUTE F72

FAMILY FRIENDLY Malcolm Street takes a look at brand new Auto-Trail F72 and is impressed with the flexible options for couples and families

A

wide range of Auto-Trail motorhomes have been available in New Zealand for some years but recently there has been a new kid on the block, the Tribute range.

Brand new for this year, the Nationwide RV team was keen to show me a typical example, the F72. It’s based on a Ford Transit 170, has an external length of 7340mm and a low-profile design.

Inside the Tribute, the general look is classy with an all new colour scheme including Salinas Oak panelling, an assortment of greys for the upholstery, and matt white for the overhead lockers.

All windows have the usual integrated blinds and screens, and, except for the kitchen, have net curtains as well.

48 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

The six speed auto is a smooth performer

Although maybe not intentional, the layout is an interesting mix of European and New Zealand design tastes with two separate lounge/bedroom areas. Also done well is the lighting, a mixture of concealed and semi concealed strip lighting Up front is a decent sized lounge area.

In the rear, looking like a variation on a theme much loved by Kiwi motorhomers, is a U-shaped lounge but one that isn’t symmetrical. In between is a kitchen area on the nearside, and a bathroom opposite, along with some wardrobe space.

“It’s possible to sit back, relax and watch the world going by outside, since windows are fitted on all three sides.”

REAR LOUNGE

IMAGES SUPPLIED

I quite like the rear area, it’s possible to sit back, relax and watch the world going by outside, since windows are fitted on all three sides. Large windows mean plenty of natural light and fresh air.

Overhead lockers with shelves, are fitted above the seats and there is also under-seat storage available on both sides and that includes external access doors. What does take up a bit of space in the back section is a full height wardrobe complete with a cupboard area underneath. Drawers might have been more convenient but at least you get an extra shelf.

Rear seat gives a four person travelling capacity

The front lounge area

49

Facing the wardrobe is a small halfheight cupboard that contains a freestanding table and space above for a small TV to be located – handily there’s a power point, 12V socket and TV antenna connection on the wall.

SLEEPING

In the time-honoured style, the lounge seats can be made up into a 1860mm x 670mm bed which is on the small side but is certainly okay for a single person.

In addition to that is a second bedroom area up front. Above the lounge area, the 1930mm x 1230mm drop-down bed lowers easily into position without the need to make it up every night. Raising and lowering a bed these days is very much a smooth operation. An option on this particular layout is to have a second bed measuring 2110mm x 1490mm under the drop-down, it being made up from the inner facing lounges. It might be a little crowded at bedtime but this motorhome could easily be used for a family.

MEALTIME

The kitchen bench set-up is a tried and trusted arrangement. Designed in a sort of L-shape with a difference, a three burner hob and a round stainless steel sink, both with smoked glass lids, are fitted into the bench top area. Both are sized well enough to allow for an effective amount of bench top working space.

Overhead lockers, complete with shelves are fitted above and there’s cupboard space below the sink and the oven although no drawers.

Adjacent to the kitchen bench is a Thetford N4142E three-way fridge, with a capacity of 140 litres. It’s one of the slimline models and is only 418mm wide, so fits in very easily. Above the fridge, all in one central location, are the general touch panel control, drop down bed control and Whale space heater switches.

The drop-down bed slides easily into position

EN-SUITE

The bathroom is a little deceptive because it is bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. Having as it does a separate shower cubicle, Thetford cassette toilet and a vanity wash basin. Included in the bathroom fit out are two cupboards, upper and lower, four cubby holes and a decent sized wall mirror MULTIFUNCTIONAL FRONT

All the front seating has matching

The bathroom is relatively spacious

50 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

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The corner hob is a space saver

The kitchen bench is shaped for easy use

The fridge has good capacity

upholstery laid out in a neat fashion.

There is two of everything – swivelled cab seats, side lounges and forward-facing rear seats, complete with seat belts. It doesn’t look like there’s any leg room in front of the passenger seat, but the seat base and cushions can be lifted out when needed.

Windows on either side give a good light factor, aided somewhat by the sky view hatch above the driver’s cab.

Quite often drop-down beds don’t have any overhead lockers underneath but in this case there are two shallow ones on both sides. For the TV watchers, there a TV mounted located on the wall by the doorway.

POWER AND HEATING MATTERS

I’m not sure why but European motorhome manufacturers mostly only provide single 230V power points.

So, when the conversion to New Zealand sockets gets done, the same thing happens

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Rear seat gives a four person travelling capacity

CREDITONE.CO.NZ

51

– sometimes for aesthetic reasons rather than anything else. That’s the case with the power points in the F72, all singles and one of the reasons I carry around a small power board when I use rental motorhomes, which I do quite frequently. Handily there are a couple of USB charger points located in the overhead lockers above the rear passenger seat. For those who like to travel off-grid, there’s a 100AH deep cycle battery and a 100W solar panel on the roof. When the weather is a bit cooler, a Whale 4.7kw LPG fired space heater keeps things nice and toasty.

Ready for the road in style

CAB CHASSIS

The F72 motorhome I looked over came with a Transit 170 base vehicle, that meaning a 2.0 litre 125kw/390Nm turbo diesel engine. It’s a front wheel drive vehicle and the chassis has a GVM of 3500kg and a tare mass of 3000kg. The 170 is actually an option, the standard engine supplied, the 130 has a power/torque output of 96kW/385Nm. I depends how you drive but I reckon I might be tempted into the more powerful engine. Both alternatives come with Ford’s Select Shift six speed automatic transmission as standard and for those who really want one, a manual gearbox is available as an option.

FLOOR PLAN: AUTO-TRAIL TRIBUTE F72

BODYWORK

Certainly, the GRP (fibreglass to you and I) body has a very stylish look about it. I liked the cab colour which might be described as metallic blue but Ford call ‘Blazer Blue’. There are other colours available.

The motorhome body does sit quite close to the ground. All the windows are the standard double-glazed acrylic style and the door comes complete with a top window, garbage bin and umbrella. At the rear bin doors on either side give access to the under-seat storage areas.

up. It’s certainly a layout that can easily be used by a couple but having two separate living areas offers much for a family.

The bed arrangements offer considerable flexibility and there’s room to move around. In addition, of course it has that Kiwi speciality, a lounge in the rear area. ■ For more information, visit nationwiderv.co.nz

• Ford Transit cab chassis • Two separate living areas

OPTIONS

• Overhead lockers with shelves

The base price of the F72 is $143,900.

That’s with the 130 engine, no drop-down bed and only two berth. Adding the dropdown bed and a four-berth configuration means a price tag of $145,900. Finally adding the more powerful 170 engine (as viewed) takes the price tag to $149,900.

• Front drop-down bed • Internal lighting system • Internal cupboard area

CONS • Low ground clearance • Minimal number of power points

VERDICT

If this was an example, then the Tribute range has much to offer the Auto-Trail line

52 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

PROS

• External storage bin capacity

MAKE & MODEL

AUTO-TRAIL TRIBUTE F72

Engine

Ford 2.0 litre 125kW turbo diesel

Transmission

Six speed automatic

Berths

4

Approx overall length

7340mm

Approx overall width

2350mm

Fresh/grey water tank

100/80 litre

Gas

2 x 9kg

GVM

3500kg

Price (as viewed)

$149,900

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WHEEL ESTATE | ALM – MILLARD MFLOW 19’6CD

AUSSIE CHARM RV reviewer Malcolm Street was enchanted by the new MFlow 19’6CD caravan from Millard and believes many Kiwis will feel the same

A

payload of over 1200kg but the length means a good interior space for the designer to play with.

STEP ABOARD

The 19’6CD has a forward door entry, and climbing the steps reveals a layout that is quite common across the Tasman.

Up front is an island double bed, down the back is a full-width rear bathroom, and in-between is a nearside kitchen and an offside dinette (also known as a Front Bed, Rear Bath (FBRB) layout).

There are a number of variations on an FBRB layout but one of the key differences is the positioning of the habitation door;

either forward of the wheels or down towards the rear. I feel the forward door works best because for a given layout, you either end up with a slightly shorter van or the same length van with more usable space, usually around the bed area.

In the review model, the colour scheme is contemporary, consisting mainly of white, dark grey and a beige(ish) colour for the upholstery. To use the Millard term, it’s the colour option of Pilbara (2 tone).

There are large windows along both sides, which I think works quite well, giving plenty of natural light and ventilation.

IMAGES BY MALCOLM STREET

t the Covi Motorhome, Caravan & Outdoor SuperShow earlier this year, there were plenty of new caravan and motorhome models on display. That included a new range of Australian-built Millard caravans on the Auto Leisure Marine (ALM) stand.

Sales Manager Raewyn Pegden was very enthusiastic about the MFlow 19’6CD, and I was pleased to take the opportunity to have a good look through.

Millard’s MFlow 19’6CD has an external body length of 6100mm and a tare mass of 2259kg. Given the GTM of 3500kg, that not only gives a substantial

54 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

KITCHEN

Motorhome kitchen benches come in a variety of sizes, some a little on the small side, but anyone those with a love of cooking should definitely take a closer look at this one. Fitted into the bench top are the usual items like stainless steel sink/drainer and a Dometic four burner hob and grill. That leaves a chunky bit of bench top working space to the right of the hob for preparing culinary delights. Two drawers, three cupboards and floor lockers form the under-bench storage. Three overhead lockers, one with an extra shelf, are fitted into the air space above. Like the rest of the van all the doors have clam shell style latches which are nice and easy to open. Spice racks are fitted the end wall and a double power point at the other.

A Dometic 190-litre three-way fridge is fitted on the other side of the van between the dinette and bathroom. Generally speaking, the kitchen is a fairly practical set up with room to move.

Cupboard space aplenty in the kitchen

Great bench top and table area

55

The dinette offers good seating and good viewing

DINING AREA

Floor locker doors give access to under seat storage

56 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

For this van, Millard has opted for the traditional café style dinette. A multi-fold table sits between the seats and there’s certainly room for two to sit comfortably – four if you are prepared to be friendly (perhaps best not during Covid-19 times!).

The large window beside the dinette offers a great view of the outdoors.

Above the table are both a 230V mains double power point and a 12V/5V USB hub – handy for portable devices – and reading lights are fitted above each seat.

Floor hatches give access to the under-seat areas and there are two overhead lockers above. There is a third locker at the bed end but that’s more like an electrical centre with radio/DVD player, 230V socket, 12V/5V USB hub and TV connections.

Still on electrics, in the same location on

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The bed has good walk around space

Pillow cubbies are a good feature

“A multi-fold table sits between the seats and there’s room for two to sit comfortably.”

the opposite side of the van are the water tank and battery gauges, switches and fuses for all the 12V circuits and most of the light switches – all very handy to the habitation door entry.

BEDROOM AREA

Up front, the 1850mm x 1530mm bed takes centre stage. Because of the aforementioned forward entry door, walkaround space isn’t a problem, and because of the window area, there’s a sense of openness. The bedside cabinetry does look a little square but the overhead lockers, wardrobes and side drawers are generously sized. There isn’t any bedside shelf area but I think the alternative the pillow level cubbies on either side is a better idea anyway, especially as there’s both a 230V power point and USB hub inside for overnight charging.

BATHROOM

There’s a bit of room to move in the bathroom, it has a Thetford toilet on the offside, a full-size shower cubicle on the

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There is generous storage in the bathroom

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57

FLOOR PLAN: 2020 MILLARD MFLOW 19’6CD

The exterior fold-down table is very handy

opposite side and a stylish looking vanity cabinet in between. The cabinet provides plenty of storage with two cupboards (both with shelves), two drawers and two overhead lockers. A pedestal wash basin and a large wall mirror complete the ensemble. There’s much to be said for the bathroom layout, including the pipework in the cupboard which has been neatly strapped to one side, although the elbow room around the loo is a bit tight.

BODY CONSTRUCTION

Underpinning the MFlow is a 150mm x 50mm hot dipped galvanised box section chassis with a similarly sized drawbar. The van rides on tandem axles fitted with ALKO load sharing leaf spring suspension.

All the pipework and cabling is strapped up neatly out of the way. Above the chassis, an aluminium frame sits under the aluminium composite panelling. Black alloy chequer plate is used all around the lower areas. Insulation is installed under the wall/roof panelling and marine ply is used for the flooring. Across the front of the van is a good-sized tunnel storage area.

External accessories include the Dometic awning, picnic table and external power sockets, both 230V and 12V TOWING

This MFlow has an amazing payload of 1241kg – that’s a lot of gear. The plated GVM of 3500kg for this vehicle might

58 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

suggest a large tow vehicle is needed but with the relatively good tare mass of 2259kg and a bit of careful loading, a mid-sized tow vehicle is all that might be necessary.

PROS

VERDICT

• Payload

• Spacious layout • Well sized kitchen bench • Internal storage

Millard’s new MFlow van is good looking, both in and out. It’s packed with features and its external length allows for a spacious interior and room to move.

Definitely an attractive addition to the Millard range and one which should have considerable appeal for those looking for an Australian style caravan. ■ Find out more at almgroup.co.nz

• Suitable for range of tow vehicles

CONS • Chassis piping lack grommets • Limited space around cassette toilet

MAKE & MODEL

2020 MILLARD MFLOW 19’6CD

Axles

2

Berths

2

External body length

6100mm

External width (incl closed awning)

2500mm

External height (incl AC)

2980mm

Internal height

2000mm

Tanks

2 x 95 litre fresh, 1 x 100 litre

Gas

2 x 9.0kg

GVM

3,500kg

Price

$83,000

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WHEEL ESTATE | PILOTE PACIFIC P690C

GOOD LOOKING, EASY DRIVING Malcolm Street finds plenty to like in the newest B-class from Pilote

Pilote’s Pacific, ready for the open road

T

he 2020 range from French manufacturer Pilote has arrived in New Zealand, and is distributed

by Blenheim-based DeLuxe RV. The Pilote Pacific P690C is one of the first of the B-class motorhomes to become available. It has an external length of 6950mm, which I think is ideal, being short enough to be an easy handling motorhome but with enough internal space to give a designer plenty of scope.

LAYOUT

Undoubtedly the main attraction for many people is the island bed in the rear. With the usual cab seat lounge/dining area up front, that pretty much decides the rest of the layout which consists of a nearside kitchen bench and a split bathroom in front of the bedroom.

Pilote’s colour scheme is subtly done in 60 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

various shades of brown, buff and white with a bit of speckled grey thrown in for the bench and tabletops. The cabinetry fits together quite well; the cupboards open and close as they should and drawers were a smooth operating experience. Net curtains are fitted to all windows except the one above the kitchen bench.

There are two floor hatches. The one in front of the bed is a small underfloor area, handy for shoes or out of sight items. The second, towards the front, gives easy access to the grey water tank – very handy for flushing and cleaning.

LIGHTING

Like many RV manufacturers, Pilote has joined the LED light revolution with lighting for all kinds of usage and moods.

I particularly like the internal overhead locker lighting; it’s not essential but it does

solve the night time problem where lights outside the lockers often make it difficult to see inside.

SWIVELLED SEATS

Undoubtedly it was a game changer in the motorhome world when base vehicle manufacturers introduced driver’s cab seats that could be turned back toward the living area. Fiat led the charge about 15 years ago by introducing a motorhomefriendly cab that included swivel cab seats thus making an effective use of the cab area when the vehicle was not being driven.

Most motorhomes seem to have them these days. As does the Pacific P690C which uses the cab seats to fit in nicely with the rear lounge and the inwards facing single seat on the driver’s side. The rear seat is fitted with two seatbelts giving the motorhome its four person capacity.

Pilote has joined the LED light revolution with lighting for all kinds of usage and moods. I particularly like the internal overhead locker lighting

Between the front and rear seats, the table can be moved backwards and forwards and has a swivel section underneath that neatly extends the table to the offside seating. I like the big skyview hatch above, it does allow for plenty of natural light.

COOKING

IMAGES SUPPLIED

The table can be moved around for ease of use

Looking deceptively simple, the kitchen benchtop, complete with matching splashback, is fitted with a stainless steel sink and a two burner LPG hob. Both are sized to allow a decent amount of benchtop space – not always seen in every European built motorhome. If the hob lid is open, it does hide the powerpoint on the wall, which is a tad fiddly. Locating it a bit higher up the wall would sort that.

The front area is well laid out for both comfort and practicality

61

Minimalist kitchen bench styling

Under the benchtop, a Thetford Duplex oven completes the cooking ensemble.

There’s a generous amount of storage – two shelf-fitted overhead lockers above and three drawers below, the lower one large enough for a scraps bin. Across the walkway, the cabinet fit-out includes a slimline 138-litre three-way fridge, with cupboards above and below SPLIT BATHROOM

To make this layout a practical one, the ablutions facilities – between bedroom and kitchen – are split with the toilet cubicle on the offside and the shower cubicle in the opposite corner. To give some privacy, the toilet door can be used to separate the front and rear areas. Certainly the toilet cubicle is well appointed with a Dometic cassette loo, a good-sized corner wash basin and a couple of cupboards, both upper and lower.

Being able to leave the shower screen door open when not being used makes it easier to walk past when getting in or out of the bed.

Both the shower cubicle and toilet have decent sized ventilation hatches.

ISLAND BED

The Xperience tablet-style panel integrates with Truma’s iNet hot water/heater controller

This year’s Pilote motorhomes have a new look inside and that is certainly obvious in the bedroom area which has a touch of class added to everything, from the curtains to

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62 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

OUR 60-SECOND ONLINE QUOTE

Hanging wardrobes allow for a great bedside shelf area

the cabinetry and lighting.

Measuring 1900mm x 1500m, the bed is surrounded by impressive looking bedhead cabinetry, which includes an extra long bedside cabinet. The observant might note the small ventilation ducts atop the cabinets – the Euros tend to use those as a method of boosting air circulation to minimise condensation issues.

CONTROL CENTRE

RV Electrics are getting very sophisticated these days and most of the control is handled by the Xperience tablet-style control located by the habitation door. That also happens to be where the flat screen TV is fitted, but look above the doorway for items like Truma’s iNet hot water/space heater controller (also controlled by the tablet) and the auto satellite controls.

BASE VEHICLE

No surprises here, a Fiat Ducato Multijet but instead of the usual 130hp model, Pilote have supplied the slightly more powerful 140hp (104kw/350Nm) turbo diesel. Undoubtedly the main item of interest with this Ducato is that the new nine-speed full automatic has finally arrived. Replacing the old six speed AMT gearbox, the new gearbox is a much smoother driving proposition and works

0800 300 500

The split bathroom provides a spacious toilet cubicle

well with the lower powered 2.3 litre engines. For better ride comfort, air bag suspension is fitted to the rear wheels.

BUILD

Fibreglass is used for the main bodywork and that is backed up by the styrofoam insulation – 28mm for the sides/roof and a thicker 50mm for the floor. To minimise hail damage, polyester is used for the roof, and, for a similar reason, impact resistant

The shower is roomy too

polyester is also used for the underfloor area.

Awning style Polyplastic double glazed windows are fitted all round and the Hartal door comes with a window and concertina insect screen in the doorway.

A great feature of this motorhome is the large garage storage area at the rear, about 1720 litres according to the manufacturer. Great for camping chairs, golf clubs, fishing rods and even a couple

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63

A stylish motorhome, inside and out

MAKE & MODEL

PILOTE PACIFIC P690C

PROS • Great interior look

Chassis

Fiat Ducato Multijet 140

Berths

4

Length

6950mm

Width

2300mm

Height

2850mm

Water tanks

Fresh 130 litre, Grey 95 litre

GVM

3500kg

Tare

2825kg

Payload

675kg

Price as reviewed

$157,990 (includes GST and on-roads)

• 140 Fiat engine and new nine speed gearbox • Overall fit and finish • External storage space • Air Top Rear suspension

CONS • Bedside powerpoint and USB charger on one side only • Single powerpoint in kitchen/ lounge area

of folding bikes. Just a little tip here given the available space, make sure everything is packed in or tied down so that it cannot move around too much.

OFF THE GRID

FLOOR PLAN: PILOTE PACIFIC P690C

A fresh water tank capacity of 130 litres and a grey tank of 95 litres gives the motorhome the necessary self-containment certification. In addition to that, the two 100Ah deep cycle AGM batteries and 185W of solar panel give the necessary electrical freedom sans shore power.

SUMMARY

Something that Pilote’s Pacific P690C offers is plenty of appeal. Well-sized with the happy combination of an easy driving motorhome, yet with plenty of living space and the added attraction of being a classy looking motorhome inside and out.

Visit deluxegroup.co.nz for more information. ■ 64 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

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TECHNICAL TIPS

READY TO HIT THE ROAD? So you have bought your RV and you’re now ready to use it. It needn’t be as daunting as you think.

A measured approach will pay dividends, a lot of it is common sense. Motorhoming guru Bill Savidan has a few pointers to help you on your way.

T

the first few trips away in your new RV can be a steep learning curve.

But a bit of time spent getting organised can help pave the way for smooth travels.

A good start is to assemble all your equipment manuals together in one place (such as a folder or box). Guided by the manuals go through the controls of each piece of equipment so you know how it operates. Whether it is converting the dinette to a bed or checking the battery condition it is much easier to do if you have already read the manual and done a dummy run. Pay particular attention to the cab blinds/screens, control panels, the hot water system, the house heater, the oven, the fridge, the LPG supply, and the house batteries/solar panel system. Should you need more help, YouTube is helpful.

When setting up your new RV with crockery and cooking equipment etc, always pack ‘light’. Think melamine crockery instead of china. The same applies to clothing, toiletries and bedding.

Wherever possible, use synthetics. Not only are they lighter, they dry quicker after washing. Make ‘pack light, minimum number’ your loading mantra.

Don’t forget to carry out a vehicle check including the radiator, battery and, particularly for caravans, tyre pressures.

66 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

If your RV and house batteries have been hooked up to the grid, the batteries should be fully charged. If not, you may need the assistance of an auto electrician to sort out the problem before you can depart.

Check the levels of your LPG bottles and get refills if necessary. And while you are at it, if you have an LPG fridge, it’s a good idea to turn it on and load it up 24hrs prior to departure. Check that your grey water and toilet cassette are empty and that you have 20-30 litres of fresh water aboard. Check also that you are stocked up with your RV specific supplies; toilet chemicals, water treatment chemicals and water filters (if you use them).

As a mental exercise, review dump station procedures and if in doubt refresh your memory on the NZMCA’s online user guide. This section of the website is available to non-members.

Checklists are useful tools, so it’s worthwhile creating a few to help ensure you remember everything necessary in busy situations such as arriving/departing campsites, pre-departure checks etc. They remind us of things we might otherwise forget when under the stress of new experiences.

Prior to departure discontinue mail and newspaper deliveries or get someone to

clear your mailbox regularly. Let your family or neighbours know when you plan to return. Make sure you have with you your keys for the external hatches, water filler cover and habitation door. Also get a couple of extra habitation door keys cut, one for you and one for your better half to put on your car keyrings.

Stay locally first night away from home if you can. That way, you can nip home to get or do what you have forgotten. Or, if it is more serious, you can get your local RV service people make things right. And when time comes to move on, consult your pre-prepared ‘Leaving a campsite’ checklist so you don’t leave anything behind.

Top of the ‘left behind list’ are; washing on the line, mats and steps, caravaners water and waste tanks, wheel chocks and electrical leads. And when the good Samaritan who rescues it tries to return it to its owner, odds on there is nothing on the item to say who owns it or how to contact them. Make sure all your gear has your name and phone number on it.

Take the manuals with you, re-reading them is time well spent. It could mean you spend a warm night instead of a cold one if your heater plays up on a winter’s night at Tongariro National Park.■

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PEOPLE | BRUCE & GAIL

Holden flat back ute with motorhome body attached

Over 50 years, Gail and Bruce Hudson have owned and enjoyed 15 RVs. Jill Malcolm traces their history

I

n 1969, when Gail and Bruce Hudson were travelling in their first campervan, they took a break from driving at Puketona Junction. Another van pulled up next to them, and John and Lucielle Moffit introduced themselves. “You better join this new club,” said John. “It’s called the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association.

We’re founder members and on the executive committee.” Their membership number was 11.

When the Hudsons joined that year, the number was 492. Today the association has more than 90,000 memberships, and because couples are counted as one member, the headcount is much greater.

The Hudsons were in their early 20s at 68 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

HERE’S A LOOK AT THEIR 15 RVS OVER THE YEARS. 1. THE COMMER

The Hudsons’ earliest campervan was a Commer. It was 1968, and the couple were living in Palmerston North. Bruce was managing his own flooring business and one day, delivering supplies to Waiōuru, he came across a Commer campervan driven by a young English couple who were travelling the country.

Bruce had just bought a badly beaten-up Commer van 1500, intending to repair it for a work vehicle but that fortuitous encounter gave him a much better idea.

He had the body replaced by a horse-float builder and set to fitting out the interior.

“I’d been a draftsman,” he says. “So, I could think three-dimensionally and draw plans. But my first attempt was rudimentary – just four bunks, a sink filled by way of a water bottle and hand pump, and a two-burner cooker.”

None the less, their first excursions gave the couple a love of RV travel that has never left them. “I think they saved my life,” said Bruce. “The stress of the business was taking its toll and weekends in the camper gave me the breaks I needed. There were no cell phones in those days, so getting away was really getting away.”

The had couple found their wings in more ways than one, and in 1971, they sold the business, and, with two tiny children in tow, loaded the Commer on to the roll-on ship, Maheno, and with open minds headed for Australia. “We intended to stay,” said Gail, “and in Queensland, we tried to buy a camping ground. It didn’t work out, instead, we toured the country for six months and then came home.”

2. AN EVEN BETTER COMMER

In 1972 they bought a Commer with a walk-through cab and a Valiant AP6 motor. “Some chap had ordered it to build

IMAGES SUPPLIED

GOING PLACES

the time. Fifty years on, they have owned 15 motorhomes and are still committed RVers. When I last spoke to them, they were travelling through Gore on their way to Stewart Island in their newest acquisition. “It’s an Autosleeper,” says Bruce, “and it’s going to be our last.”

He stated this firmly, but it’s hard to believe given the couple’s long history of motorhoming and their love of a nomadic lifestyle.

a pie cart but reneged on the deal,” said Bruce. “All it comprised was the chassis, a bonnet, and a windscreen. It had no doors or roof. I needed a permit to drive it from Levin back to Palmy sitting on a nail box and dressed in a beanie and a heavy coat.”

This time, it was a fire-engine manufacturer who built the body, and once again Bruce fitted out the interior.

“It was a major step up from the first Commer; self-contained this time with electricity, a 12-volt fridge, onboard water tanks, shower and toilet and even a tiny TV. We kept that van for 14 years.”

3. THE HOLDEN FLAT-BACK

By 1988 the kids had flown the nest and Bruce and Gail lived in Whāngārei. That year they headed across the ditch again and in Sydney bought a Holden flat-back ute, with a motorhome body attached, in which they circumvented the Australian continent for 12 months. They had no toilet or shower, which was only one of the challenges of the outback.

4. THE CI MUNRO

On their return to New Zealand in 1989 they bought a 5m CI Munro motorhome on a Toyota Dyna. “This was an interim solution,” says Gail. “We’d sold our house

before we left for Australia and so we lived in the van while Bruce worked at the Marsden Point Refinery. All the time, we were planning to buy something that would suit us for an extended tour of the South Island.”

5. THE SCHOOL BUS

Two years later they found an old 7-metre, wide-bodied, BMC Austin, school bus.

It was a bit battered and had a million miles on the clock, but Bruce reckoned it had good bones. He pulled it to bits, re-panelled the body, fitted new windows and then set about building the furniture and fittings. Twelve months later, the old girl was ready to hit the road again.

“There was a lot of satisfaction in planning and creating it ourselves,” he says. “We ended up with everything we wanted – comfortable twin beds, good bench space, a combination bathroom and swivel seats at the front.”

A year after they’d bought it, they set off on a working tour around the South Island, and, 18 months later returned north to live in Pukekohe. “Then we started having trouble getting COFs because she was such an old vehicle,” says Bruce, “and so, regretfully, in 2002 we sold her on.”

The Hudsons’ NZMCA membership number - almost a collector’s item

6. THE AMERICAN DODGE

Meanwhile, the turn of the century had seen them heading for the United States where they bought a Dodge Tioga from a dealer for US$5000 and stocked it from op shops. For the next five months, they lapped the US, sticking to the coast and freedom camping where they could. “We drove about 20,000 miles and sold the vehicle back to the same dealer for $2500,” said Bruce. “The only trouble we had was replacing the water pump. Those old V8 engines just kept going and going. It was a pretty cheap way to have a holiday.”

Snow time in the Dodge Tiago on their circuit around America

69

11. ANOTHER TRAILLITE

The year 2006 saw Bruce and Gail in their second TrailLite. That one was built on a four-cylinder Mercedes Sprinter and was an easier vehicle to drive and manipulate.

It was also a walk-through which they found more convenient.

12. TRAILLITE #3

Four years later they traded up to a TrailLite Matakana on a Mercedes-Benz V6. “It was a beautiful machine to drive,” says Bruce. “For me, it was the comfort of the east-west, queen-size bed,” says Gail.

13. THE FORD GULFSTREAM The BMC Austin school bus that Bruce fitted out himself

they simply had no heart to continue the project. It was the last hammer blow for their DIY endeavours; they sold the Nissan as it was.

8. THE TRAILLITE

In 2002, on a friend’s recommendation, they approached TrailLite and ordered a flat roof, 6.5m motorhome on an Izuzu truck with twin beds, combined shower toilet, and a three-way fridge and TV. They began travelling around New Zealand again.

9. THE CHEVVY

The 14 motorhomes Gail and Bruce have owned, minus the one they never finished

7. THE NISSAN CIVILIAN

Back in New Zealand, they bought a do-up Nissan Civilian. But a third of the way through its renovation, tragedy struck. Bruce and Gail’s beautiful 36-year-old daughter, Sandra, died from cancer. Both parents were so devastated,

70 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

Then in 2004, they flew to Vancouver, and for US$10,000 acquired a 5m Luton Chevrolet from a Hamilton couple and travelled up the west side of Canada into Alaska and across the Arctic Circle. They also ferried the vehicle to Vancouver Island. After they’d used it for five months, they sold the motorhome to another New Zealand couple.

10. THE WINNEBAGO

Even though they were getting older, there was no clipping the wings of this couple who, in Brisbane in 2005, bought a small Winnebago 4.5m Freeway. They found somewhere to store it, and for the next 12 months, they intermittently travelled back and forth to Australia using the van as a ‘holiday house on wheels’ to explore the eastern seaboard.

In 2012 the couple set off for foreign fields once more, this time to San Francisco where they took ownership of a Ford Ultra Gulfstream from a New Zealand couple who had just finished a two-year tour. The Hudsons stored it through winter and then in the spring travelled for four months through California and Nevada before selling it on to another New Zealand couple.

14. TRAILLITE #4

In 2014, Bruce and Gail upgraded their TrailLite yet again; this time for an 8-metre Karapiro 300 series on VW Crafter. “That move might have been a bit ego-driven,” said Bruce. “It was our perfect RV – luxurious and functional with all the things we need to travel for long stretches in great comfort. We would have kept it forever had it not been for another change in our circumstances.”

15. DOWNSIZING TO AN AUTOSLEEPER

In 2018, the couple moved to a retirement village, and the driveway of their new home was not big enough to accommodate the TrailLite. Reluctantly they decided to downsize. They chose a 6.5-metre Bourton Auto-sleeper on a rear-wheel-drive Mercedes Sprinter 316a.

The size was right, and it contained all the must-have features. Emblazoned on its bodywork are the words ‘Going Places’, a name they have used on all their campervans and motorhomes for almost 50 years. It sums up the couple’s nomadic history perfectly. 

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PEOPLE | JACKIE’S JOURNEY

JACKIE’S JOURNEY

MY FAVOURITE MISTAKE

A happy mistake indeed

72 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

Jackie Norman sold her home in 2016, bought a motorhome and embarked on full-time life on the road with her husband, Gareth.

This issue, they discover paradise in Christchurch.

T

he start of 2020 was a fantastic time for us, both travel and opportunitywise. The weather was glorious, we were free to roam, and to top it off, we were asked to film an episode for a brand-new Australian TV series called Outliers, all about our life on the road. Exciting stuff!

There was just one small problem – where to film. We needed somewhere both scenic and peaceful, the producer said.

In January? We didn’t like our chances.

Not only that, we were in Blenheim and the film crew was in Dunedin. We had just 24 hours to find somewhere between the two to meet, and which ticked all the boxes. We put out a call for help and, by an enormous stroke of luck, one of our readers knew just the place. “Taylors Mistake is perfect! I live there, I’m happy to be your guide,” she said.

A HISTORIC PARADISE

Being largely unfamiliar with Christchurch, we had never heard of Taylors Mistake before but loved the name, and other details such as ‘cave baches’ had our curiosity well and truly piqued. All we needed to do was find somewhere to stay. It seemed the most suitable campground was at nearby

Godley Head and was managed by DOC. We booked online, as we would be arriving late, and the following morning set off for our mystery destination.

The origins of how Taylors Mistake got its name are varied, but the most common tale appears to be that of a Captain Taylor, who beached his American ship in the bay in 1858, believing it to be Lyttelton.

Whatever the true version, as soon as we descended the winding hill down to the little beach, we could well believe any of them.

Our guide, Margaret, was there to greet us, and we were enthralled as she gave us a tour of the ‘Rotten Row’ cave baches, which are built directly into the mouths of the caves.

73

I might be scared of heights but this sheep wasn’t!

Exploring the WW2 battery site

One of the historic ‘cave baches’

A bedroom inside one of the baches

These dwellings had originally been built by fishermen in the 1880s, to provide shelter. Although the council had destroyed 10 of them in 1979, deeming them to be unsafe, others continue to be used and loved today. As I looked out of one of the windows, directly on to the beach, where the waves lapped the shore, I dreamed of happily writing books here, hidden away from the rest of the world, for the rest of my days.

WHAT A PLACE TO STAY!

Margaret was right about the beach too; despite being peak season and a hot day, the little bay was a peaceful haven. It really was the perfect location for tomorrow’s filming. But with a 5am start, it was time to head to our campground. Getting there was simply a case of continuing up the road and over the hills until we couldn’t go 74 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

any further. As we climbed, the view was so beautiful I almost forgot my fear of heights.

As the bay stretched out behind us, we arrived at our campsite – and what a campsite it was. An enormous, open area, with so much space we hardly saw another camper. As for the views – we were literally on top of the world, looking out to sea. With flush toilets, water, benches and sinks, and a friendly and helpful manager on site, we couldn’t have asked for anything more.

We parked under a tree and sat at one of the picnic tables cooking dinner, watching the ships go by. Of all the campgrounds we have been to, this one has to be the most outstanding and we were sad to only be staying one night. We had just enough time to go for a walk before the light began to fade and, as we strolled along, we were

“I dreamed of happily writing books here, hidden away from the rest of the world ...”

surprised and delighted to discover our campground was also a WW2 coastal battery defence site. You may have seen the bunkers on the news a short while ago, with their beautifully painted murals of the people who served there. It was an enjoyable, educational and poignant walk through history, and we would have stayed longer had darkness not begun to fall.

TIME FOR A HIKE

Waking to the alarm at 5am the next morning, I sat up in bed and smiled to see there was just enough light to glimpse the

MORE INFORMATION Keen to really get away from it all?

Camp at Godley Head. Here are a few things to know before you go.

Book ahead of time The best way to book your spot is online, using a link from the CamperMate app, or you can book from the Christchurch Visitor Centre. There is also a caretaker on site. Price is $15 per adult, per night – we can vouch it is worth every cent.

Our film location also turned out to be a paragliding spot!

IMAGES BY GARETH SCURR /BRENT GILPIN

ocean out of our van windscreen. If only we had the time to stay longer. But we were due on the film set at 5.45am and so we wound our way back over the hills to Taylors Mistake where the cameras began to roll as soon as the sun came up.

The filming took most of the day but we had so much fun with presenter Andrew McCombe and our new friend Margaret as camera assistant. We look forward to seeing the episode later in the year.

We already had our next camping spot planned at Chamberlains Ford but the sun was still high in the sky and, with filming done, there was no need to rush, so we set out on the adjacent beach walk from

Taylors Mistake out to Godley Head.

It was a good hike, but the coastal path was well maintained and the views were incredible and ever-changing. The track goes right up and through the Godley Head campsite but, seeing as we had already come from there, we turned around and headed back to our van.

Not long after, we were parked up at Chamberlain’s Ford, relaxing at last. With scores of other campers all around, it was a vast difference from the solitary night before. But make no mistake – we will go back to Taylors Mistake just as soon as we can, and next time we will explore every inch of this unique and historic place. ■

Getting there There is a security gate at the entrance to the campground.

Campers are given an entry code when booking. The road there is sealed but is narrow, with sharp corners and steep drops. Drive with care.

Walk or bike There are many places to walk from the campground and there is also a mountain bike track, which descends to Taylors Mistake beach.

Choosing your spot The campsite is exposed to wind and bad weather, so if the forecast looks dodgy, park up in one of the sheltered areas. On a fine day however, there’s no better place to be.

Check out the view from the entrance to Taylors Mistake campground

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PEOPLE | CHELSEA & BRONSON

ADVENTURES WITH ROSY Lisa Jansen meets up with a family of five who is exploring New Zealand in a Jayco Caravan called Rosy

The Bronson family and their Jayco caravan, Rosy

A

s amazing as the RV community is, you can’t deny the fact that it is dominated by retirees (and young international tourists). Outside of the holiday parks, it’s surprisingly rare to run into families. As I write this, I’ve just returned from a trip across the North Island stopping at the NZMCA parks in Ardmore, Otorohanga and Plimmerton and I didn’t see one family – even though it was a summer weekend.

So when I heard about a family of five who hit the road in their caravan almost every weekend, I couldn’t wait to meet them and share their story in the hope that it might inspire more families to discover the joys of RVing.

Mum and dad Chelsea and Bronson, two-and-a-half-year-old Harvey and six-month-old twins Ruby and Piper live in Taupō but go on family adventures in their Jayco caravan almost every weekend.

“Having kids has slowed us down a bit, 76 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

especially now that we have three. But it’s a great way to travel as a family.”

You could say that RVing is in the couple’s blood. Bronson’s family moved into a house truck when he was 10 and Chelsea spent much of her teens travelling around on the weekends for horse riding competitions. Not surprisingly, RV trips have been a part of their relationship from day one. After a snowboarding trip in the South Island and a trip to Cape Reinga in the North Island in rented motorhomes, they decided to invest in their own mobile home. They bought a small bus about three years ago and started exploring the country.

However, once Harvey came along, the bus got a bit too small, and they upgraded to a larger motorhome. “In the bus, the bed was also the lounge, so we had to rearrange it every night and morning. That was fine when it was just us, but once we had Harvey, it just was a bit too much hassle.”

They chose a motorhome with a bed above

the cabin, thinking that would be the long-term solution. “We were planning to have one more child, so we bought a motorhome that would suit the four of us.” But then the twins came along. Since there was no room for three car seats in the motorhome, the family had to look for yet another mobile home.

They went to Auckland for the Covi SuperShow to find out what options there are. “We wanted three bunk beds for the kids and needed three front-facing seats for the kids’ car seats. After looking around for a while, we realised that finding a motorhome that offers all that would be hard. At the same time, we saw a couple of caravans that would be perfect for us. That was probably the first time we considered a caravan.”

The family ended up choosing a 5.78m Jayco Journey with three bunk beds at the back, a double bed at the front and kitchen and dining area in the middle.

Bay of Plenty are each also only a few hours’ drive away.

Like so many people, they had a hard time determining their favourite spots.

Both enjoyed a trip around the East Cape, and Chelsea particularly liked Anaura Bay. Russell and Pahia in the Bay of Islands are also favourites as is the Tapotupotu DOC site in the Far North, just before Cape Reinga. Bronson says he also loved the West Coast of the South Island when they there snowboarding. “The glaciers were stunning, and the whole area was beautiful, even though it rained.”

As far as campgrounds go, the family likes to stay at NZMCA parks. “They are a safe but cheap option, and most allow dogs which is important to us since we have two. We would love to see more families at the parks, it would be great for Harvey to have other kids to play with.”

The NZMCA park in Napier is one of their favourite overnight spots because of its size and the way it has been planted makes it feel spacious, even when it’s busy. Other favourite campgrounds are the Holiday Park right at the bottom of Mount Manganui and the Top Ten Holiday Park in Waihi Beach. “While we like the NZMCA parks, sometimes it’s nice to stay at a holiday park where there

The double bed at the front

Three bunks means plenty of room for all three kids

IMAGES BY LISA JANSEN

They added an extra freshwater tank so can now carry up to 184 litres of fresh and 82 litres of grey water which lasts them about three to four days. The new caravan also offers some new luxury features that the motorhome didn’t have, like an oven and a separate shower, both things the family values. “There isn’t much we don’t like about our caravan. Probably the only thing we would do differently if we had a chance for a do-over is not to get the built-in washing machine. We’ve only used it once, and it used up the whole freshwater tank.

It’s just not worth it for us.”

While the family has now had three different mobile homes in just over three years, one thing hasn’t changed. The name of all three is Rosy. “It kind of just stuck.

No matter what mobile home we had, we just kept calling it Rosy.”

Chelsea and Bronson have started to think about longer trips and maybe even going full-time for a while once the twins are a bit older. “We would love to go down to the South Island for a few months next summer. We’ve never been south of Christchurch, so there is still so much to discover.” For now, they are happy making weekend trips from their base in Taupō.

They are regular visitors in Raglan and Napier and, of course, Rotorua and the

Parked Up at Beachside 77 Holiday Park, Mt Maunganui

Sunrise at Anaura Bay DOC Campground on the East Cape

East Cape NZ Harvey Chelsea at the Light House

are more families and often a playground for Harvey.”

Chelsea and Bronson say having kids has changed things for them. Longer drives are hard with the twins, so they usually keep it to two hours maximum.

Living so close together in a small space can also be an issue. “It can be a bit of a challenge sometimes to get the twins to sleep at night when Harvey is still playing just a few feet away. That’s easier in a house when you can close doors.”

But, overall, the family loves their adventures together. “It was essential to us to spend as much time together as a 78 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

Chelsea and Bronson’s first Bus parked up at Port Jackson Coromandal

family while the kids are still young.

And ac caravan is a perfect way to do just that.”

Of course, I couldn’t leave without asking about the pros and cons of having a caravan vs a motorhome. “We miss the motorhome sometimes, especially when we need to back into small spaces.” But overall, both feel the caravan is the better option at this stage.

“Having a separate car comes in handy.

When we had the motorhome, we would often move somewhere else every night because we had to pack up anyway to go exploring or even just to go into town

to do some laundry or shopping. Now we often stay in the same spot for three or four nights and use the car to get around.”

The other benefit of the caravan is that they can split up. One parent stays behind with some of the kids, and the others go exploring. That was never possible with the motorhome.

The five of them have a few more weekend trips planned for the months ahead and, with a diesel heater installed, winter won’t stop their adventures either.

And who knows? Maybe by next summer, they will join the full-time crew. 

Arto 78F

Arto 85E

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Arto 88EK

8427 mm

Arto 88F

8763 mm

Authorised Distributors of Dethleffs, Frankia, Niesmann+Bischoff & Morelo Motorhomes

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8763 mm

RECIPES

BAKE YOUR OWN SOURDOUGH In this extract from All You Need to Know to Make Beautiful Breads by Nadene Hall, we take a look at the ancient art of making sourdough.

Sourdough is made using an ancient technique that uses wild yeasts instead of specifically-added baker’s yeasts. Its distinctive sourness comes from lactic and acetic acids that develop in the dough as it ferments over time. It takes around 5-7 days to ferment the starter, and overnight for the dough to sit, but the result is worth the wait.

80 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

A sourdough starter takes on a life of its own if you feed it and take care of it. Top New Zealand baker Dean Brettschneider apparently takes such good care of his starter he carries it around with him and feeds it religiously. “They’re all alive so you have to keep them like little kids,” says Ralf Schmidt of the MIT School of Baking & Patisserie. “You have to feed them on time, and give them time - they say bread waits for no-one so there’s the time, the temperature and the process and everything is timed to when you want it ready.”

His colleague Monique Brik has lovingly tended to her own sourdough starter for a couple of years now, but she uses a method that takes minimal effort on her part, keeping it a fairly dry consistency (known as a ‘stiff’ starter) in the fridge so it only needs feeding every few days, and even freezing it when she goes away overseas so she knows it’s safe in a state of hibernation.

The reason for all this loving care is because once you create a good starter and you understand its properties, you want to keep it so you can go on making great-tasting bread.

“A sourdough is a pre-ferment but it’s one that you’re maintaining and keeping alive,” says Monique. “You’re always feeding it and you’re always using it and you’re growing from it and that’s what turns into a sourdough.”

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HOW TO MAKE A SOURDOUGH STARTER There are scores of selfproclaimed sourdough experts willing to share with you the secrets to sourdough, but the problem is these ‘secrets’ are often completely contradictory.

Scientific bakers hold that sourdough bread can’t be made without a thorough understanding of the symbiotic chemical relationship between yeast and lactobacilli.

These wild swings between science and superstition make the sourdough sphere more intimidating than it needs to be. Sourdough refers both to the bread and the starter used to make it. A sourdough starter begins with a combination of flour and liquid. The proportion and type of flour and liquid can vary dramatically, from a stiff starter made entirely with rye flour and water, to a liquid batter of milk and cornmeal, and everything in between.

Friendly bacteria (lactobacilli) present in our natural environment and the wild yeast attracted to and living on flour (particularly wholegrain flour) begin to work with one another when flour is mixed with warm water. These tiny living creatures (collectively called the sourdough’s microflora) generate by-products that cause bread to rise and give it complex, rich flavours.

HOW DOES SOURDOUGH MAKE BREAD RISE? : Wild yeasts are tiny fungi that exist all around us in varying degrees, in the air, settled on work surfaces, in some of the ingredients you bake with and, most importantly, in flour. Lactobacilli are also all around us and have a wonderfully symbiotic relationship with wild yeast.

Lactobacilli break down flour’s complex carbohydrates into simple sugars, exactly what yeast needs for food. The yeast feeds on these simple sugars, producing carbon dioxide bubbles. The elastic wheat gluten in bread dough traps these carbon dioxide bubbles, causing the dough to expand as if it contained a million tiny balloons.

82 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

The by-products are flavourful organic acids. Lactic acid adds a rich, mellow flavour to bread, while (to a lesser degree over a longer period of time) acetic acid gives sourdough bread its sour tang.

By varying the hydration of your starter, the temperature at which it’s fed, and the temperature and duration of a sourdough loaf’s rise, you can make sourdough bread that is richly flavoured with barely a hint of sour, or one that’s truly mouth-puckering.

This starter recipe takes about a week to become strong enough to use for bread baking, but it can vary due to the temperature and humidity of your kitchen and the flours and feeding schedule you use.

NOTES There is no yeast added to this starter, although some recipes do begin with added yeast.

As a result, it will take longer to get going, but if you follow the instructions you should end up with a very strong, active starter. Make sure your workspace, hands and any containers or utensils you use are clean before you begin, to avoid contamination.

DAY 1

DAY 3

DAY 7 (OR SO)

A warm place (20-21°C) 113g whole rye flour or whole wheat flour 113g non-chlorinated cooled water Food-grade plastic container

113g strong flour 113g non-chlorinated cooled water

Once the starter is ready, give it one last feed. Pour off all but 113g and feed as usual, then let it rest at room temperature for 6-8 hours. It should be active, with bubbles breaking the surface.

Remove however much starter you need for your recipe. Keep 113g of starter and feed as above, then place in its permanent home in your fridge in a container with an airtight lid.

Mix flour and water in your container and stir together thoroughly - make sure there’s no dry flour anywhere. Cover the container loosely and let the mixture sit at warm room temperature (about 21°C) for 24 hours.

The colder the environment, the more slowly your starter will grow. If the normal temperature in your home is below 20°C, find a warmer spot like on top of your fridge or another appliance that generates ambient heat.

DAY 2 113g strong flour 113g non-chlorinated cooled water You may see no activity at all in the first 24 hours, or you may see a bit of growth or bubbling. Either way, discard half the starter (113g) and add to what’s left 113g of strong flour and 113g of water (cool if your house is warm, lukewarm if it’s cold). Mix well, cover, and let the mixture rest at room temperature for 24 hours.

By the third day you’ll likely see some activity: bubbling, a fresh, fruity aroma, and some evidence of expansion. It’s now time to begin two feedings daily, as evenly spaced as your schedule allows (e.g., 8am and 8pm). For each feeding, stir the starter thoroughly, then weigh out 113g to keep - discard (or give away or use) the rest. Add 113g of flour and 113g of water and mix thoroughly, then cover and leave to rest at room temperature for 12 hours before repeating. You may or may not see a reduction in the activity levels of your starter from this point on - either is normal.

DAYS 4 & 5 Repeat two-a-day feedings, and then continue for as many days as it takes for your starter to become very active.

After about a week of consistent feeding, your starter should be rising after you feed it, there may be little ‘rivulets’ on the surface full of finer bubbles, it will be the consistency of a waffle batter, and it should have a tangy aroma - pleasingly acidic, but not overpowering.

WHY DO YOU NEED TO DISCARD HALF THE STARTER? The starter will be too strong and grow too much. Keeping the starter volume stable helps balance the pH. Keeping the volume down concentrates the yeast/lactobacilli in a smaller amount of space and means it has more food so it’s not fighting with quite so many other little yeast cells while it’s eating and will grow more quickly.

There’s nothing wrong with the starter you’re discarding. You can give it to a friend or use it to bake things like sourdough pizza crust, waffles or other breads.

NOTES A wholegrain flour (whole wheat or rye) is used at the beginning because wholegrains contain more nutrients and sourdoughfriendly microorganisms than a standard plain or bread flour.

Rye really stimulates the wild yeast, plus it contributes to the tangy flavour of sourdough.

Make sure your flour is not rancid. Wholegrain flours go off much more quickly so store it in your fridge or freezer. Discard once it has reached its ‘best before’ date.

It’s important to feed your starter with non-chlorinated cool water which we will call ‘water’ from now on.

The key with this starter is to keep the ratio the same with every feeding: 1:1:1 by weight of starter, flour, and water – use scales, not cups or other measures as measuring by volume is far less accurate.

83

STIFF VS LIQUID STARTERS The starter we’re making here is a liquid one, which will be the consistency of batter, but you can also have a ‘stiff’ starter which is more the consistency of a soft dough or even dry and crumbly.

A liquid starter is equal parts flour and water, and is fairly easy to take care of because all you have to remember is the same amounts of flour and water to feed it each time. It will require feeding daily if you keep it on your bench.

A stiff starter is typically one-third water and two-thirds flour, and is easier to keep if you only bake once a week because it grows more slowly. It is usually fed once a week with the same one-third water, twothirds flour ratio.

The only difference is the flour/water ratio: you can add more flour to convert a liquid starter to stiff, or add more water to convert a stiff one to liquid.

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR STARTER If you do a lot of baking each week: keep at room temperature, feed every 12 hours (each time, discard all but 113g, add 113g flour and 113g water, mix until smooth).

If you’re baking the next day, either don’t discard the excess, or add 226g of flour and 226g of water so you get enough starter to work with and some to save.

If you bake once a week or so: store in the fridge. To feed it, tip off or stir in any liquid on top, feed as above and leave at room temperature for at least two hours, then put back in the fridge. A couple of days before you want to bake, feed the starter but let it rest at room temperature for 12 hours until bubbly, then repeat feedings every 12 hours until you see the starter double or triple in volume in 6-8 hours.

For the final feeding before baking, make sure you add enough flour and water to the starter so you have the right amount for your recipe, plus 113g left over to feed so you can maintain the starter for the next time you bake. Once the starter is bubbling and vigorous, remove what you need for the recipe and set it aside. Leave the starter you want to keep at room temperature for about 2 hours, then put it back in the fridge.

84 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

PJ’S TIPS New research shows most of the wild yeasts that develop in a starter come from the flour, typically not from the air or anything in your environment.

If, after a week or so, your starter isn’t ready, don’t lose heart - keep feeding it regularly and it will gain strength. It may be the conditions in your kitchen are more or less conducive to building a starter, depending on room temperature, the season, humidity, or how much you’ve been baking.

Wholegrain flour is a good choice to create a starter, but it’s recommended you then switch over to feeding it with a strong flour or there’s more of a risk of it going bad, unless you keep it in the fridge long-term.

If your starter is very firm (like a dough), just add more water a tablespoon at a time until you get the right consistency (a thick batter), however you can keep it in this ‘stiff’ state – it will just grow more slowly.

A good sourdough starter smells sour, strong and vinegary. It may fluctuate to a strong alcohol-like smell between feedings (some people liken it to nail polish remover) which is also normal.

If it smells rotten and unpleasant or has a pinkish tinge, it’s best to throw it out and start again.

A starter may develop a crust, but this recipe is more likely to have liquid sitting on top – stir it back in before you use or feed it, and keep it covered to prevent this. It may also go a bit ‘gluey’ in consistency, but this is normal.

To increase the amount of starter if you’re doing extra baking, feed just before baking, or feed without discarding for a few feedings.

A starter will swell up when fed, then sink back down as the yeast ceases feeding - don’t feed again until it has sunk down or you can over-feed it.

Sometimes the liquid on top of this starter can go dark over time as alcohol is created by the yeast as it dies off. Tip the liquid off or mix it in, then feed your starter if this happens.

A starter may grow and become active but if it’s not working when you come to bake with it, it may be it needs more feeding, but it’s also likely it’s getting too cold. Try storing it in a warmer place (preferably somewhere that is 20-21°C).

3 STEPS TO REVIVING A STARTER If your starter is covered in a clear, dark liquid (alcohol), lacks bubbles or other signs of activity, and has a very sharp aroma, it is possible to bring it back to life.

1.

2.

3.

Stir the liquid back into the starter.

Discard all but 113g and leave at room temperature for a while.

Feed the starter 113g water and 113g flour twice a day - discard all but 113g of starter before each feeding. It should soon become healthy, bubbly, and active.

Warning: if your starter turns ominously pink or red, shows signs of mould growth, or smells decidedly putrid, throw it away.

MONIQUE’S 3 STEPS TO LOOKING AFTER A STIFF STARTER If your starter is covered in a clear, dark liquid (alcohol), lacks bubbles or other signs of activity, and has a very sharp aroma, it is possible to bring it back to life.

1.

2.

3.

Remove your starter from the fridge two days before you need it. The first day is to allow for it to come to room temperature.

The day before baking, feed your starter by adding in more or less equal parts flour and lukewarm water. Knead this together into a fairly soft dough and place in a clean container. Keep at room temperature until the next day.

After making your bread, feed the starter again (using more or less equal parts flour and lukewarm water) before you put it away for the week. Knead this together and place into a clean container that has an airtight lid. Store in the fridge.

85

MONIQUE’S SOURDOUGH HYBRID INGREDIENTS: 1kg strong flour* 650-670ml lukewarm water 260g starter 20g honey 10g dried yeast 18g salt 20g olive oil * you can replace 300g of the flour with 100g rye and 200g of wholemeal or your choice of other flour options

METHOD: 1. Mix flour, water, starter, honey and yeast in a bowl, then knead until smooth and silky. This will take about 6 minutes in a mixing machine with a dough hook, or around 10 minutes by hand. If you’re doing it by hand, it will be a good workout and you should be feeling it in your arms and shoulders by the time you finish.

2. Add the salt and oil and knead into the dough. Continue to knead until the dough is smooth again. Leave the dough in a bowl covered with plastic wrap and let it rest for 20 minutes.

3. Tip dough onto a floured bench and divide into four equal pieces. Shape with your hands until it is round and smooth and feels firm. If you get this right, the bottom of the dough (sitting on the bench) will form a little rosebud in the middle from where it has turned.

4. Rest dough for another 15 minutes, then use your hands to shape it into the loaf shape you want.

5. Pre-heat the oven on 220°C. At this point you can lightly mist the tops of your loaves with water and dip them into seeds if you wish, and/or use a sharp knife to cut a pattern onto the bread. Make sure the cuts are at a 45-degree angle to the top of the dough, not straight up and down. Flour the bread before cutting if you wish.

6. Place two loaves each onto baking paperlined trays, leaving plenty of room between them and the outsides of the tray. Place a cardboard box over the trays and leave the loaves to rise until nearly double in size. It can take up to an hour.

7. Mist the first two loaves and the walls of the oven well before placing the tray in the oven, just below the centre rack position.

Bake for around 20 minutes. Spray the oven again to bake the last two loaves.

HOW TO SHAPE BREAD

For some great, easy-to-follow video tutorials of how to shape bread, check out these sites online: youtube.com/user/Rylandpeterssmall youtube.com/user/KingArthurFlour thekitchn.com – search for ‘how to shape a loaf of bread’

86 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

WANT A MOUTH-PUCKERINGLY SOUR SOURDOUGH?

Often the sourness of the bread isn’t contingent on the sourness of the starter but more on how you handle the dough.

Dough that’s chilled will allow the yeast to give off more acetic acid, which is more sour (think vinegar). If all else fails you can try adding 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid to the dough to totally ramp up the sour flavor. PJ Hamel

Secrets to creating

ARTISAN BREAD YOUR GUIDE TO DELICIOUS HOME-BAKED BREAD

CIAB SOUR ATTA D BAGU OUGH ETT BAGEL ES S

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL BREADS

All you need to know to make

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BREADS

BY NADENE HALL

Your essential guide to making bread at home EASY STEP-BY-STEP lessons on how to make your own deliciously flavourful breads, the equipment you need, flour and gluten free options, plus recipes from top artisan breadmakers.

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BOOKS

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GREAT READ

A good book is a must-have for any road trip. Here’s a quick look at some of the latest titles on the bookstore shelves

KETO SIMPLE

The Ketogenic diet has become a popular choice of diet, with many people claiming it has helped them lose weight and overcome certain illnesses. But sustaining any special diet over the long term can feel all-consuming. The reality is that no one has the time or budget for complicated meals with a dozen ingredients or hours to spend every weekend meal-prepping next week’s dinners into Instagram-worthy, cute containers. Best-selling author Martina Slajerova takes the biggest challenge out of staying the ketogenic course by showing how to do keto quickly, easily, and deliciously. Filled with over 100 recipes, Keto Simple provides fast and healthy options including sheet-pan suppers, one-pot meals, quick-prep lunches, and grab-and-go snacks. You’ll also learn effective strategies for how to stock your pantry, meal-prep, and make dinner when you are down to a handful of ingredients in the fridge.

Martina Slajerova Quarto US RRP $36.99

88 Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations

THE MIDNIGHT ADVENTURES OF RURU AND KIWI

The Kiwi looked up to the sky above, and sang to the tune of the breeze. “Oh lovely Ruru! I’ll dine here with you. We’ll picnic beneath these trees.

These trees, these trees. We’ll picnic beneath these trees!”

Children will love the delightful rhyming story of Ruru and Kiwi, who host a midnight forest party for their friends. The Midnight Adventures of Ruru and Kiwi is a delightful twist on the tale of The Owl and the Pussycat and takes place in a moonlit forest in Aotearoa. Drawing on a cast of nocturnal New Zealand creatures, with enchanting illustrations by Amy Haarhoff, this lovely book was the winner of the Storylines Gavin Bishop Award 2019. For older readers, a fact sheet, about night-time creatures of the bush is also included.

Claire Scott Illustrated by Amy Haarhoff Penguin NZ RRP $19.99

DARK SKIES

Discover the best stargazing destinations around the world with Lonely Planet’s Dark Skies. Authored by space tourism and travel writer Valerie Stimac, this comprehensive companion includes guides to 35 darksky sites and national parks, where to see the aurora, the next decade of total solar eclipses and how to view rocket launches, plus the lowdown on commercial space flight.

“The skies above us are part of our heritage, both natural and cultural,” Valerie writes in her Introduction to the book. “Astronomy and stargazing are an important part of human history, one that can connect us back to early myth or awaken us to the vast scale of our universe and its many mysteries.

Witnessing the sweep of the Milky Way, the remains of passing comets as they burn up in our atmosphere, or the shimmering aurora, we better understand space and our place in it.”

Lonely Planet RRP $34.99

OUT THERE

It has been 20 extraordinary and exciting years since SCAPE Public Art began to revolutionise the open spaces of Ōtautahi Christchurch. This bold initiative stepped outside the gallery and into the streets, to make contemporary art truly public in a fresh and invigorating way. And it did so, uniquely for this country, by involving industry and business, and the city’s various communities, in commissioning and realising arts projects and permanent works. Out There: SCAPE Public Art 1998–2018 tells the story of this fruitful association and celebrates two decades of achievement. Drawing on more than 100 interviews with the originators and supporters of SCAPE, and with many of the more than 230 artists who have been involved, well-known arts commentator Dr Warren Feeney has written a lively and appealing account. No one interested in the visual arts will want to be without it.

Warren Feeney Scape Public Art RRP $79.95

THE FAMILY TRAVEL HANDBOOK

Full of practical advice, ideas and inspiration for every type of family, Lonely Planet’s The Family Travel Handbook gives you the lowdown on amazing travel experiences around the world – and how to plan and enjoy them with your children. The book names New Zealand as a top ‘Adventure Destination’ for families, while its other NZ highlights include Auckland (‘Top 5 Destination for Tweens & Teens’) and Tauranga (‘Top 5 Family-Friendly Cruises’). “Our aim,” Lonely Planet says, “is to bring together all of our expertise in one useful handbook that you can refer to as much for ideas about exploring the great outdoors close to home as for advice on packing up everything and taking the kids on a round-the-world trip. Your family may be experienced jet-setters, or you may be unsure where to start when taking your kids on the road, but amazing opportunities for travelling together exist at every turn.”

Lonely Planet RRP $32.99

GENDER

An exciting new exploration of gender from the creators of the groundbreaking Queer: A Graphic History. The book takes a look at how gender has been ‘done’ differently – from patriarchal societies to trans communities – and how it has been viewed differently, from biological arguments for sex difference to cultural arguments about received gender norms. It dives into complex and shifting ideas about masculinity and femininity, looks at non-binary, trans and fluid genders, and examines the intersection of experiences of gender with people’s race, sexuality, class, disability and more. Tackling current debates and tensions, which can divide communities and even cost lives, Gender looks to the past and the future to ask how we might approach gender differently, in more socially constructive, caring ways.

Meg-John Barker Illustrated by Julia Scheele Icon Books RRP $27.99

89

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breaking laws or rules (4,5,2,3,4) 53 Unmatched (3) 56 Arm joint (5) 57 Portent (4) 58 Repugnant (6) 59 Prevent from being known (8) 62 True (7) 63 Call off (6) 64 Food strainer (8) 67 Maintained at length without weakening (9) 69 Time to come (6) 70 Homing bird (6) 74 Outspoken (5) 75 Similarity (8) 77 Striptease (anag)(10) 81 Slump (3) 83 Mosque tower (7) 84 Rich cake (6) 85 Waterproof jacket (6) 86 Young female (4) 87 Severe (7) 88 Hamlet (10) 89 Cost incurred (7)

DOWN 1 Hawser (5) 2 Let go (8) 3 Noisy quarrel (6) 4 Heartbeat (5) 5 Curve (4) 6 Against the law (7) 7 Slice of bacon (6) 8 Vessel’s rear (5) 10 Defrost (4) 11 Certificate (7) 12 Perfect place (6) 17 Dull, tedious and repetitious (10) 19 Lined chart (5) 23 Back and forth (2,3,3) 24 Fulcrum (5) 25 Intimidatory remarks (7) 27 Nervous (4) 29 Swiftest animal (7) 30 Acid neutraliser (6) 31 Small restaurant (6) 32 Stick up for (6) 34 Incline (5) 36 Stratagem (4) 37 Nimble (7) 38 Opinion (4)

44 Column (6) 46 Citrus fruit (4) 47 Ancestry (7) 48 Blacken with heat (6) 49 Spin (5) 50 Cut short (8) 51 Tropical lizard (6) 52 Decline in value (10) 53 Finished (4) 54 Reject with contempt (7) 55 Left at sea (4) 60 Confidence (5) 61 Aspersion (4) 65 Stiff (5) 66 Verdict (8) 68 Ignorant of (7) 69 Crack (7) 71 Movement (6) 72 Conquer (6) 73 Act properly (6) 76 Thrill (5) 78 Up in the air (5) 79 Work out (5) 80 Untidiness (4) 82 Donated (4)

SOLUTION Across: 1 Cardiff, 4 Plagiarism, 9 Stadium, 13 Belt, 14 Garlic, 15 Lessen, 16 Harpoon, 18 Hue, 20 Evaporated, 21 Greenery, 22 Sonic, 25 Tremor, 26 Recoil, 28 Sceptical, 33 Hooligan, 34 Spinet, 35 Complex, 39 Approval, 40 Effort, 41 Thin, 42 Joker, 43 Spy, 45 Sail close to the wind, 53 Odd, 56 Elbow, 57 Omen, 58 Odious, 59 Suppress, 62 Factual, 63 Cancel, 64 Colander, 67 Sustained, 69 Future, 70 Pigeon, 74 Vocal, 75 Likeness, 77 Tapestries, 81 Sag, 83 Minaret, 84 Gateau, 85 Anorak, 86 Girl, 87 Intense, 88 Settlement, 89 Expense.

Down: 1 Cable, 2 Released, 3 Fracas, 4 Pulse, 5 Arch, 6 Illegal, 7 Rasher, 8 Stern, 10 Thaw, 11 Diploma, 12 Utopia, 17 Monotonous, 19 Graph, 23 To and fro, 24 Pivot, 25 Threats, 27 Edgy, 29 Cheetah, 30 Alkali, 31 Bistro, 32 Defend, 34 Slope, 36 Ploy, 37 Spry, 38 View, 44 Pillar, 46 Lime, 47 Lineage, 48 Scorch, 49 Twirl, 50 Truncate, 51 Iguana, 52 Depreciate, 53 Over, 54 Disdain, 55 Port, 60 Faith, 61 Slur, 65 Rigid, 66 Decision, 68 Unaware, 69 Fissure, 71 Motion 72 Defeat, 73 Behave, 76 Elate, 78 Aloft, 79 Solve, 80 Mess, 82 Gave.

ACROSS 1 Capital of Wales (7) 4 The taking and using of another writer’s words (10) 9 Sports arena with tiered seats (7) 13 Waistband (4) 14 Pungent bulb (6) 15 Decrease (6) 16 Spear (7) 18 Shade of colour (3) 20 Vaporised (10) 21 Foliage (8) 22 Of sound (5) 25 Earthquake (6) 26 Gun kick (6) 28 Disbelieving (9) 33 Young ruffian (8) 34 Small harpsichord (6) 35 Intricate (7) 39 Authorisation (8) 40 Exertion (6) 41 Dilute (4) 42 Playing card (5) 43 Secret agent (3) 45 Come very close to

6 48 5 A Q 8 7 9 5 9 2 1 8 9 2 3 1 8 5 6 8 SUDOKU GO WORD 2 89 2 A6 Q 3 4U GO 9ROUND 1 I 6 3 58 5 1 8 5 6 L 7 9 5 8 U 96728I 59 R A3NQ9 8 7 9 2 3 5 5 9 23 6 1 8 E H 2 5 66 MEDIUM 5 84 U I N R 5 3 4 1 6 3 7 9 2 99 2CROSSWORD 6 3 75 CRYPTIC 5 6 WORDWHE 6 4 7 9 5 6 1 45 8 1 3 28 7 6 8 R4 6 7 Find 5N 9 2 3 1 the missing lette E H 2 8 4 75 9 6 7 9 2 8 24 3 4 9 1 1 2 32 5 73 1 8 4 6 9 5 6 3 7 7 5 1 reading 4WordW 2 clockwise 6 9 or8 many E H 2 5 How 5 6 8 3words 9 6of 4 letters 4 2 3SUDOKU 4 Fill in the1grids so every6row, column and 3x3 3 box contains the numbers you There 6 1 1-98 9 or2more 3 can 5WORD 4 make?

7 GO 9 2 1 6 8 3 7 4 5 GO ROUND How many words of 4 letters SUDOKU GO is at least one 9-letter GO word.

WORD ROUND 5 3 4 1 6 3 Fill in the grids so every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1-9 or more CRYPTIC WORDWHEEL 6 4SUDOKU 1 5 GOROUND 12 72Each 58 49letter 62used 1 5 can4 you8make?

2 There 7 3L6 O be WORD 7 9 58 6 CROSSWORD 4 83 64 7may 529 3 1 GO 8 1738 26 is at least one 9-letter word.

7 9 5 8 9 7 9 5 8 9 only once and all words must 6 4 4 2 3 5 7 198166 9 45 1 83 72 5 71 4WordWheel 7 6 2Each3letter7may5be used 9 8Q 528367AA 9 must 6I 8 1 2 87 9 35 3 the6centre No Q only once and all words 98 281 8 3 letter.

4 5 1 38 4 1298 8 863 18 815973 25 1395 54 42 76 946 26contain with a capital, 9 54starting 16 O contain the centre letter. No U 8 21 7 in8 3L 9 AI Q 7 36words 6110 6 9starting 8 with 3 a1capital, 4C5 2 U words no plurals s.11 I 6 51 8 3 35 9 9 6 491528 22 54789ending 9 65 2 6 8 I ?

3 L 7 5 3 2 3 5 9 6 8 1 4 no plurals ending in s.

6 3 5 5 9 2 6 6 8 5 3 9 2 Good 32 8 3 HARD 6 4 96 9Good 598 234117R4C15U 5 MEDIUM I132 2 4 3 8 9D7 Good 8 2 7 AN Very Good 41 6 8 3 57 2 9 2 928 53276234 69 456592 5177781 2 76 8 Very 5 N R Excellent 49+ 7 9 9 5 1 2 4 3 8 9 7 6 E8 3IH Excellent 1 649 32 7951341D 4 6 49+ 9 2 7 5 1 8 TIC WORDWHEEL CRYPTIC 1 1 6 123 9 4 8 4 6 4 76 WORDWHEEL 5 6 CROSSWORD 4 8 81 3 27 8 4 6 7CROSSWORD 585the 917missing 223 83 N 2letter 5 9 2 3 1 R Find to make a word 7 9 E H 59 37 92 54 6 42 1 6 3 7 8 3 9 6 1 4 5 1 4 9 2 5 3 716 8465 9 2 37 4 87 3 6 9 681 5 4 5 2 6 GO 2 51 7reading 34WordWheel 46 6 32 5 73 1 8 4 6 9 5 WORD 41 7 27 35 1 28clockwise 6 9 5or8anticlockwise 3 7 7 5 1 4WordWheel 214 6 9 8 GO3 ANACROSS ANACROSS ROUND ANACROSS ANACRO 6 4 1 5 8 7 6 How many words of 4 letters E H 69 2 1 6 84 3or 7more4 can5 you make? There 4 96 112 81 96 26823 35 74 473 55 8 9 2 39552 4 73 15 16 17 2 83Q8 1 73 5 9 4 24L6 O at least one 9-letter How wordsword. of ASHY 4 letters BIB 3L 6 O 9many 4A 1 14 68 582657 3 6 9339 9 8 1 5174 8622 7isEach 43 15 7 5 9 546 6 2 68 18 5 letter may beyou used or more can make?

FAILThere FIB I ?

U I SOLUTION 180 only once and all words must 9 6 4 1 8 2 7 5 3 2 3 7 5 9 6 8 4 I ? is1at least one 9-letter word.

HEN BASE 4 16 8 2 7 2 5 karst6 kartcontain kensEach kept 3L22 53 77135 64954 69 819 18 418 6 3584 861 9 asker 73nark thekern centremay letter. letter beNo used AIR FEES 8 1 4 5 2 7 19 knap narks park parks words starting with a capital, 9 10 11 A C N CRYPTIC CROSSWORD WORDWHEEL only once and all words must 9 11 7 9R5 66 6 7 3 610 47 9 1 8 9 8 3 1 4 5 2 7 NOASHAN 4 8 1 3 2 8 4 6 7 5 9 2 3 1 peak peaks perk perks prank no plurals ending in s.

A C 8 5 3 9 2 8 3 6 4 9 5 2 7 1 5 1 2 4 3 8 9 7 6 2 48 4 2 3 E5 37H1 8 6 9 4 3 97 5 1 4WordWheel 18PRANKSTER rake contain the centre letter.

No IT SINGE raker rakes rank D I Good 32 2 6 9 5 6 words starting with aHI capital, 6 4 9 5 2 7 1 55 71MEDIUM 2 84 1 36 83 99 7 6 ranker rankest ranks sake saker HARD ANNUM 2 4 4 6 9 2 7 5 1 8 3 Very Good 41 D I plurals ending in s.

212 385 4 7 2 1 920 5sank sark 2 skat Excellent skateno skater skean HISS TUM 49+ 2 83 1CRYPTIC 6 3 9 4 63 18 81 97 64 6 92522 7 5 191 133 8 4368 82 37 737L468 O 3 9snake 6 snark 121 4sneak 5 spake 232 Good 51 94 49 6 38 74 66148 55WORDWHEEL 9skep MEDIUM HARD 7 89 5 7613CROSSWORD 4 8 1 3 2 7 5 9 2 3 1 spank spanker spark sparker speak ANACROSS Very Good 41 ANACROSS 6 Find the missing letter to make a word 9 2 3 7 6 8 5 9 6 4 1 7 5 725 9 6I 8 1 4stake?stank stark starker steak 8 28 7 35 9 3 6 1 42 3 5 3

Fill in the grids so every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1-9

L

181

L

How many words of 4 letters or more can you make? There is at least one 9-letter word.

Each letter may be used 181 only once and all words must contain the centre letter. No words starting with a capital, no plurals ending in s.

Good 32 Very Good 41 Excellent 49+

181

MEDIUM

HARD

Fill in the grids so every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1-9

1

2

3

4

5

6

Find the missing letter to make a word reading clockwise or anticlockwise

7

LL

8

9

10

11

MEDIUM

12

181

13

words 4 letters Insertmany the missing letter toof complete Find the How missing letter to make a an word eight-letter word you reading clockwiseThere or more can make? reading or clockwise anticlockwise Previous solution: anticlockwise. or

15

16

18

1

19

2

HARD

20

3

4

5

How many words of 4 letters or more can you make? There 8 is at least one 9-letter word.

Each letter may be used only once 4 and all15 5words must6 contain the centre letter. No 9 words starting with 10 a capital, 16 ending in17s. no plurals 4 5 6 Good 32 18 12Very Good 41 13 Excellent 49+

is at least one 9-letter word.

Each letter may be used only once and all words must contain the centre letter. No words starting with a capital, no plurals ending in s.

Good 32 Very Good 41 Excellent 49+

17

MEDIUM

181

HARD

181

14

ontains the numbers 1-9

SOLUTION 180 asker karst kart kens kept kern knap nark narks park parks peak peaks perk perks prank PRANKSTER rake raker rakes rank ranker rankest ranks sake saker sank sark skat skate skater skean skep snake snark sneak spake Insert the missing lette spank spanker spark sparker speak stake stank stark starker steak 194eight-letter word read 045 anticlockwise. Previous strake streak take taken taker takes tank tanker task teak trek treks

181

21

Solve the anagrams, then fit the words into the crossword grid.

SOLUTION 180 asker karst kart kens kept kern knap nark narks park parks peak peaks perk perks prank PRANKSTER rake raker rakes rank ranker rankest ranks sake saker sank sark skat skate skater skean skep snake snark sneak spake spank spanker spark sparker speak stake stank stark starker steak 194 045 strake streak take taken taker takes tank tanker task teak trek treks

Find the missing letter to make a word Across Down reading clockwise or anticlockwise 6 7 1. Shotgun sounds Russian (4-3) 1. A bit of a fight (5) 5. Six stay mostly for panorama (5) 2. Water source successful, Insert the missing letter to complete an 8. Rock fall for Mick’s collection according to plan (4,6,3) © THE PUZZLE COMPANY (7,6) 3. Chooks are for example, or viaeight-letter word reading clockwise or anticlockwise. Previous solution: Insert thegoes missing to complete an(9) west letter for animal foot soup!

9. Father SOLUTION 180 eight-letter word reading clockwise or (3) 4. Number of fruit to rue about (6) asker karst kart kens kept kern Excellent 49+ 194045 reading clockwise or 17 anticlockwise 710. Be real age, reformed, Previous solution: anticlockwise.

16 5. Tax on Across Down knap nark narks park parks and container (3)

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD Across: 1. Sawn-off, 5. Vista, 8. Rolling stones, 9. Paw, 10. Agreeable, 12. Sorrow, 13. Sit-ins, 15. Whetstone, 16. Dip, 18. Blood brothers, 20. Entry, 21. Dresser.

Down: 1. Scrap, 2. Well worked out, 3. Oviparous, 4. Figure, 5. Vat, 6. Sandblindness, 7. Abscess, 11. Epicentre, 12. Sewable, 14. Horrid, 17. Poser, 19. Day.

Solve the anagrams, then fit the 41 2 13214 5 CROSSWORD 73 1 8 6 9 3 7 5 61 9 4WordWheel 23 16 495 82 7strake streak take taken taker takes CRYPTIC WORDWHEEL ANACROSS 9 peak peaks perk perks prank 7 9 5 6 4 82 51 7 33 26 4 9 1 8 11ANACROSS 8became4easy6 9 missing 2Blends 3sands 1inRussian going7 (9)8 5 6.C andA makes old Shotgun sounds 1.

A rake bit of a rakes fightrank (5) words into the crossword grid. tanker task teak1. trek treks Find the lettertank to make a(4-3) word PRANKSTER raker Sadness, thus right into a row 12. half-sightedness (13) 6 1 8 9 2 3 5 4 7 9 2 1 6 8 3 7 4 5 Solve the anagrams, then the 8 3 6 4 9 5 2 7 1 5 1 25.

4Six3stay 8Sailor 9 and7Ces ranker rankest ranks fit sake saker 3 9 4 ASHY BIB clockwise or 7.6 around inside on (5) mostly for panorama 2. Water source successful, D9inflamed 1 2 32 5 273 1 8 6 9 3(6)57These 74are5 129reading 47WordWheel 23L 86Ianticlockwise sank sark skat skategrid. skater skean into the crossword often on7 ship recess (7) 48 6 stand-outs 2Rock 56cause 1O 8 3words 38 8 1 7 HARD 5 95 47 22 861 6 3 9 4 119 13.

9 skep snake snark sneak spake FAIL FIB 8. fall for Mick’s collection according to plan (4,6,3) news (3-3) 11. Erect pine could be in the © THE PUZZLE COMPANY spank spanker180 spark sparker speak SOLUTION 6 61 48 19 82 231 745 9542373 7 6 8 5 2 9the 27 1 869I 3 52?

ASHY BIB 75 869for3(7,6) 68 middle 17 4of4 weight honing?

15. Appetising a5 big shake up (9) WORDWHEEL stake stank stark starkerare steak 3.

Chooks for example, via 194 9 3 1 4 14 asker karst take karttaken kenstaker kept kern HENorBASE 7 Find 5 the 919 2 3 1 ANACROSS (9) 12. Bales we broke open can be L O ANACROSS strake streak takes missing letter to make a word FIB knap nark narks parks goes for animal foot 9.2Father soup!

(9)park 38clockwise 7 5 915 4 2 620 3 Fill6 9FAIL tank tanker task teak trek treks swim to8 upwest AIR FEES anticlockwise 1 reading 4WordWheel 22 6 89 or81 Solve the anagrams, thenprank fit the the numbers 1-9 6 116.

9Go165for821a(3)4 317 make 1SUDOKU 4C75 stitched 7(7) in the grids so every row, column and box contains peaks perk3x3 perks impression 14.2 Distasteful.

Hot or liberated (6) peak 9 5 7 3 610 4 9 1 8 11 A SOLUTION 180 WOR (3) 4.

Number of fruit about (6) words into the crossword grid. to rue I ?

HEN BASE NOASHAN siblings?

Bothers old6 17.

18. Vampire Mystery model (5) PRANKSTER rake raker rakes rank 6 8 38 5 97L364 O 4 1 8 2 7 5 3 2 3 7 5 9 8 1 4 asker karst kart kens kept kern 6 4 9 5 2 7 1Across 5 Rob 1 surprisingly 2 4Down 8 Be9real 6revolution (5,8)3 10.

19.7 Earthly (3) age, reformed, and ranker 5.

Tax on container (3)SINGE ASHY BIB rankest ranks sake saker IT knap nark narks park parks I AIR 71 to94Deasy 5 going 8 sands 9 2 FEES 8 2 723 56 97 20. From two quarters attempt 19 sank sark skat skate skater 21 3 6 4 99 8 5 (9) A 6.FIB Blends inskean and makes old FAIL peak peaks perk perks prank A7 bitbecame of5a fight (5) access (5)21. 3 39 91180 41.8Shotgun 4 6gain 6(4-3) 1 8 2 3 7NOASHAN 9 8 71 2 11 sounds Russian I12 ? 1 10618SOLUTION C skep snake snark sneak spake HI ANNUM 5 9 65 4 8 asker karst kart kept kern furniture assistant (7) successful, 21. Surgeon’s 13 kens PRANKSTER rake raker rakes rank HEN BASE Sadness, thus right into a row 12. half-sightedness (13) 5.

Six stay mostly for panorama (5) 2.

Water source 35reading 5sake 6 8 letter to complete 1 spanker spark sparker speak nark narks parks 85 432 976 A 1Rock 58 13 29according 46Insert 3the8missing 9 72 clockwise 6 anor 8 spank HISS rankest ranks saker TUM 1 24Down 39 7520knap 62 87perk58.park 4word(4,6,3) 3 1 4C eight-letter fall for Mick’s7 collection peak peaks perks prank AIRranker FEES stake stank stark starker (6)1to plan 7. Sailor and Cessteak around inside on D I SINGE IT 194045 anticlockwise.

14 sank sark skat skate skater skean PRANKSTER rake raker rakes21 rank ANACROSS (7,6) 3.

Chooks are for example, or via ANACROSS strake streak take taken takes 67 These 3 5 on 5 9 snark 2 taker 6 (7) 4 3 Russian 859 77 62 81. A1bit 6 3rankest 9 4 sake saker 4 6 9 soup!

2 (9) 5 1are8often3HI NOASHAN ranker stand-outs 13. shipsnake cause inflamed recess sounds (4-3) of a fight (5)ranks skep tank tanker task teak treksneak treks spake ANNUM 9. Father 12 D I 13 sank sark skat skate skater goes skeanwest for animal foot Insert the missing letter to complete an Solve SINGE Across 151 8 3 16 Down 17 theIT anagrams, then fit the spank spanker spark sparker speak 2 7 51 mostly for panorama (5) 2.

Water source successful, the news (3-3) 11.

Erect pine could be in the skep snake snark sneak spake (3) Number of8 toword rue5 about (6) 7reading 9 TUM 2 stake 7 9 4 9 2according 3 1.7Shotgun 6 sounds 8(4,6,3) 5 sparker 6eight-letter 1fruit 4 2HISS clockwise or Russian (4-3)speak 1. A bit of7 a fight8 (5) 3 4. 9 stark starker steak 194 spank spanker spark words intostank the crossword grid.

HI ANNUM or Mick’s collection to plan L I N S H U H M A A N B A B Y I S H

A I G A N I S T E O S

ANACROSS

WORDWHEEL DIABOLIC

F F R E E E U S I N A

2

1 8 5 9 4 7 6 3 2 3 9 4 6 1 2 7 8 5 9 2 3 7 6 4 8 5 1 5 4 8 2 9 1 3 7 6 6 5 1 4 7 8 2 9 3 4 7 2 5 3 9 1 6 8 8 3 9 1 2 6 5 4 7

HARD

7 1 6 8 5 3 4 2 9

4 8 1 2 3 9 2 6 4 9 5 1 6 93 7

67

55 38

9 5 6 22 3 5 1 8 9 8 1 7 6 4 1 5 7 3 3 6 4 7 2 98 4 9 32 7 49 6 32 9 6 2 85 54 1

SUDOKU 8 MEDIUM 5

3 6 4 2 8 5

7 9 5 3 6 8 7

2 6 7 3 8 5 9 1 4

7 5 9 1 2 87 3 9 6 8

3 8 1 14 5

7 6

1 1 3 6 8 5 9 2 6 8 1 3 2 5 8 6 9 9 5 74 7 4 62 6 4

1 8 3 5 9 2

4

Sandblindness, 7. Abscess, 11. Epicentre, 12. Sewable, 14. Horrid, 17. Poser, 19. Day.

1 8 3 5 9 2

1

Down: 1. Scrap, 2. Well12.worked 3. Oviparous, Figure, 5. Vat, 6. blindness, 7. Abscess, 11. Epicentre, Sewable, out, 14. Horrid, 17. Poser, 19.4.

Day. I S WORDWHEEL S DIABOLIC H O

B A B Y I S H

A I G A N I S T E O S

ANACROSS

7 1 6 8 5 3 4 2 9

Call us:

32 8 1 7 5 5 9 9 6 4 1 8 2 7 5 3 6 3 2 5 7 3 6 4 9 1 8

7 9 5 6 4 8

B A B Y I S H

8 2 9 3 9 1 6 8 6 5 4 7

I S T H M U S E AWORDWHEEL I S H O S A NDIABOLIC N A

5 4 8 2 9 1 3 7 6

7 1 6 8 5 3 4 2 9 4 7 2 5 3 9 1 6 8

6 5 1 4 7 8 2 9 3

Down 1. A bit of a fight (5) 2. Water source successful, according to plan (4,6,3) 3. Chooks are for example, or via soup! (9) 4. Number of fruit to rue about (6) 5. Tax on container (3) 6. Blends sands in and makes old half-sightedness (13) 7. Sailor and Ces around inside on ship cause inflamed recess (7) 11. Erect pine could be in the

Solve th words in

ASHY FAIL HEN AIR F NOAS SING HI AN HISS

WORDWHEEL DIABOLIC

17

21

Across 1. Shotgun sounds Russian (4-3) 5. Six stay mostly for panorama (5) 8. Rock fall for Mick’s collection (7,6) 9. Father goes west for animal foot (3) 10. Be real age, reformed, and became easy going (9) 12. Sadness, thus right into a row (6) 13. These are often stand-outs on the news (3-3)

Previous solution:

F R E E S I A

16

9 9 2 23 11 6 8 3 7 4 2 1 6 59 48 8 2 7 3 6 2 3 7 5 9 6 8 1 3 7 4 5 6 9 8 3 1 4 5 2 7 3 6 9 5 1 2 4 3 8 9 7 6 4 8 61 94 2 7 5 1 8 4 7 5 82 37 9 6 1 4 5 8 9 7 6 5 ANACROSS 1 8 3 B 5A 2 I L I F 1 4 G N ANACROSS A B A I L I BF AF N S H E U G NY R I A B A N S H I E SE T H M U A I U S EE Y H O S A N N

5 9 4 7 6 3 2

anticlockwise.

8 3 9 1 2 6 5 4 7

20

19

9 2 6 WORDWHEEL4 2 3 5 7 1 DIABOLIC 6 1 8 9 2 3

4

3 4 8

A I G A N I S T E O S

ANACROSS

2 73 7 6 8 3 58 2 4 5 8 9 6 5 1 1 4 1 3 7 6

3 4 2 9

9 2 1 6 8 3 7 4 5

SUDOKU

3 7 5 1 4 2 6 9 8

9 2 1 68 8 3 7 4 5 4 8MEDIUM 2 7 3 6 9 L 12I 53 F 5 7 5F 79 96 85 16 44 6N9 8 3 R 91 4253 25 767 5 1 2 4 43 28 9 7 6 67 15 18 89 32 9 2E S 4H6 E 7 8 3 93 26 81 41 57 255 U E 9 6 4 1 8 ANACROSS 6 3 2L 5I 7F 3 F6 H BM AUI S 53 6 4 9 8 A A G 54I 7N 2 98R1 B A N S H E E 1 4 9 32 9 3 A YN NI A U E

WORDWHEEL 1 5 4 8 2 773 69 9 5 DIABOLIC2 3 7 5 9 6 8 1 4

T HARD H M U S E 8 4A 6 7 I 5 9 2 3 1 S 3A 7N 5N 1 A4 2 6 9 8

3 8 1 14 5 7 5 9 1 2 87 3 9 6 8

8 1 3 9 2 4 5 6 7

24

6

5

18

SUDOKU 8 MEDIUM 5

3 6 4 2 8 5

7 9 5 3 6 8 7

WORDWHEEL

6 5 1 4 7 8 2 9 3 4 7 2 5 3 9 1 6 8 8 3 9 1 2 6 5 4 7

MEDIUM 6 8 6 58 5 7 99 2 5 6 4 8 1 3 2 5 49 226 3 5 6 7 81 8 6 9 7 9 5 6 4 8 6 1 13 82 9 2 3 5 74 7 9 5 49 22 3 5 6 7 1 3 82 86 19 7 5 5 9 4 62 6 4 6 1 8 9 2 3 9 5 764 47 1 8 92 7 5 3 6 3 32 8 1 7 5 5 9 2 4 652 76 3 6 44 9 1 8 5 8 7 6 9 6 4 1 8 2 8 6 3 74 375 623 948 91 56 23 97 141 2 5 7 3 6 4 5 9 1 8 5 8 7 6 1 4 9 2 3 7 6 8 5 8 3 6 4 9 5 2 7 13 9 2 54 7 2 98 1 6 HARD 3 9 14 1 4 9 32 9 3 7 8 6 48 65 7 5 29 2 3 1 3 7 5 1 4 2 6 9 8 HARD

7 9 5 DIABOLIC 3 1 8 61 8 3 5 9 2 3 85 7 9 2 5 3 4 1 1 4 61 4 2 81 3 SUDOKU 6 8 5 8 3 9 2

L I N S H U H M A A N B A B Y I S H

A I G A N I S T E O S

ANACROSS

9 2 3 7 6 4 8 5 1 5 4 8 2 9 1 3 7 6

7 1 6 8 5 3 4 2 9 6 5 1 4 7 8 2 9 3 4 7 2 5 3 9 1 6 8 8 3 9 1 2 6 5 4 7

HARD

HARD

9 5 6 22 3 5 1 8 9 8 1 7 6 4 1 5 7 3 3 6 4 7 2 98 4 9 32 7 49 6 32 9 6 2 85 54 1

SUDOKU 8 MEDIUM 5

5

67

1 4

3 6 4 2 8

1 8 3 5 9 2

7 9 5 3 6 8 7

F F R E E E U S I N A

2

1 8 5 9 4 7 6 3 2 2 6 7 3 8 5 9 1 4

3 9 4 6 1 2 7 8 5

7 6

3 8 1 14 5 7 5 9 1 2 87 3 9 6 8

4 8 1 2 3 55 9 38 2 6 4 9 5 1 6 93 7

67

9 5 6 22 3 5 1 8 9 8 1 7 6 4 1 5 7 3 3 6 4 7 2 98 4 9 32

15

ANACROSS ANACROSS

SOLUTIO asker kar knap nar peak pea PRANKS ranker ra sank sark skep sna spank sp stake sta strake str tank tank

© THE PUZZLE COMPANY

0800 250 600

99

n lair lane lean learn liar lien lieu line linear liner lira ural quail quale rail rale real renal rhinal rial riel rile nal

WORD GO ROUND alien aril earl elan equal hail hale haler HARLEQUIN haul hauler haulier heal hernial hilar hula hurl inhale inhaler lain lair lane lean learn liar lien lieu line linear liner lira lire lunar lune lure nail nailer neural quail quale rail rale real renal rhinal rial riel rile rule ulna ulnae ulnar unreal urinal 7 49 6 32 9 6 2 85 54 1

14

How m or more is at lea Each le only on contain words s no plura Good 3 Very G Excelle

. Rolling stones, 9. Paw, 10. Agreeable, 12. Sorrow, Dip, 18. Blood brothers, 20. Entry, 21. Dresser. d out, 3. Oviparous, 4. Figure, 5. Vat, 6. Sandentre, 12. Sewable, 14. Horrid, 17. Poser, 19. Day.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD Across: 1. Sawn-off, 5. Vista, 8. Rolling stones, 9. Paw, 10. Agreeable, 12. Sorrow, 13. Sit-ins, 15. Whetstone, 16. Dip, 18. Blood brothers, 20. Entry, 21. Dresser.

Down: 1. Scrap, 2. Well worked out, 3. Oviparous, 4. Figure, 5. Vat, 6. Sandblindness, 7. Abscess, 11. Epicentre, 12. Sewable, 14. Horrid, 17. Poser, 19. Day.

1 3 6 8 5 9 2 6 8 1 3 2 5 8 6 9 9 5 74 7 4 62 6 4

WORD GO ROUND alien aril earl elan equal hail hale haler HARLEQUIN haul hauler haulier heal hernial hilar hula hurl inhale inhaler lain lair lane lean learn liar lien lieu line linear liner lira lire lunar lune lure nail nailer neural quail quale rail rale real renal rhinal rial riel rile rule ulnaWORD ulnaeGO ulnar unreal urinal ROUND alien aril earl elan equal hail hale haler HARLEQUIN haul hauler haulier heal hernial hula hurl inhale inhaler lain lair lane lean learn liar lien lieu line linear liner lira CRYPTIChilar CROSSWORD lunar lune 5. lure nail nailer neuralstones, quail quale rail 10. rale Agreeable, real renal rhinal rial riel rile Across: lire 1. Sawn-off, Vista, 8. Rolling 9. Paw, 12. Sorrow, rule15. ulnaWhetstone, ulnae ulnar16. unreal 13. Sit-ins, Dip,urinal 18. Blood brothers, 20. Entry, 21. Dresser.

Down: 1. Scrap, 2. Well worked out, 3. Oviparous, 4. Figure, 5. Vat, 6. SandCRYPTIC CROSSWORD blindness, 7. Abscess, 11. Epicentre, 12. Sewable, 14. Horrid, 17. Poser, 19. Day. Across: 1. Sawn-off, 5. Vista, 8. Rolling stones, 9. Paw, 10. Agreeable, 12. Sorrow, 13. Sit-ins, 15. Whetstone, 16. Dip, 18. Blood brothers, 20. Entry, 21. Dresser.

Down: 1. Scrap, 2. Well worked out, 3. Oviparous, 4. Figure, 5. Vat, 6. Sandblindness, 7. Abscess, 11. Epicentre, 12. Sewable, 14. Horrid, 17. Poser, 19. Day.

1 3 6 8 5 9 2 6 8 1 3 2 5 89 65 9 5 743 7 198 4 62 6 345

WORD GO ROUND alien aril earl elan equal hail hale haler HARLEQUIN haul hauler haulier heal hernial

6 4 2 8

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WORD GO ROUND hilar hula hurl inhale inhaler lain lair lane lean learn liar lien lieu line linear liner lira alien aril earl elan equal hail hale haler HARLEQUIN haul hauler haulier heal hernial lire nail nailer neural quail railliner rale hilar hula hurllunar inhalelune inhalerlure lain lair lane lean learn liar lien lieuquale line linear lirareal renal rhinal rial riel rile ulnae urinal lire lunarrule luneulna lure nail nailerulnar neural unreal quail quale rail rale real renal rhinal rial riel rile

impression (3) 14.

Distasteful. or liberated the news (3-3) 11.

Erect pineHot could be in the(6) siblings? old 18. Vampire 17.

Mystery (5) up (9) Appetising weightBothers for honing?

15. middle of model a big shake Rob 19.

Earthly (9) surprisingly (5,8) 12.

Balesrevolution we broke(3) open can be quarters attempt to 20.

Go fortwo a swim to make 16. From stitched up (7) gain access (3) (5) impression 14. Distasteful. Hot or liberated (6) furnitureBothers assistantold (7) 17. Mystery model (5) 21.

Vampire siblings?

18. Surgeon’s Rob surprisingly (5,8) 19. Earthly revolution (3) 20. From two quarters attempt to gain access (5) 21. Surgeon’s furniture assistant (7)

SUDOKU 8 MEDIUM 5

L I F F 5 N R S H E E6 U E2 H SUDOKU M U S 8 A I MEDIUM A N N A5

7

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3 6 8 5 9 2 6 8 1 3 2 5 8 6 9 9 5 74 7 4 62 6 4

1

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rule ulna ulnae ulnar unreal urinal WORD GO ROUND alien aril earl elan equal hail hale haler HARLEQUIN haul hauler haulier heal hernial CRYPTIC CROSSWORD CROSSWORD hilar hula hurl inhale inhaler lain lair laneCRYPTIC lean learn liar lien lieu line linear liner lira Across:Across: 1. Sawn-off, Vista, 8. Rolling stones,8.

9. Paw, 10. Agreeable, 1. 5.Sawn-off, 5.

Rolling stones, 12.

9. Sorrow, Paw, 10. Agreeable, 12. Sorrow, lire lunar lune lure nail nailer neural quail13. quale rail raleWhetstone, real renal rhinal rialVista, riel rile Sit-ins, Dip, 18. Blood brothers, 20. Entry, 21.brothers, Dresser. 20. Entry, 21. Dresser.

13. 15.

Sit-ins, 15. 16.

Whetstone, 16.

Dip, 18.

Blood rule ulna ulnae ulnar unreal urinal Down: 1. Scrap, 2. Well worked out, 3. Oviparous, 4. Figure, 5. Vat, 6. Sand-

© THE PUZZLE COMPANY

7 6

045

strake streak take taken taker takes

5

© THE PUZZLE COMPANY

1 3 6 8 5 9 2 6 8 1 3 2 5 8 6 9 9 5 74 7 4 62 6 4

045

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Previous solution:

8

middle of a big shake up (9)

HISS TUM 2task 5trekscan be6 4 ASHY BIB 12.

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19 (9) Go for a swim to make 16. stitched up (7) FAIL FIB for animal foot 9. Father wordsgoes into west the(6) crossword grid. soup! (9) 5 3 4 1 6 3 words into the crossword grid.

7. Sailor and Ces around inside on 4. Number of fruit to rue about (6) 4. Number of fruit to rue about impression 14.BASE Distasteful. Hot or liberated (6) (3) ASHY BIB (6) HEN 13. These are often stand-outs on ship cause inflamed (3) recess (7) age, reformed, and 5. Tax 10. on Be container (3) real age, reformed, and 5. Tax on container (3) ASHY Vampire siblings?

Bothers old 18.

17. Mystery model (5) 6 4 1 5BIB 8 7 6 the news (3-3) 6. Blends sands in and makes 11. Erect pine could be in the FAIL FIB became easy going (9) old AIRFAIL FEESFIB y going (9)20 6. Blends sands in and makes old 18 1912. Sadness, 21 BASE for honing? middleRob of a big shake up (9) surprisingly (5,8) 19. Earthly revolution (3) thus 15. rightAppetising into a row weight half-sightedness (13) HEN s, thus right into a row half-sightedness (13)(9) 2openquarters 8can be attempt 3 toNOASHAN 4 9 1 Bales broketwo (6) 7. Sailor and Ces around 12. inside on From 20.we AIR FEES HEN BASE 7. Sailor around on ship TheseCes are often stand-outs 13.and cause inflamed recess (7) Goinside for aonswim to make 16. stitched up (7) Across gain access (5) the NOASHAN news (3-3) Down the Distasteful.

6 SINGE 8 AIR 5 IT 2 re often stand-outs on ship cause inflamed recess (7)(3) 11. Erect pine could be in14. impression Hot or liberated (6) FEES 3 9 Shotgun sounds Russian (4-3) 1. 20 1.18.

A bit of a fight (5) 21 weight Appetising for honing?

15.SINGE middleBothers of a big shake (9) Mystery (7) MEDIUM 21. Surgeon’s IT ANNUM Vampire siblings? old up 17. model (5) furniture assistantHI HARD 3) 11. Erect pine could be in the (9) 12. Bales we broke open can be 5. Six stay mostly for panorama (5) 2.Rob Water source successful, NOASHAN ANNUM 19. Earthly revolution (3) ng weight8.for honing? middle ofHI a for big upsurprisingly (9) to plan(5,8) Go a shake swim to make 16. stitched up (7) HISS TUM Rock fall for Mick’s collection according (4,6,3) CRYPTIC CROSSWORD WORDWHEEL attemptHot to or liberated 20. From two quarters © THE(6) PUZZLE HISS TUM impression (3) Distasteful.

7 9COMPANY 5 6 4 8 1 3 2 8 4 5 the 9 missing 2 3letter1to make a word SINGE IT 6 7 Find Across Down 12. Bales we broke canare befor14.

(7,6) 3.open Chooks example, or via(5) gain access Bothers old(5) 18. Vampire siblings?

17.

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9. Father goes west for animal (9) HI6 ANNUM Rob surprisingly (5,8) 19. Earthly revolution furniture assistant (7)(3) 21. Surgeon’s 5.

(5)Hot 2.

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Bothers 17. Mystery Be real age, reformed, and model 10.

5.according Tax on container © THE PUZZLE COMPANY 21. Surgeon’s furniture assistant (7) d Chooks are in forand example, 38 8 1 7 5 9 4 2 6 1 5 4 8 2 7 3L6 O 9 ngly (5,8)(7,6) (3) became easy going19.

(9) Earthly revolution 6.3.

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(3) Number of fruit to rue about (5) (6) 7.4.

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5. Tax on inflamed containerrecess (3) (7) These often stand-outs 13.assistant ship cause n’s furniture (7) became 6. Erect Blends sands and makes old 8 3 6 4 9 5 2 7 1 5 1 2 4 3 8 9 7 6 the newseasy (3-3) going (9) 11. pine couldinbe in the D I Sadness, thus right a row middle 12. half-sightedness (13) weight for into honing?

15. Appetising of a big shake up (9) 5 7 2 8 1 6 3 9 4 4 6 9 2 7 5 1 8 3 6) 12 13 (9) 12.

Bales we broke open can be (6) 7. Sailor and Ces around inside on letter to complete an 1 4 9 2 3 7 6 8 5 7 8 3 9 6Insert 1the missing 4word5reading 2 clockwise or eight-letter for aare swim to make 16. Go up (7)inflamed recess (7) These often stand-outs on stitched 13. ship cause anticlockwise.

U R

1. Sawn-off, 5. Vista, 8. Rolling stones, 9. Paw, 10. Agreeable, 12. Sorrow, r haulierAcross: heal hernial 13. Sit-ins, u line linear liner 15. liraWhetstone, 16. Dip, 18. Blood brothers, 20. Entry, 21. Dresser.

Down: 1. Scrap, 2. Well worked out, 3. Oviparous, 4. Figure, 5. Vat, 6. Sandnal rhinal rial riel7.rile blindness, Abscess, 11. Epicentre, 12. Sewable, 14. Horrid, 17. Poser, 19. Day.

solution: Appetising weight for honing?

5. Tax 15. onanticlockwise. container (3) Previous

10. Be real age, reformed, and

greeable, 12. Sorrow, try, 21. Dresser.

5. Vat, 6. Sand, 17. Poser, 19.

ANACROSS

© THE PUZZLEsuccessful, COMPANY stake stank stark steak(5) 5. Six stay mostly forstarker panorama source ANACROSS 194 2. Water ANACROSS ANACROSS 3. Chooks strake streak take taken taker takes are for example, or via became easy going (9) to plan (4,6,3) 6. Blends 8. Rock fall for Mick’s collection according (9) sands in and makes old

14

045

© THE PUZZLE COMPANY

Previous solution:

letter to complete an 9 6Insert 1the missing 4word5reading 2 clockwise or eight-letter

WORD GO ROUND Day. alien aril earl elan equal hail hale haler HARLEQUIN haul hauler haulier heal hernial hilar hula hurl inhale inhaler lain lair lane lean learn liar lien lieu line linear liner lira lire lunar lune lure nail nailer neural quail quale rail rale real renal rhinal rial riel rile rule ulna ulnae ulnar unreal urinal

Insert the missing letter to complete an eight-letter word reading clockwise or anticlockwise. Previous solution:

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