South Island: Alps vista from highway sofa By Mark Meredith Cruising the scenic South Island in a super flash motorhome requires more than a steady hand on the wheel, writes Mark Meredith.
The modern, sleek lines of the Wilderness motorhome, clearly enjoyed by Alex Meredith. Photo / Mark Meredith
The most important thing you can possibly do when taking a motorhome holiday is to concentrate. I'm not just talking about when you're behind the wheel. You will concentrate, at least to begin with. How could you not pay attention when you are so much bulkier than most of the traffic around you and when you park it? No, my moment of madness came after I was completely at ease with the beautiful vehicle I was piloting through New Zealand's heartstopping South Island scenery. We picked up our Wilderness motorhome on a miserably cold, rainy Sunday morning in July in Christchurch, and were given a thorough briefing on how the incredibly flash Escape4 worked. There was a lot to remember, a lot to concentrate on: how the ceiling came down behind the driver's cab to make a double bed; how the waste system worked, where the grey water went; how the efficient heating system and gas hob operated; how to use the TV and audio controls. We were given a tour of the exterior: how to hook up electrical power, dispose of toilet contents stored in a large, removable "cassette", connect and swap over gas bottles, fill up with water and put in petrol. Commonsense stuff, really. We spent our first night near Arthurs Pass in an almost deserted campsite. The biggest advantage of a winter motorhome holiday, apart from the significant drop in rates, is the almost empty campsites. You can take your pick of the best powered spots.