During the summer holidays, the population in the Far North can easily quadruple as visitors and part-time residents flock to beaches, baches and B&Bs with recreation and relaxation in mind. It’s also a popular time for events and activities that add to the holiday atmosphere. To read this and other articles requires purchase of the relevant physical or digital magazine. Click here to go to our order page. Thank you ..read more

It has been a brilliant start to the 2024 summer holidays weatherwise, no complaints here, even though the South Wairarapa is in a drought. The hills are brown with long grass waving in the northerly winds; by comparison the vineyards are vibrant green and the small hanging grapes are looking fantastic. The nets are starting to go on and I expect to hear bird scaring cannons any day now. To read this and other articles requires purchase of the relevant physical or digital magazine. Click here to go to our order page. Thank you.   ..read more

Following what for many of us is the hectic pre-Christmas rush, the festive season is typically seen as a time for relaxation and indulgence while savouring moments with family. For most it commences with the excitement of unwrapping gifts beneath the tree before gathering around the table to relish a festive feast, and perhaps enjoying a tranquil afternoon nap to recover from the abundance of both food and excitement. Alternatively, for those brimming with energy, the festivities may include a spirited game of backyard cricket or simply the thrill of trying out new toys. While our family has ..read more

Clear blue skies and acres of lush pasture stretching away to a mountain backdrop. Sounds ideal, right? But a look at the roadside where a recent torrential rainstorm has pushed the tarseal right off the road and up against nearby fences tells a different story. It’s hard to believe that there was once a community here. All that was there at the time of our visit in 2020 was an old railway shed and a memorial area. To read this and other articles requires purchase of the relevant physical or digital magazine. Click here to go to our order page. Thank you.   ..read more

All Kiwi travellers in every RV should by rights have boats onboard with them. A small rubber dinghy, a pair of kayaks, perhaps. It stands to reason, for New Zealand is endowed with as many fine waterways to explore as scenic roads in mountains and forests. Exploring takes on new dimensions with adventures afloat. And no better place to exemplify this than the upper reaches of the massive Kaipara Harbour on the west coast of Te Ika a Māui, our North Island. To read this and other articles requires purchase of the relevant physical or digital magazine. Click here to go to our order page. Than ..read more

Autumn has arrived with March coming around all too fast, and planning for the Covi SuperShow over 15–17 March is underway by much of the RV Industry. Nick Blair from Kaimai RV is pleased to have secured the distributorship for the Winnebago American-built caravans, or travel trailers as they’re known in the USA, and he will have examples on display at the show. In total 12 different floor plans over 3 models (Minnie, Voyage, Access) will be available in New Zealand. Some readers will recognise Nick as he and his father John formerly owned BOP RV and were the New Zealand distributors for ..read more

January 2024 saw Walkabout Sales – Ci Motorhomes in Auckland celebrating 25 years in business, so we stopped in to congratulate owners Shane and Noelene Smale on this milestone and to catch up on their latest news. Some changes have taken place in the business since 2020. Pre-Covid time Walkabout Motorhome Rentals was well-established and had thrived for 20 years in the New Zealand RV rental sphere. During Covid’s time of uncertainty, all the rental stock was snapped up by clients and Shane and Noelene made the permanent deCision to exit the rental market and concentrate solely on the oth ..read more

Perched on the hills above Plimmerton in Wellington is motorhome and caravan distributor RV Direct NZ Ltd. The business was originally based in Hamilton until the current owners Craig and Penny Welsh bought the business in 2019. The couple had been on a motorhome holiday through Europe and loved the experience so much that they came home and took their lives in a new direction when they found this established RV business for sale. Being based in Wellington on a decent semi-rural property and knowing the local Wellington RV sales market was limited, moving the business south was a no-brainer f ..read more

We wanted to have a Christmas adventure in Central Otago, away from the madding crowds. Which is only slightly different to maddening crowds. As usual, there was no real plan except it would involve Central Otago and there’d have to be a bit of to-ing and fro-ing as we wanted to use both the campervan and the four-wheel-drive; dependent on the destination. Central Otago is, without doubt, my favourite region in New Zealand – possibly the entire world. When I arrived in Dunedin from Auckland as a Dickette, just nine years of age, I was mystified by most of my schoolmates talking about holidays ..read more

While lots of visitors were looking for multi-berth motorhomes with lots of living space, others were looking for something small and compact to meet their needs. I found fellow exhibitors Belinda and Jean from Gallivanting Oz tucked up in the living space of the Duet Tourer from Tranztec RV campervan manufacturers, a company based near Thames. We caught up briefly, then I sat in the passenger cab seat, swivelled around to the back and shamelessly listened in on their appraisal of the van. Jean had obviously had more than one look as she opened overhead cupboards to show Belinda, pointing out ..read more