Innholdsfortegnelse for No 60 i RV Travel Lifestyle

Recent weeks have been busy, but fortunately the weather has been mainly lovely in Martinborough, with crispy cold nights followed by sunny skies and almost warm temperatures. We’ve travelled around the country in the last couple of weeks, with a quick business trip to Dunedin - it was such a long way to go, we stayed over at Larnach Castle’s Lodge for a couple of nights. The Otago farmers’ market in Dunedin on Saturday morning is great for a visit, and we decided to take the Taieri Gorge train journey in the afternoon. It was a beautiful sunny day for the four-hour return trip, perfect for those just wanting to relax, maybe have a wine or two and enjoy friendly banter with other travellers, or just enjoy the views and…

 I couldn’t help smiling when I boarded this Ci Magis 66P, as it’s set out almost exactly to my own preferences in a motorhome. There’s a lot of storage for my favourite travel toys, the layout lets me leave the bedroom in disarray if I want to make an early start without later blighting my morning coffee view, and it’s light, bright and airy despite the central dividing bathroom, thanks to clever mirror placing, a skylight and the open headroom where many homes have a Luton. Shane Smale says Walkabout Motorhome Sales is the only Ci motorhome importer in New Zealand. The Italian brand has been in the business for 35 years and Shane says its strength is that it builds homes to cover extremes of both heat and cold.…

We’d heard about the great surf and left hand breaks at Raglan, so as we drove into the town we were expecting to find a community on the outskirts of a surf beach. Instead, we found a village wrapped around an estuary that was so calm and so quiet at the time of our visit, that a lone kayaker was using that means of transport to get to work. Dropping by the visitor information complex, we found that it incorporated a small and interesting museum. Displays included an exhibition of several surf-related objects, including boards big and small, and a bright cotton bikini – the latter rather substantial by today’s standards. Did we really wear those? Did we wish we all could be California girls? Yes we did, and yes…

To say it was blowing a gale would be an understatement. The ice-cold southerly was blowing so hard that I’d already been knocked off my feet once, and the idea of lying down and hugging a boulder was getting more appealing by the second. As yet another gust threatened my tenuous balance, I contemplated the wisdom in attempting to traverse St Mary’s Range to a nameless rocky outcrop. Only 600 vertical metres below me was a cosy lodge with a roaring fire and unlimited cups of tea – I knew where I’d rather be at that very moment and it wasn’t on a windy ridge-top. My musings on the proximity of roaring fireplaces were interrupted by my three companions suddenly sitting down on the lee side of the ridge. Fantastic,…

Mum told me,“It’s time for your column Caspie,” but what do you say when you’re not very happy? Last issue I thought I was all done with those vet people, my back leg was cut open and pieces put in, then put back together again. But, I haven’t been allowed to go for big runs, or even long walkies for so long now, it must be a year in my time I reckon. I still can’t walk or run properly on all my legs, that back one still gives me gyp. I’m getting good at three-legged running, but Mum and Dad say I’m not to get used to that. So it was back to the vets, and they stuck a needle in me - don’t know what happened then, as…

NZ AUDIO MANUFACTURER SIGNS PARTNERSHIP WITH AIRSTREAM  Auckland-based lifestyle entertainment manufacturer, Fusion Entertainment Ltd, has entered into an agreement with the iconic American RV manufacturer, Airstream, to supply one of its specifically designed audio/visual systems for use in a range of Airstream RVs in the USA. The unit is the Fusion RV-IN801 infotainment system, an all-in-one audio/visual system developed especially for use in RVs and by open road and camping enthusiasts. It will be offered in all Airstream Class B RVs, designated Interstate Grand Tour, Lounge and Autobahn coaches by the Americans. Fusion say s its RV-IN801 of fers“infotainment functionality” while ensuring that the navigation system, with its customised RV routing, route warnings, RV park and services directories, elevation profiles and hands-free features, will enable US-owners to sit back and…

 Spring is here, and aside from blossoms, daffodils, lambs and allergies, the Camper Care NZ Motorhome and Caravan show is on in September. We’re heading up in the RocknRobyn, so if you’re coming to the Mystery Creek event, you’ll be able to check out our ToughGuard finish for yourselves, and see what you think. The Rock and I enjoy the motorhome shows - it’s always great catching up with regular readers and subscribers, as well as checking out all the latest products and who has new makes and models in. There’s one common question we get asked on every show stand: “How do we know what we should get?” I know from our surveys and from subscriber information, that about 42 per cent of you reading this magazine don’t own…

 I wanted to look over the Jayco Silverline Outback caravan that was in the yard for a few days, before it headed north to Hamilton for the upcoming motorhome show. Graham and Cheryl Hood have been in business longer than Jayco has been manufacturing caravans, the couple originally setting up selling caravans in Wellington back in 1968. Today, the family business is the agent for Australian Jayco caravans, pop-tops and campers, as well as being the Wellington authorised RV SuperCentre dealer, giving the business a great range of new and second-hand RV products, caravans and motorhomes. I didn’t get to meet Graham or Cheryl, but daughter Dianna was working, and associate Paul was on hand to take the vehicle to the beach for photographs. A quick look around the yard…

An historic moment for Airstreams in New Zealand -possibly the first-ever Airstream Rally in the country. Organiser Joseph Ku, with his wife Ying, mother Rona, son Jaedon and a family friend pack up the Airstream and head south for the inaugural meeting of the Airstreams. We set up New Zealand’s Airstream Club in 2013, shortly after we fulfilled our dream of securing our own Airstream – a 20ft 2010 Flying Cloud. We love Airstream for its design and history, and the fact that it is unique and practical - no other caravan is built like it. About 60 to 70 per cent of all Airstream caravans built are still on the road today, and fully restored vintage Airstreams can potentially cost more than a new one, so they hold their…

One of the best things about Hauraki Village is the people who are buying units there. They are all vibrant people and, as one said to me, they are not there “waiting for God”. It is a lifestyle village designed around the needs of active folk with RVs. Residents just need to be aged over 55. Having decided on building a retirement village in Paeroa I reflected on what my wife and I would want if we were to live there. We are of retirement age and own a caravan and recently became members of the Motor Caravan Association. I figured that, if we could park our caravan next to our unit with a power supply, we would have an extra room/bedroom and a very convenient departure routine. We built…

 It’s now easier to find an electric bike that works for you, thanks to electrify.nz, a company that imports and sells high quality electric bikes and other technology from top German and American brands. “We found there were a huge number of options out there in the electric bike market,” says Managing Director, Michael Tritt, “unfortunately a lot of it is very low quality product, but it’s very difficult for the average consumer to tell that - until they’ve bought it and start to experience problems.” Electrify.nz has made the buying process easier, by bringing several well-proven brands of top quality electric bikes under one roof. “Customers can go to our website and browse bikes covering a range of styles and budgets,” says Michael, “They can ask questions about any…

 The bluebells at Roland’s Wood are preparing to erupt into full bloom. Roland’s Wood, a 4ha English-style woodland at Inlet Road, Kerikeri, was bequeathed to people and dogs following the death of the property’s owner, dog-lover Roland Sansom, in 2001. September is show time for the bluebells that carpet the land beneath deciduous trees which, still stark from winter, are about to unfurl new leaves or burst into bud. Bluebell time, when the flowers are at their best, is between about September 20 to October 10, when about 500 daily visitors come to enjoy the display. Bluebells aren’t the only attraction though. September is also the best time to see freesia, daffodils, rhododendrons, magnolia and apple blossom, and these are followed by fresh new leaves on the trees in October.…