Innholdsfortegnelse for No.78 September - October 2019 i RV Travel Lifestyle

Welcome readers to the first fully combined publication with our popular columnists from NZTODAY, Allan Dick, Peter Williams and Keith Quinn all now part of the team. I know our RV readers will enjoy these additions to the magazine while regular NZTODAY readers who are receiving this combined issue for the first time will be happy to read Keith’s tribute to Brian Lochore who passed recently – certainly a legend in the Wairarapa where we have lived for 14 years. We have a large framed print of Brian scoring his first try as a captain for the All Blacks, signed by the man himself. It has pride of place in the Rock’s war room along with naval and All Blacks memorabilia. When driving on the road, many of us find…

Most Dangerous Journey in the Dominion,” proclaimed an article in The Poverty Bay Herald in February 1914. The story reported on a nerve-wracking trip from Motu to Ōpōtiki, when “Mr Charles Buscke gained the distinction of driving the first motor car across this mountainous road. Telegraphic advice of the success of the journey only reached town yesterday afternoon.” “Mr Buscke would like to give a word of warning to other motorists who may be thinking of taking on the trip,” the Herald advised. “He frankly confesses that it is the most dangerous trip in New Zealand, and he would not take it on again, except in case of urgent business.” Admittedly, in 1914 the road was still under construction. Thirty men were at work with pickaxes, shovels, horses and explosives.…

I love sitting under the stars, watching the moon rise over the tall trees on the skyline while listening to live music at the Bowl of Brooklands. Carlos Santana’s electric guitar charging through the crowd – all on their feet dancing – was a night to remember. The only interruption being the quacking of ducks as they flew in to land on the pond. Red, orange and purple lights danced across the lake creating a kinetic light show in time with the music. The Bowl of Brooklands is the jewel in New Plymouth’s parks. Just a short walk from downtown New Plymouth is the entrance to the local botanic gardens, Pukekura Park. The main entrance to the park passes the cricket grounds that are circled on three sides by grass…

Tourists seem to fall broadly into three categories. Firstly there are domestic tourists, many of whom are of the older generation leisurely travelling the country in their own car or motorhome – although if you read on, you’ll notice that there is a sub-category to this genre called ‘men who don’t listen to their wives’. They are generally considerate, move at a good speed, or pull over if holding up traffic. Then there are the busloads who stop at pre-arranged places to view a waterfall, watch a seal or take a comfort stop and are then loaded back on board by an experienced tour guide and off they go again. No problem there either. It’s the last faction, pairs or groups of mainly European freedom campers driving small, mostly silver,…

Now based near the beach at Mt Maunganui, Peter Williams has worked within the national media world for over 45 years. More recently, as Peter winds down his TV career he is looking forward to sharing more NZToday ramblings as he reflects on some of the places around the country he’s come to know and plans to test a few other towns and villages to see what lurks beneath their surfaces. As the old saying goes: if you didn’t have trucks you’d be hungry and naked, but at least you’d be sober. We also wouldn’t build any houses or roads and no products would be exported. So the country would be well and truly … trucked. Trucks are the way that our stuff gets from the factory, the farm or…

BOOK GIVEAWAYS One copy of each title to be won, email the book title as subject to: subs@rvmagazine.co.nz or post to: RV78 Books PO Box 220 Martinborough 5711 with your full details, go in the draw to win. Closes 31 October 2019 Child Power Raewyn Dawson RRP $25.00 Mary Egan Publishing Circa 300 BC: slavers are secretly active around the Black Sea, kidnapping children and forcing them into a life of deprivation and captivity. Sixteen-year-old Melo, a respected Amazon tribal leader in the Plains, is empowering the Tribe’s children within the Peace Way. When Melo’s friend Atalanta is captured and put to work on a pig farm, Melo and her friends must harness all their courage to mount a successful rescue operation. In this enthralling tale of love, adventure and…

ROYAL FLAIR CARAVANS LEVIN RV CENTRE NZ'S NATIONAL DISTRIBUTOR FOR ROYAL FLAIR CARAVANS HERE AT LEVIN RV CENTRE IN SUNNY LEVIN WE HAVE JUST FINISHED OUR FIRST QUARTER AS THE NATIONAL DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MADE ROYAL FLAIR RANGE OF CARAVANS. With our first 18´6″ Piazza now travelling on the road with its new owners, 2 of our 23´ Van-Royce models sold, and 6 more caravans on order from the factory the team here at Levin RV Centre are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting and busy Summer season for the Royal Flair brand. Over this coming season we aim to be stocking both the 18´6″ and 21´ Piazza models, the Designer series, Van-Royce Vans and an assortment of other models including the Family flair (with its…

With his Unimog build gathering momentum, adventurer Davey Hughes heads to Australia to research power management and storage for his vehicle. “I have tried to ensure all the build materials and components are of superior quality. It’s a long-term project; that is, every part of the fit-out has to be both highly functional and durable. One thing experience has taught me is, there’s absolutely no point in cutting corners.” By nature I’m inherently a curious sort of a bloke. Sometimes that’s a good thing; sometimes it gets me in a little bother. It always has – from “I wonder if I can jump across that gap?” to “Hmmm. Can’t be that deep – can it?” However, being curious has led me on all manner of adventures to all manner of…

Woof woof readers, a lot has happened since my last column. Yes, it has been one of those woofy few months with plenty on. We did a big road trip in the motorhome. I love it when da mama and papa start packing things into the RV and I see my couch going in, and my food bowl and biscuits – it tells me straightaway I am going too – woofy woofy yap yap. We headed off in the dark, but after a few hours it was a sunny day and papa stopped on the Desert Road so I could have a sniff around and woof woof do what I need to do often. It was pretty cold outside so I had to have my coat on. Pity I don’t…

55 years a journalist, including 25 years as a radio talkback host and 15 years at Radio Pacific. Founder of Driver magazine, as well as NZ Classic Driver and RV Lifestyle - NZToday, Allan is passionate about living in New Zealand and has visited pretty much every corner of it. Dunedin raised, Allan left Auckland nine years ago for Oamaru, a move he’s never regretted. A professional photographer, Jane loves exploring and capturing images of New Zealand, so for Jane contributing to RV Lifestyle - NZToday is a perfect match. Our coastal wilderness and native forests are unique in the world and it is up to us to treasure and protect them. janedovejuneau.com Creating the free Great Rides App provides Gary with the perfect opportunity to cycle (+ recycle) all…

Hi Robyn I got a lovely surprise in my mailbox this morning, as the winner of the book West Island, which looks like an interesting read. Thanks very much, we love reading NZTODAY and I always enter the competitions. Kind regards Helen Bell PO Box 224 Patumahoe 2344 Many thanks for the complimentary copy of Sport and the New Zealanders: A History. It looks very comprehensive and a worthwhile compilation of NZ’s obsession with sport. One that is deserved as we are successful in so many different sports. Your NZTODAY magazine is excellent too, you continue to highlight little-known areas of NZ for us retired folk to check out! Thanks again Lynne Paterson ED: Our pleasure Lynne, thanks for the email. We encourage everyone to look at the Road Books…

Middle-earth Movie Magic When scouting around for settings for his epic movie adaptation of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, Kiwi director Peter Jackson found just what he was looking for in the green rolling paddocks, rugged limestone outcrops and underground caverns of the Waikato region. Filming locations in the region include the iconic HobbitonTM Movie Set near Matamata, Weathertop Hollow, filmed near Port Waikato, and Trollshaw Forest on rugged farmland near Piopio in Waitomo, and underground sounds recorded in the famous Waitomo Caves. WAITOMO From spectacular underground caves to the wild coast, Waitomo and its surrounding landscape offers an experience that is unlike any other and is a must-do New Zealand attraction. This subterranean world of stalagmites, stalactites and underground waterfalls is full of geological and historical…

Otautahi Christchurch has had a bad run of luck these last 10 years – earthquakes, fires in the Port Hills and terror attacks. Christchurch has seen it all, and yet it has always risen to the challenge of rebuilding itself, physically and emotionally, from the inside out. As our Prime Minister so eloquently summarised, it’s all about working together, uniting and sharing community engagement. Having lived in the Christchurch City region for over 13 years, I’ve seen a city of love, time and again. It has a spirit that refuses to die. And with this re-birthing comes a changing landscape. We are starting to see a changing social narrative that really brings the city alive. So how has this economic evolution and regeneration come about? And what is there to…

Book Credit Recipes extracted from The Gut Friendly Cookbook Random House RRP $45 All good booksellers The Gut-friendly Cookbook has been specifically designed to support people with food allergies, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Coeliac Disease. Full of delicious meals, sweet treats and plenty of easy-toread background information on FODMAPS. Saucy Egg Shakshuka This egg dish makes the perfect weekend breakfast. It has plenty of flavour without being too spicy. My favourite part is dipping toast soldiers into the shakshuka sauce. As always, remember to divide the recipe into the recommended number of serves. Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Serves: 4 1 tbsp garlic-infused oil1 red capsicum, deseeded and cut into strips400g can plain crushed/chopped tomatoes1 cup (250ml) low FODMAP chicken stock (GF if needed)1 tbsp cornflour (GF…

Although we all know Keith as a sport commentator for nearly 50 years, there’s much more to him than sports. He collects memorabilia and books related to the Beatles, loves to travel to mystical places and has a secret addiction – ice cream! In addition, he loves writing. And with 16 books to his credit, penning a column for NZTODAY is a great fit for him. Hopefully Keith will be spinning many more yarns as he travels around New Zealand and the world. Brian Lochore’s association with the All Blacks was spread over 44 years. As a young loose forward, he first came over the Remutaka Hills from nearby Wairarapa to Wellington in 1963 to play in an All Black trial. On a rain swept afternoon a man shouted Lochore’s…

Evinci(TM) is a brand of NZEBIKES, a family owned business in Tauranga. Andreas started in 2016 by purchasing Volto, an electric-bike brand formerly located in Auckland. Volto was at the time already well established as a brand for affordable and reliable ebikes in New Zealand, it started back in 2010. With 13 years of product management experience he gained from his job in Germany and his electronic engineering background, Andreas decided to further improve the bikes and expanded the business. In 2018 NZEBIKES launched Evinci as the follow-up brand of Volto with new, upgraded models. In the company is also Andreas’ wife Sibylle and his son Henrik involved. Andreas says “From the beginning it was clear that we want to sell our bikes through retailers and not online. We put…

Ironic, sad, but true – despite having hitchhiked (or more latterly driven) throughout New Zealand for 30-plus years, it seems I still receive my hot travel tips about go-to locations from foreign backpackers who’ve been here for five minutes. The bully for my latest sojourn came from a young Dutch couple who said one of the most inspiring stretches of coastline they’d travelled while tripping around God’s Own was encountered between Marokopa and Tongaporutu on the west coast just north of Taranaki. It didn’t take much to persuade me to throw a sleeping bag and my bashed-up old Nikon in the station wagon and hit the highway. The thing I love about a road trip along the west coast is how abundantly it rewards the inquisitive spirit. A short detour…

A couple of years back a survey of international travellers asked what destination they would like to see before they died. Pretty grim way of putting the question, but the results were interesting. In order of preference they were, the Grand Canyon, Queensland’s Coral Reef and the South Island of New Zealand. That puts us in pretty exalted company and ahead of things like the Great Wall of China, the pyramids of Egypt and Machu Picchu in Peru. Are you surprised? South Islanders won’t be because we are well aware of the incredible beauty of this place – a land mass about the size of England but with a population of only one million compared to 56 million! That leaves an awful lot of the South Island for the mountains,…