If you’re thinking of touring New Zealand, there’s nothing quite like a motorhome convoy. It offers you the security of a group setting and the freedom to do as you please during the day if you want to – you can travel in full convoy or spend each day exploring on your own and then join the group for sunset drinks and nibbles every evening.
Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt and his wife Sheree (who you might know from The Great Australian Doorstep TV show) run fully escorted motorhome convoy tours to The Land of the Long White Cloud. We asked Sheree to talk us through one of these epic tours, which seem tailor-made for anyone who loves an adventure, a road trip and new friends to share it with.
“Group sizes are roughly 16 (eight couples), with ages ranging from 58 through to 80,” says Sheree. “We have had many adventurous 80-year-olds on these trips and they have all been as fit as fiddles and more than often, the life of the party!
“We kick off our New Zealand trips in Auckland and head due north to the stunning Bay of Islands. Days are filled with snorkelling, fossicking on the gorgeous beaches and taking in some of New Zealand’s most stunning scenery out on the water. Using Paihia as our base we visit historic Russell, world-famous Waitangi and of course Cape Reinga, New Zealand’s most-northern tip, where we spend a full day out on the water of the Bay Of Islands – a part of the world that will take your breath away.
“Next stop is the Coromandel Peninsula. It’s one of the most stunning and mind-blowing parts of New Zealand, with a coastline that’s second to none throughout the world. We take in the Driving Creek Railway, a train made completely by hand that winds its way up deep into the mountains, giving you a view of the Coromandel and as far back as Auckland. No picture does this view justice, it’s one of those places you have to see to believe. Ever taken a swim in hot ocean water? You can at Hot Water Beach, where the hot mineral water bubbles up through the sand. Dig a hole and have your own spa!
“A great point to make about travelling New Zealand is that nothing can hurt you – there are no venomous creatures, no snakes, no bull ants and definitely no crocs! It is super-safe to wander in bush areas without a care in the world, and all the holiday parks our motorhome tour uses have great areas for easy walking or cycling.
With New Zealand being so sparsely populated, secluded beaches are around every corner. Seldom will you find a place that’s commercialised right on the beachfront. Rather, you will find many tiny little old beach “bachs” hugging the sand, handed down from generation to generation. Beach life here in New Zealand is about keeping everything original.
“Back on the road, we head down to Rotorua, the tourism capital of New Zealand. Here we enjoy a mesmerising Maori cultural experience featuring dancing, singing and a sumptuous hāngi dinner – it’s a night never to be forgotten. You can’t visit Rotorua without taking in the scenic Skyline Gondola, Rainbow Springs and the Agrodome Farm Show, or without a thermal swim – on these trips you can take an evening dip right near your motorhome, at the Top 10 Holiday Park Rotorua.
“From Rotorua we head to Taupo to Huka Falls and then down to the capital city, Wellington, to visit Te Papa Museum. Then it’s across to the South Island on the Inter-Islander Ferry with its mind-blowing scenery approaching the tip of the South Island.
“We take a cruise deep into the Marlborough Sounds, a whale-watching tour in Kaikoura, a look at how Christchurch is getting back on its feet, and then hit the adrenalin capital of the world, Queenstown, where you can try bungy jumping, shotover jetboat, canyon surfing, a helicopter flight over the Southern Alps or even hiking on a Glacier.
“Each day ends sitting by an open fire with a nice glass of wine, reminiscing about your adventure-filled day. We finish off with a full-day cruise on Milford Sound and our final farewell dinner aboard the iconic steam ship the TSS Earnslaw cruising Lake Whakatipu and having a singalong, just like they did back in the 1920s.
“A motorhome convoy tour really is a brilliant way to discover New Zealand. There’s no unpacking each day, everything is at your fingertips, you have plenty of room, and there’s so much to see and do. The itinerary is laid-back and easy, with not too many early mornings but still plenty of time to relax and enjoy everything.
“And, even though the roads are smaller, New Zealand offers easy driving, with small distances between stops. It lends itself to husbands and wives sharing the driving responsibilities, much to the delight of all the ladies on our tours!
“Driving these motorhomes is easy. If you’ve ever wanted to try one out, this is the perfect opportunity – you can try before you buy. It’s the best way to wet your toes in the Grey Nomad lifestyle before you splash out and buy one. Most of the people who do these tours have never ‘motorhomed’ or caravanned before – this is a brilliant way to see if you’ll enjoy it. But w do have seasoned Grey Nomads who join us as well, and if you’re just starting out, the lessons you can learn from them will be invaluable.”
Motorhome Convoy Tours are available in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and Alaska. The Great Australian Doorstep is on Channel 7Two every Saturday afternoon, while the radio show airs on 51 TripleM and FlowFM stations Australia-wide every Saturday or Sunday morning.
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