I was browsing in the bookshop yesterday and came across a few interesting sounding books on Vanlife, Tiny Houses and Caravans. This got me thinking about all the books that are in the RV niche that I would recommend to anyone wanting some inspiration.

So I’ve ended up creating this book list of what I’ve read and loved or heard good things about.

Enjoy.

A Great Indoors for the Great Outdoors: The Story of the Liteweight Caravans

Don Jessen

This is a book I’ve just finished reading. It’s the story of Tek Jessen (Don’s dad) and how he started designing and building NZ caravans. Once you see the photos, you’ll start recognising some of the vintage caravans in New Zealand and know the story behind them. I love these types of books about someone with a bold idea who turns it into a successful business – it gets me all motivated and inspired.

Don has written an impressive amount of books and it’s worth having a look at his website:
donandmarilynjessen.co.nz

The Vanlife Companion

Lonely Planet

I spotted this book at the local bookshop and had a flick through. Part of me has gone off Lonely Planet because it’s now part of a giant company and this was just cashing in on the VanLife popularity, but they do know how to make a good looking book. It was full of tips and stories from actual van dwellers and think this would be a really enjoyable, practical and inspiring read… dammit.

On a side note, the book ‘Once while travelling’ is a great read too. It’s about how Lonely Planet (And TopDeck) started. I’ll just say again how much I love these types of books.

Through Amazon
Through PaperPlus

Living Big in a Tiny House

Bryce Langston

If you haven’t heard of Bryce yet, he has a HUGE YouTube channel about tiny houses. He started off awkwardly interviewing kiwi’s and is now travelling around the world interviewing tiny home owners. His video about a girl living in a pop-top caravan actually got me really thinking about a caravan as an option. It’s really exciting to see that he’s progressed to publishing a book and selling it at the local bookshop.

Through Amazon
Through PaperPlus

What You Have Always Wanted To Do

James and Jules

This is a book about a family living for 3 years in a house truck. They answer all the questions they regularly get asked. I’m so impressed that they got this idea and just went for it. James and Jules got their book printed at a local Greymouth printer and are selling them through their website. I actually met them recently and interviewed them.

Click here to find out more: whatyouhavealwayswantedtodo.com

Tales From the Black Tank: A Collection of Hilariously Crappy RV Stories

Liz Wilcox

Liz is hilarious – she really just has a way with words. She started a website called The Virtual Campground and really got to know people in the American RV community. She ended up combining different RVing friends stories into this ebook… you know, the ones where things went wrong. If it’s the same as when I got my download, it’s a PDF that’s best read on a laptop.

Tales From The Black Tank can be bought here:
gumroad.com

I also interviewed her online and the video can be watched here.

Podcasts

Podcasts are so popular now and are almost taking over from reading an ebook. I’ve been a little slow in following this craze, but I’ve started listening to these two great RV themed podcasts.

The RV Entrepreneur
Heath is big in the US RV niche… Once you start following Heath & Alyssa, you realise how much they have done in just a few years! A true entrepreneur. Heath started a podcast interviewing inspiring business people who are connected to the RV industry in some way. They either live in an RV or their business is RV focused. You can really hear his enthusiasm and interest as he asks them questions and he gets some great business information. I’m hooked.

See podcasts through: heathandalyssa.com/rv-entrepreneur-podcast

Stories From The Road
This is a podcast I just came across. I’m interested in it because they interview a lot of American blogger and vloggers that I already follow. You just hear a great overview of how they started and how they make money on the road. They also share when things go wrong. From what I understand, this is set-up by an RV company – Camping World.

See podcasts through: blog.campingworld.com

Coming soon

Jackie from Richies Have Wheels has written a book and I’m impatiently waiting for it to come out. She’s one talented New Zealand writer and has quite a story about selling her house and moving into a van with her partner and dog.

I’d suggest following their Facebook page to learn when it’s available: facebook.com/richeshavewheels

I hope you find this list as inspiring as I have and please let me know if you have another book I should add.

The post Best Inspiring RV Books appeared first on Travelling K.

Tell me a bit about yourself?

I am a 31 year old male living alone in my caravan. I worked as a regional manager before this, looking after a wide range of businesses in the electrical wholesale industry. I was brought up in Hamilton but born in Tokoroa. I have always been interested in living with less and enjoying life in a more simple way.

What is your caravan model and age?

2018 Weinsberg 450 fu

What tow vehicle do you have and would you recommend it?

Toyota Mark X 2005 2.5L AWD works well but fuel consumption when towing is high.

Why did you decide to buy a caravan?

I wanted to live off grid for at least a year. I had looked at many tiny designs but I eventually decided I wanted to stay mobile and a caravan seemed like the best way to go.

What has surprised you about living in a caravan?

Emptying the toilet waste is not so bad. It’s amazing how easy living in a caravan is – you give up very little.

What have you added or improved to your caravan? What are your definite musts?

I added a large amount of solar and a lithium battery system as well as a generator and 2x 12kg gas bottles so I can stay off grid longer without the need to go to powered campgrounds and be able to go longer with no gas bottle fill ups. I think in winter down south a generator is a must if you don’t want to go to a powered campground.

Is there anything else you plan to improve?

Adding another toilet cassette so I don’t have to visit the dump station as often.

How did you learn the practical aspects of caravanning?

Forums, Youtube and from the dealer who sold me the caravan.

How do you afford this lifestyle?

I have money from my house sale.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of living permanently in a caravan?

Join the NZMCA, make your caravan as off grid capable as possible and add as much solar as you can fit on the roof. One of the biggest costs is petrol so try to set up a home base in one location as long as possible.

Do you still have a home base? Where does your mail go?

I have a friend that I send all my mail to. I do not have a home base as such. I sold everything aside from what I have in the caravan.

What New Zealand camping sites have been your favourite so far and why?

Lots all of them. The freedom campground at Lake Pukaki was really nice as well as the Tekapo NZMCA site.

What does your ideal camping site need?

Water, dump station and a pretty view.

How do you find driving and reversing with a caravan?

Driving is okay. Keep in mind that the caravan is wider than the car and take it slowly. Reversing is something I’m still getting used to.

What is your power set-up and do you find you have enough?

I have 2x 150w and 1x 260w solar panel, with a 200ah lithium battery, and a Ryobi 1100w generator. It depends where I am – most of the time I can stay running off solar, but in the deep south where sun hours are less, I find I have to run my generator more.

How do you find collecting water and disposing of waste water?

Not too much of an issue using 20L containers with my 80L onboard tank I am able to collect water then pump it into the tank.

How do you find the toilet and shower onboard?

The toilet is good. The shower is okay, but the space is small. It would be nice to have a larger space, but it works as intended.

What are your favourite websites or YouTube channels for practical advice or inspiring RVers?

Travelingk and BuslifeNZ

What is your plan with this caravan lifestyle? Do you think you’ll still be in the caravan in a years time?

I was planning to do this for 1 year but beyond that I don’t know.

Have you recently bought a caravan, bus, motorhome or campervan? I’d love to hear how you are finding the experience.

The post Interview with David and his Weinsberg 450 fu Caravan appeared first on Travelling K.

The biggest concern with starting this lifestyle is how to earn money while travelling – well, for people who aren’t retired anyway. I’ll admit, I still haven’t got the perfect set-up, but I’m getting there.

I’m a graphic designer and turns out this is a great career for travel. It honestly didn’t cross my mind when I start my university course. I’ve now been workings for over 10 years and was able to still do this job in London and Melbourne as the same software is used worldwide.

Here’s a quick overview of my career

4 years at university
Bachelor of Art & Design (Graphics) at Auckland University of Technology.
Yarn company in Auckland
Wentworth Distributors is a New Zealand yarn company that distributes it’s brand “Naturally”.
Design projects included refreshing their overall brand look, printed brochures, website, yarn labels and press ads.
World-wide advertising in Auckland
Y&R Advertising with clients from Bank of New Zealand, Farmlands farm retail store.
Design projects included layout of magazines, booklets, press ads, online banners, mailers, forms, brochures, DLs, billboards.
Freelanced in London and Auckland
Through recruitment agencies who place me in a company. These jobs range from 2 days to 6 months.

London: GPJ international events company, Mitie strategic outsourcing company, City Index financial markets company, Jack Wills clothing store, Hogan Lovells law firm and Action for Children charity.

Auckland: Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, Villa Maria Winery, Special Advertising, Hyde Advertising, Radio Network, SkyCity, KPMG and Auckland Council.
Small design agency in London
Clients were Legal & General insurance company, Bagel Street food retail, D’lish food retail, The Belfast Airport Foodcourt, The Who Cares Trust charity and Specsavers opticians.
Design projects included magazines, multi-paged leaflets, food packaging, food court design, press ads, posters, newsletters and exhibition stands.
Family run corporate company in Melbourne
Connective is a corporate company who are the middleman between banks/lenders and mortgage brokers.
Design projects included refreshing their overall brand look, WordPress websites, emails, sale brochures, direct mail campaigns, stationery, banners, online and print ads, expo events and videos.
Travel company in Auckland
Flight Centre is a worldwide retail travel company with over 17,000 employees and 30 brands across 11 countries.
Design projects included After Effects digital screens for the retail stores, website banners eDM’s Flash banners, campaign posters, press, DM’s, videos, travel expos, pull-up banners and other print material.
Small design agency in Hawkes Bay
Milk & Sticks is a new company with some impressive clients. They are Keep New Zealand Beautiful, Fingermark – a technology company and New Zealand Broadcasting.
Design projects include website design and build, logo design, brochures, booklets, posters, social media banners, t-shirt design and more.

How have I earned money while living in the caravan?

When I decided to buy a caravan I’d been saving for a house before deciding that this was never going to happen in Auckland. I switched my aim towards a caravan instead and saved for another 6 months working at my permanent Auckland job.

I then quit and went on a roadtrip to find the caravan and bought one in Nelson in the South island of New Zealand. I had grand plans of starting an online business that would support me. Turns out 3 months is definitely not enough time to succeed and I didn’t particularly enjoy the direction I was going anyway.

After 3 months, I ran out of money and made my way back to Auckland where I freelanced over winter – doing small trips away in the caravan to the Waikato and the Coromandel. I learnt that it’s hard to live in a caravan in a city if you don’t have friends or family with land for you to stay on. After a few false starts, I found the best campground option in Northcote.

In spring, an old workmate asked if I wanted to work part-time for her new graphic design agency in Hawkes Bay. I was desperate to get out of Auckland as living in the city wasn’t what I wanted – especially while living in a caravan. I’ve been at Milk & Sticks for over 6 months now and it’s worked well. I’ve ended up going into the office ⅔ of the time and travelling and working online ⅓ of the time. Working part-time has also enabled me to focus more on TravellingK.

Unfortunately the contract has gone quiet lately and this last week I’ve been worrying about money – which is never fun. I’ve learnt that I can live on 2 days a week of work, and save a little if I work 3 days a week. In the last month there’s been a few times when I’ve worked less than 2 days a week which means I’ve dipped into my tiny savings. And there have been some big caravan expenses lately – from things breaking to getting ready for winter.

So if you know of anyone after a graphic designer let me know! The ideal client would be a small to medium sized business who is happy for me to work remotely. I’m keen to have another day of work a week.

Does TravellingK make any money?

I started TravellingK over 1.5 years ago and have been spending money instead of making money. It’s definitely been a passion project. Web hosting for this website costs money, the website template to make it look nicer cost money, my monthly bill for the programs to edit the videos cost money. I’d hate to find out the grand total I’ve spent and add up all the hours of work.

YouTube Earnings

In the last couple of months – basically since I reached 1000 subscribers on YouTube, there has be a change. I had been making $5 a month through those annoying YouTube banners that sit on the videos. When I reached 1000 subscribers it jumped to $10 a month – this is also probably because of the change to YouTube with needing more subscribers and view to monetisation your channel. Now I’m over 2000 subscribers and earning $17 a month! I’m hoping it just keeps growing.

Also, I can’t touch this money until I reach NZ$130. But the good news is I’m so close to reaching that amount! Soon, very soon.

Patreon

I finally started Patreon which now seems to be the main way a YouTuber can make a living.

You can pay as little as $1 a month and have access to a whole lot more. I am more open on this platform as it feels safer for a solo female than on a public platform like YouTube or Facebook. I share some of the graphics I’ve designed (although I’ve been a little slack and only posted 1 so far, but more are coming!). I share more up to date news and the little wins for TravellingK.

The $5 and $20 a month tier also have a group monthly Skype chat with me.

The $20 tier gets a personal thank you message in my videos!

I think this is the best way for me to make any money for TravellingK at my 2000 subscribers level. I think this is the level YouTubers need support. It’s a tricky balance to keep growing the channel but earn enough to live off. Once I get to a certain level, then I should hopefully have more time to make other sellable products and be more self-sufficent. There are days where I wonder why I’m spending so many hours doing this. So, if you would like to help, please consider becoming my patron.
Designing merchandise

I’ve also started designing RV and kiwiana designs that a company called RedBubble print and post out to people. I’ve sold 3 products so far and plan to keep adding more designs. Well, when I find the time. I do have plenty of ideas for this.

Click here to see what designs I’ve created so far.

I’ve also started designing stickers. Some small ones to add to journals or walls and also larger stickers for on caravans and motorhomes. Again, this is an area I’m expanding and will keep updating!

Click here to see the latest stickers.

Selling photos

As a graphic designer, I’ve regularly bought images from Shutterstock but it’s interesting being on the other side – contributing the photos. It’s not the fastest way to make money as I’ve sold 1 photo and only made 25c. I’ll keep adding photos and see how it goes.

So that’s it – this is how I afford this caravan lifestyle.

Keen to help?

I have been worrying this last week about money with the contract job going quieter. I really really don’t want to end up back in Auckland as I’d be back to full-time freelancing with less time for the videos and they’d surely become very dull too.

The 3 main ways to help:

• If you need any graphic design work done – please contact me. The ideal client would be a small to medium sized business who are happy for me to work remotely. I’m keen to have another day of work a week.
• Become a patron! Even $1 a month means the world to me and really motivates me to keep making these videos!
• Just keep watching, commenting and sharing my videos. This all helps me grow and the more I grow the more I can earn through YouTube advertising. A big thank you to all of you who have helped me reach this stage.

There’s definitely less certainty to a permanent 9-5 job but there’s no way I want to go back to full time in an office. I’m curious to learn if you have any other ideas for me to earn money? I’d be keen to hear.

The post How do I afford this caravan lifestyle? appeared first on Travelling K.

Caravan Coupling Broke

Packing up the caravan to leave Feildings freedom camping site – the caravan coupling just would not attach to the car! I lowered the coupling directly over the tow bar and it sat on top.

After jiggling and pushing everything I could think of, I decided to try a little CRC under the coupling handle.

Previously, when the coupling connection squealed while turning corners, I’d learnt NOT to grease the tow bar as there are friction pads in the UK coupling the can’t get grease on them. So I was very cautious about where I squirted the CRC.

Lifting the coupling handle up and down, there was a loud ping. I lowered the coupling onto the tow bar again and this time it slotted into place.

I was hugely relieved that it was working again, as I wasn’t sure what to do if I couldn’t move the caravan! The park might have become my home for quite a while.

Check caravan is firmly attached to car tow bar

I did do a safety check to be sure the caravan was securely attached to the car. This involves lowering the caravan coupling onto the car tow bar, closing coupling handle, then winding up the jockey wheel to rise the caravan and car – checking it’s still firmly attached to the tow bar. The Trudgians have a great video showing this safety check in more detail.

What went wrong?

What do I think went wrong with the coupling? I think it became stiff with age. I think a spring or something HAS broken in the coupling. It use to show green below the coupling handle when it was attached to the tow bar. Now it flicks to red even though it’s firmly attached. I searched online and sounds like it is the safety indicator but it’s still safe to use.

To be extra cautious, I have bought some new friction pads for a better connection to the tow bar and will be sure to check the coupling is firmly attached before towing.

Woodville Camping Area

My next stop was Woodville on the return loop.

There are two reasons why I picked to stay at Woodville for two nights:

• The weather was turning bad with two days of solid rain forecast and I planned to stay put and wait it out.
• The location of my accident with the shredded tyre and missing wheel arch was just down the road and I was curious to see if I could find the wheel arch.

The town is tiny, with some basic shops and a Four Square (small supermarket). The main road is straight through town.

There is a camping area near town with about 5 powered sites and a grassy area. Go to the local petrol station to pay and get a key for the toilet and shower.

As it was about to rain, I parked on the concrete but paid for a non-powered site. This caused mass confusion that night when a bus turned up expecting to park at site 2 where I was. It really bothered this gentleman that I was there, but when I rang the petrol station, they were so relaxed and wondering what the problem was.

It’s a well maintained area, but right next to the town recycling centre with the sound of smashing glass during the day. You can also hear the highway traffic from the campground.

The loud location made me realise my obsession with finding a shower. I really should start modifying my caravan shower until I am happy with it.

Finding the Wheel Arch

My daydream was that I’d find my wheel spat on the side of the road mainly in one piece.

I drove to the gravel area where I had previously pull over to let cars pass and think this is where the tyre got a puncture. The gravel area looks fine and didn’t have anything particular sharp.

Carrying on down the road I thought I spotted some plastic and pulled over. It was part of the spat! Crossing the road, I found many small parts and started adding them to a plastic bag.

It wasn’t a whole piece like I’d secretly hoped, but I wondered if I could piece it back together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Getting back to the caravan, I found out that it was beyond my skill.

It’s been an unusual trip and has really tested me. But I still love this lifestyle and consider the tough parts as learning new skills.

Do you have any challenging caravan stories? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Caravan Coupling Broke & Wheel Arch Pieces Found appeared first on Travelling K.

In the previous couple of weeks I’ve been exploring the bottom of the North Island. My last article was focused around Masterton and Lake Ferry and this article starts in the outskirts of Wellington and finishes north in Fielding.

Caravan site close to Wellington

There is an NZMCA park specifically for members on the outskirts of Wellington. Each park is different, but this one is basically just a large carpark with a dump station in the middle and a cabin with a welcome book. The advantage is the location – close to Wellington for only $3 per night.

There are not many campground options in Wellington and I’ve only found a very expensive Top 10 Park in Lower Hutt or a dodgy feeling campground in Porirua. I’ve since heard Ngatitoa Domain is a good freedom camping spot and am keen to try it. If you have a small motorhome or campervan there are a couple more options but they looked very tightly packed.

I stayed at the park for a couple of nights before moving on. Partly because my caravan shower is not particularly enjoyable and I personally found it too much like a carpark with no privacy.

How to access the NZMCA park

You need to be a NZMCA member and have a self contained vehicle. They have a new app for paying which I used for the first time and found easy. Better than trying to find the correct amount of coinage and makes things simpler for the caretaker at the park. To find the parks around New Zealand, you get a printed book when you join or have access to an app similar to CamperMate that shows where they all are.

Campground with ensuite cabins

I only moved a little way up the coast to Paraparaumu and have fallen in-love with this campground. Kapiti Holiday Resort only has powered sites between massive hedges and every single site has it’s on ensuite in a little cabin. It felt amazing knowing there was no chance of a queue with previous peoples hair in the drain and having the ability to leave my products out. The little things.

They have quite a few permanent residents and a very relaxed office attitude. I extended my stay but found it hard to get anyone to take my money at the office! It sounds like the campground is just a side business for them. It was a little more expensive than some campgrounds but still a good price for being so close to a city. And have I mentioned the ensuite cabins! I’ll be back.

Beach nearby

Another great thing about this campground is how close it is to the beach. Just one block away. I started going for a walk at lunchtime and in the evening for the sunsets. It’s the type of wind swept beach that really clears the mind and wakes you up!

Fixing greywater pipe & holes

As I had a bit of space and privacy, I crawled under the caravan and had another look at the grey water pipe that wasn’t as firmly connected as I wanted and the 2 holes that people thought needed fixing to make sure water didn’t get in and affect the caravan.

For the grey water pipe, it’s been suggested that I disconnect (unscrew) the connecter holding the pipe to the caravan enabling the pipes to connect more firmly together. It worked! I’ve also been told I need to get a sealant or something to make sure it won’t leak. This is something I still need to do…

With the two holes, one is showing the insulation material. For now I’ve cut two coke cans up and used the metal sheet to cover the two holes. I used duct-tape to seal up (which hasn’t lasted long from the dirt and shaking of the caravan). Luckily I also screwed it in to place and have been looking into how to permanently fix it.

Freedom camping in park

My next campsite was freedom camping in a park in Feilding. Timona Park is a large area with a sports field, playground and stream. It seems well set-up for self contained vehicles with private spots and plenty of trees.

I was genuinely nervous that night as I rarely freedom camp and a few teenagers in modified cars had previously roared past. I have heard locals sometimes hassle freedom campers and I wondered if they would be back. The gate apparently closes at night, but was still open when I went to bed. But I was fine and awoke to see that I even had a couple of neighbouring vans.

My ideal campground is having plenty of privacy and surrounded by nature, but when I freedom camp it’s always nice to think that if I’m bothered, there is someone nearby to help.

I’ve been enjoying this trip around the bottom of the North Island and it’s always interesting exploring, trying new campgrounds and finding new favourite spots.

I’ll be working more on my caravan soon so please let me know if you have any tips.

The post Paraparaumu Campground With Ensuite & Freedom Camping appeared first on Travelling K.

My highlights have been exploring Castlepoint beach and lighthouse, enjoying sunsets from my caravan at Lake Ferry, climbing the 252 steps to the lighthouse at Cape Palliser and exploring the strange rock formations at Putangirua Pinnacles.

Masterton

I had an unplanned stop in Masterton for a few days after getting a shredded tyre.

But I’ve been surprised and impressed by the town after imagining a slightly rough place. There are beautiful large wooden houses  and plenty of shops.

My new favourite campground

The showgrounds in Masterton was the perfect place to relax for a few days. It’s only $5 per person for non-power or $15 if you plug in and there’s a huge grassy area with only 4 other vehicles staying while I was there. There are some beautiful big trees and the odd horse riding past. The toilets and showers are old but work well and just require a gold coin donation. You’re left on your own and they assume you’ll honestly leave the right amount of money. I already know I’ll be back!

Wool Shed

It seems like Masterton previously had a booming wool industry which would explain the richly decorative old wooden buildings. I went to the wool shed museum for $8 and found it surprisingly interesting. I think my favourite part was a video about a country event involving competitions with work dogs. If I can find the event I want to go!

Castlepoint

I’d initially planned to stay out here for a couple of nights, but decided not to risk it on my only spare tyre. Instead I did a day trip from Masterton. I was wondering if it was worth a visit but the information lady said it was one of the top beaches.

It’s more populated than I expected as I was imagining a place similar to the sparsely populated Herbertville further north. There are plenty of carparks along the beach so I’m assuming it can get busy. I visited on a blustery day with stormy clouds in the distance.

There is a loop walk up around the lighthouse with some amazing views. You can also walk (or drive in a 4×4) along the beach to the right. There’s some interesting rock formations with waves crashing over them. I’ve since learnt you can climb to the top of castle rock at the end of the beach for more views, there’s even a walk that I missed… next time.

Lake Ferry

Further down the coast at the bottom of the North Island is Lake Ferry. It’s a tiny little town by the ocean with an inlet and only has a few houses including the campground and hotel / restaurant. I stayed at the campground for three nights to work from the caravan and explore the area.

From my caravan I could look out to the inlet and enjoy some sunsets and sunrises. There are quite a few permanent holiday sites but the strip along the front of the water is for the temporary travellers. It’s a pricey campground compared to others, but I think you’re paying for the view and the isolated location. Toilets are run down, the showers were $1 per three minutes and they discouraged you from leaving your rubbish with them.

The first night, I was asked if I wanted to join three other RVing couples for a drink. I’m so glad I joined as they were all lovely. Two couples were travelling from the South Island in beautiful NZ made caravans that were a lot wider than mine. The other couple were from Whanganui and funnily enough know the one person I know in their town…. NZ is a small place.

The wind picked up on the last two nights with even a wind warning. I didn’t sleep at all well with the caravan swaying.

Cape Palliser

The lowest point on the North Island with a road that is partly washed away and becomes gravel. There’s a great looking freedom camping spot at Ngawi. I wouldn’t take a caravan all the way to the end as the road gets very narrow and bumpy.

Ngawi has a couple of quirks… a golf course with electric fencing around the putting green and sheep everywhere. I did see one couple playing.

The other interesting aspect is all the fishing ships on the gravel beach are attached to long metal bars with a bulldozer! I’m  guessing the shoreline is always changing and needs smoothing out.

The coast is wild with a lighthouse at the top of 252 steps. The view from the top makes the climb worth it.

I finally managed to get my drone out again for a fly. The weather was good and I’m pretty sure there are no restrictions in the area. I’ve recently learnt there are a surprising amount of areas that you can’t fly a drone or need permits or permission first. Completely different to a camera.

Putangirua Pinnacles

If you are in the area, seeing the pinnacles is a must as they are the strangest rock formations.

It has a DoC campground with plenty of flat space and a long drop toilet. There were a couple of buses and motorhomes staying.

The walk is about 1.5-2 hours to the pinnacles following a small stream. Tips are to wear long trousers as there’s plenty of gorse and to wear waterproof shoes as you’re jumping the stream back and forth. I also found it easier walking on the gravel with my hard hiking boots.

The pinnacles are fascinating. There are three main forks that you can walk into and be surrounded by these pillars. I’ve heard it was a setting for Lord of the Rings and I can see why.

There is a longer route uphill that gives you a birds-eye view of the pinnacles, but I was having a lazy day…

There are lots of cute towns in the area. If I’d had the time, I would have explored Greytown and Martinborough. I’ll just have to visit again…

Have you been to the Wairarapa region? What would you recommend?

If you like learning about out of the way New Zealand destinations or campgrounds you might like to learn about the Gisborne Region.

The post Lighthouses, Wind & Snow in the Wairarapa appeared first on Travelling K.

It happened and I survived.

My 1st flat tyre

It’s the second flat tyre I’ve had with this caravan and was only 4 months ago while driving into a caravan site. Because I was at a holiday park, it meant I had the time to learn how to change the tyre. I also learnt that the spare wheel under the caravan is impossible to get out and I ended up just replacing the flat tyre. I meant to fix the access to the spare wheel… I really did… but time passed.

Back to my new flat tyre

The second flat tyre was along state highway 2.

Just before it happened, I pulled onto a gravel area to let a couple of cars pass and suspect there might have been something sharp on the ground.

I carried on driving but wondered about a strange sound… It sounded like a loud motorcycle but I was sure there was none when I pulled out. Reaching a flat section of road, I started wondering what else it could be since this motorcycle should have passed by now.

That’s when I clicked and though it might be the tyre. I slowed down and pulled onto the grassy shoulder.

A car pulled up next to me saying he’d been flashing his lights for ages! Funnily enough, that day my side mirror extender kept falling off from the wind and passing trucks. After the second time, I left it on my dashboard. I couldn’t see his flashing lights! Although to be honest, even with the extender mirror I’d only see him if he wasn’t too close. I really wish he’d honked his horn.

You’ll be wondering why it took me so long to click. You’d think it was obvious. It was a blustery day with plenty of hills and corners which makes the car work harder. It was only when I was on the flat that the car felt like it was working too hard.

How to fix the flat tyre

After swearing for a while, I knew I’d need help as I still couldn’t access the spare wheel.

I called my insurance company (Covi Insurance) and went through to their roadside assistance team. I don’t pay for roadside assistance, so I got a quote for $150 which I happily paid.

They organised for a local guy to drive out.

After my first flat tyre and my failure to access the spare, other UK caravaners mentioned there was a pin I needed to take out first. I had a look and seriously couldn’t figure out where this pin was. Turns out there is one! But you need strength and pliers to pry it out.

There were 2 bolts holding the spare tyre to the metal cage. The second bolt was stuck on and required him to take it to his work and cut it off. There is no way I would have been able to do this by myself.

Where the spare tyre was kept

Once the spare wheel was released, he speedily changed the shredded wheel and oh, it was shredded!

Spare wheel on. Realised spat was ripped off too!

On the road again

The spare tyre looked a little worn and rusty as I think it hadn’t been touched in 10 years.

The plan was to carry on for another half an hour to Masterton and take the caravan straight to a tyre shop. I’d learnt that these are unusual European tyres that stores don’t normally have in stock – but can be sent for quickly. I planned to come back in two days to have the new tyre put on.

My initial plan had been to drive through Masterton and carry on to Castlepoint beach which was another hour to the coast. But I was cautioned not to risk it since I no longer had a spare tyre.

You might also be wondering why I didn’t get a new tyre before this? I had asked a tyre specialist plus a mechanic and was told it looked ok with enough tread.

Accomodation in Masterton

One of my fun activities is to browse the NZMCA campground app and save any campgrounds that sound appealing. I’d previously saved the Masterton Showgrounds as a possibly. I drove in, spotted two buses and pulled up next to
(what I guessed) was a power box.

Summer is over and it felt freezing with a dusting of snow on the nearby mountains. I decided to splurge and pay for a powered site as it’s just easier when you’re plugged into the power and my heater runs on the perfect low temperature.

This site might now be one of my favourites. It’s cheap, has lots of space, has water and there’s are lots of old toilets and showers. A relaxing spot to recover from the stress of the day.

Damage to the caravan

I did more damage to the caravan than just the tyre.

When the roadside assistant jacked up the caravan I saw water coming out of a pipe. Crawling under the caravan, I saw that a screw was gone from the grey water pipe connector and one of the pipes had popped out of its corner slots. I was able to pop the pipe back in and screw the connector more firmly onto the caravan, but suspect I need someone with more strength to firmly slot it completely in.

The wheel spat (tyre edging / frame) was also ripped off when the tyre was shredded. It’s made the side of the caravan look very ugly and almost looks like it’s been burnt. Looking online, it won’t be cheap getting a replacement. Possible $200 plus shipping from the UK or I’ll keep looking for an option in New Zealand.

Grey water connector

It’s survivable

And what I learnt from this miss-adventure? It’s survivable. If I get a flat tyre again, my spare tyre will be in my car boot for easily access, so in theory I should be able to change it myself. Although now that both caravan tyres are new, I am hoping this will never happen again.

Do you have a story about a flat tyre? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Flat caravan tyre while driving appeared first on Travelling K.

But because it’s so small, the caravan looks messy very quickly. A few items left out take over the whole area.

Because collecting fresh water and dumping waste water is an ongoing chore, it’s best to be conscious of the water you use while cleaning. I end up using more wet wipes and throw away cloths.

Entrance Mat

The entrance area is easy to get dirty. If you think about the foyer of a house, that usually has the dirtiest carpet. And most campground sites are either on grass or gravel which is transferred into the caravan. I’ve just experienced a few days of rain and there’s clumps of mud on the mat.

I have an outside mat too which I sit next to my steps when travelling and the mud from the mat ends up on the wall.

How do I clean the area? I have a small dustpan with a stiff brush then use baby wipes to remove the mud from the wall and the surrounding mat.

Carpet & Floor

My caravan is a 2008 Sterling Europa model where the carpets are in 2 sections that are easy to take out. This does simplify cleaning the carpet as I usually take it outside to clean.

Over summer I have kept the smaller carpet under the table but took out the larger carpet which normal covers the rest of the area. I might permanently keep it like this as it’s a lot easier to clean.

I don’t have a vacuum cleaner as there’s no place to store it. Also I’m usually not plugged into the power and my inverter can’t handle the wattage required.

The way I clean it is to use a stiff brush and just brush the carpet…. it works. Luckily it’s such a small space it doesn’t take long.

For the lino floor, I use Dettol Floor Cleaning Mop which is light-weight, mess fresh and uses disposable wipes. The advantage of this product is it can fit under the heater and fridge to clean the areas I can’t reach. Learn more about the caravan cleaning accessories I use here.

Bathroom

The bathroom space is tiny with a combination shower / toilet. If I was getting a caravan again I would get a separate shower because it becomes annoying wiping the shower base down so I can use the toilet.

To be able to freedom camp and stay at cheaper sites in New Zealand you need to be self contained. To be self contained, your grey water set-up is changed so that if your tank becomes too full it floods the shower base instead of overflowing onto the ground. A clever system, but this means the shower base regularly get dirty. I’ve had last nights pumpkin soup turn up in the shower base before.

I’ve also started storing my larger pot plant next to the toilet while traveling. It’s worked well as it’s wedged into the small space. But this does mean I get some leaves and dirt around the toilet.

There is a skylight above the shower which I usually leave open if it’s not raining or too cold. But when you open the screen to close the skylight, leaves and twigs that have come through end up on the ground.

Cleaning the toilet is just wiping it down… even inside the bowl. There is no water in the toilet bowl like a house toilet.

I saw that my pipes really need a bit of maintenance. I need to find some liquid to clean away the slime that’s started building up.

The vanity sink is outside the toilet area and is next to my bed. It’s just like a house sink with no surprises.

Kitchen

This is the area you see as soon as you step into the caravan. I’m lazy and usually leave a few dishes to dry which tends to make the area look cluttered.

The stove stop always needs a good clean. Food and fat end up splattering the wall to the side and the glass screen in front.

I use the grill just for my toast so there are bread crumbs scattered around. The stove is really just like any house stove… I see it’s actually due a proper clean.

There are a few different challenges with cleaning in a caravan compared to a house. And that’s lack of water, lack of storage and if not plugged into the power, lack of power for vacuum cleaners.

If you want to know what accessories I have in the caravan, I have written this article about it.

Do you live in an RV? How is this different to you? Do you have any tips? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Cleaning the Inside of a Caravan appeared first on Travelling K.

I’ve learnt that there are ALWAYS things breaking or needing maintenance in an RV. I’ve got a list of little jobs still to do – the broken door latch, adding another cutlery draw, adding grease to joints and more.

This week I was able to tick off two items – the toilet and mould issues.

Thetford Toilet Cassette

My toilet cassette has been leaking for months. It would be fine until tipped sideways to carry or when emptying the waste. It was in a weird place too, on a small section which I still don’t know what it does.

I’ve been procrastinating about buying a new one because they are about $300 each, so I’ve been putting up with the leak.

Moving the toilet cassette started requiring me to keep it flat and definitely gave me a muscle workout. I also accepted that it was going to be messy emptying at the dump stations.

When I visited the Covi Motorhome, Caravan & Outdoor Supershow, I talked to the Thetford stall. Turns out there is a filter under this mysterious button that could be replaced for $30. Then I saw that their new toilet cassettes had wheels! With the expo discount included, I was sold. Who wants to fiddle around fixing messy cassette filters and seals when I could get a brand new cassette with wheels.

If you are interesting in getting a new toilet cassette in New Zealand, contact the wholesaler Lewis Gray at sales@lewisgray.com

Needed a clean inside

Mould Problem

This has been slow happening since I bought the caravan. There are some amazing large windows on an angle at the front of the caravan. It does cause it to become a bit of a sunroom. The fake wood windowsill started to slowly curl away.

Then over summer I kept the windows on the second latch so a tiny bit of air could come through while still being secure and locked. Because these windows are on an angle and we sometimes get horizontal rain in New Zealand, I think water was getting in and sitting on the windowsill without me being aware.

I eventually noticed when there was some mould. I took mould cleaner to it and have kept an eye on the area since. But curling fake wood with the odd bleach spot wasn’t a great look.

Mitre10 hardware store sold test squares of lino and I cut some to fit the space. Because the lino tiles are thick, they are sitting really well and have completely flattened the area.

Plenty of people have asked if the caravan gets mouldy. There’s a van blogger I follow who always has condensation and mould problems in winter, but I didn’t seem to have any issues with my caravan. I’m hoping this is it and my problem has been solved.

What’s on your to-do list? How do you deal with mould? Would you be able to handle a toilet cassette? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Unboxing Caravan Toilet Cassette & Mould Found appeared first on Travelling K.

The town seems to have a viking flavour… I’m still not sure why. Where did the name come from? There’s a viking ship in the children’s playground and viking shields on the town railing.

I’ll admit that there is not a whole lot to do in Dannevirke… There’s a couple of nice looking restaurants and a good size supermarket. I’ve heard about a fantasy cave but I’m guessing it’s aimed at children. I’ve ended up relaxing with one exploration to the coast, visiting Waihi Falls and Herbertville Beach.

Dannevirke Campground

It’s actually at the bottom of a park! The narrow road snakes down the hill with plenty of speed bumps. There’s a duck pond, deer and it’s just an interesting place to walk around.

The quirk is that the gate closes at 8pm for the park so no wild nights out in Dannevirke!

The campground has a large grassy oval surrounded by tall trees and there are plenty of birds in the morning.

I was only charged $8 per night for non-powered in the tent area – no extra charge for the shower. Very happy with this price.

There’s actually quite a few camping areas in the Tararua District.

Waihi Falls

It really is hidden down some narrow roads. I nearly drove past the sign for the falls down Oporae Rd. It didn’t help that the convoy of 3 had just passed a slow motorhome and I was sandwiched in the middle. After an awkward turn into the road, I drove and drove and drove, wondering if I’d missed a turn off. The road is narrow and gravel in parts and looks like it’s had plenty of land slides. Eventually there was another sign for the falls and I was surprised to see 8 other cars had already arrived.

The Waihi Falls are down a narrow path with a few viewing platforms on the way down. There is a grassy area surrounding the falls and you can walk to one side of it.

All the grass and small trees surrounding the falls were completely flattened. There had been a patch of heavy rain recently and a huge amount of water must have come over the falls… I wish I had seen it.

Herbertville Beach

Reading a brochure about the area, it mentioned the two closest beaches, Herbertville and Akitio Beach. I picked Herbertville beach because it had a campground to check out and the photos online made it look more intriguing.

It’s a longer drive than I expected. Getting stuck behind slow moving motorhomes that refused to pull over probably didn’t help. Funny that even though I’m now an RVer I still get grumpy being stuck behind one. On Google Maps it really doesn’t look that far from Dannevirke, but the drive took over an hour.

Herbertville is a tiny town with watchful neighbours. I kept driving until I found a grassy area to pull onto and walked out to the beach. It doesn’t feel set-up for visitors and felt very isolated. There is a river that snakes to the ocean with plenty of wood scattered around. Plenty of the the locals drive out onto the beach.

The campground looked nice and I still had phone reception. Readying my brochure, it said self contained motor caravans could stay on Council land and there was a motorhome with a washing line out set-up on a grassy area overlooking the beach.

Reading a sign, it sounds like there are seals by the point over winter.

I’m now curious to know what Akitio Beach is like.

It’s been a relaxing time here and I’ve enjoyed the view of the trees out my caravan window. I do enjoy exploring the quieter towns and getting a feel for the area. This is a definite advantage to the caravan lifestyle.

Have you explored the area before? Is there anything you would recommend? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Dannevirke – an unknown town with falls & beaches appeared first on Travelling K.