The modern, sleek lines of the Wilderness motorhome, clearly enjoyed by Alex Meredith. Photo / Mark Meredith
The modern, sleek lines of the Wilderness motorhome, clearly enjoyed by Alex Meredith. Photo / Mark Meredith
Cruising the scenic South Island in a super flash motorhome requires more than a steady hand on the wheel, writes Mark Meredith.
The most important thing you can possibly do when taking a motorhome holiday is to concentrate. I'm not just talking about when you're behind the wheel.
You will concentrate, at least to begin with. How could you not pay attention when you are so much bulkier than most of the traffic around you and when you park it?
No, my moment of madness came after I was completely at ease with the beautiful vehicle I was piloting through New Zealand's heart-stopping South Island scenery.
We picked up our Wilderness motorhome on a miserably cold, rainy Sunday morning in July in Christchurch, and were given a thorough briefing on how the incredibly flash Escape4 worked.
There was a lot to remember, a lot to concentrate on: how the ceiling came down behind the driver's cab to make a double bed; how the waste system worked, where the grey water went; how the efficient heating system and gas hob operated; how to use the TV and audio controls.
We were given a tour of the exterior: how to hook up electrical power, dispose of toilet contents stored in a large, removable "cassette", connect and swap over gas bottles, fill up with water and put in petrol. Commonsense stuff, really.
We spent our first night near Arthurs Pass in an almost deserted campsite. The biggest advantage of a winter motorhome holiday, apart from the significant drop in rates, is the almost empty campsites. You can take your pick of the best powered spots.
A motorhome returns from Mt Cook National Park alongside Lake Pukaki. Photo / Mark Meredith
The days that followed were spent cruising smooth roads beneath glistening white-topped mountains under a cloudless sky, passing fields studded with sheep or Friesian cows - picture-postcard New Zealand through every window.
We reached Franz Josef Glacier and were running low on fuel but I decided we'd fill up at Fox Glacier to the south. When we got to Fox the only petrol station was closed for repairs. We had to return to Franz Josef, by which time I was frustrated and tired.
I manoeuvred the motorhome to the correct side of the diesel pump. It was great to stretch my legs, and in such a pretty spot. I unscrewed the cap, shoved the diesel nozzle in and squeezed the trigger, gazing at the mountain scenery. The diesel splashed back over my jeans. The nozzle wasn't in properly. I tried shoving it in again and squeezing. Same result.
I peered at the hole where the cap had been. My heart sank. "WATER", said the print in tiny blue letters above the hole I was trying to fill with fuel.
I felt quite ill. My wife came to investigate and got diesel on her hands. She went inside to wash it off. "Don't turn on the water!" I cried.
We contemplated the consequences, none of which was very good. The water tank had diesel in it, meaning we couldn't use any water and were potentially facing a bill for major damage. I rang Wilderness.
"Don't run the water or the diesel will get into the plumbing system," the representative warned us. Insurance didn't cover a mistake of this type, which was bad: "A new water tank will cost around $1100," she said, "but if the water system and pump has diesel in it you are looking at multiples of thousands ... "
It was as if a weather front had suddenly descended over the gleaming Southern Alps, shrouding the day in dark clouds of doom.
But there are worse places to feel sorry for yourself than Fox Glacier. We decided to put what had occurred behind us and make the most of the rest of our holiday. Haast, Wanaka, Queenstown, Mt Cook and Lake Tekapo were still to be enjoyed. And Wilderness was sending a flashy new Escape4 as a replacement which, even then, was winging its way south with fresh water.
Yes, our winter motorhome holiday hit a speed bump at Franz Josef, but compared to the glory of the Southern Alps in cloudless winter weather, it was a relatively small price to pay.
On our return we were informed that only the water tank needed replacing. It turned out to be an $1100 surcharge on our fabulous week.
Wilderness have now put the word "WATER" in large, unmistakable letters on their motorhomes above the cap so you don't make the mistake I did, even if you're not really concentrating.
Further information: The Covi SuperShow will have major motorhome and caravan brands on display at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane, this weekend.
