This is really a book written for non-New Zealanders, especially Americans, telling them "how to spend your winters freedom camping ... way south in New Zealand".
But it's well worth Kiwis having a read, too, for the entertaining perspective it offers on this country and for the useful tips on how
best to go about buying a motor caravan and hitting the road.
Carolyn Harris and her husband Dave first headed south for the northern winter after having to give up sailing.
"We took a tiki tour to New Zealand, found the price was right for our limited retirement income and returned to buy our own motor caravan the following year.
"We've spent the last six winters zig-zagging up and down both islands from Ninety Mile Beach in the North Island to Bluff in the South Island ... "
In the book she passes on a huge amount of practical information acquired in that time, including how to get here, how to buy a reliable motor caravan, the benefits of joining the New Zealand Motorcaravan Association, where to find good loos and hot showers, useful books and how to locate great spots where you can camp free.
But for a Kiwi audience the great pleasure is in the - disturbingly accurate - advice on how to cope with our idiosyncratic ways.
For instance, she says, "Kiwi's [sic] speak English - sort of." So the book offers a few hints "so you can pretend you know what in the world they're talking about".
Americans need to be clear that a bathroom is a place with a bathtub and sink. "If you're not interested in washing up, better ask for the toilet, lav or loo."
And gas is what you get when you break wind so better "ask for petrol".
Bloody, she explains, is "a universal adjective" particularly used when talking about the British.
The food is generally cheap, tasty and fattening but visitors are advised to bring their own cereal. "If you buy New Zealand cereal, throw away the cereal, eat the box."
As for the banking system, "the only kind thing I can say ... is the tellers are friendly and always smile when they say 'sorry"'.
Those few faults apart, "New Zealand is clean, green and spectacular ... Almost anything you like to do you can do in New Zealand and at a reasonable price."
So, she tells her American readers, "next winter head south for some freedom camping in the Land of the Long White Cloud."
Ironically, although one of the things Harris most likes about New Zealanders is our sense of humour, she's obviously a bit nervous about how her book will be received here.
"Although I poke fun at politicians, the Herald and your banking system," she says in a letter accompanying the review copy, "please understand I'd probably do the same thing if I wrote about the US."
Hey, no problem, we can take it - I thought it was very funny. I kept chuckling out loud and reading bits to my wife.
Bloody foreigners.
RV in NZ
By Carolyn Harris
Marble Mountain Press US$17
