Tourism New Zealand Style.

After a week of getting ourselves back on track for life back in God’s own (New Zealand) we took some timeout over the week-end for some sight seeing.  A luncheon date was arranged between fellow caravan club members Robin and Jenny along with Geoff and Eileen at Palmers Garden centre in Plimmerton.  After lunch we carried on to a Caravan and Motorhome display at Pacific Motorhomes where New Zealand Manufacturer UCC were displaying their latest motorhome and Leisureline Caravans were displaying their latest upmarket models. All very interesting but nothing that made any of us want to race off for the cheque book. One thing that was of interest was the Wineguard wind up roof Satellite dish. If the aerial system on our Arapaho isn’t suitable for New Zealand TV systems we will have to invest in a satellite dish but we will have to wait until we are back on the road before making any decision on that score. 

Motorhome show at Pacific Motorhomes, Plimmerton

Saturday night saw us glued to the TV watching the Rugby World Cup match between Australia and Ireland. With a general love hate relationship between New Zealand and Australia we were barracking for the Irish, (Dot and I both have a tad of Irish in us). It was great when the final whistle blew and the Aussies got their comeuppance creating the biggest upset in the competition so far. Come on the Irish.

On Sunday we were invited by Robin and Jenny to join them on a visit to an open day at the Wellington Vintage Machinery club open day in Mangaroa Valley.

These enthusiasts have an amazing array of equipment dating back over 100 years. Farming, manufacturing, business and common household equipment is all on display, some working, some awaiting restoration. Members of the club were on hand to impart information about any machine that caught our interest.

Ninety years old and still working. Two stroke petrol single cylinder stationary engine.Steam and petrol traction power.Looking for something?

The biggest surprise was a diesel fired boiler built in Scotland and imported by Dux Engineering back in 1964 for £4000, yes, we were using Pounds, Shillings and Pence in those days. By the time it arrived Dux had improved their manufacturing system and the boiler was obsolete so it was stored at the back of the warehouse until the club took delivery of it some 70 years after it’s arrival in the country. Unfortunately it will never be fired up as it uses so much water and diesel making it too expensive to operate.

Diesel fired boiler imported into NZ in 1964 and never used.Office and shop equipment display.Rescued from National Cash Register Company when they were due to be scrapped.Derek examining a Pratt single cylinder 2 stroke engine.This 2 cylinder beauty used to drive a generator for the TAB at Trentham race course for the 120 volt American Totaliser machine.Anyone remember these? an early model keyboard of the Commodore 64 Computer.

The club has an open day every third Sunday of the month and group visits can be arranged by contacting the club. We all agreed that it was a worthwhile visit and would encourage others to do likewise. Every gold coin donation helps to purchase spare parts to get more machines operational.