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Tours of Delight!More US & Canada touring ideas
Suncamper SapphireWinners are grinners...
iMotorhome .com
.au
because getting there is half the fun...
Issue 14: November 17 2012
SURPRISING PINTOSunliner’s compact Pinto 3 is worth reflecting on
SURPRISING PINTOSunliner’s compact Pinto 3 is worth reflecting on
A s an whole, the RV industry is pretty mediocre at self
promotion. Many companies – even household names – are relatively small, family-run businesses and PR is well down the list of must-dos. This is understandable, but keeping your name in the public gaze and letting customers (potential and existing) know what you’re up to is always a good thing.
Even for a magazine like iMotorhome, finding news and interesting tidbits is hard, time consuming work. So this issue I’m throwing down the gauntlet to all manufacturers and suppliers to keep us – and therefore your customers – ‘in
the loop’ with news of any kind. This can be as simple as staff appointments/changes or as major as new models, or anything in between. So how about it? Let us know and we’ll spread the word...
Speaking of spreading the word, there seems to be a steadily increasing number of regional RV shows in Australia, usually intermixed with camping, recreational and other ‘lifestyle’ orientated activities. These are in addition to the established major Capital City shows, which run between about January and June.
Shorter and more relaxed than their Big City counterparts,
regional shows are also much more a family affair for locals, which helps explain the broader range of products and services exhibited. It’s good to see these shows becoming established and we’ll do our best to get to as many as possible, but if you know of any not listed in our back-page events calendar then please drop me a line.
Speaking of lines, in this issue you’ll find a story on Werris Creek, near Tamworth; Australia’s or NSW’s first railway town, depending on who you ask! The township itself is neat if unremarkable (sorry folks), but the historic railway station is a gem and a must-see if you can make the
On my mind...
5 Melrose Dr, Wodonga 3690 • Ph: 02 6024 4222 • awrvworld.com.au
• Campervans • Motorhomes • Caravans • Hobby Haulers
• Camper Trailers • Off-Road Caravans • Pop-top Caravans• Hard-top Caravans • Campervans • Motorhomes
• Campervans • Motorhomes • 4x4 Campers • Caravans
Continued...
The iMotorhome Team
Richard RobertsonPublisher & Managing Editor
Malcolm StreetConsulting Editor
Allan WhitingTechnical Editor
©2012 iMotorhome. All rights reserved. Published by iMotorhome. ABN 34 142 547 719. PO Box 1738, Bowral. NSW. 2576. Contact us on 0414 604 368 or Email: [email protected]
detour. Just as interesting and rather more poignant is the Australian Railway Memorial, adjacent to the northern end of the platform. Opened in 2005, it’s a tribute to those who have lost their lives ‘on-the-job’ since our railway system was first established.
Also in this issue you’ll find Malcolm’s story on organised motorhome tours of the
US and Canada. Malcolm said he was intrigued when researching some of the stops along the way, including Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort in Florida. He writes, “I did wonder about the Wilderness definition – the campsites have all the “essentials” like power, water, TV connection, charcoal grill and a high speed internet
connection. No worries about roughing it apparently!”
Look up disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/campsites-at-fort-wilderness-resort/ to see how Americans rough it. While you’re online, visit www.pplmotorhomes.com and weep at the prices of used motorhomes in America. See you on Sat 1 December!
Richard
A long-time freelance RV, motoring and travel writer, Richard is a dedicated, long-term motorhome enthusiast.
He has held senior editorial positions with some of the best know recreational vehicle magazines in Australia. Richard also has a passion for lifestyle-enhancing technology, which is why he is the driving force behind the new iMotorhome eMagazine.
Unquestionably Australia and New Zealand’s best known RV journalist, Malcolm is a fixture at CMCA rallies and RV shows and is now in his second decade as a specialist RV writer.
If it’s available on either side of the Tasman, Malcolm has probably driven it, slept in it, reported on it, knows how it’s made and can tell you just how good it really is.
An experienced motoring writer when Japanese cars were a novelty, Allan’s career read’s like Australian motor writing royalty.
Highly experienced in or on everything from motorcycles to B-doubles, Allan also runs www.outbacktravelaustralia.com – an invaluable free resource for anyone into four-wheel driving or touring remote corners of Australia.
...Continued
On my mind... 3
LOVE YOUR FREEDOM.LOVE YOUR HORIZON.
www.ball inacampers.com.aup. 02 6681 1555 • 299 River St, Ballina NSW 2478
Embrace your freedom in luxury and style with Horizon Motorhomes.Established in 1995, our motorhomes are built in, not bolted on, and use Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen Crafter and Fiat Ducato as base vehicles with the option of two or four wheel drive. A choice of five models with a huge selection of tailorable features allows you
to personalise your motorhome to your travelling needs. Our quality interiors offer clever layouts to maximize storage and
convenience, and our entire range is easy to drive and simple to park. Experience the difference.
Test drive a Horizon Motorhome today.
17
21
23
INSIDE INSIDE
32 TESTEDHi Ho Pinto - Malcolm takes us away in Sunliner’s interesting Pinto 3
12 TESTEDWinners are Grinners – Richard reviews Suncamper’s unusual Sapphire
26 SHOW FEATUREA Bayside Frolic with Malcolm!
2A challenge for the RV Industry (and other stuff)...
ON MY MIND
7Happenings across the motorhome world, and beyond!
NEWS
43 TRAVEL Country & Western to Calypso – More motorhome opportunities in the US & Canada
MOBILE TECH62Loo, loo, skip to the loo!
TRAVEL56Line of Thought – Exploring Australia’s first railway town
NEXT ISSUE66What’s coming up, plus our show calendar
50 FEATUREOn Ya Bike! Be sure you buy the right sort of bicycle...
5
News...
Trakka is reporting strong forward orders for 2013 and that sales are coming
from all parts of the Country, despite the company being Sydney-based and selling direct.
Billing the business as a one-stop RV shop, Trakka’s Martin Poate said, “We’ve taken orders for builds in our production schedule well into February and March 2013, from places as diverse as Perth (WA), Port Elliot (SA), Sandy Bay (Tas), Melbourne (Vic), Nelson Bay (NSW) and Brisbane and Maroochydore (QLD), to name a few.”
“All models are represented in these orders and customers are now being extremely selective, with great knowledge of the products. All have special wants and needs, which we
can accommodate because we build specifically for them. Our production team even has a picture of each customer on the motorhome as it is being built, so the build comes to life!” Martin enthused. “It’s a part of how our team remains passionate and motivated, knowing that each vehicle is for a specific customer
and not just going into stock somewhere.”
To watch a Trakka Torino Remote coming to life specifically for Lindsay, Jill and their dog Sweetie, visit www.youtube.com/
watch?v=YNGORcAscnY&feature=plcp.
Trakka STrong InTo 20137
News...
Suncamper is celebrating a great year and getting into the Christmas spirit by
offering 10% off all floor stock
until 21 December. This includes new and used motorhomes as well as parts and accessories in stock.
“With massive savings, gear up for your summer road trip with all the accessories and spare parts you can imagine, or do all your Christmas shopping for the parents, grandparents, kids or grandkids with plenty of great gift ideas to choose from,” said Suncamper’s Cameron Harrison.
“We would also like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, a great New Year and the best of health for 2013.”
Visitors to Bendigo’s 11th annual RV & Camping Leisurefest next week will
see plenty of industry firsts, not just for Bendigo but in some cases for Australia. This will be the first show where almost all vans on show are available with AL-KO Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to make towing safer than ever before.
AL-KO reports all major local manufacturers are now offering
ESC as either standard or optional equipment and ESC is one of several great Victorian-designed innovations making their first Bendigo appearance.
Newly arrived from Echuca is the Mozzi Boat Loader to make life easy for people who want to take a tinnie on their next trip and load or unload it easily in a matter of minutes.
Two years in development, the Mozzi boat loader is made of aluminium with removable wheels, so the boat and trailer travel right-side-up, on top of a vehicle with all the fishing gear inside. It is also a usable roof-rack when not carrying a boat and is suitable for utes, dual cabs and SUVs.
Also at Bendigo will be all the big brands of RVs with their new-season releases, along with information on great holiday destinations and the latest in tents, clothing, alternative power and accessories.
Ticket prices remain at $10 for adults, $8 for concessions and free for kids under 15 (when accompanied by an adult) and there is ample free parking, plus free seminars and kids’ activities.
Leisurefest runs from Friday to Sunday, 23-25 November, at Bendigo Racecourse, Epsom, and is open 9.30 am to 5pm on the Friday and Saturday and 9.30 am to 4 pm on the Sunday. See back page for a link to Google maps!
XmaS DealS aT Suncamper
BenDIgo leISurefeST: a feaST of fIrSTS!
News...
Movember has hit again and Suncamper staff are doing their bit to help
out the great cause. For those of you that don’t know, Movember is all about bringing back the moustache, having fun and doing
it for a serious cause; men's health, specifically prostate cancer and mental health.
You can help out and donate too. If you’re feeling generous and want to support the great cause, along
with Suncamper, click the link and follow the steps on the donate page, au.movember.com/donate/
a HaIry SITuaTIon...
9
News...
Q ueensland-basedexpedition vehicle specialist, EarthCruiser,
is now ‘driving’ its business into a number of international markets.
The Company recently signed a distribution deal with a large
dealership in Mongolia, while the Australian-designed and manufactured EarthCruiser is also sold in other regions including North America, Britain, Spain, South Africa and Egypt.
Now EarthCruiser has entered an agreement with Host industries of
Bend, Oregon, to manufacture its Outback Explorer and Adventurer expedition-grade campers for the American market.
The Outback is based on the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter 4x2 or 4x4 chassis, with 110 kW/370 Nm four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission and up to 14 tonnes gross vehicle weight.
With prices starting at US$135,000, the campers can also be retrofitted to an existing chassis as a DIY option, or provided as a removable module. For information about EarthCruisers’ local models and operations visit www.earthcruiser.com.au
earTHcruISer HeaDS oS!
News...
If you’re a classic car buff with some spare cash, Shannons have two very different
performance ‘project’ cars going under the hammer in their Melbourne Summer Classic Vehicle Auction on Monday, November 26.
According to a press release, “Australian Muscle Car enthusiasts have already been excited by the prospect of restoring the 1974 Chrysler VJ Charger E48 Coupe that has been in its present ownership since 1998.”
Believed to be one of only 154 VJ-model Chargers built with the E48 ‘Six-Pack’ triple Weber
carburetor 265-CID engine, the Charger was sold new by Kew Chrysler and fitted with the desirable four-speed manual transmission and mandatory LSD rear end. It was once used as a daily driver, but in recent times it has seen little use and now apparently needs some TLC to bring its grey metallic paintwork and trim back to its former glory.
Significant and rare as one of the last of the mighty Six-Pack Australian Chargers, this E48 is an important piece of Australian motoring history and would make an interesting and rewarding restoration project. Shannons expect it to sell in the $18,000-$24,000 range.
Completely different, but also very desirable to own and restore, is a mid-engined 1970 Lotus Europa S2 Coupe in the same auction.
Initially introduced in 1966, the Europa utilised an uprated, 61 kW 1.5-litre Renault 16 TL engine and four-speed gearbox, rotated 180 degrees and mid-mounted in a Lotus-designed fiberglass coupe body with a steel backbone chassis.
The Series 2 Europa being auctioned was built in May 1970 and is presented in largely unmodified condition. Since coming to Australia as a kit car, its history has included one owner from 1982-2004 and it has been in the hands of its Tasmanian vendor since 2006.
While the Europa’s interior is correct and tidy, Shannons says its body would benefit from a full repaint to return it to its former glory. Expect bids in the $12,000-$16,000 range for this now-rare, fun and potentially stunning sports car.
“These two project cars are amongst 43 rare and unusual vehicles in the auction, including seven with no reserve. The auction will also see a number of classic motorcycles – including two very desirable Ducatis – go under the hammer, along with a range of Heritage black and white number plates, headed by the Victorian triple-digit ‘385’.” Shannons says.
claSSIcS comIng up aT SHannonS11
Suncamper’s Sapphire put a smile on our dial...
WHoDARES
GRINS Review and images by Richard Robertson
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire
Many motorhomes have legal seating for four or more
passengers, but in reality few see more than the cab seats occupied with any regularity – if at all. Additionally, many motorhomes (particularly older ones) have sideways-facing passenger seats with lap-belts or passenger seats well out of easy conversation distance from those up front.
Suncamper’s four-berth Sapphire is an interesting attempt to address both those problems, while providing additional seating as comfortable and individually adjustable as those in the cab. The design – along
with Suncamper’s sharp pricing – makes the Sapphire particularly attractive to motorhoming families or those who like to travel with friends.
Old and New
The Sapphire tested here was a prototype with an mixed pedigree
and while basically complete, some detail aspects are
subject to change. These include hopper windows instead of sliding and a table for the extra passenger seats. Other detail changes to the type/size/style of appliances, etc, are also possible, but the basic design, layout and style of the Sapphire is complete.
The test Sapphire rode on a Fiat Ducato cab-chassis that
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire
Unmistakably Suncamper, the Sapphire is boxy but practical and built to go the distance.
13
has since been superseded and is thus irrelevant to this review. New Sapphires will ride on the latest generation Fiat Ducato with a 3.0-litre 132 kW/400 Nm turbo-diesel engine and a 6-speed manual transmission, with the option of Fiat’s 6-speed AMT automatic. Suncamper will also offer the Sapphire on a Ford Transit, Iveco Daily, Mercedes Benz Sprinter or Volkswagen Crafter cab-chassis, although the price will vary with each of those.
Like all new-gen Ducatos it will include dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with discs all-round, electronic stability control (ESC), cab airconditioning, remote central locking, electric windows and (heated) side mirrors, cruise
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire
Swivelling cab seats provide extra seating flexibility.
Prototype Sapphire’s superseded Fiat Ducato was still a great drive.
control and more, including an integrated TomTom navigation system with Blue & Me bluetooth connectivity. It’s a comprehensive and desirable package with a high level of engineering and driving refinement.
Body Lines
A compact C-Class motorhome measuring just 6.76-metres
overall, the Sapphire follows Suncamper’s long-term design cues of flat sides/back finished in all-over white, with blue accents.
The Sapphire also follows Suncamper’s proven construction method of a sturdy welded aluminium frame
on a steel floor, with a single-piece roof that helps reduce the possibility of water leaks in the long run. Fully insulated with smooth outer wall panels and interior plywood paneling, all fittings are screwed to the aluminium framework, while
cabinetry is vinyl-faced ply of glued-and-screwed (not stapled) construction. It’s a system developed over more than 30 years and Suncampers are well known within the industry for their durability and longevity.
Sub 7.0-metre length makes the Sapphire a breeze for investigating interesting (and delicious) attractions along the way.
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire
Good overhead cupboard space with self-locking catches is a nice feature.
15
Along with the Sapphire’s compact dimensions and keen pricing come a few compromises, like a single 120 AH house battery and relatively modest fresh and grey water capacities of 90-litres each. External storage, however, is quite reasonable for the vehicle’s size, with a little extra space in both the battery and gas-bottle storage bins, plus a decent-sized through-boot at the rear. You’d want to take care when packing anything else in with the battery and gas bottles that it didn’t/couldn’t interfere with them.
A wind-out Fiama awning, electric entry-step, roof-
mounted aircon, LED clearance light, a high-mounted rear brake light are also included, along with Suncamper’s trademark steel rear bumper and protective tail light surrounds. These later items might’t look too pretty, but they work and are far more durable in the real world than the rear ends of many other motorhomes.
What's the Plan?
The Sapphire’s floor plan has an over-cab bed and a near-side
kitchen that runs through to a u-shaped rear lounge (which has an electric bed overhead). There’s a mid-mounted off-
side bathroom and a pair of free-standing coach-style passenger seats behind the driver, opposite the kitchen and ahead of the bathroom.
From a living point-of-view the design works well, thanks to a centre-positioned entry door that allows the chef to work undisturbed while others access the bathroom, rear lounge or fridge. The wrap-around rear lounge – a New Zealand Back, Malcolm tells me – provides ample seating for four and a large central table, but best of all it places you right smack-bang in the middle of the view. With windows all around its a great
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire
The Fiama wind-out awning doesn’t take long to set in position.
position that’s flooded with natural light and provides panoramic views of your surrounds.
The Sapphire feature Suncamper’s new-look, high-gloss cabinetry that provides a smart, modern finish that’s brought new life to its interiors. All cupboard doors and drawers have single push-button knob/handles that self-lock when closed, which is a nice feature, too.
Take a Seat!
Without doubt, the Sapphire’s distinguishing
design element is its pair of
The ‘New Zealand Back’ warp-around rear lounge/dinette makes the most of any view. Note LED strip lighting behind pelmets.
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire 17
free-standing coach-style passenger seats immediately behind the cab, on the driver’s side.
The concept is simple: keep your passengers close in proper, comfortable seating. Conversations on-the-move should be a snack, whilst parents could keep a close eye on youngsters to nip he-hit-me-first tantrums in the bud and ‘gently assist’ in the sharing of toys amongst sometimes-unwilling siblings. It also means you could use the Sapphire as an only vehicle, at a pinch, if you regularly needed to carry one or two extra passengers.
Both seats feature built-in lap/sash seat belts and provide a small degree of individual recline; like an airline seat, only with a lot more legroom! In fact with the cab seats swivelled this front area makes a roomy and practical second lounge area, although in the prototype it lacked any sort of table to truly make it versatile. It will be interesting to see what table solution Suncamper’s designers come up with to really make the Sapphire stand out. Maybe a small flip-up wall-mounted unit with a secondary, removable main table (a-la Trakka Trakkaway 700) could be the go?
Sapphire’s individual rear passenger seats are comfortable and innovative and would be ideal if you have kids or regularly travel with another couple.
Add a small table and you’d have an excellent second lounge/dinette.
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire
Seating ‘down the back’ is a u-shaped lounge with cushions that lift to access rear boot storage, as well as the water heater. It’s comfortable and quite spacious, with a generous table that provides decent dining space. Interestingly, Sunliner has opted for concealed LED strip lighting behind panels above the windows – I was going to call them pellets but they don’t conceal the curtain tracks – but there are no overhead cupboards in this lounge area due to the electric roof bed. More on that later...
Dinner Time...
The kitchen is split in two by the entry door, with the main area between it
and the cab and a secondary
The well equipped kitchen is split in two by the entry door.
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire 19
area between it and the rear lounge.
Bench space in the main area is limited, thanks to a three-burner gas cooktop to the left and a single-bowl sink to the right. There’s a double cupboard beneath the cooktop, a single cupboard beneath the sink and a stack of four drawers in the centre. It’s a compact work space that should work well and is blessed with plenty of natural light from a window behind the cooker, the door window, and an overhead skylight. There’s also a rangehood above the cooker, beneath a set of double overhead cupboards.
Aft of the entry door is a tall
unit with a high-set bench-top, beneath which is a three-way 90-litre fridge with a microwave above it and a four basket slide-out panty. The fridge is set closest to the entry door, making it handy for people outside to grab a
drink; the chef while creating a masterpiece at the cooker and/or those at the rear lounge – all without disturbing each other.
A flat-screen LCD TV/DVD on a swivel mount is just above
U-shaped rear lounge/dinette has wrap-around windows that sit you in the view.
Swivel-mounted TV can be watched from either end of the Sapphire.
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire
Moulded bathroom unit looks good and has plenty of storage nooks and crannies.
Thetford swivel-head cassette toilet can be positioned for optimal ‘convenience’...
the bench-top and sits flushish against the wall when not in use. Between the TV and entry door is the hot water system switch, water tank gauge, a pair of 80s looking light switches and a double powerpoint, plus the TV power supply and aerial point. It’s all a little haphazard and will (hopefully) be tidied up on production vehicles. Finishing off this section is a pair of small cupboards, above the television.
Cleaning Up
The Sapphire’s mid-mounted bathroom is reasonably spacious and
features and white-with-grey-accent moulded bathroom unit that looks very 2001: A Space Odyssey.
A generous hand basin with chrome flick-mixer tap occupies pride of place in one corner, while the hand-shower is wall-mounted, along with it’s own taps (which seem to be mounted very close to the mirror and could prove tricky to turn – another prototype issue, I’m thinking).
There are various moulded plastic panels, cup holders and even a loo-paper cover, plus a moulded medicine cabinet and towel rail above the swivel cassette toilet. And I was pleased to see two drain holes in the moulded floor unit, so you won’t end up ankle deep when showering if you don’t get the vehicle perfectly
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire 21
level. There’s also an extractor fan in the bathroom ceiling hatch.
Ni Night...
When the Sandman strikes, Sapphire occupants can
choose between the front over-cab bed measuring 1990 mm x 1600 mm and a rear bed measuring 2011 mm x 1300 mm that lowers from the ceiling above the lounge.
Electrically operated from a wall switch, the rear bed is
The rear electric roof bed can be left made-up and when lowered, doesn’t require removal of the rear lounge cushions, table – or even the fruit bowl!
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire
long but a bit narrow, but the good news is you don’t need to stow lounge cushions or even remove the dining table (or fruit bowl!); the bed stops automatically at just the right height.
Like almost all C-Class motorhomes, the front bed requires the use of an aluminium ladder, which stows neatly behind the secondary front seats at other times. Access to the rear bed also requires scaling a bit of height,
so maybe a small plastic step would be a good inclusion.
Thoughts
I’ve got to say I was rather impressed by the Suncamper Sapphire,
despite the test vehicle’s prototype status and its superseded Fiat Ducato cab-chassis. To be honest, the ‘old’ Fiat with its smaller 2.3-litre turbo-diesel engine and manual gearbox still had plenty of get-up-and-go and I’m a real fan of the New
Zealand Back lounge/dinette arrangement.
There’s even an option to make the Sapphire a six-berth; with extra seat belts to the rear lounge, which then converts to another double bed (although the roof bed would have to be raised somewhat). Other options include a reversing camera, solar power, a bike rack and an external barbecue and/or shower, for example.
The basic design works well, though, and the Sapphire
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire
The Sapphire’s over-cab bed is largest of the two and has plenty of headroom, natural light and fresh air, but reading lights at one end only.
23
could fill a niche for families and those who regularly travel as couples. It could also suit ‘normal’ buyers; just add a table to those second seats and you have a motorhome with a versatile floor plan in a compact and economical package.
Suncamper builds good, sound motorhomes and hat’s off to them for giving me a protoype to test that’s already earmarked for change. Thumbs up, Suncamper: Good to see some innovative thinking and a bit of daring. Winners, they say, are grinners...
... continued
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire
The Sapphire’s bulbous Luton Peak provides the cab with good shade and a measure of weather protection, too.
Steel rear bumper and taillight surounds are more Suncamper trademarks.
Tested: Trakka Trakkaway 700
• Compactdimensions• Comfortableextraseating• Six-berthoption• Rearlounge/dinette• Electricroofbed• Soundconstruction
• Rearbedabitnarrow
Manufacturer Suncamper
Model Sapphire
Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato 180
Engine 3.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel
Power 132 kW @ 4000 rpm
Torque 400 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Gearbox 6-speed automated manual
Brakes ABS ventilated 4-wheel discs
Tare Weight 3440 kg
Gross Vehicle Mass 4490 kg
Towing Capacity 2000 kg (braked)
Licence Car
Passengers 4
External Length 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in)
External Width 2.32 m (7 ft 7 in)
External Height 3.36 m (11 ft 0 in)
Internal Height 2.07 m ( 6 ft 9 in)
Front Bed Size 1.99 m x 1.60 m (6 ft 3 in x 5 ft 3 in)
Rear Bed Size 2.10 m x 1.30 m (6 ft 11 in x 4 ft 3 in)
Cooktop 3-burner gas
Fridge 90 L LPG/12/240 V
Microwave yes
Lighting 12 V LED/Halogen/Fluoro
Batteries 1 x 120 AH
Gas 2 x 4 kg
Solar Panels Optional
Air Conditioner Roof Mounted
Hot Water Heater 22 L gas/electric
Toilet Thetford cassette
Shower Wall-mounted with hand hose
Fresh Water Tank 90-litres
Grey Water Tank 90-litres
Price A$ 129,990 drive-away NSW
Pros
Cons
Specifications
Contact
Ph: (02) 9484-3952W: www.suncamper.com.auE: [email protected]
Suncamper
3/9 Sefton RdThornleigh. NSW. 2120.
Click for Google Maps
Tested: Suncamper Sapphire 25
Show Feature: Batemans Bay
BAYSIDE frolics Bateman’s Bay Show
a great success...Words and images by Malcolm Street
Airstream Caravans played the American retro theme...
Show Feature: Batemans Bay
Over the weekend of 2 – 4 November I motored down the south coast
of NSW to take a look at the South Coast Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo, being held at Batemans Bay. If the crowds were any guide then it was certainly something
of a success. Even if it did nothing more than create a bit of excitement for Recreational Vehicle travel, then all the participants deserve a pat on the back.
Of course there were RVs of all shapes and description
on display, but there were plenty for readers of this fine magazine to get excited about. Aquarius, A’van, Jayco, Frontline, Horizon, Trakka, Suncamper, Sunliner and Winnebago were all there in strength and had a generous number of vehicles on display.
Winnebago was well represented, while Trakka’s new Trakkaway 700 (below right) attracted plenty of attention
27
Show Feature: Batemans Bay
Undoubtedly the innovation award went to the Trakka display, not so much for their new slide-out 700 model (which might well be an award contender), but for the camera that was set up in the motorhome to show people outside how the remote
control bathroom and rear slide-out operated. Given that there is only limited space in any RV, it was a very good idea for a show display. It also, I would point out, entertained Dave Berry, watching show goers’ faces whilst he was playing with the remote control
outside the motorhome...
That bit of frivolity aside, the Batemans Bay show has only been going five years but it looks now to be a well established event, drawing people from not only the surrounding coastal area but
Frontline’s VW campervans and Horizon’s Fiat van-conversion motorhomes (below) drew solid interest.
Show Feature: Batemans Bay
as far afield as Canberra. I’d have to say also that, apart from the Expo, spending a few days staying in the Batemans Bay area isn’t exactly a hardship, so I’m looking forward to 2013 already!
Sunliner , A’van and Suncamper all flew their flags and proved popular with visitors
29
Show Feature: Batemans Bay
Sunliner’s Ranger is a baby C-Class with 4WD option that can go just about anywhere.
Paradise Motor Homes www.paradisemotorhomes.com.au 245 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters, Queensland, 4216 , Australiaph (07) 5597 4400 - fax (07) 5597 5500 - email [email protected] Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs, patents and copyrights ™ © 2012
Enjoy the prestige of owning Australia’s best quality motorhome
Paradise Motor Homes is excited to announce we have moved to the former Swagman premises located at 245 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters, Queensland.Our new headquarters houses a state-of-the-art production facility specially designed to meet the high demand for our new price-competitive Integrity Series. The exciting news for those wanting to trade will be the new 15,000sqm Paradise RV Sales & Service Division which will offer:
• Paradise New & Used Sales• Consignment Listings• Annual Motorhome Body Servicing• Solar & GenSet Supply & Fitment• Tilta Car Trailers & A Frames
This exciting move into such a high profile and well-known location will delight you with its easy accessibility, improved parking and extended services. We look forward to seeing you at the new home of Paradise.
• Trade-ins • Repairs to all makes & models• Insurance Repairs• Upgrades & modifications• RV Shop
Paradise Motor HomeshaveMoved
Tested: Sunliner Pinto
HI HO PINTO!HI HO
PINTO!
Upon reflection there's much to like about Sunliner's compact Pinto 3Review and images: Malcolm Street
Built very much in the Sunliner style, the Pinto 3 is built on a
Fiat Ducato cab with a Fiat chassis, not the Al-Ko chassis sometimes used to increase the load capacity, so its GVM comes in at 4005 kg. Having a tare weight of 3400 kg gives it plenty of storage capacity, however, even with the lower-rated chassis. Onto the Fiat chassis, Sunliner fit a welded
steel sub-chassis; the idea being that there is then a better weight distribution to the main chassis.
Fibreglass composite panels which have a Poplar cross-ply/Duplo Foam core are used for the main body work, with fibreglass mouldings for the front nose cone and the mouldings at the rear. In both cases, although the front
has a streamlining function, they are also decorative in taking away the boxy look that some motorhomes have. Apart from the offside bins for the gas cylinders and toilet cassette, the Pinto really only has one external bin – mid nearside – and it should hold all the essentials like hoses and power leads and maybe a couple of camping chairs
Tested: Sunliner Pinto
HI HO PINTO!HI HO
PINTO!
The Pinto’s narrow design is evident here; a feature intended to boost the confidence of new motorhomers.
33
Like many a manufacturer, Sunliner fit Dometic Seitz hopper windows. Large and double glazed, they perform the multiple functions of keeping heat in or out depending on the season, as well as supplying plenty of natural light and fresh air.
On the Road
It’s been mentioned before in these pages, but for some reason Fiat has chosen
to only supply motorhome manufacturers with the most powerful Ducato engine – the 3.0-litre 132 kW/400 Nm, turbo-diesel. In my view this is
something of an advantage, particularly with larger motorhomes.
In the case of this Pinto, the 132 kW engine is well suited and powers the motorhome along quite well. Like most motorhomes these days, the Pinto comes with an auto gearbox, or more correctly, the Fiat six-speed automated manual transmission (AMT).
Like any motorhome, there are a few rattles when driving along but nothing out of the ordinary and nothing a towel in the right place wouldn’t fix. The cab is comfortable and nicely fitted out and the Fiat is always an enjoyable vehicle to drive.
Rear entry door is unusual in a motorhome design. Swivelling
cab seats (below) create an generous lounge area.
Tested: Sunliner Pinto
Living Inside
Stepping inside the Pinto reveals quite an interesting and flexible
layout. Centre stage, literally and figuratively, is the electric bed. I am never sure of the correct term for these because they are actually a double bed that can be raised and lowered electrically, but the shorthand version is just electric, which might be very confusing to a poor speaker of English. But I’ve digressed.
The bed is located directly behind the driver’s cab. Although the electrically operated bed has by now been used in quite a few motorhome designs, mostly it’s been at
the rear, with a club lounge underneath.
This arrangement has a day set-up with two sideways facing lounges behind the driver’s cab. Both cabs seats swivel around, thus giving quite
a spacious sort of lounge area. With the bed fully raised, the ceiling height is a respectable 1.87 m (6 ft 1.5 in) – a little lower than the rear area at 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) but still functional. That height is achieved in part by have a slightly lower
Inwards-facing lounges and a large table create an relatively expansive lounge/dining area. Electric roof bed still allows decent headroom, too.
Tested: Sunliner Pinto 35
floor level under the bed area but I stumbled over the small step twice in my short time in residence and I wondered if a sloped floor was a possibility?
Between the sideways facing lounges, the moderately sized table is mounted on an every-which-way mounting; not the
Rolls Royce of table mounts, a Zwaardvis, but still something that worked quite well.
By night, the 1.85 m x 1.37 m (6 ft 1 in x 4 ft 6 in) bed can be lowered into position with a flick of a switch. It lowers down to about seat cushion level but it’s major advantage, no doubt,
is that is can be left made up, so there is no fiddling around when bed time comes. Bed reading lights always seem to be a bit of a challenge with electric beds – never quite sure why – and in this case there are ceiling mounted lights but centrally rather than to one side. Bed readers might like to
Tested: Sunliner PintoThe electric bed can be left made up and moves into position at the touch of a button.
consider taking an LED reading light with them or maybe a Kindle with reading light fitted or maybe, for the sophisticated, an iPad!
Time to Eat
The Pinto 3’s nearside kitchen bench gives the appearance of being
quite small, but is actually larger than it looks. It does have a stainless steel sink and drainer, also a three burner cooktop and grill/oven. One thing that Sunliner has done to improve things is to fit four drawers instead of cupboards, plus a wire basket slide-out pantry. Normally there isn’t a drawer
under the sink but what some clever person has done is fit a whole drawer frame but only have half a drawer for cutlery, thus ensuring it fits neatly under the sink unit. Also, all the drawers have full metal runners. Above the kitchen bench, the overhead lockers have the interesting feature of aluminium frames rather than the more usual timber.
On the opposite side of the Pinto 3 are a couple of other kitchen essentials, a 3-way 190-litre Dometic fridge, with a microwave oven above. In short, the kitchen area is quite compact, but still very functional.
Tested: Sunliner Pinto
Lounges are generous and provide plenty of room to entertain or stretch out.
Kitchen drawers are ingenious and very well designed.
190 L two-door fridge/freezer is unusually large in a vehicle this size.
37
Keeping Clean
Fitted into the rear offside corner, the bathroom is a bit like the kitchen: larger
than it looks and with enough room for a circular shower, Thetford cassette toilet, small wash basin and both upper and lower cupboard space. Not quite enough room to swing a cat (kitten perhaps? - Ed), but still very usable. Ventilation is handled by both a ceiling hatch and a largish window in the rear wall. Not square or rectangular in shape, the bathroom is an interesting take on what can be achieved by stepping out of the box, so to speak!
Tested: Sunliner Pinto
The rear corner bathroom works well and is quite spacious, with a seperate shower and loo.
Bits and Pieces
Internal storage is surprisingly good with a full height wardrobe next to the fridge
and a multi-shelf cupboard filling the rear wall area not taken by the bathroom. That’s definitely a good idea because there are normally overhead lockers fitted above the lounge seats, which in this case really isn’t practical.
One area the Sunliner do very well usually is their electrical controls - in this case located above the doorway, along with
the radio/CD player and easily reachable.
What we think
Having a bed that can be raised and lowered (electrically) might not
suit everybody, but I would have to say that this layout certainly ticks a few boxes for those who desire a permanent bed (one that does not have to be made up every night), but don’t necessarily want a large motorhome. The Pinto 3 certainly offers a different layout to what is most commonly
available and is a nice step away from a full width rear bathroom, yet still offering all the essential features.
Tested: Sunliner Pinto
Generous interior storage and Sunliner’s usual stylish finish, with good attention to detail, is evident throughout the Pinto 3.
Thanks
Ph: 07 54936877W: www.sunshinestaterv.com.auE: [email protected]
Sunshine State RV
298 Nicklin WayWarana. Qld. 4575.
Click for Google Maps
Special
39
Compact and capable, Pinto 3 is also available on the Iveco Daily or Ford Transit cab-chassis.
Tested: Sunliner Pinto
• Goodsizebathroom• Plentyofinternalstorage• Windowareaonbothsides
ofloungearea• Plentyof“day”livingarea
• Beige/browncolourschemedidn’tdoalotforme
• Nobedreadinglights• Floorstepjustenoughto
tripover
Manufacturer Sunliner Motorhomes
Model Pinto 3
Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato Multijet 180
Engine 3.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel
Power 132 kW @ 3500 rpm
Torque 400 Nm @1 400 rpm
Gearbox 6-speed AMT
Brakes Disc ABS
Tare Weight 3400 kg
Gross Vehicle Mass 4005 kg
Licence Car
Passengers 3
External Length 6.88 m (22 ft 7 in)
External Width 2.23 m (7 ft 4 in)
External Height 3.09 m (10 ft 1 in)
Internal Height 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
Bed Size 1.85 m x 1.37 m (6 ft 1 in x 4 ft 6 in)
Lounge Size 1.88 m x 0.61 m (6 ft 2 in x 2 ft)
Rear Bed Size Single (2) 2.0 m x 0.6 m (6 ft 7 in x 1 ft 11 in)
Front Bed Size 1.75 m x 0.7 m (5 ft 9 in x 2 ft 4 in)
Cooktop Thetford Triplex 3-burner & grill/oven
Fridge Dometic RM 8551 190-litre
Microwave LG
Gas 2 x 4.0 kg
Lighting 12 V
Batteries 1 x 100 AH
Solar Panels n/a
Air Conditioner Air Command Ibis
Hot Water Heater Truma 14-litre
Toilet Thetford cassette
Shower Separate cubicle
Fresh Water Tank 120-litre
Grey Water Tank 55-litre
Price $134,990 on-road Queensland
Pros
Cons
Specifications
Contact
Ph: 1800 SUNLINERW: www.sunliner.com.auE: [email protected]
Sunliner
2 Gatwick RdBayswater, Victoria. 3153.
Click for Google Maps
Tested: Sunliner Pinto 41
1800 SUNLINER
Sunliner 2012Return to luxury and style
Available in dealerships now
Tested: United 2plus1 PremierTested: United 2plus1 Premier
COUNTRY AND WESTERN TO CALYPSO
Why not join an escorted motorhome tour of the US and Canada, with a few extra surprises thrown in?Words by Malcolm Street, images courtesy of Graeme Smythe.
Travel: USA & Canada 43
Miami, Nashville, Disney World, Cape Kennedy all bring to mind
some glamorous, attractive and historic, not to mention musical, destinations in the USA. Similarly Jamaica, in particular and more generally the Caribbean, bring to mind a very exotic and stunning part of the world.
If you have ever had any desires to see any of those places from a motorhome, at least the land based USA content that is, then the good news is Graeme Smyth from Harvey World Travel Menai has stitched together a tour that combines motorhome travel
For Elvis fans – the Memorial Garden at Gracelands
Disney World isn’t just for the children
Travel: USA & Canada
with the added attraction of a short Caribbean cruise.
Starting in Miami, the Nashville to Caribbean tour group picks up their pre-arranged 25 ft/7.62 m motorhomes and heads off for the sights of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Similar to the Alaska/Canada tour mentioned in the last issue, it’s done in loose convoy formation. That is, destinations and RV parks are fixed each night but during the day participants can travel at their own pace.
It’s not all driving days either, because amongst everything else four nights are enjoyed at the remarkable Disney World
Cruise ship Freedom of the Seas
Key West, Florida
Very well laid out RV Park at Destin Florida
Travel: USA & Canada 45
Wilderness Campground and three more are spent seeing the colourful sights and sounds of Nashville. Just a footnote here on the Wilderness Campground, I did wonder about the Wilderness definition – the campsites have all the
“essentials” like power, water, TV connection, charcoal grill and a high speed internet connection. No worries about roughing it apparently! Space buffs are bound to enjoy a visit to Cape Kennedy, whilst francophones and jazz buffs
can absorb the magic of New Orleans.
After three weeks of pleasant travel it’s time to board the luxurious Freedom of the Seas for seven days of idyllic cruising around the Caribbean, taking in the sights of Labadee,
Saturday night, French Quarter, New Orleans
Deep Fried Crab – good southern food Nothing like a drive through camp site
Travel: USA & Canada
Nothing like a drive through camp site
Jamaica, Georgetown and Cozumel along the way. Sound like a tough call? All play and no work by the looks of it!
Nova Scotia to Niagara
If the southern US or maybe cruising really isn’t your thing, then how about a 28
day motorhome convoy tour of Eastern Canada, with a bit of the US thrown in as the starting and finishing points? From Boston, Massachusetts, the convoy tour heads north through picturesque Maine and across the Canadian border to unspoiled New Brunswick. Next are a few days in untamed Nova Scotia before heading to beautiful, quaint Prince Edward Island - Anne of Green Gables anyone?
Travel: USA & Canada
Picturesque St Maarten – cruise destination
Disney World RV Park amongst the trees
Jack Daniel distillery at Lynchburg, Tennessee
47
After touring the islands and a couple of ferry trips it’s across New Brunswick to brush up on “parlez vous Français” before taking in the sights of historic Quebec City, sprawling Montreal and the capital of Canada, Ottawa. No visit to this part of the world would be complete without a couple of day in lakefront Toronto and of course, that world famous attraction, Niagara Falls. As
any Canadian will tell you, the view is always better from their side! And it really is...
Leaving the falls, it’s time to head back through the US states of New Hampshire and Massachusetts in order to return to Boston and hand the motorhome back. Like the aforementioned tours, the motorhomes and RV Parks are booked in advance and all
that is needed is to arrive at the right place each day. Naturally everyone tries to get parked up for the night in time for happy hour and those other delights that go with motorhome travel – no matter which continent you’re touring on.
Travel: Alaska
Click for Google Maps
Travel: USA & Canada
Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City
Maid of the Mist tour boat, Niagara Falls Rideau Canal, Ottawa
FROM$11,000per person twin share
HARVEY_Wanderer_OCT12_Advert.indd 1 12/11/12 12:38 PM
Feature
There’s more to choosing a bicycle than you might think...
ON YA BIKE!
One of the drawbacks of motorhoming is the absence of a ‘second
vehicle’ to jump into to buy that milk and bread non-motorhoming people always believe you’ll forget, once in camp, and/or to simply explore your local area.
Short of towing a small car or carrying a motorcycle somehow, a bicycle provides both cheap and easy transport that – most importantly – can deliver a significant health benefit at the same time.
But not all bicycles are created equal and choosing the right style is more important than you might think. For example, there’s no point buying a Tour de France contender when all you want is to ride 500 metres to grab that darned milk and bread; but by the same token it’s pointless buying a bells-
and-whistles mountain bike for the same mission.
Like everything in our society, bicycles – I’ll call them Bikes from now on – come in a bewildering array of styles, shapes and sizes. In a future issue I’ll be looking at the new
wave of electric bikes (eBikes): an exciting development for those looking for a helping hand as they ride.
Broadly speaking, bikes fall in to three categories: Mountain, Road and Hybrid. Here’s a run through their pros and
Feature
Mountain bikes are rugged and great for exploring, but are heavy and slow as a consequence. Their upright riding position is most comfortable, however.
A road bike explained. Great for exercise, they’re unsuited to an RVer’s needs.
51
cons, but first let me explain something really important.
Bike Gears 101
Bikes in the lower price ranges these days are usually advertised as
having 21 or 24 gears and occasionally 27. This is a bit of a misnomer, in the same way saying a 4WD like a Nissan Patrol comes with 10 gears, for example, instead of 5 plus a 2-speed transfer case. Let me explain...
The big sprockets the pedals attach to on any bike are known as ‘chain rings.’ The small ones at the rear wheel are individually called ‘sprockets’, but the group of them is called a ‘cassette’ (you might also hear ‘cluster’ used).
A bike with 21 gears will have 3 chain rings of varying sizes up front and a cassette with 7 sprockets (of varying sizes) at the back wheel. Multiply 3 by 7 and you get 21. In bike-shop
speak you’d talk about this bike being a ‘seven-speed triple’; meaning seven speeds in the main gear seat and a triple chain ring up-front.
When the going is easy you use the biggest front chain ring and when it gets tough you use the smallest. When it’s somewhere in between you use the middle one. But that’s only part of the story. Assisting you down the back are the individual gears of the cassette, which provides a
FeatureThese two mountain bikes are ‘hardtails’, meaning they lack rear suspension. Disc brakes, both cable operated and hydraulic, are increasingly common.
range of ratio options to fine-tune your pedaling effort.
In practice you do most of your gear shifting with the multiple choices offered by the rear cassette set and only change the front gears (chain rings) when the terrain and/or wind changes appreciably. So in reality, a ‘21-speed bike’ is really a 7-speed bike with 3 gear-range options, but the bottom line is the more gears you have the easier your riding will be.
Mountain Bikes
Tough, rugged and near indestructible, mountain bikes are the favoured
choice of RVers around the world. Characterised by suspension, fat tyres, wide handlebars and an upright riding position, they are the SUV of the cycling world and can go just about anywhere.
Mountain bikes have smaller diameter wheels than road bikes and fatter tyres that run at lower pressures. These keep you closer to the ground (good for confidence) and provide good traction on mixed surfaces, but all that rubber creates friction and friction takes effort to overcome. Your effort. Fat tyres make for slow progress, as do chunky tyre patterns that detract from ride comfort on hard surfaces.
Mountain bikes are also heavy to cope with their intended usage, thus adding to your riding effort. These days they fall into two sub-categories: hardtail and full-suspension.
Hardtails have front suspension only and are the original style of mountain bike. Now the province of serious off-road riders who cycle up hill as well as down, they are also the cheapest style of mountain bike.
Suspension on a bicycle is a double-edged sword. On the plus side it enhances overall ride comfort and reduces road shock through the handlebars; a particularly important consideration with older bones. On the down side it adds weight, complexity and when you’re riding (especially up hill), every time it compresses under the power stroke as you pedal, it robs you of energy and increases the overall pedalling effort.
Feature 53
Dual-suspension mountain bikes are the smoothest riding bikes of all, with the rear suspension designed to cushion the impact of high-speed down-hill descents. They’re ideal if you catch the chairlift to the top of Thredbo and let gravity take you back down, but their added weight and complexity is a real drawback. So too is the increased riding effort, because every time you pedal the rear suspension will compress to some degree, robbing you of some forward motion.
As an overall choice a mountain bike would be my second; its weight, slow speed and pedalling effort tarnishing it’s inherent strength, durability and wide gear range
Road Bikes
As a keen road cyclist I have to say a road bike makes little or no sense
in this application, despite being lighter and faster than any other type of bike.
Narrow handlebars, a less relaxed riding position and narrow, high-pressure tyres that are unsuitable to anything other than smooth, hard road surfaces all add up to a less-than-desirable package best kept for exercise and fun.
Hybrids
A hybrid is generally accepted to be cross between a mountain
and a road bike. Delivering lighter weight, faster speeds and easier riding, a hybrid promises (and largely delivers) the best of both worlds.
From a mountain bike a hybrid gets front suspension, wide handle bars and an upright riding position. It also picks up wide-range gearing. From a road bike a hybrid get larger
diameter wheels, which are more stable at speed, and narrower tyres, which roll more easily yet are still suitable for a wide range of surfaces.
Put the two together and you have a bike that’s lighter and faster than a mountain bike, yet more comfortable and durable than a road bike. Bolt on a rack and some lights and you have a machine that’s as at home riding across rough park after a late trip to the supermarket as it is pottering around the streets of a new town.
The Bottom Line
As you might have guessed, a hybrid is my preferred and
recommended choice for an all-round bike best suited to the motorhoming lifestyle.
No matter your choice, the old axiom that the more you pay the more you get largely
FeatureThis ladies hybrid combines the best features of mountain and road bikes to create the ideal bike style for motorhomers.
holds true. The more you pay the lighter and better built and equipped your bike will be. I’d also recommend buying a new bike from a local bike shop, not a supermarket, department store or car parts superstore. I’ve looked at the shoddy workmanship, welded components that should be solid metal and absolutely basic fittings (gears/brakes/shifters) in bikes at these places that not only bode poorly for ease of riding and
longevity, but also safety.
Apart from far better quality from a bike shop, the bike will be fitted to your body size and ready to ride out the door. It will also be backed by a national warranty actually worth the paper it’s written on.
Although most bikes are made in Taiwan or China they’re not all created equal. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune. A good quality name
brand hybrid can be yours for around $500 or less.
The good news is that whatever bike you choose, if you ride it regularly it will help save you money and make you healthier. It will also provide cheap and reliable transport – just the thing you need when you forget the bread and milk. Again...
FeatureSpecialised touring bikes, like this Vivente, have a rack/s, lights, mudguards, wide-range gears and can traverse a continent as easily as a car park.
55
Travel: Werris Creek
LINE OF THOUGHTWerris Creek’s railway heritage makes a fitting backdrop to an award-winning and moving memorial... ...Review and images by Richard Robertson
Dramatic, towering sculptures dominate the Australian Railway Monument.
Travel: Werris Creek
Next time you’re near Tamworth, NSW, be sure to visit historic
Werris Creek. Steeped in railway history, Werris Creek is also celebrated as our first railway town and is home
to the unique Australian Railway Monument: a moving landscaped architectural memorial to those who died in the the service of Australia’s railways.
Potted History
According to Wikipedia, European settlers arrived in this part of
the Liverpool Plains area in the 1830s and Weia Weia Creek Station was established by the Reverend Francis Vidal around 1841. By the 1870s there were 20 pastoral families occupying the valley and on the eastern side of the present townsite was Summer Hill station, belonging to John Single, after who the main street is now named.
Geographically, Werris Creek is overlooked by the 380-metre
Werris Creek’s beautiful and one bustling platforms now host just two trains per day.
57
Travel: Werris Creektall Mount Terrible; known to locals as Terrible Billy. For the record books, on 18 July 1965 Werris Creek was blanketed by three inches of snow for the first – and only – time in recorded history.
History on Track
Werris Creek is 411 km north west from Sydney by rail. The
town exists because of an 1877 act of Parliament to build a branch line from the then Great Northern Railway, west, to Gunnadah and beyond.
January 1st 1878 saw the opening of the Werris Creek post office and between 1878 and 1880 the first railway station opened, although it was relocated to its current
position within a year or two. The existing railway station is the third largest in NSW and opened in 1885. Now heritage listed, it was designed by a remarkable but largely forgotten champion of our early railway system: John Whitton.
Whitton, a Yorkshireman, is considered the Father of NSW Railways and served as its engineer-in-charge between 1856 and 1899. Responsible for the construction of nearly 3500 km of new lines in NSW and Victoria, he was also the man behind the famous Zig-Zag railway in the Blue Mountains near Lithgow.
Travel: Werris Creek
An interesting design feature of Werris Creek station – which is still in use – is its triangular shape. The platforms are built inside the ‘V’ shape formed by the separation of the two lines, making transfer between trains a matter of strolling across the platform.
In it’s heyday Werris Creek station was a hive of activity. Trains rumbled through at all hours and the Railway Refreshment Room provided meals and accommodation to hungry and tired travellers around the clock. These days a solitary CountryLink Xplorer train arrives and is divided at 3:34 every afternoon, with one part heading west to Moree and the other north to Armidale. Every morning at
11:29 the two halves rejoin and travel back to Sydney.
The township of Werris Creek, which is primarily a long strip on the eastern side of the railway line, sprung up because of all the railway activity. Even today the town is home to a major locomotive service centre and those thin steel tracks are the spine that binds the local community together.
Monumental Effort
Although Werris Creek is still a working station it also houses the Rail
Journeys Museum, which apparently is highly regarded and opens between 10 am and 4 pm daily. Unfortunately, I passed through too early and
couldn’t linger, so don’t make the same mistake!
Beautifully designed in the classic Victorian style, the station – with its magnificent brickwork, ornate columns and wide, shady platforms – is a reminder of an age when style and substance were a matter of course for all our public buildings. As mentioned earlier, Werris Creek is the third largest railway station in NSW and a source of great pride for all locals.
The Australian Railway Monument, adjacent to the northern end of the station, is far from the dreary, monolithic edifice its name suggests.
Opened in 2005 as a tribute
Old locomotives never die, they just go to Werris Creek...59
Travel: Werris Creek
to the more than 2000 rail workers who have died in the ‘line’ of service since trains first began operating in Australia, it’s a multi-million dollar project that incorporates much poignant symbolism.
Built amphitheater-style, the central area is criss-crossed with paths representing the three railway lines branching out from Werris Creek: Northern, Southern and Western. Each disappears into a ‘cutting’, on which, in year order, are listed the names and occupations of those remembered.
Towering 3.5-metre abstract sculptures of railway workers
on-the-job stand silently by; watching over visitors and guarding the memories of the fallen.
Quietly moving yet far from sombre of morose, the Australian Railway Monument is respectful and involving, inviting exploration and invoking introspection as you ponder the efforts and sacrifices made to build and maintain our national railway system.
Stopping Over
Werris Creek township is fairly unremarkable,
although the railway theme is nicely carried over into things
like street signs. There is no caravan park, nor any close by, but Camps Australia Wide lists the Laura Byrne Park rest area at Currabubula, about 14 km north of town on the Werris Creek Rd from Tamworth. From memory, Currabubula is quite a pretty little village and well worth a stopover in its own right.
To find out more about the Liverpool Plains region visit http://www.visitquirindi.com.au, or www.visitnsw.com for information on any part of New South Wales.
The Australian Railway Monument is a thoughtful and poignant tribute to the men of steel who blazed the railway across an inhospitable land...
Travel: Werris CreekWorkers keeping silent vigil: At 3.5-metres their size represents the triumph of the workers over their huge task – despite a sometimes terrible cost.
61
i Phone owners are one step closer to never being caught short, thanks
to Show The Loo: a free Australia-only app designed purely for your – convenience.
Open the app and your iPhone’s in-built GPS zeros
in on your current location, showing any nearby public toilets. If there’s more than one to choose from you can slide the map around with your finger and review them at your leisure.
However, if time is of the
essence just press the yellow I’m Busting button in the top lefthand corner and Show The Loo will show you the closest facility, along with any relevant information like opening hours, baby change facility (in case you’re not
Mobile Tech...
SKIP TO THE LOO
My darlings, here’s an app you’ll be busting to get a hold of...
No matter where in Australia you are, if there’s a toilet nearby, Show The Loo will find it (hopefully).
Mobile Tech...
happy with your current baby, I guess) and so on. You can then press the Route button, choose between walking or driving, and up pops (perhaps not the clearest) directions to get you there. Of course, you can always just follow the map if that’s easier.
63
Show The Loo also has a search facility to scour the countryside for the most convenient convenience. This is a fairly basic app, but so is its raison d'être. And let’s face it, when you’ve got to go you don’t want to have to jump through hoops to get there.
Show The Loo suits iPhones or iPod touches, but won’t run
on iPads (unlike a lot of iPhone apps) or any other platform. If you’re an Android user try installing the inspiringly-named Toilet/Bathroom Finder. It reportedly has a database of 60,000-plus facilities world-wide, which dare I say is a s..t load of toilets. The same app developer also has an Apple version called Restroom/Bathroom/Toilet Finder, with
the same global database. It seems whatever your mobile device, this company has you covered and for providing such a useful free service we’re certain they will soon be flushed with success. Sorry...
Mobile Tech...
You can even refine your search with a range of useful criteria.
Next Issue...
Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes, campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general?
Drop us a line at [email protected] and we’ll happily promote it in this calendar.
February 8-10
Newcastle Caravan, Camping & Holiday Expo
Newcastle Entertainment Centre & Showground Broadmeadow, NSW, 2292.
• Open 09:00-5:00 daily (4:00 pm Sun)
• Free parking• Adults $10• Seniors $6• Kids U 16 free with adults
• Website: www.newcastle.supershow.com.au
Click for Google Maps
8-10FEB
9-11NOV
23-25NOV
November 9-11
NZ Motorhome & Caravan Show
CBS Canterbury Arena,Christchurch. NZ.• Open 9:00-5:00 daily
(4:00 Sunday)• Free parking• Adults $12• Kids U 12 Free
• Website: www.nzmotorhomeshow.co.nz
8-10FEB
9-11NOV
23-25NOV
Click for Google Maps
Can you believe next issue comes out on December 1st? Where
has the year gone? The plan, which as always shall remain flexible, is for Malcolm to bring you a write-up on a Kiwi KEA and for Richard to bring you a touring story in a Suncamper Sovereign Prestige.
There should also be a write-up on the 11th annual Bendigo RV, Camping and Leisurefest, some delicious
roadside eats and a detailed look by resident technical boffin, Collyn Rivers, at the latest standards for gas appliances in all manner of recreational vehicles.
See you in two weeks time and as always, please follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/iMotorhome) and Twitter (@iMotorhomeMag) in the mean time. Stay safe, too!
NEXT ISSUE
Click for Google Maps
November 23-25
11th Annual RV & Camping Leisurefest
Bendigo RacecourseHeinz St, Epsom. Vic.• 09:30-5:00 daily
(4:00 pm Sun)
• Free parking• Adults $10• Seniors $8• Kids U 15 free with
adults
• Website: www.leisurefest.com.au
8-10FEB
9-11NOV
23-25NOV
66
