AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND DECEMBER 2017 Slovenian Sleeper? Seemingly overlooked, Adria’s Coral is now better than ever… Win!$50 for the best letter! Technical Travel Project Polly Current Trends – Tokyo Show Report NZ Tour Report! A Power of Good? Auto-Sleepers Broadway FB… 2 | About iMotorhome iMotorhome Magazine is published monthly and available by free subscription from www.imotorhome.com.au. Your letters and contributions are always welcome! Editorial Design & Production Richard Robertson Agnes Nielsen Publisher/Managing Editor Manager/Lead Designer (+61) 0414 604 368 [email protected] [email protected] Christopher O’Hare Malcolm Street Designer Road Test Editor [email protected] (+61) 0418 256 126 [email protected] Published by iMotorhome PO Box 1738, Bowral. NSW 2776. Australia. Contributors ABN: 34 142 547 719 Emily Barker T: +614 14 604 368 Sharon Hollamby E: [email protected] Allan Whiting W: www.imotorhome.com.au Facebook “f” Logo RGB / .ai Facebook “f” Logo RGB / .ai Ian Pedly Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Phillip McLeod Legal © 2017 iMotorhome Pty Ltd. Digital All content of iMotorhome Magazine and Mitch Crowle website is copyright and cannot be reproduced Manager - Digital in any form without the express written permission of the publisher. Every effort is made (+61) 0400 378 593 to ensure the accuracy of content, however no [email protected] responsibility is accepted for any inconvenience and/or loss arising from reading and/or acting upon information contained within iMotorhome Magazine or on the iMotorhome website. Grey Nomads Travel and Cruise Soon you will see us roaming the countryside as we have finally 'handed in the key' for our rented premises in the Yarra Valley and become a "real" mobile travel agency. We are now here to provide a travel experience to Grey Nomads, and others, around this great country, while being a grey nomad with you. After 27 years in a shop, it is exciting to be able to continue what we have enjoyed providing but doing so "on the road" from our motorhome. If you see us, stop by for a chat and ask any travel questions you have. Lyn will help you tailor make your itinerary to suit your travel needs. Grey Nomads Travel and Cruise is an approved AFTA and ATAS agency. In the past, our specialty has been sending travellers to Africa, South America, Canada, USA, South East Asia, Europe, and Scandinavia - anyhow, anywhere, anywhen. Having visited over 60 countries, Lyn knows how to provide 1st class service. So when you want assistance in organising that "holiday when you're not on the road", give Lyn a call to plan that exciting time in your life. Who doesn't love cruising? We have put together a cruise for September 2018 on board the brand new Princess ship the "Majestic Princess". She carries 3,500 passengers and over 1300 crew that are specially trained to care just for you. The "Majestic Princess" is making her maiden voyage to the South Pacific in September 2018 and the first cruise is out of Sydney to Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. It's just a short 12 nights but you will come back NEW. See you soon. 12 nights from: Inside Cabins $2940 per person Balcony Cabins $3179 per person Deluxe Balcony Cabin $3820 per person Mini Suites $4098 per person Majestic Princess Date Port Arrive Depart Sat, Sep 15 Sydney, Australia 06:45pm Sun, Sep 16 At Sea Mon, Sep 17 At Sea Tue, Sep 18 Noumea, New Caledonia 08:00am 05:30pm Wed, Sep 19 Mystery Island, Vanuatu 07:00am 06:00pm (Tender Required), (Wheelchair Access Limited) Thu, Sep 20 At Sea Grey Nomads Travel and Cruise Fri, Sep 21 Suva, Fiji 07:00am 06:00pm Sat, Sep 22 Lautoka, Fiji 07:00am 06:00pm gntc.com.au Sun, Sep 23 At Sea Mon, Sep 24 Lifou, New Caledonia 07:00am 04:00pm [email protected] (Tender Required), (Wheelchair Access Limited) Tue, Sep 25 At Sea 0418 1858 50 Wed, Sep 26 At Sea 03 5967 1858 Thu, Sep 27 Sydney, Australia ..... 06:00am 4 | On my mind View All Units Online The Year in Rear View… 24/7 awrvworld.com.au It’s that time of the year when self-satisfied Looking Forward editors write smug summaries of the past 12 month’s achievements and pen platitudes Because you can’t keep going forward while about how they couldn’t have done it without looking in the rear view mirror, it’s time to look the help of their discerning readers and loyal through the bug-spattered windscreen of advertisers. possibility and peer at what 2018 might have in store. More of the same is quite on the cards All I’ve got to say is, “Did anyone get the – I’ve penciled in an autumn tour of Route 66 number plate of that bus that hit us?” for October, although my internal jury is still out on whether there’ll be time in 2018 for another Looking into the rear vision mirror of 2017, it New Zealand tour. There will be another reader feels like I’ve been on that wild bus ride from weekend, however, probably somewhere along the movie Speed, with me (sadly) in place of the mighty Murray, plus we’ve a few other Sandra Bullock, white-knuckling it down the surprises in the works I can’t reveal right now. NEW SUNLINER 2013 AVAN freeways of LA and just hanging on. Indeed, I seem to have spent an inordinate amount Finally… PINTO OVATIONS M3 of time in the USA this year (as well as New Fiat Ducato, Auto, ABS, Electric bed, Separate Fiat Ducato, Auto, 95,600kms, 4 berth, Diesel Zealand) and on aeroplanes. What a ride… Of course we – the whole iMotorhome Team, shower & toilet, 140w solar panel, fresh and grey heater, Tow bar, separate shower & toilet, Fresh that is – couldn’t have done it without you, our water tanks, 1000w inverter, Bluetooth lighting. & grey water tank, 95amp deep cycle battery. How was it for you? This year you’ve followed discerning readers, plus the financial support Price: $143,160 + ORC Price: $99,990 + ORC us through the early days of iMotorhome of our loyal advertisers (I’m being serious here, SU4107 SAVE $6,830 PLUS $500 Fuel Voucher AV2054 SAVE $9,000 Great Value New Zealand as a stand-alone publication and unlike those blokes mentioned earlier). Thank its eventual and sensible amalgamation into you. Without you we’d probably all be driving this single title; you had faith enough to part for Uber… with big dollars and come on our inaugural international escorted motorhome tour – a Might this Festive Season bring you and month exploring the iconic Route 66; you those you hold dearest some peace and joined us in Uralla to retrace the life and final happiness amidst the whirlwind of it all. As days of the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt; another year passes and the World heads into you came on our second international tour – truly uncharted waters (where surely there be A Taste of New Zealand – and you watched me dragons), be kind to one another and dare to hop on and off aircraft with dizzying frequency; live the life you really want. We get one go at all the while liking, commenting on and sharing this; so love it, laugh at it and live it. Oh, and countless social media posts, including a don’t forget to send me the number plate barrage just last week from the huge industry- details of that bus… only RV trade show in Louisville, Kentucky. I don’t know about you, but that’s probably enough for one year… Richard NEW & USED SALES | RENTALS | SERVICE CENTRE Perhaps my overriding memory of 2017 will be 1A Watson St, Wodonga VIC 3690 the pleasure of spending time with and getting to know those of you who chanced it and Ph: 02 6024 4222 E: [email protected] came on one of our tours and/or the reader weekend. View All Units Online 24/7 awrvworld.com.au NEW SUNLINER 2013 AVAN PINTO OVATIONS M3 Fiat Ducato, Auto, ABS, Electric bed, Separate Fiat Ducato, Auto, 95,600kms, 4 berth, Diesel shower & toilet, 140w solar panel, fresh and grey heater, Tow bar, separate shower & toilet, Fresh water tanks, 1000w inverter, Bluetooth lighting. & grey water tank, 95amp deep cycle battery. Price: $143,160 + ORC Price: $99,990 + ORC SU4107 SAVE $6,830 PLUS $500 Fuel Voucher AV2054 SAVE $9,000 Great Value NEW & USED SALES | RENTALS | SERVICE CENTRE 1A Watson St, Wodonga VIC 3690 Ph: 02 6024 4222 E: [email protected] 6 | Contents On my Mind Street View 4 The Year in Rear View 8 Haera Mai! On Your Mind News Share your thoughts for the chance to What’s happening in the wider RV world - 10 win $50! 18 and beyond Tested: Adria Coral 660 XL SCS 32 Seemingly overlooked, Adria’s Coral is now better than ever… Tested: Auto-Sleepers Broadway FB 48 This Broadway is worth a bit of a song and dance… Project Polly 60 A Power of Good – rust never sleeps so it’s got to go! Technical: Current Trends 62 Electric vehicles were all the rage at the Tokyo Motor Show NZ taste 68 NZ Tour Report! Travel 84 Bell ringing in Maryborough RVFT MobileTech 88 Three more RV Friendly Towns 92 2017 Christmas Apps! Advertisers’ Index Next Issue An A to Z of who’s in this issue! 98 What’s coming up and which shows 97 are on soon! 8 | Street View Haera Mai! ’Tis the season to be jolly, or so I am told, and as a Slovenian-built Adria Coral 660 SCS isn’t, but it I write this, Christmas Day seems to be rushing seems to me that it should be.