My family and I took a fantastic holiday of seven weeks in New Zealand in 1978. 

We campervanned around the North Island, crossed the Cook Strait, and campervanned around most of the South Island. 

Apart from some issues with campervan reliability – which were made good – it was a fantastic trip. 

That was when NZ had a population of just over two million. 

These days, with the population – notwithstanding those leaving – of four million, it may be an altogether different experience. 

That trip was one of the best we ever did, and I could spend hours recounting the beautiful times and experiences of that visit 46 years ago.