“Everyone has been really welcoming,” says Donna. “It’s a really low-key sort of life, and that’s what we like — the laidback lifestyle.”
Tony and Donna met at Papamoa Primary School. Tony is a live linesman by trade while Donna worked in accounts. Settled in their home in Te Puke, they came to the realisation “we were just working to pay the bills”.
With no children to consider, a life-changing decision was made.
“Bugger it, let’s just sell everything and buy a house bus.”
It’s a decision they don’t regret at all, preferring the lifestyle of a self-contained small space with the great outdoors as their backyard.
“For anyone who is thinking about selling everything and doing a bus — do it,” says Donna.
“You only live once,” adds Tony.
Tony and Donna have known each other for a long time and work well together.
“We’ve lived in a confined space very well. You can’t just have an argument in a bus, you’ve got to deal with it,” laughs Donna.
Asked what their favourite destination was while on the road, both agreed the Golden Bay area at the top of the South Island. Monkey Island also came in tops. It’s situated between Riverton and Tuatapere on the South Island (the name derived from its first inhabitants using a monkey winch to bring boats ashore).
Leyla and the Williamsons travelled with the Gypsy Fair NZ for a time, with Donna selling her handmade soaps (trade name Wildflower Aromas). Tony would sell his wood carvings, of mainly walking sticks and staffs. The Gypsy Fair has been traversing the North and South Islands for some 30-plus years, with a range of stalls and vehicles.
Previously managing a caravan park on the Clutha River in Central Otago for two years, the Williamsons arrived in Anaura as newbies, but armed with experience. Donna was longing for some sea air and warmer weather after living inland.
“The first summer camping season was good,” says Tony, but soon after it all went pear-shaped.
Weather events have seen the evacuation of campers several times over the past two years.
“We went from being 100-percent booked to no one,” he says.
“It just hasn’t recovered.”
They are hoping this summer will be a success and are trying to stay positive about the current Pacific region cyclone season.
Since moving to Anaura they have immersed themselves in restoring the camp. Donna is enthusiastic about putting forward new ideas and future prospects to the trust.
“Anaura Incorporation are just awesome. They support us and trust us to do the best we can,” says Donna.
“Pretty much everything we’ve come up with, they have just said ‘go for it’, and they’ve been really appreciative as well — they can see the improvements,” she says.
So far that has included repainting, replacing showers and toilets, lots of planting, and implementing a new booking system. They also established a website and started promoting the motor camp on social media.
“We’ve spent a lot of their money and haven’t had a chance to make it back properly yet — so this summer we are really relying on it to be a good one,” says Donna.
Weddings, conferences and functions could all be held on the grounds, as well as local car club events, which are just some of the spirited ideas the couple have.
Recently the Highway 35 Motorcycle Club stopped by, with 100 motorbikes. Other welcomed guests have included orca, and visiting TV show “Where the Wild Men Are” — extending their stay of one night to three.
“We’ve had orca come through — you could have walked out and touched them, whole families,” says Donna.
The orca, or killer whales, often frequent shallow waters to chase stingrays — a major food source for them.
Meanwhile the pair are enjoying their idyllic lifestyle. Tony’s passion for motorbikes and motorcross has been replaced with the gentle art of fishing and setting the cray pots. When he’s not busy maintaining the grounds, he heads out to sea.
“I’m not too worried if I don’t get anything,” he says. “It’s time to yourself.”
