Holidays happier under canvas

i spent some time camping recently.

I grew up with camping, spending summer holidays in the Coromandel, where extended family had a section with a caravan that was never towed anywhere, and a long-drop.

Mum and dad got the caravan and the four of us kids slept in the awning or a tent.

For me, a summer holiday isn't complete without sleeping under canvas for at least a few nights.

This year I had the pleasure of going camping with two of my siblings and their six kids, some of whom were enjoying their first-ever camping experience.

But on my recent camping trip around the South Island it seemed like tents were becoming a relic of the past.

Campervans. Everywhere, campervans.

Many campgrounds had just a few tent sites being crowded out by gravel campervan sites - which seemed to be granted the prime spots and best views. Some no longer catered for tents at all.

Every night a convoy of campervans would park up, plug in, and then roll out the next morning.

I was quite fascinated with the extent of the facilities in some of these huge and impressive machines.

I would have loved to have a tour inside some of the more elaborate hotel rooms on wheels.

But I don't want to holiday in one.

There's something about camping that's lost when you have your own kitchen and bathroom with running water, power connection, television and computer set up inside your camper.

Tenting might be a bit more effort, but it's much cheaper and forces you to leave some of your regular life behind. Isn't that what holidays are for?

We did find some incredible spots, where you can pitch a tent amidst some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

I hope campers keep taking advantage of them - or they might be paved for campervans.