My holidays: John Campbell

John Campbell wearing a typical holiday outfit. Photo / Greg Bowker

What was your greatest holiday?
I'm not sure there is just one. There have been moments of such wonder they'll stay with me forever. My most recent was travelling home from Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu. I hitched a lift with the Air Force, who were returning to collect more supplies. Rumbling home in the cockpit of a Hercules is pretty special. And we arrived in Auckland at twilight, sweeping in, slow and low, over the city and the harbour. It was glorious.

And the worst?
There hasn't been one. I've had the odd disaster, but even disasters (unless they're truly terrible) eventually become a valued part of the story. I've twice thought I was about to die. Both times, unless I'm very much mistaken, I was wrong.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?
Looking overdressed.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be?
The Hokianga, the East Cape, Central Otago, the Southern Wairarapa. The first two for their sense of unharried community. I feel relaxed there, and I'm not great at relaxing. The second two for their infinite emptiness and silence. One of those four places, I think.

How about for a dream holiday internationally?
New York to buy books and see bands.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling?
My mum and dad owned a restaurant in Martinborough. It was a long way to go from Auckland. But it was always utterly worth it to get my mum's cooking.

Complete this sentence - I can't travel without...
Long-sleeved shirts. Even when I'm going to the beach. I don't really like beaches. Well, I do. But I prefer long-sleeved shirts.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given?
Buy a T-shirt.

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip?
Sea shells the children collected from rock pools when they were little.

Favourite airport at which to land?
Queenstown is incredible. Gets me every time. I once flew in an elderly DC-3 from Tongatapu to Vava'u. I don't recall the landing, but the flight in that grand old girl was as close to perfection as it is possible to get on a plane. We flew so low - and everything was perfectly clear beneath us: islands, atolls, reefs, the light blue of the shallows, the dark blue of the deep. On work trips, we've taken off and landed using some fairly makeshift strips. I'll miss setting out on those adventures with an excellent camera person at my side. Everything possible, except boredom.

What's the next trip you've got planned?
Samoa. With Sky TV and the All Blacks. #ABsToSamoa. Magic.

John Campbell joins SkySport's presentation team for the All Blacks' test against Samoa, showing on SkySport 1, tomorrow at 2pm.