Weather the only defect in destination of choice

Driving a campervan to Dunedin for a family birthday gathering is retiree Bob Barrett, of Nelson...
Driving a campervan to Dunedin for a family birthday gathering is retiree Bob Barrett, of Nelson.PHOTOS: GERARD O’BRIEN
Preparing their dinner while on holiday at the Dunedin Holiday Park are the Abukov 
...
Preparing their dinner while on holiday at the Dunedin Holiday Park are the Abukov family, Oxana, Vladmir and son Alexander.
Camping for the first time are mother and son Jessica Cross and Cruz Cross-Wilson (9), of Timaru.
Camping for the first time are mother and son Jessica Cross and Cruz Cross-Wilson (9), of Timaru.
Getting away from the farm for a few days are the Baldwin family (from left) Roberta, Carter (1),...
Getting away from the farm for a few days are the Baldwin family (from left) Roberta, Carter (1), Rachael (5), Michael (3) and Terrence, of Tuatapere.

While many leave town for a summer holiday, some choose Dunedin as their destination of choice for a getaway.

Families staying at the Leith Valley Holiday Park and Motels and the Dunedin Holiday Park spoke to the Otago Daily Times.

The scenery, wildlife and attractions were among the reasons people chose to visit Dunedin,  the weather being the only let-down mentioned by visitors.

A Russian family living in Auckland decided Dunedin would be a stopover on their one-month tour of the lower half of New Zealand.

Husband and wife Vladmir and Oxana Abukov have been travelling with 25-year-old son Alexander in a rental car, tenting in cities around the South Island.

Mrs Abukov said they decided Dunedin was on their list of spots to visit after hearing about the beaches and wildlife.

"The weather has not been the best, but when you compare it to Russia it’s nothing," she said.

"In Siberia, the weather is a lot harsher than in Dunedin."

The family come from Siberia but have lived in Auckland for four and a-half years after travelling to New Zealand by boat.

New Zealand and Siberia had similar landscapes, but Siberia had higher mountain ranges, she said.

"I love Dunedin and New Zealand, it’s beautiful here."

She said she loved how easy it was for a road trip in New Zealand.

"In Russia you drive 12 or 13 hours to get from one city to the next; it’s very different.

"We love travelling by car to get to different cities."

Mr Abukov said the family were staying in Dunedin for five days, before heading to Queenstown, and hoped the weather would improve.

Roberta Baldwin, of Tuatapere, said her family were camping at the Dunedin Holiday Park to escape the farm for a few days.

"We’ve got three kids under  5 so needed a very big tent.

"It’s been so nice to get away for a bit."

Setting up camp and taking her children on their first ever camping experience was Jessica Cross, of Timaru.

She said the family were meant to camp at the Waikouaiti Beach Camping Caravan Park but it was full.

Nine-year-old Cruz Cross-Wilson said he was having a "fun" trip so far.

Retiree Bob Barrett said the weather was not quite what he was hoping for upon arrival in Dunedin.

"We’ve come from Nelson; the weather is definitely better up there."

Mr Barrett said he and his wife arrived on Thursday and were staying at the Leith Valley Holiday Park and Motels in their campervan for a family gathering.

"My wife’s siblings are in Dunedin, we’re here for a 70th birthday in the family."

emma.perry@odt.co.nz

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