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From the first caravan to toilet troubles: the evolution of RVs

30.04.2026 07:30 1 min 2 sources
Otago Daily Times Online News ENG + 1 more
From the first caravan to toilet troubles: the evolution of RVs
© Otago Daily Times Online News

In 1926, New Zealand saw its first caravan with a bathtub but no toilet. A century later, in Wanaka, a lack of facilities in campsites led to hundreds of complaints and a search for legislative solutions.

In 1926, the first caravan built on a Morris truck chassis appeared in New Zealand. The owner, Mrs. Eglington, invested £300 in the chassis and engine, £140 in the bodywork, and £20 in furnishings. The caravan, 13 feet long, 6 feet 9 inches wide, and 9 feet high, included a kitchen, a bedroom with three beds, and a full-sized bathtub. The family planned to visit all scenic spots in the country, and before leaving Dunedin, the caravan would be open to the public for a small fee benefiting Caritas Hospital. The article asks: "But does it have a toilet?"

Nearly a century later, the toilet issue remains relevant. Over the summer season, the Beacon Point Rd free camping zone in Wanaka recorded 122 complaints about violations, including cases of defecation in nearby bushes. The deputy mayor of Queenstown stated that the local council cannot take action outside the official parking area due to a 2024 High Court decision limiting jurisdiction. 1,620 liters of trash and daily complaints about human feces were recorded. Authorities are considering legislative changes and a pilot project with a barrier and paid facilities at the Luggate Red Bridge site.

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Story sources

But does it have a toilet?

28.04.2026 Otago Daily Times Online News ENG

Beacon Point problems highlight flaws

26.04.2026 Otago Daily Times Online News ENG

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