IMPRESSIVE DUO

Created with quality and ease in mind, Paul Owen finds himself very impressed with the Hilltop range of caravans from Coastal Caravans.

Two tandem-axle caravans are the first Hilltops to arrive at Coastal: the $93,000 Feathertop with a 5.94m long cabin; and the $121,000 Thredbo with a 6.88m long cabin.

While the Thredbo and Feathertop are aimed at couples with their spacious double bedrooms, their lounge seating and telescopic table can be quickly converted into a bed if required.

The Feathertop may be an entry point to the Hilltop range (it’s also available as a shorter single-axle caravan), but it certainly doesn’t look or feel it. There is commendable attention to detail to be found all over this model.

The longitudinally laid out kitchen means that everything is at hand and there’s no need to spin 180° to access the Thetford or Dometic three-way fridge. The doors on the overhead lockers have hinges running along their entire length, and the oven/hob has a flip-up/pull-down top that seamlessly extends bench space.

Although the Feathertop doesn’t feel short of space, if you need more, the Thredbo is happy to provide it. The larger Hilltop donates most of its 900mm of extra length to providing a larger bathroom located in the middle of the caravan, complete with a separate shower cubicle on one side, and a more generous washroom on the other.

A door separates these personal areas and main bedroom from the living space of the Thredbo, and if privacy is a biggie for you, this Hilltop is a better choice than the more open-plan Feathertop.

Ditto, choose the Thredbo if seeking to socialise with more people inside your caravan. The U-shaped lounge at the rear of this Hilltop is huge, and, like the Feathertop, the Thredbo gives the opportunity to park somewhere scenic and enjoy the view on three sides of the caravan from the lounge seating through the generously sized windows.

Diesel heaters are included, and Nzbound Hilltops also get an extra 120Ah battery coupled to the one that comes standard in Australia, and both are topped up by a 160w solar panel and 30amp battery charger. There’s also an automatic satellite dish and two 24” TVS for the Thredbo and a single 24” TV for the Feathertop. With twin 100L freshwater tanks, 100L greywater reservoir, and a 25L hot water system for the Feathertop and a 28L system for the Thredbo, plus twin 9kg gas bottles mounted on drawbar, the Hilltops are ready to go. Find out more at coastalmotorhomes.co.nz