Built in 1964, completely restored and owned by three people. Sounds like an ad for a classic car, but this is a story for a 1964 Volkswagen Kombi original camper.

Julie Gardiner and Steve Watts brought the VW van from California to Tauranga three years ago, and set out to completely restore it.

Julie Gardiner and Steve Watts. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

'We got her from the one guy who had her for 49 years. We bought it in California three years ago, brought it to Tauranga and restored it. We have done all the work ourselves,” says Julie.

Steve says the inside hadn't been updated since 1964 and everything was tatty.

'We stripped it out to the bare metal.

'We then sound-proofed it, and Julie's dad and Julie did all the cabinetry, then all three of us put the roof in, and I did all the campsite electrics inside.”

'We travel around the country in her all the time, we absolutely love it,” says Julie.

The Kombi has 89,000 miles on the clock and Julie says they did 3500km last year in the South Island.

'No matter where you go, she makes people smile, and they want to take photographs.”

Steve says the van comes complete with a 'rock ‘n' roll” bed, 'so when you pull it out it is two inches narrower than a full double”.

The combi is fully self-compliant with water and waste. She comes equipped with cooker, sink, fridge and Sky TV.

There is a cabinet located in the back of the seat where the aerial is packed away. When Julie and Steve want to watch a bit of telly, they pull it out, hook it up and are away laughing.

'There is a portaloo with a waste bin and 32 litres of fresh water which allows us to freedom camp for a minimum of two days,” says Steve.

'It's brilliant, we love it.”