32. Drive back in time at Bill Richardson Transport World

New Zealand offers countless iconic experiences you won’t find anywhere else in the world: here is No. 32 of our 101 Reasons To Stop Dreaming About New Zealand And Go.

An elegant Art Deco building on a corner in the Southland/Murihiku city of Invercargill/Waihōpai holds an unexpected treasure trove worth going in search of.

Fifty years ago, Bill Richardson, who had always had a thing for trucks, bought back his grandfather’s original International for £5. That was the start of Richardson’s assembly of a world-class collection of 300 vehicles that is now displayed over 15,000 square metres at Bill Richardson Transport World.

From a pedal car to a paddy wagon, there’s at least one vehicle here from everybody’s past, all in working condition, neatly displayed, and shiny with love. There are some rarities, too, such as a row of Henry Ford letter cars, from a 1904 Model A up to the famous Model T. Add to this petrol pumps, washing machines, freezers and chamber pots, as well as a children’s Construction Zone full of Lego bricks, a Mousehole Trail to follow, and wittily themed bathrooms and there really is something for everyone here.

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