Neil, Lesley, and their three boys, Allister, Brian and Craig, piled into a car and travelled to the Catlins, then drove from campsite to campsite, looking for a suitable spot.
"We didn't really know where we were going," Mrs Lindsay said.
"We asked the boys, 'Which one do you want to stay at?', and they said the last one."
Thirty-three years later, the family is still taking its summer holiday at the Pounawea Motor Camp.
This year, there are eight family members, and several friends, staying in exactly the same spot they have been staying in for the past 20 years.
Why do they keep coming back?
You can do everything in the Catlins, Allister Lindsay said.
"You can go fishing, diving, cycling, or play some golf."
There are numerous walks you can go on, and the children's playground is only a few minutes up the road, he said.
Mrs Lindsay said the adults get out at night and play with the children.
"And that's happened all the years that we've been here. One of the best things about staying at Pounawea is nobody thinks they are better than anybody else.
"We've made some good friends staying here."
"And now those friends have started bringing their families," Mr Lindsay said.
This year, the Lindsay family holiday is one person short.
"Neil passed away in May. It's been a bit strange without him," Mrs Lindsay said.
"Normally, we've got the big boat here with us, and he'd be `Come on boys, tide's right. We're away for a bit of fishing', but we've left it at home this year.
"It's a wee bit of a change, as everyone would understand. But we're coping."
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