Perennial Kiwi favourites the Topp Twins will be entertaining local audiences once more when they kick off their ‘Heading for the Hills' tour this October.

The North Island tour will visit Hamilton, as well as small towns such as Thames and Opotiki.

'We make sure to do as many little places as we can,” says Jools Topp, who is one half of the entertainment duo with sister Lynda.

The tour's name is inspired by transport they'll be using to get from venue to venue – an old-style of mobile home called a ‘stinky'.

'It's based on this very old accommodation guys used to use down in the South Island,” says Jools.

'Road workers would use steam traction engines to pull this thing called a stinky. Six or seven men would live in one, which had a coal range in them. They would keep drying their socks out on the stove, and it smelled pretty bad. There's been a big resurgence of restoring them down in the South Island, where Lynda lives. We can't pull it with a steam engine, but she made a miniature version of the stink for us to live in on tour.”

She says road workers would ‘head to hills' in such a stinky to do their work, so that's the name of the tour.

People who attend the shows can expect the same laughs and music the Topp Twins are known for.

'The most important thing for us is our bevy of characters, who people love. They're part of New Zealand history. We've got the bowling ladies, camp mother and camp leader, Ken and Ken. It's a chance to entertain and have a night out with local people.”

It's a must see for Topp Twins fans, and anyone who wants to catch an old-school variety show – including new fans.

'We've got grandmas who watched us growing up, and now they bring their grandkids to the shows,” says Jools.

'There's also a large amount of teenage men who like Ken and Ken, I can tell you that.”

For show dates and ticket information, visit www.topptwins.com

WIN WITH THE SUN

SunLive has one double pass to the Sunday October 22 Hamilton show of the Topp Twins' ‘Heading for the Hills' tour for one lucky reader who can tell us the first names of both the Topp Twins.

Enter online at www.sunlive.co.nz under the competition section. Entries must be received by Wednesday, October 4.