About Me

I’m Francois Thorne, a digital marketer with a decade of experience across both agency and in-house roles.

I started Driftwood Digital to help tourism and consumer brands across New Zealand stay visible, attract the right audience, and grow through content and strategy that actually reflects how people travel today.

In 2020, I left suburbia behind, sold everything I owned, and converted my first van into a mobile home and office.

Since then, I’ve been travelling New Zealand full-time with my French Bulldog, Victoria, working directly from the places people are actively choosing to visit.

My first camper - 2020

My first caravan - 2022

Man sitting in the doorway of a white camper van, holding a small dog, with a forested background and a cloudy sky.

A man sitting outside a white travel trailer holding a small dog. The man is seated in a foldable chair on grass, with a dog in his lap, both looking content. The trailer has an open door, a window, and an extendable awning against a partly cloudy blue sky.

A man with red hair and beard working on a computer inside a camper van with a view of the beach and ocean outside. He is sitting on a cushioned bench with a small dog on his lap.

Interior of a camper van with orange cushioned seats, a small wooden table, a computer keyboard, mouse, glasses, a black water bottle, and a French bulldog wearing a red harness sitting on the seat. Outside the windows, a grassy area and parked cars are visible.

This way of living hasn’t just given me freedom. It’s given me a completely different perspective.

I see what travellers notice. What they photograph. What they share. And what ultimately makes them choose one place over another.

That insight is what shapes the way I approach marketing. Because today, people don’t just search for destinations. They scroll, save, compare, and decide based on what they see online.

That means your marketing needs to do more than just exist. It needs to feel real, build trust, and help someone picture themselves there before they’ve even arrived. That’s where I come in!

I work with holiday parks, accommodation providers, attractions, and experience-based businesses to turn what makes them unique into content and strategy that drives real results.

Whether it’s social content, short-form video, or overall marketing direction, everything is built around one goal: Helping the right people find you, connect with you, and choose you.

At Driftwood Digital, the focus is simple:

Save you time.
Grow your audience.
Support your bookings and growth.

So you can focus on what you do best: delivering great experiences.

A white travel trailer with an extended canopy set up near a beach, with trees, a lamppost, and a view of the ocean in the background. A small dog is standing near the trailer, and there are some outdoor chairs, a crate, and a potted plant nearby.

A camper trailer with extended awnings parked on a grassy area next to a white SUV. There is a small dog near the trailer, and trees and bushes surround the area under an overcast sky.

Inside a cozy camper with large windows, featuring a gray sectional sofa with beige and pink pillows, a plaid blanket, a small wooden table with a keyboard and phone stand, two dogs resting on the sofa — a French Bulldog lying on its side and a Bulldog asleep on a blanket, with outdoor grassy and RV park scenery visible through the windows.

Interior of a small, cozy camper with a kitchen area on the left, a desk with a computer and monitor on the right, and a sleeping area at the back; a dog is sleeping in a bed on the floor near the desk.

My current caravan - 2026

My first twin axle - 2025

Whether you need additional support or a full strategy, we’ll find the right approach.

Let’s build something that actually works.

Let's Work Together