I've been in Queenstown for the past year and a half and the winter flying weather is fantastic. Stunningly beautiful, blue skies, white mountains, and really calm days. Fantastic!!!
As far as using your previous training, it all counts, make sure any specific exercises are signed off, write as much detail in your log book as you can - Your log book is a CV, it's a diary, and it's a reminder to you what you've just spent all your money on so don't scrimp on what you write. Use half a page for one flight if you like, what the weather was like, what you did, where you went, who was with you, and anything half relevant to you or the flight.
If you want to try some seat of your pants, right in the middle of the mountains flying then pop over to Queenstown and check out Wakatipu Aero Club, they definitely teach you to fly.
Christchurch is a wicked place for St Paddy's Day, it's bigger there than in Ireland!!
GW
