Self fly air touring in New Zealand

[Bill King]

I am planning a self fly trip around New Zealand next year. Can anyone advise me on GA friendly destinations, must see/fly to airports, tips on air touring there etc. Failing that, any info on a New Zealand flyer forum or appropriate website would be appreciated.

[Shunter]

Most destinations are GA friendly in NZ. When I did my flying over there I wasn't qualified at the time, but I found Tim & Anita at http://www.euroflight.co.nz/ (ex-pats) were very helpful with info and are happy to hire out their aircraft. A checkride is all that a JAA-PPL holder requires to acquire a NZ-PPL.

I didn't fly much on the north island, but on the south there's 2 in particular which I'd put on the must-do list. Mount Cook (has an airport and seriously scenic accomodation), and Milford Sound. Mount Cook airport have some C185 taildraggers with ski conversions, so you can go and land on the top of the glaciers. Back to Milford Sound, the weather can be very unpredictable, but flying down the sound, over water, between the mountains, then landing at MS airport is an awesome experience.

http://www.world-airport-codes.com/photos/large/MFN_simon_gunson_milfordairport_jzqf7fkpkw.jpg

[First_Principal]

Bill, have a look at the D & G forums here, amongst other things there's a thread with a lot of interesting photo's that may be of particular interest.

Presently I know of several people from the UK who are, or just have, done what you're wanting to do. The general comments are that it's comparatively inexpensive along with good access to machines and airfields with friendly operators. Certainly in the South Island there's some fairly interesting, and potentially challenging, places to go, Shunter has just demo'd one of them :)

FP