New Zealand flying - recommendations?

[rusty sparrow]

I'm going to be travelling in New Zealand for a couple of weeks in August - any recommendations on 'must do' flying and costs? Also, what are the arrangements for validating my UK PPL?.

[Shunter]

Validation is easy, just a checkride, no exams, and voila one NZ PPL.

You could have a look at EuroFlight in Tauranga (http://www.euroflight.co.nz) for the checkride and aircraft hire. It's run by British ex-pats. NZ is very GA-friendly, although bear in mind that you'll be going in early spring so the weather could be unpredictable (very similar to UK weather in a lot of ways).

South island has some great places to fly to. If the weather is right, Millford Sound airport is one you won't forget in a hurry!

As you can see (http://map.xinqu.net/airfields.html), there is no shortage of places to fly to!

[will5023]

Not so much P1, but good for the WAG's too, go to the Mount Cook glacier experience. Usually a Pilatus Porter or even a C180 and ask the pilot if you can go in the right hand seat, show them your liecence and they are usually only to glad to let you fly on the way up and down, they do the landing on the glacier etc. Great fun and a good trip for all.

Will.

[Shunter]

They certain are :)

http://faith.fudger.co.uk/mc.jpg

[rusty sparrow]

Thanks for the suggestions Shunter, Will. The Mount Cook glacier looks like an unmissable flying experience. I'll look into that.

[tonyaddison]

hi had to laugh ,you the chap having a go about my grammar on another thread ,when ,i saw your photo caption ...they certain are ....ha ha.no hard feelings great pic ............tony addison

[Shunter]

I think he's grumbling that I made a typo above (I'll give him that one, since I had a dig at him for similar offences).

Anyway.... a couple more shots flying through the mountains in south island:

http://faith.fudger.co.uk/mc2.jpg
http://faith.fudger.co.uk/mc3.jpg

And a little further south is Queenstown (where all the adreneline junkies hang out). This is the helipad at the top of Shotover gorge for the ride back to town...

http://faith.fudger.co.uk/qt.jpg

[snapper1]

Go to Omarama, South Island and fly P2 in a glider on a 'wave' day. If you can get to fly with Gavin Wills, you've hit the jackpot.