Flying in NZ

[destinationsky]

Hi All,

I'm heading over to New Zealand in November and hoping to get an hour or 2 in my log book. I'm not looking at solo hire or anything like that so I would be happy flying with an instructor.

Can anyone recommend a flying school etc in and around Queenstown?

Thanks

[On Track]

There is only one flying school at Queenstown - the Wakatipu Aero Club. They certainly would be able to meet your needs.

The only problem is that the operator is trying to ban all flight training and private flying from the airport. It's not clear at present whether the club will still be on the field in November.

This is a very contentious issue and you can expect to read more about it on this website in coming weeks.

[Tortoise]

If you can, get up to Wanaka from Queenstown (an hour or so on the bus, IIRC). There's a really interesting aviation museum with lots of RAF links, plus I managed to do some great flying from the airport there. The wind was out of limits on the day I visited, so the flying school suggested I tried some rotary flying, for which the wx was ok. Had a brilliant hour doing lesson #1, including some low level along the river bed behind the town, and landing on top of the mountain behind. Great fun!

[Johnm]

I agree that Wanaka is a good place to go, if you are there a while Geordie hill is just over the ridge www.flyinn.co.nz

[India Four Two]

I agree that Wanaka is a good place to go

Johnm,

Let's face it, ANYWHERE in NZ is a good place to go flying.

destinationsky,

Besides the options already suggested, you might want to consider going to Omarama (north of Wanaka) and doing some mountain soaring in one of their two-seaters. If you book in advance, you might be able to fly one of their DuoDiscus - a wonderful aircraft. On a good day, you might be as far as 100 km from home before turning around. I made to it 16,000' over Mt. Cook.

Goto
http://www.glideomarama.com/adventur...glider-flights

and look at the Long Flights option

[Tortoise]

Other flying I did in NZ- whale watching in Kaikoura, followed by some mountain flying. Flying from South to North Island with SoundAir in a 172 rather than taking the ferry. And my first experience of floatplane flying in Taupo. All very highly recommended! Just sorry I didn't fit in a sightseeing tour round Auckland too!!

[Gertrude the Wombat]

And my first experience of floatplane flying in Taupo.

Done that, great fun.

Including a partial engine failure ...

[India Four Two]

Just sorry I didn't fit in a sightseeing tour round Auckland too!!

I was lucky enough to do that, in the back seat of a Mustang! "Fancy a quick whizz round the harbour, mate?"

[500ft]

Now if you wanted to travel to the top of the South Island. Marlborough Aero Club now do strip flying with access to a bunch of local strips. Did some in February great fun. Proper strips too.

http://www.marlboroughaeroclub.co.nz/strip-flying

[TheOddOne]

If you are visiting North Island, then check this out...

Whangarei Flying Club Inc. | Incorporating the Northland Districts Aero Club ? Flying since 1928.

I flew with them last year in a Technam for around £60 sterling per hour. Fantastic! Great aircraft, superb instructor, wonderful scenery. Not only was it a great experience, but I learned a lot, too.

We tried to fly at Queenstown but the wind was WAY out of limits. Prices there were comparable with the UK for C172 dual.

TOO

[destinationsky]

Thanks for the replies! We have 2 spare days in Queenstown and the rest of the time is moving around on an organised tour. Will see if we can get to Wanaka as Ive heard that there is some interesting toys there!

[PA28181]

I tried to get a flight from a club at Picton, (can't remember the name) but typical NZ they were all going home in the afternoon. And I was on the ferry back to North island next day. So no flying in NZ, but having spent a month touring in a camper van all over it, it has some stunning scenery and must be a joy to fly over the land of the long white cloud.

PS one of the instructors learned at Denham.

[27/09]

PA28181: I tried to get a flight from a club at Picton, (can't remember the name) but typical NZ they were all going home in the afternoon.

There's no club or any flight school at Picton.

I'm not sure what to make of your other comment. You make it sound like New Zealand closes up in the afternoon, which is most certainly not the case.

Any club or school I know of is open till 5 pm and very often much later unless they only operate part time then it's usually just weekends.

Destinationsky

If you get to fly with the Wakatipu Aero Club see if you can do a dual flight to Milford Sound. It will blow your socks off.

[FantomZorbin]

Milford Sound. It will blow your socks off.

Absolutely ... but beware of the sandflies (they don't have teeth, they have FANGS)

[Croqueteer]

A good few years ago now I hired a 3-seatcub at Hokatika with instructor to fly up the river low level to the glacier. I set off at about30ft until the instructor said "I thought this was supposed to be low level?" It was geat fun, and I agree flying anywhere in NZ is an experience not to be missed.

[PA28181]

There's no club or any flight school at Picton.

So the non-existant flying club in I think may have been NZOK (I didn't have to drive far to park up at the ferry port) had three different prices for hire, when I questioned why the hire rates for a UK citizen was higher than locals, the answer was reasonable enough as it was to not disadvantage the members who pay a subscription, so the rates were higher for UK and different rates for US citizens, but I imagined it all anyway. And yes as I spent a decent time touring all over NZ and it does pack up early compared to the UK, trying to get a beer after driving hundreds of miles was a problem at 19:00 hrs way down in the South island. but I guess I dreamed it all......

[The Flying Pram]

I was there in '96, or was it 97? I did the Queenstown to Milford Sound trip in the R/H seat of a BN2. To say it was "an experience" is probably an understatement! Wanaka is definitely worth a visit - try and allow at least half a day if you can. I was driven between Queenstown and Wanaka by a local minibus service (I was the only passenger). The driver was more of a tour guide, and asked me if I wanted to take the normal road or the "scenic" route. This turned out to be part gravel, and wound up through the hills between the two. We stopped several times for photography, and he dropped me off at the junction outside Wanaka airfield then took my bags on to the motel!

The mention of "low level" in a rotary rings a bell - I had intended to get a flight in a fixed wing, but they were all booked, and got arm twisted into the left seat of an R22 by Simon Spencer-Bower (I think his name was). It was a bit disconcerting to be looking UP at the river bank on the first part of our flight! He landed on a hill overlooking one of the lakes, giving me time to get out and take some pictures. After a very enjoyable 20 minutes or so it was time to leave, and he drove me back to the motel on his way home. This helpful attitude seems to pervade all aspects of tourism in NZ. During my time with him, it soon transpired that he knows the UK well - he did his training out of Cambridge - and is friends with Henry Labouchere, who I often see at Northrepps. Small world...

[27/09]

PA28181

The club you are probably talking about is the Marlborough Aero Club based at NZOM. Take a look at this link and you will see they're open till 17:00 every day.
Contact/Find Us | The Marlborough Aero Club

Knowing some of the people involved at the club I'd guess that if a tourist turned up for a flight close to closing time they'd happily do it.

Considering the closing time for pubs in NZ is 22:00 hrs I'd say you were either not all that thirsty or didn't try very hard. I've traveled down that way and had no problems getting a beer at the time you mention.

Me thinks you might be prone to exaggeration.

[Planemike]

"""Now play nicely, children..............!!!!"""""

[India Four Two]

Quite right Planemike.

Let's get back to the wonderful flying in NZ. Here's my contribution:

Mt. Taranaki


Mt. Cook from the Hopkins Valley: