In Queenstown at last!

A spectacular flight from Invercargill to Queenstown on our final day, Friday 2nd April. Patches of low lying fog laid our pathway through the mountains and into Queenstown by 11am. A quick turn around in Queenstown to drop off all the passengers and then onto Wanaka for the Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow.

Our Friday night prize-giving in Queenstown was fantastic. We managed to raise a considerable amount of money for the Life Flight Trust with an Auction. It was great to see so many generous people supporting such a worthy cause.

A very memorable ten days! Back at work now and it all just seems so surreal...

Day 10, Thursday 1st April 2010

Well what a fizzer our last day turned out to be! We awoke to heavy rain and a radar picture not showing anything favourable to being able to leave Invercargill today. After waiting until 11am the majority of the safari teams travelled on two buses to Mandaville Aerodrome for lunch where they experienced pleasant weather and great food. After checking the weather one last time it was decided that is was impossible to leave Invercargill by air and the safari teams were split up. One bus continued onto Queenstown our final destination, and the other returned to Invercargill to see what tomorrow brings.
Our cat team decided to stay together and remain in Invercargill for the night. We enjoyed an evening together reminiscing over the last ten days. Of the original nineteen crew that started out in Ardmore ten days ago, this evening we were down to thirteen. Five of those crew members are female, and only about half of the nineteen original crew actually had anything to do with flying before this adventure. It has been a real interesting journey and I have met some extremely fascinating people.
Tomorrow we hope to arrive in Queenstown by some form of transport for the final prize giving dinner. Will keep you posted on progress!

Day 9, Wednesday 31st March 2010

Well our adventure is nearly at an end unfortunately. Tomorrow is the last official leg of the safari travelling from Invercargill to Queenstown via Mandaville and hopefully Stewart Island.
Today we left Timaru and headed to Oamaru for lunch via the famous Moeraki Bolders. I was expecting the Cat to go direct to Invercargill however to my surprise we arrived at Oamaru in time for a picnic lunch with the rest of the safari crew. With the weather forecast looking a bit ominous we rapidly departed for Invercargill. An hour and forty minutes later we arrive overhead and wonder where all the bad weather has got to! A beautiful smooth flight along some spectacular terrain saw many a photo taken today.
Another fabulous dinner was held. This time at the Southern Wings hangar where we were thoroughly spoiled with an entree of Bluff Oysters and Crayfish, and a main course of Salmon. Another dessert later which I just had to try and I am really beginning to feel the results of nearly ten days of some glorious food and hospitality. Might need to go back to that diet soon!

Day 8, Tuesday 30th March 2010

Timaru, a rest day for all and well deserved.
Some of us took the Tasman Glacier Tour to Mount Cook Airport for a 40 minute Pilatus Porter flight onto the Tasman Glacier. Unfortunately the weather was not playing ball and sadly the flight was unable to go. A few others completed the Art Gallery and Local Artists Tour with a visit to Geraldine, Washdyke and back to Timaru. Many of us completed the DB Mainland Brewery Tour with a visit to Waitohi, the site of Richard Pearse's first flight and the birthplace of New Zealand Aviation. The rest of us spent the day strolling the streets of Timaru and divulging in some retail therapy.
A fantastic dinner was hosted by the South Canterbury Aero Club at the Caroline Bay Hall on the water front. With awesome entertainment, we were spoiled by two live 80's rock bands and a dance floor which flexed. It was like dancing on a trampoline! I think there will be a few sore legs tomorrow!
As for tomorrow, we are off to Invercargill for dinner via Oamaru for lunch for the smaller safari teams. As for the Cat, I believe it is direct to Invercargill for us. Can't wait for a feed of Bluff Oysters.

Day 7, Monday 29th March 2010

Another fantastic day dawned in Blenheim. We set off from Woodbourne aerodrome at approximately 11am and tracked overhead Omaka towards the East Coast, overhead Kaikoura, Rangiora and landed two hours later in Ashburton for lunch. An originally unscheduled stop as we were too large to fit at Rangiora where the others were stopping for lunch, Ashburton opened an invitation to the Cat where we enjoyed a lovely lunch donated by the members of the Ashburton Aerodrome Museum. Eleven of the locals then enjoyed a flight in the Cat while the rest of the cat crew enjoyed a tour of the local aircraft museum. If you have never been to the Ashburton Aerodrome then I thoroughly recommend it. You would not believe the aircraft that they have on display.
At approximately 4pm we left Ashburton on track to Timaru. A very short flight over some spectacular intensively farmed agricultural areas. Timaru hosted us for a spit roast dinner which went down a treat and by 8pm we were on the buses heading to our hotels for a well deserved rest. Today was the biggest flight time for the Cat and we were all quite exhausted. A rest day tomorrow (Tuesday) here in Timaru. Think I might do a bit of retail therapy and some washing!

Day 6, Sunday 28th March 2010

Well there was no Sunday morning lie in today. Another early morning wake up call only to discover that yes it was actually drizzling and the cloud was down to the deck. Departure time came and went and the cloud had not budged. Another hour passed and still no change, sorry Motueka I don't think we are going to make it to lunch today!
At approximately 3:30pm some six hours after our intended departure time we managed to get airborne and vacate directly to Woodbourne Aerodrome. A few keen safari members made a valiant effort and managed to arrive in Motueka in time for afternoon tea and then to Omaka in time for dinner.
Tomorrow is the biggest leg of our journey. The safari teams are travelling from Omaka to Rangiora then onto Timaru. The cat will be making the journey directly from Woodbourne to Timaru. So hopefully we will be in Timaru in time for lunch and a well deserved afternoon off.

Day 5, Saturday 27th March 2010

Well today is officially a rest day for the majority of the Air Safari contingent. A bit of a sleep in for most, a relax for some and a Tui Brewery tour for others. Meanwhile the Catalina Crew rose early once again and set off for Wellington for the Aero Club's 80th Anniversary celebration. What a fantastic day. The weather in Wellington was of course windy when we arrived and windy when we left but surprisingly it was actually sinking hot and no wind for the majority of the day! There was an extremely good turnout in Wellington with five full flights made in the Cat and many more keen to have a ride, however our 6pm dinner in Masterton hosted at the Copthorne Hotel had us required to get our skates on and head back before we missed dinner and Dr Dave Baldwin's speech.
An extremely enjoyable day. Unfortunately I didn't charge the camera batteries (it seems someone has borrowed my charger and it hasn't found it's way back yet!) so the only photos I have today are of the Trojan aircraft on display during our transit from Masterton to Wellington this morning.
Tomorrow is the start of our South Island adventure. The safari teams are off to Motueka for lunch (yeah go Motueka!!). Unfortunately the Cat is not because the airfield is too small so we are heading direct to Blenheim where we will land at Woodbourne Airport. The rest of the safari contingent will then transit from Motueka to Omaka for dinner. Should be another good day.