#southisland — Public Fediverse posts

Picton NZPN → Wellington International NZWN

Leaving the South Island, at least for now. I crossed the Cook Strait toward Wellington to start exploring the North Island, before eventually looping back south.

#MSFS #MSFS2024 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #NorthIsland #Picton #NZPN #Wellington #NZWN #Cessna #Cessna400 #Corvalis

Omaka Aerodrome NZOM → Picton NZPN

#XPlane #XPlane12 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #Omaka #Blenheim #NZOM #Picton #NZPN #Piper #SuperCub #PA18

Kaikoura NZKI → Omaka Aerodrome NZOM

#MSFS #MSFS2020 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #Kaikoura #NZKI #Omaka #Blenheim #NZOM #Zlin #Savage

Hanmer NZHM → Kaikoura NZKI

Another leg in the Cessna 172, but this time with a glass cockpit. From Hanmer, I followed the mountain slopes all the way back to the coast, where an interesting approach to Kaikoura awaited me: mountains obstruct the final approach to Runway 23, requiring a fairly tight turn.

#MSFS #MSFS2020 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #Hanmer #NZHM #Kaikoura #NZKI #Cessna #Cessna172 #C172

Christchurch NZCH → Hanmer NZHM

A short leg in the Cessna 172. Aside from a few gusts, it was a relaxed flight. The airstrip wasn't that easy to spot from the air, but after flying an extended traffic pattern, I was certain where to put the Cessna down.

#XPlane XPlane12 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #Christchurch #NZCH #Hanmer #NZHM #Cessna #Cessna172 #C172

Chatham Islands / Tuuta NZCI → Christchurch NZCH

A somewhat unusual aircraft for this route, likely the first Airbus A320 ever to fly out of the Chatham Islands. After checking the takeoff performance calculations, someone said: “You saw nothing!” ;-)

Facing an 80-knot headwind, the return leg to Christchurch took a bit longer.

(Pic 3: just a few meters shy of the International Date Line: 179° 59.8′ E)

#MSFS #MSFS2020 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #ChathamIslands #Tuuta #NZCI #Christchurch #NZCH #Airbus #Airbus320 #A320 #A20N

Christchurch NZCH → Chatham Islands / Tuuta NZCI

Until recently, I didn't even know the Chatham Islands existed. Since then, I've learned that they belong to New Zealand, despite lying over 800 kilometers off the east coast, covering roughly the same land area as Berlin. Also interesting: they lie in the Western Hemisphere, so you cross the International Date Line on the way there. To make the trip out there, I chose a faster ride with the Cessna Citation CJ4 which also carries enough fuel for a possible return flight to a suitable alternate (Wellington, in this case). After just under two hours of cruising at up to 45,000 feet, I touched down smoothly at the island group's only airport.

#MSFS #MSFS2020 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #Christchurch #NZCH #ChathamIslands #Tuuta #NZCI #Cessna #Citation #CJ4 #C25C

Ashburton NZAS → Christchurch NZCH

Today's destination, Christchurch, is the first major city on this trip. The flight was split into three stages: starting out across endless fields once again, then heading into the fascinating terrain of the Banks Peninsula, and finally crossing the city area right up to the airport.

#MSFS #MSFS2020 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #Ashburton #NZAS #Christchurch #NZCH #BanksPeninsula #Cessna #Cessna172 #C172

Richard Pearse Airport NZTU → Ashburton NZAS

Back on the coast, I follow State Highway 1 north again. Navigation from Timaru to the airfield in Ashburton is trivial: SH1 runs straight between the two towns and is always clearly in sight. Something I’ve spotted multiple times now: the fields here in New Zealand are often circular, crisscrossed by paths radiating outward from the center.

#MSFS #MSFS2020 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #RichardPearse #Timaru #NZTU #Ashburton #NZAS #Zlin #Savage

Mount Cook NZMC → Richard Pearse Airport NZTU

Leaving the mountains behind again, I head back toward New Zealand’s east coast. Rugged terrain gradually gives way to lush green for as far as the eye can see.

#MSFS #MSFS2020 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #MountCook #NZMC #Beechcraft #Bonanza #BE36

Omarama NZOA → Mount Cook NZMC

Today was glacier day providing some nice views in rough landscape. From 1,480 ft in Omarama, I headed up the Dobson River valley and crossed Barron Saddle at over 6,000 ft. Glaciers were scattered across the mountains to the left and right, and I'll be seeing even more of them on the way back in a few days.

#MSFS #MSFS2020 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #Omarama #NZOA #DobsonRiver #Glacier #BaronSaddle #MountCook #NZMC #CubCrafters #XCub #CC19

Oamaru NZOU → Omarama NZOA

Leaving the coast behind, I fly upstream along the impressive Waitaki River. Passing a few reservoirs, the route winds through the valleys in sweeping curves before opening up into a vast plain, with the runway of today’s destination, Omarama, coming into view.

#MSFS #MSFS2020 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #Oamaru #NZOU #Waitaki #Omarama #NZOA #CubCrafters #XCub #CC19

Dunedin NZDN → Oamaru NZOU

Leaving the Taieri Plains, I flew over Dunedin into the hills before picking up State Highway 1 again. Today's destination was (a windy and gusty) Oamaru, located near South Island's eastern coast.

#MSFS #MSFS2024 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #Dunedin #NZDN #Taieri #Oamaru #NZOU #Cessna #Cessna170 #C170

Balclutha Aerodrome NZBA → Dunedin NZDN

This time, instead of following State Highway 1 from Balclutha, I head toward the coast and trace it northward. At the mouth of the Taieri River, I turn back inland, soon entering the Taieri Plains where Dunedin Airport comes into view just a few miles out.

#MSFS #MSFS2024 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #Balclutha #NZBA #Dunedin #NZDN #Taieri #Cessna #Cessna185 #C185 #Skywagon

Gore Aerodrome NZGC → Balclutha Aerodrome NZBA

From Gore, I follow State Highway 1 eastward across a lush green landscape. Balclutha lies along the Clutha River with the grass strip of the aerodrome located right on the riverbank.

#MSFS #MSFS2024 #FlightSim #NewZealand #SouthIsland #Gore #NZGC #Balclutha #NZBA #Cessna #Cessna185 #C185 #Skywagon

I don’t know the exact names of the peaks hidden behind these clouds, but the photo was taken in Hookey Valley. The day was cold and cloudy, but sometimes clouds like these can be a blessing. I like the contrast between the green hill and the clouds. There is some magic, maybe even a mystery, in photos like this...

#newzealand #southisland #mountcooknationalpark #nz #roadtrip #travelphotography #minimalism #hills #mountains #clouds #mood #nature #landscape #photography