WELLINGTON to WHANGAREI (WLG-WRE) on NZ Beech 1900D

This is the longest Air NZ flight on a puddle jumper, and according to the Kia Ora magazine at 626km is almost 100km more than the Beech 1900D's "average range" whatever that means. I guess it means the flight will never be fully loaded?

It was a fine day for flying, the Indian summer stretching on and on. With the much lower altitude and slower speeds than the more usual jets I fly on flights this long, and a route that takes us almost the length of the North Island I was really looking forward to the flight.

I had enough time for a quick lounge visit and a light breakfast just before they cleared breakfast stuff away, and a nice sandwich when they brought them out. Plus catch up on some work and FT filled in the time nicely. From past experience I guessed I was the only person in the lounge on this flight and given they call the flights late in boarding anyway I was ready for the call and didn't dally. I headed out the main entrance down the stairs so I could pick up a mint on the way, even though the rear down escalator would be slightly closer to the gate - there wasn't many flights at this time of day and so we got the main pier prop gate rather than way out on the prop pier.

The gate agent makes a comment that she wasn't sure her print out was right - who would come down from Auckland on the same day they take Wellington to Whangarei? (There are plenty of flights on the short hop between Auckland and Whangarei.) Sure enough I'm last to board and the flight is fairly empty. When I checked in I had a wide choice of seats and selected 3F for the best scenery will be out that side and it is close enough to still see into & through the cockpit (the first 2 rows are windowless).

We set off on time, and taxiied right to the very end of the runway, skipping past some runway entrances. I'm not sure why as we only needed half the runway before taking off.

During the flight the floor vents annoying fluctuated from chilly to almost burning hot, so I kept having to move my feet and legs even within the small space between seats.

There was extensive low cloud punching through the narrows of Cook Strait, however once we reached Manawatu the skies below cleared and great views of the plains, hills and of course the volcanoes on each side - Taranaki to the left, Ruapehu Ngauruhoe and Tongariro to the right. The early morning fog in the plains and valleys had cleared to a very light mist, giving the land a soft tone.

Wanganui was unmistakeable just below us, the small city bunched up around the river bends on the small flats between the hills and sea. Inland the sun shone brightly on the tortuous rivers, illuminating some stretches in brilliant silver while other bends were deep in shadow. Eventually the dessicated hills give way to the slightly less rough farmed areas of the King Country and onward to the Waikato basin. Here too the soft light mist stretching all the way across to the Kaimai and Mamuka Ranges.

As we pass the city of Hamilton, easily identified by its size, the clearly visible Waikato River winding its way through the heart of the city and the lake, I realise I haven't read any of the book I am supposed to have read today. Oops. The day is warming up nicely as evidenced by the thermal clouds along the Coromandel Ranges, Bombay Hills and later all the peaks and islands of Auckland and Northland. Yet it is also clearly not summer for a stable airmass at about 10,000 feet means the clouds spread out into caps - some small and others broad. There isn't enough energy to break through this layer.

We pass over Auckland airport and the city and begin our descent. The Hauraki Gulf is resplendent - hundreds if not thousands of boats out enjoying the fine weather before winter strikes. There are lots of tiny ripples all silvery in the sun. The wakes of the boats and yachts, showing clearly in the flattened tracks in the water.

Time to board another flight. More soon.