CHRISTCHURCH to INVERCARGILL (CHC-IVC) on NZ ATR 72-500

A quick check of the monitor to confirm my onward flight hadn't yet started boarding and in to the nice koru club. Barely enough time to check email and have a quick drink before my flight is called.

We board across the tarmac slightly early. I like how the call in the lounge is made when boarding is nearly complete. There is a short delay in closing doors - someone with no status (sitting up the front on this a/c for status pax sit at the back) was delayed on inbound flight/lost/deaf/otherwise didn't make it to the gate on time.

The flight isn't quite full and so I have an empty seat beside. I look out towards the mountains but they are hidden behind the darkening haze and low cloud. We have a short taxi and head south above thick cloud. Further south the cloud begins to break up and we have glimpses of a sun drenched landscape below - glowing in the evening sun.

Service is tea, coffee and water. A mini biscuit comes with the coffee/tea cups. A separate round handing out sweets to all on descent.

We arrive slightly late.

Edited to add aside. Last year (?) the rear toilet was repositioned to add in 2 more seats (on the right hand side). The new location is very cramped (wide enough but not very deep). Anyway I noticed the liquid soap dispenser had an old Mount Cook Airlines label, complete with the Mount Cook Lily on the tail of the pictured aircraft. It must be well over a decade old!