Thanks, Kiwi Flyer for the latest updates ^

Wellington to Timaru (WLG-TIU) on NZ Beech 1900D

Another day, another flight. Head to the lovely NZ domestic Koru Club lounge at Wellington, BP in hand. Get a nice surprise in that the seasonal specialty beers are back - a very big selection currently with 27 different ones! Burp. Oh yeah and half a dozen wines and selection of spirits. 3 different fruit juices plus the sodas/soft drinks on tap.

Food is the usual good stuff. This time there is a hot tomato-ey chicken dish with rice, salad, cheese, cold meats, bread rolls, scones, lamingtons, tarts (no I'm not calling any punters this, I mean the sweet food), carrot cake, fruit selection.

I think the boarding call in the lounge was a bit late since less than a minute later (while I was on the way out of the lounge) I hear "Kiwi Flyer flying to Timaru, this is your final call". Get to the gate downstairs (this time not on the finger pier so only a moment's walk away) to be greeted with "Kiwi Flyer I presume?". As I board the door is swung shut in behind me. It is a totally full flight - 19 pax plus infant.

We have a short taxi out to the runway, followed by a short take off roll. This time we bank right away from the central city and follow the eastern edge of the harbour - giving good views of the fold hills and valleys between Wellington and Wairarapa, and glimpses of the plains beyond. Despite being a windy day there are very few bumps. Before we climb through the high cloud we have good views across Cook Strait to Marlborough Sounds, the Wairau and Awatere Valleys with their multitude of vineyards laid out across the valley floor, the various colours of the Grasmere salt works ponds, and of course the mountains that appear to leap from the sea.

We spend much of the flight above the cloud layer and only catch glimpses below, of the sea, Akaroa Harbour (the little French town at its head), the shallow expanse of Lake Ellesmere flanking the volcanic cones of Banks Peninsula, and the patchwork of the Canterbury Plains.

After nearly an hour we descend through the cloud and emerge over South Canterbury - the dairy factory towering over the small settlements and farmland. We fly straight in to Richard Pearse airport - named after the early aviator who flew, supposedly a year before the Wright Brothers, across some paddocks very near to the current airport. As we approach I see the sweep of the bay around which Timaru is based and the rolling hills in the distance which mark the end of the plains.

Timaru airport's terminal is fairly small, but bigger than Oamaru and Westport for example. Still limited amenities (toilet, plenty of chairs, get cold drinks from check in, hot drinks from vending machine).

Auckland to Wanganui to Auckland (AKL-WAG-AKL) on NZ Beech 1900D

It was a wild stormy dawn as I head out to the airport again. I left early, hoping to get some work done in the lounge. As usual, quick check lived up to its name and I was off to security in seconds, 2 BPs in hand. For the first flight I had a choice of a few seats so was quick to move back from 2A which I knew to be windowless. For the return flight I had no seat choice - indicating either the flight is totally full, or conversely that the flight is almost empty and seat selection is restricted for reasons of balance.

Security took longer than normal - 2 minutes instead of a few seconds, thanks to Mr and Mrs Infrequent Flyer ahead of me. Not only did they take their time over divesting pockets, but inevitably the WTMD beeped. Mrs IF exclaimed "oh that always happens to me" as I see all the jewellry, studded belt and high heels still on her :rolleyes:

Never mind. The lounge is just opening when I arrive, but I am dismayed to find that the computer problems of the previous day are still not fixed. Internet access is patchy at best - mostly timing out. I consider heading over to the Qantas Club in the terminal next door, but decide against it. Despite the proximity it takes a few minutes walk to get there, thanks to the roadworks and construction going on between the terminals and the new walkway layout, plus the lack of calls for NZ flights combined with gate being at far opposite end of the domestic terminal means there is a risk of missing flight and not much time to work on the computers after all.

So I settle in to reviewing some papers over breakfast and a coffee or 3. Eventually the flight is called. As I head to the prop gate I notice the screens do not show boarding or any other message typically seen when boarding is underway/soon to be announced/completed. But it seems I am the last pax when I reach the gate.

I boarded in the nick of time - moments later a cloud bursts with a downpour which would surely have soaked me and set me off on a bad mood for the day had I been caught in it. We taxi a short distance, entering the runway less than half way along, accelerating as we do so. I guess they wanted to take off quickly in case the poor visibility or developing surface water caused delays. Within moments we are enveloped in the cloud. There are surprisingly few bumps.

The first half of the flight we are in cloud - seeing nothing but white. As we head south we eventually break free of the storms and pass over a sheet of low cloud cover. It isnt until a few minutes before landing we see anything of the countryside below, breaking through over the rolling hills north of Wanganui, the tortuous course of several rivers below us and ahead the small city spread out before the waters of Cook Strait. The approach is a pretty one, low over the Whanganui River, low hills on one side and surf beach a short distance away on the other side.

For the limited number of flights (just a few to Auckland) each day, I am surprised to see a cafe in the terminal.

... continued ....

The weather in Wanganui is much better than in Auckland. It is rather windy and a bit chilly, but the low wind-torn clouds look too small to produce any rain. So I decided to walk into the city centre instead of getting a cab. It is a pleasant walk through the countryside - lots of different animals, farms/lifestyle blocks, a gallery and assorted rural stuff. Pass Patiki Pa, scene of battles long ago (both between Maori tribes and also between Maori and European). After 20 minutes or so the rest of the way is alongside the Whanganui River. The tide is heading in, with little bores evident. The wind gusting down off the hills alongside the river is shown by ephemereal ripples circling in the water. I walked up Durie Hill for a nice view over the city, and took the 90 year old elevator down the bowels of the hill.

Across the river and wander through the old (well for NZ anyway) city centre. It is faintly reminiscent of Blenheim, but crossed with the slow decay of Te Kuiti. The old buildings look nice and the town is quietly alive. I take a look at Cooks Park, where in years gone by so many famous (in NZ) middle distance runners raced and set some records. Sometimes it is nice to step away from the normal pace of life and explore like this. Eventually it is time to head back and I decide to walk that too. It takes 30-45 minutes from the town centre, depending on how fast you walk, maybe more if you stop to talk to some locals en route.

Some of the tranquility of the walk out is lost however when I pass the pistol range which is being well used at the moment (coincidentally the Wanganui mayor has recently talked about getting a gun in one of his newpaper columns, at least I hope it is coincidence :eek: ).

No need for me to check in since I already have the return boarding pass. The terminal seems huge for the dozen or so pax already here when I arrive. More follow me in - a great benefit of these small airports is the ability to check in very close to departure. Yes the flight is almost full.

The weather has improved somewhat for the return flight, so we get glimpses of the rugged hill country as we fly back north. Alas it is still bad in Auckland as we dodge the storms to land.

Thank you for the latest set of installments, Kiwi Flyer ^

...they invariably make me 'homesick' for the wonderful natural beauty of N.Z.—and the excellent lounges of NZ ;)

I hope there are more domestic hops in store for you—and segments of this TR for us :D

Thanks for sharing your experiences flying Qantas NZ (Jetconnect) Kiwi Flyer.

As you will know, I will be in NZ for the first time in November and December and am eager to fly aboard ZK-JND/G/N and ZK-JTP/Q. I'm most certainly looking forward to rotation at ZQN and seeing those wonderful views.

Shame we couldn't catch up :(

Thanks again for your reporting!

Cheers,
QF NB

CHC-AKL in J
 

Back in March we flew CHC-AKL in J on a 747-400, which connects to NRT. I think you need a onward international ticket out of AKL, though I think I saw the flight listed as a domestic one on the NZ booking page. Anyway, you get an elegant, small lunch upstairs on the 747 and though the seats were old, they are perfectly comfy for a 1 1/2 hour flight. I enjoyed the Koru Club in AKL and we missed out on the CHC version--the AKL international lounge wasn't too bad, but boring compared to the AKL Koru Club.

I think I would enjoy zooming around NZ as you did and having a closer look at it from the air--we only went AKL-CHC-AKL and that was pretty spectacular, particularly Mount Taranaki, Marlborough Sound and the Kaikoura Alps.

Cheers,
BUFman

Auckland to Tauranga (AKL-TRG) on NZ Jetstream 32 (J32) operated by Air National

As I again head to the airport it promises to be a fine day, with just a hint of early mist over the fields by the harbour. I check in using the quick check machines. As is my habit I select change seats even though I am happy with the seat I have already, and notice from the seat map that the aircraft type has changed from when I booked when it was a Beech 1900D. Aircraft type changes aren't too common with Air New Zealand's domestic routes, but happen enough that I pre-select an "A" seat so that I get a window and aisle regardless of whether the aircraft is Beech 1900D or Jetstream 32.

As an aside, the NZ website is annoying in that it has several different booking engines, each providing slightly different functionality. Want to pre-select a seat online for domestic or shorthaul flight? Then you need to use multi-city booking option, but this removes access to internet only fares and the option of paying by airbucks (NZ Airpoints Dollars - ie an award flight). The default engine for domestic and shorthaul flights does not provide seat pre-selection, so you either have to trust to the computers or have to ring up NZ and request seat(s). I find I get the best seats most consistently when I ring up NZ (since I know what to ask for, thanks to FT). I get reasonable seats most of the time (except peak business flights) when I let the computer default and I have my Airpoints # associated with the booking, thanks to my status. I get okay seats, but not as good, when I have other *G numbers associated with the booking. Checking in early using the quick check machine I can improve my seat perhaps 30% of the time. Note I haven't yet been able to use NZ's on line check in which is slowly being rolled out, due to the many requirements of that (booked after certain date, booked only at NZ website, only certain routes, etc).

Checked in, I head for security, noticing for the first time there are some quick check machines right in front of security - wonder how long they've been there? Through security in a few seconds and I head into the lounge for breakfast. A relatively poor selection today - the usual toast, muffins or crumpets plus jams and marmite and vegemite, muesli, pears and plums, some greasy looking sausages. As usual only one coffee machine is set up, but the lounge is fairly quiet so not much of a queue for coffee (there is also a coffee pot for those who can't wait). Sorry I forgot to check the wines and beers this time. I fill in the short interval before the flight checking some emails and posting to my blog before I hear the call for boarding.

It takes me a few moments to log off, and mindful that the boarding call appeared to have been made late I scurry back through the terminal past all the people milling around check in and the prop gate lounge. I make a mental note that when it is a nice day it may be better to walk outside the terminal to get from one end to the other. For a change I get one of the closer prop gates - somehow I seem to get the far ones most often on stormy days when the wind and rain howl through the temporary walkway to the gates, the ongoing terminal construction work not quite managing to protect me from the elements. Anyway I board and take my seat. The flight is only half full. Even though everyone has boarded, we have a small delay for the bags to arrive and be loaded. The aircraft rocks each time a bag is thrown in the back.

Once loaded we are soon making a short taxi and take off over South Auckland. It is a while since I have taken off in this direction in a prop aircraft and so I enjoy the views over the isthmus with the waters of the twin harbours like the arms of lovers reaching for each over. The Hauraki Gulf is sparkling in the sun and in the background the Coromandel Ranges are clothed in a thin blanket of cloud, draped like a shawl in the cool early morning.

Approach the Kaimai Ranges we climb through the thinnest layer of cloud I can recall. Unfortunately this means the ranges themselves are obscured from view. On this short flight (some 20 minutes airborne) we soon descend down the other side and into clear skies. We fly low over the harbour and a short distance out to sea. There is the gentlest of waves lapping the shore as we turn past The Mount and land from the sea. We have a very short roll for landing, but since we were halfway down the runway on touchdown we have to turn to taxi back to the terminal.

For those with a little time to spare on arrival (or departure), I suggest a visit to the nearby Classic Flyers Museum - just a couple of minutes walk or drive from the terminal back towards Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, and open 10am to 4pm daily.

Tauranga to Auckland (TRG-AKL) on NZ 1900D

As I head to the airport I notice there is a lot of activity in the skies. Several light aircraft flying around, 2 are either practising formation flying or taking aerial photography/mapping since they are cris-crossing the skies sometimes wingtip to wingtip and sometimes nose to tail but never more than a few metres apart, a helicopter is also buzzing around the airport grounds at low altitude - seems to be pilot training. There is also not one but two Air NZ aircraft on the tarmac, a Q300 as well as the Beech 1900D I will be flying today.

I check in but am unable to change seats. Thankfully I had preselected seat in row 3 (the first 2 rows having no windows). The terminal reminds me a bit of Gisborne - fairly small but big enough to have a cafe as well as general seating area. There are seats and tables outside in 2 areas, one fenced off by the apron and another between terminal and control tower. I like airports that have somewhere you can sit outside on a nice day watching the activity, wind in the hair and take a few moments for some pleasant day-dreaming. Even better at times like this for a nice escape from the full terminal before the 2 flights board, although I do take care to re-enter the terminal in time to hear any boarding announcements (an incident earlier this year where I was outside the terminal and didn't hear the call and so red-faced boarded very late with everyone watching me was still fresh in my mind!).

We take off over the fairly new harbour bridge and city centre. As we climb we get great views of both sides of the ranges, mainly horticulture (wines, kiwifruit etc) on the bay side and mainly farmland on the Waikato side. We fly over the Forth of Thames and get a few bumps when descending through the building heat clouds over the Hunua Ranges. We do a circuit of the Manukau Harbour to land past the international terminal. Being the middle of the day, this is a great time for anyone spotting as the asia flights have mostly arrived and yet to return. Alongside the usual array of Air NZ, Qantas, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Air Tahiti Nui, the Atlas Air freighter, etc, I spot an uncommon sight for New Zealand of a Japan Airlines jumbo parked up on the remote stand. Japan Airlines doesnt normally fly to NZ, instead codesharing with Air NZ. I wonder why it is visiting?

Think JAL run a charter during our summer to somewhere (not Tokyo IIRC but some other Japanese city) - they did it during the 05/06 summer as well with a 743.

Missed this report earlier - now frantically scrambling through three pages to catch up. Still I can think of no better way to take a break from the paperwork :D

Makes sense, although it is hardly summer yet.

It's my understanding both flights were operated by JAL 747-400s both originating from Fukuoka (FUK). Not sure how many more there will be.

Cheers

Auckland to Christchurch (AKL-CHC) on NZ A320

Back at the airport once more and I check in at the desk since again quick check isn't working for me. Since the main trunk flights (between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch) are operated by 737s and seeing I had been allocated (thanks to my status) bulkhead window row (with narrow seat and no legroom) I asked to switch to an aisle and was given a seat further back.

For once there is a queue to get through security stretching back almost to the check in counters (ie about 30 people), but it moves quickly despite only one lane being open. In the lounge I notice the flight number is in the 900s and checking my suspicions on the computer realise that between booking and today the flight has changed from a 737 to an A320 (rare on domestic flights). My heart sank when I realised I just gave away a business seat. So I ask at the desk inside the lounge if I can switch back. I can have one of the business aisle seats. Now why wasn't I offered that at check in? At least I'm back in a comfy seat.

A grab a coffee - for once no queue at the one machine operating and read the paper while waiting for the flight. We board on time but there is a delay (unexplained) to push back.

Once airborne we are soon through some clouds and above them in bright light. No view today.

I've gotta go for a flight - more soon.