Here are some photos from the trip we took in the weekend. We took the Bearhawk into one of the smaller NZ ranges for a hunting trip, North Island, New Zealand.

Flying in toward the hills:


Passing scenery on the way in, the edge of the Kaweka Range:


On the ground in the valley, the airstrip is well maintained, but has a few bumps where muddy areas have wheel tracks set hard, and a rain-gutter on one side which the pilot needs to be aware of:


A view of the shallow valley the airstrip sits in, elevation is about 3,100ft:


Leaving the plane tied down to go hunting overnight:


Taking a look around, we spotted a very nice Sika stag, but still growing his velvet so we'll return for him in a few weeks once he's finished:

New Zealand is so pretty. I spent three seasons at mt Hutt and loved it and the people. Would love to go back with my aeroplane:)

great post!!

so nice to see, looks like the bearhawk is earning her keep now!

Down in the south here, we're getting a little tired of the constant strong westerleys that make flying into the hills just a little too uncomfortable!

Have fun matey

Great photos Battson, thanks. Definitely post the Sika if you guys get him.

Which island has the best fly-fishing?

Nice!

JB, that is awesome! Very inspiring, both for me to finish my plane and to visit NZ (althought I doubt I'd fly my BH to NZ, so you'll have to let me fly yours.)

Registered in the USA with the N number?

29singlespeed wrote:Registered in the USA with the N number?

I was wondering the same thing. Great pics! I'd love to visit New Zealand sometime.

robw56 wrote:

29singlespeed wrote:Registered in the USA with the N number?

I was wondering the same thing. Great pics! I'd love to visit New Zealand sometime.

I have spent a bunch of time there, pondered trying to move there but alas never figured that one out. It's a great place! Definitely put it on the list.. there are options to rent/fly down there as well.

Barnstormer wrote:Which island has the best fly-fishing?

You could start a heated debate about that subject!!
I love fly fishing, so this will be biased!

The South Island has just 1/4 the population of the North, so tends to have less pressure on the resources generally speaking. It also tends to have a lot more public access to more rivers and lakes with great fishing (including more scenic access for aircraft). We get several species of Trout, mostly Brown and Rainbow, as well as sea-run and landlocked Chinook Salmon. But equally, the North Island has some extremely well managed and well stocked trout fishery's, and offers some amazing fishing too. Almost all fly fishermen fish catch and release, so there are some very decent-sized fish around.

Fly fishing for kahawia is always a good time as well

We've been having fun tripping around the country. Here are a few more snaps:

At the beach on the East coast


Visiting a Station down south.


Spent a few hours flying some of our favourite valleys. Stopped here to stretch our legs.


And looking up the valley.


Flying home Controlled VFR between cloud layers at 11,000. We had to speed back to beat Cyclone June to our home base, so making 150KTAS was helpful!


We have more on the other camera, I'll post some more scenic shots later if any turned out well.

Nice one JB sounds like a very eventful weekend around! - pity the weather didn't play ball for a catch up. Next time.

Here are some more from the last weekend:

Mt. Cook (NZ's highest peak) and Tasman Lake from 9,500ft


The back of Glentanner sheep station, and Lake Pukaki


The Hopkins, one of NZs many many braided rivers.


The Bearhawk parked on a friend's front lawn - taxiway is his driveway - one of the best private airstrip properties in NZ I reckon!!


Franz Joseph Glacier, excuse the offending Sandfly in the photo...


An aerial view of the Landsborough river meeting the Haast river, at Clarke's Bluff


Another angle on the ground in the Landsborough valley... that nose sure looks long with grass hiding the tires! Solution, bigger tires...


The Wilkin Valley, with Mt. Aeolus at it's forks. A place of significance for my family.


And here's Fox Glacier


And (much smaller) the Snow White Glacier falling from Mt Maoriri, at the very head of the Arawhata River.

The Okarito river mouth airstrip, stopped in for salmon fishing while the salmon run is on.


Siberia valley, great scenic spot for a walk and a (cold) swim.


One of several strips in the Hunter valley. The long grass makes it tough to see what you're landing on, this time of year...


Dingleburn valley, one of two good airstrips there - nice fly fishing.

Went out with some friends for a beach run. Here are a few snaps:

Just fantastic Battson , very jealous; thanks for the post. Been there a couple of times and love it. NZ seems like Alaska, Utah, Siberia etc all rolled into one place. I'll be back!

Excellent pictures and thank you for posting!

Is there a thread or external link to your Bearhawk build?

Phenomenal! What a place. It's just about fall down your way now and plenty of snow higher up. I had no idea NZ had glaciers!

Very cool. New Zealand and the Cook Islands, was the coolest trip of my life. Would be awesome to fly around there some day.

My friend, and co-owner of my Savannah is a Kiwi, he talks a little funny and says "bugger" a lot