Scenic Flight In New Zealand

[J07]

Edit: well the attachment system has had heaps of fun with things and now nothing corresponds to the numbers. Oh well.

Was just a means of getting from A to B, but everytime I fly somewhere over here I feel like I'm getting more for my money. I remember in the winter flying to Auckland at sunset (one hour flight), through one window I could see a towering snow capped volcano, and through a window on the other side, another volcano. I was quite staggered, and the flight cost me the equivalent of about £14. No photos from that, the images just have to live in my mind.

Anyway, this flight, over the Marlborough Sounds, after leaving Wellington behind. The Sounds are valleys, drowned by the sea in the distant past. This makes an interesting coastline, because you have green hills, plunging directly into deep blue seas, with scattered golden sand beaches around for good measure.

The area is about 4000 square kilometres, with three towns (Picton, Waikawa, Havelock) and a combined population of about 5000 people (when including outer settlements). Thinking of somewhere similar in the UK- the Western Isles have a population density of about 8 people per square km, the Marlborough Sounds have about 2 people per square km.

It apparently has 1/5th of New Zealand's coastline, due to its fractured nature.

First picture shows a rough flight path.

1) Cloudy Bay, there is a well known wine named after this.

2) Marlborough Sounds, this is the more populated area of the Sounds, near either Picton or Waikawa, not sure which.

3) As above.

4) On the edge of the Sounds, just before hitting Cook Strait.

5) As above.

6) As above.

7) As above.

Tasman Bay and the start of the Sounds.

9) Tasman Bay, looking West towards the ranges of Takaka Hill, an interest Karst area.

10) South Coast of Wellington - not for swimming!

11) South Coast of Wellington again.

Edited January 2, 2009 by J07

[tom_f123]

Great photos, what a beautiful country

[❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️]

Wow what an amazing landscape!

:winky:

[Cookie]

truely breath takeing photos thier mate well done

[Lyn-M]

Memories of flying from Christchurch to Auckland when we visitied nearly 5 years ago. I juat love to see the earth from above....lovely pictures.