Explore New Zealand on a Flying Safari

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Somewhat different than the Flying Safari’s offered in neighboring Australia where visitors are shuttled by tour operators from place to place to explore maximum amounts of the vast country with great efficiency, the Flying Safaris organized in New Zealand take the form of an event attracting recreational and professional flyers from all over the world. Up to 80 aircraft and over 200 participants set out from a staggered start for a cross country adventure that utilizes 16 airfields over a 10 day period culminating at Motueka on the South Island the Thursday before Easter. The main thrust is to expose the participants to regional customs, cuisine and attractions at the terminus of each leg of the journey where the pilots and their passengers are hosted by local aeronautics clubs. The initial leg of the adventure finds the participants flying between the towns of Masterston on the North Island and the Lake Wanaka area near Mount Aspiring National Park on the South Island. The intervening days finds the flyers criss-crossing the country and its two main islands enjoying such important New Zealand landmarks as Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo, Christchurch, Kaikoura (famous for whale watching), Mt. Taranaki, New Plymouth, Tongariro National Park, Lake Taupo, Hamilton City and the iconic Waikato River. Scheduled stops also include New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, the Bay of Islands and Bream Bay, the Coromandel Peninsula, the Rotorua Lakes district, Lake Waikaremoana, Hawkes Bay and the Kapiti Coast among other scenic and culturally important locations. Within New Zealand scenic flights, typically from an hour or two to a full day of aerial sightseeing utilizing fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters providing unique perspective are offered by operators from locations throughout the country as an alternative to this multi-day adventure. These day trips focus on such specialties as active volcanoes, famous landmarks and wildlife observation. Add the dream to Explore New Zealand on a Flying Safari if aviation is in your blood and your idea of a trip of a lifetime is to see as much of the unspoiled country as possible over a 10 day period. Find yourself a ride or pilot your own aircraft in this unique event that is growing in popularity. Start investigating the details today and you just might find yourself participating in the next adventure scheduled for March, 2013.

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