Barrier Air at GBZ

Some more from my afternoon at Claris Airport on Great Barrier Island on 20 January 2021

Barrier Air's first Cessna Grand Caravan was soon to board for Auckland

It returned later in the afternoon using the cross runway

Cessna Grand Caravan ZK-SDD arrived just as we were starting... hence the angle

And another shot of leased Grand Caravan ZK-SLA

Fly My Sky at GBZ

BN Islander ZK-PIZ landing on the grass at Claris on 20 January 2021

BN Islander ZK-SFK landing on the grass at Claris on 20 January 2021

BN Islanders ZK-PIZ and ZK-SFK

 

Sunair at GBZ

Rocketing in and out of Claris Airport on Great Barrier Island on 20 January 2021 was Sunair's Piper Aztec ZK-FVP arriving from Whangarei

Apparently Sunair has been pretty busy through Great Barrier Island over the summer

Piper Aztec ZK-FVP is looking very sharp after her repaint

And she is off again, this time to Whitianga and Tauranga

Love these two pics... Has the look of a drug running aeroplane in South America

 

GB205 to GBZ

 

I had to do a trip to Auckland earlier this week and decided to check out Barrier Air's leased Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ZK-SLA and their service from North Shore to Great Barrier Island... Only one problem from my end - my camera had a hissy fit which change the white balance of my photos and gave them a blue tint. I couldn't fix until I got to the Barrier, however have corrected those most in need of it...

Barrier Air's extended North Shore service started on 20 January 2021... Cessna Caravan ZK-SLA lands at North Shore on GB204 

Refuelling between flights GB204 and GB205 

The North Shore Aero Club has developed the terminal for the two airlines servicing North Shore

Unlike Barrier Air's other Caravans SLA is configured one seat each side with six rows... A configuration that I feel has a lot more passenger appeal

Lining up Runway 21 at North Shore

A couple of nice shots of North Shore Aerodrome on departure

The titles on the side of the aircraft might have changed... showing ZK-SLA's True South ownership

Karepiro Bay to the left looking down towards Long Bay and Rangitoto in the distance

A couple of views of Red Beach and Orewa

Gulf Harbour

Motuora Island

From left Motutara, Moturekareka and Motuketekete Islands with Mullet Point in the distance

Kawau Island

Tāwharanui Peninsula and Omaha in the distance

Little Barrier Island

The many islands of Great Barrier Island's western coast

A couple of views of Whangaparapara Harbour

Great Barrier Island's rugged interior

Oruawharo Bay - the small curved bay with the Sugar Loaf and Pitokoku Island at the left

Claris airport

Looking north from Claris airfield

the northern end of Kaitoke Beach with Palmer's Island at the point and Lion Rock beyond

The white sands of Kaitoke Beach

Pitokuku Island and the Sugar Loaf

The white sands of Kaitoke Beach with the peak, St Paul, in the background

Claris terminal with Barrier Air's ZK-SDB on the gate

My ride - ZK-SLA - with the stunning back drop of Great Barrier Island's peaks in the background

  

Thanks to Grant and Josh from Barrier Air for a great morning. For plane spotters or nuts the North Shore service is a great way to have a few hours on the Barrier without the parking expenses of Auckland. There is a cafe 10 minutes stroll away. There wasn't a lot happening aviation wise when I was there but the day wasn't the best. I will post a few photos in the next day or two.