05 July 2011

A day in Northland...

When grabaseat has a $1 fare to Kerikeri, you really just have to take it...


Beech 1900 ZK-EAR had already had an early start, it had flown Blenheim to Auckland before being my ride to Kerikeri.

With the chorus of the usual comments about the size of the 1900s NZ2650 with its 14 passengers gets ready to depart

Take off on runway 23 with the mudflats of the Manakau Harbour

The last unobstructed glimpse - the Harbour Bridge slips by the other side.

Only the occasional glimpse of the Kaipara Harbour

The problem with the 1900s... they fly above the clouds

Kerikeri's mish mash terminal...

...where with the camera on the widest angle possible I could just fit the Beech in.

A1 Rentals Northland were there to meet me and then off to Kaikohe to do some research on air services through Kaikohe (a future series of posts) and also some background reading for the Great Barrier Island series that I am currently working on.

Ross, one of Salt Air's pilots loads the ride home, Gippsland Airvan ZK-MAB.

She's not pretty, but this Aussie aeroplane gives the impression of being a sturdy workhorse.

Ross lines up on Runway 15 at Kerikeri with his 3 passengers on board

The beautiful rolling green Northland countryside

In the foreground Waitangi on the left and Paihia on the right with Russell across the bay

Opua

Approaching Whangarei

Reaching across the passenger next to me, a desperation shot of down town Whangarei

The magnificent shapes of Whangarei Heads

On finals at Whangarei

Airborne again with another couple of passengers bound for North Shore

Looking along the beach to Marsden Point Oil Refinery and the Whangarei Heads


A heavenly spot as the weather gets more gloomy... but at least flying below the clouds there is still plenty to see

Can you see it???? Great Barrier Island is out there...

Coming up over Orewa and the Whangapaora Peninsula in the background

On final approach to North Shore

Loading of the Airvan begins as soon as we get off...

and in fact, the Airvan was on its way north before we head off down the Busway to Auckland.

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