NZ's Northern Most Air Service - Part 1 - GB615 north to Kaitaia

One year ago today, on 4 March 2019, Barrier Air added six additional flights a week between Auckland and Kaitaia. The Wednesday to Monday "lunchtime flights" proved to be a great hit and with a few months a Tuesday flight was introduced. Barrier Air says the response to the Kaitaia flights has been overwhelming and if patronage keeps up it is only a matter of time before Barrier Air adds more flights. 

On Monday 2 March 2019 I was able to take up Barrier Air's invitation to try out their Kaitaia service. This is part 1 of a three part series that will feature the north and southbound flights as well as a conversation I had with Barrier Air's senior management.

Check in at Auckland International and we've got some bikes joining us for the flight north. 

My ride to Kaitaia... Barrier Air flight GB615 boarding Cessna Grand Caravan ZK-SDD 

Sister ship ZK-SDB dback in Auckland after doing the first flight to Great Barrier Island this morning 

A look at some of the Garmin G1000 technology on board all Barrier Air's Caravans.

Quite liked this - Air New Zealand's Boeing 777-200 ZK-OKH after touch down

Lining up 05 at Auckland

Tarmac view #1

Another nice shot of ZK-OKH

Tarmac view #2

Tarmac view #3

Tasman Cargo Airlines' Boeing 767-300 VH-EXZ 

Departure from Auckland... the headwaters of the Manukau Habour 

Above and below, the Tamaki River

Orakei Basin and Hudson Bay

Looking up the Waitemata Harbour

The CBD...

and Harbour Bridge

Devonport

Takapuna

Milford, Castor and Campbell Bays

Browns Bay

Torbay

A glimpse of the Kaipara going into the Tasman Sea

Hokianga Harbour - I got caught out with the gap in the cloud... got the strut in focus... Rawene and the ferry on the north side of the Habour

Rawene

Descent into Kaitaia

Runway 30 at Kaitaia

Hi Julie

Thanks Alex

A big thanks to Barrier Air for the opportunity to fly with them to Kaitaia

For bookings and more information see

https://www.barrierair.kiwi/