West Auckland Airport Parakai is available for General Aviation, drop-in visitors welcome. Radio 123.5 in MBZ.  Due to frequent skydiving, please join downwind, base or final (not overhead).  Visitor parking by the hangars down taxiway

More South Island safari photos...:  The West Coast of the South Island has wild weather and only a few harbours.    The little town of Charleston was a working port in the early days when the only practical way in or out was by ship.   Would have been a brave skipper to take his small sailing ship in here... but they did, and some even got them out again.

Port Charleston

Relaxed lifestyle:  Karamea.  Karamea town is up a long no-exit road from Westport, at one end of the Heaphy Track much used by local and overseas hikers to cross from the West Coast of the South Island to its North Coast near Takaka.   Its a relaxed place,  no-one comes to Karamea for a high-stress lifestyle.   On the side of the road to the Airport (1.5 km out of town) there is a pile of nicely cut firewood free for the taking, and even an axe conveniently supplied for anyone who wants a workout splitting wood...  the local equivalent of pumping iron at the gym.

Side of the road near Karamea Airport

Mosquito Spraying:  A SE Asian mosquito has been found in the Kaipara harbour, and NZ doesn't need any of the disease vector type mosquito, so spraying  is being done at weekly intervals for a few weeks to discourage it from spreading.   The spray helos are seen here refilling for very short sorties, some only four or five minutes.

Anti-mosquito Helicopter Ops

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Coming Events:

30th December, NAC Whananaki Flyin –  Northland Aviation Club fly-in organized by Martin Farrand.   Click here for airfield details.

1st January 2019, New Year's Day.  'First In The World Fly In' (FITWFI) at Waipukurau NZYF.   Always the first aviation event of the year (anywhere) because of NZ's summer time being 13h ahead of UTC.    Aircraft fly in from all round the lower half of the North Island, with usually some from Auckland, and the South Island.  A good chance to see some different aircraft.   Moves around the local airfields in the lower North Island. 

19th January, NAC Pancake Breakfast Flyin at Kaipara Flats:  Tim Harrison's hangar. Kaipara Flats. Setting up will begin at 8am and arrivals expected from 8.30 onwards. Pancakes, sausages, bacon, toast, tea and coffee. Gold coin donation towards cost appreciated.
Fly up to Dargaville for lunch later to make it a really great aviation day.   Click here for airfield details.

26th to 28th Jan 2019, Weekend.  Autogyro Assn fly-in at Dannevirke.  Annual get together for gyros, with fixed wing also welcome.   Flyout to Athbey Farm, socialising, AGM, lunches and more.   For details see www.autogyro.org.nz

2nd February, NAC Poker Run from North Shore NZNE:    Meet at and depart from Paul Hopper's hangar/residence at North Shore aerodrome. End at Dargaville for lunch and prizegiving. 

23rd February, Mata Annual Flyin:   At Leo John's Mata airstrip just to the south of Whangarei.  Always well attended from near and far.   Click here for airfield details.

COROMANDEL: Lunch 2nd Sunday of each month from 12:30. Clubhouse Ph 07 866 2055. Click here for airfield details.

WHANGAREI: Last Saturday of each month at hangar 10, the Western end of the row of hangars.  Whangarei Flying Club meeting at 10:30 with lunch to follow.  Clubhouse phone 09 436 4053.  Click here for airfield details.

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