(8 days / 12 hours flying)
Much of what you will see and do on this tour is difficult or impossible to achieve by other means of transport.
With brilliant variety, this tour encompasses the southern spirit of New Zealand. Beginning from the moment we meet at Queenstown your days will be full of stunning scenery, clear airways and fantastic flying.You will enjoy many interesting destinations, excellent cuisine and wines, and attention to detail at all times.Your home at Geordie Hill offers a unique insight to life on a working high country Station, whilst relaxing in your private and fully appointed farm cottage with wonderful views and peaceful environment.
For this tour you will be based at Geordie Hill Station and take day trips. There is one night away on southern Stewart Island. This means you unpack once, and each day take only what you need.It also allows tremendous flexibility for weather within the itinerary.
Day One
9am – you will be met by your personal host and instructor at Queenstown Airport. After your briefing, fly to Geordie Hill Station – Flyinn’s base.Here Jo will have prepared morning coffee and hot scones to welcome you to Geordie Hill Station.Meet our staff, familiarise yourself with your accommodation at Geordie Hill, as well as your aircraft and the local area.We also continue the process for validation of foreign PPL and issue of NZ Certificate. Weather permitting it is possible to explore beyond the local region and to one of the destinations of your itinerary.
Evening: settle into your surroundings before joining Matt and Jo at the Geordie Hill Homestead for the first of many shared evenings. Enjoy a pre-dinner drink, accompanied by excellent cuisine, selected wines, and interesting company.
Day Two
Fly to world famous Milford Sound via Te Anau, the Wilmott Pass and the Milford Track. Spectacular deep fiords and rainforest running up onto weathered peaks abound. Many high mountain tarns and lakes feed waterfalls, which fall vertically hundreds of feet into the fiords below. Land at Milford Sound. Take a walk and view the Bowen falls, and absorb the magnificent atmosphere. Fly to Big Bay, and land on the vast beach (depends on tide). Lunch at Milford or enjoy Elsie’s date loaf at Big Bay.Back to Geordie Hill via Aspiring National Park and lakes Wanaka and Hawea., (Mt Aspiring is known as the “Matterhorn” of the South, and is flanked by pristine glaciers)
Day Three
Fly to Stewart Island. Route via the Nevis or Kawarau River Valleys where Central Otago high country descends to lower and more fertile rolling hills and more intense farming systems.Land at the immaculately kept Mandeville Airfield and visit Croydon Aircraft Company.Here vintage aircraft are restored, and there is a hanger where a rare collection is kept.Enjoy morning coffee, or light lunch at ‘The Moth’ café.There is the option to fly a Tiger Moth here.Fly further south over green Southland countryside, and Foveaux Strait to land at Stewart Island. Settle into your accommodation and take a short bush walk or a walk through the township and along the beach.Perhaps visit the Department of Conservation museum. In the evening enjoy fresh local seafood at the hotel restaurant.Relax and enjoy the quiet pace of island life.
Day Four
Fishing Excursion: Morning boat trip with local island fisherman. Enjoy viewing marine life, including blue penguins, seals and molymawks ( of the albatross family).Learn some of the history of the area. Try your hand at fishing for Blue Cod – the local staple – a sweet succulent white flesh fish.Visit the nature reserve of Ulva Island to enjoy the native bush which is alive with native birdsong.In the afternoon fly back to Geordie Hill via the very beautiful Catlins coastline. Here there are numerous deserted beaches and cliffs, plus farm and forest land. Be sure to deliver your catch of the day to Jo when you get home, so a delicious appetizer can be prepared for dinner.
Day Five
Day out in the city of Dunedin: Built around a natural harbour, and on the back of a gold-rush, Dunedin was one of the first cities in NZ.It offers interesting architecture, a highly regarded historic museum, botanic gardens, excellent shopping, and also some marine life.Various tracks south east from Geordie Hill take you over mountain ranges and wide river valleys.View an open cast gold mine from above, and track up the Dunedin harbour and over the city.Or track over rocklands or follow lake Marhingarangi to approach from the south.Enjoy being shown around, or spend some free time exploring.Today is your slice of NZ city life.
Alternate: Options day: Join the Geordie Hill Station program and watch shepherds shifting stock with their dogs.Learn more about our farming systems and infrastructure.Join the staff for morning tea before heading out to explore your choice of local attractions.(Use of a station vehicle – car or 4wd is included)
Local attractions include: gliding at world renown Omarama.Local boutique shops at Tarras.Visit some of the many local vineyards or visit the townships of Cromwell or Wanaka.Spend the day hiking around Wanaka, or to the Rob Roy Glacier in Mt Aspiring National Park. Or another option can be to simply remain at Geordie Hill and enjoy a quiet day at the Station.
Evening Dinner: a menu with selected wines prepared just for you, to enjoy at leisure in your cottage.
Day Six
Dramatic Glenorchy region and the Dart River Jet Boat excursion. This day can begin by flying to an interesting local airstrip or two.Perhaps visit St Bathans the old gold mining town still much in its original state. At Glenorcy there is time for a brief lunch before joiningthe Dart River Jet experience. This is a mighty river and mountain experience. The jetboat is a NZ invention able to travel in very shallow or swift flowing water. The spectacular scenery in this region is popular the film industry. Return to Geordie Hill via scenic Shotover or Motutapu River valleys.Or climb in a northerly direction to catch the magnificent views down river valleys as you descend eastwards over Wanaka.And as you make your way back to Geordie Hill you will now recognise the surrounding countryside, and feel like you are on your way home.
Day Seven
Mt Cook Region and Glaciers: Explore this most dramatic area with it’s razor sharp ridges and steep sidesvalleys, carved from years of glacial activity.View the icefields that supply cascading glaciers, which in turn feed a variety of lakes and river systems.At over 12,000′ Mt Cook and surrounds are made all the more spectacular because only 20 nm to the West is the shoreline of the Tasman Sea.
Fly back via the long and winding Landsbourgh river valley. Visit Haast or Makarora village for a break. Land on some interesting backcountry strips: Minaret or the Dingleburn airstrips- both remote high country properties.And closer to home land on some local Tarras strips.Today is full of a wonderful variety of scenery.
Day Eight
The last day of your tour can also be full of surprises …. so if at all possible keep this day free! Use the morning to see a little more of Geordie Hill and station life.Or perhaps do some extra strip flying and test your skills on one or two more challenging local strips. If during the week, weather has caused a postponement to any destination, today is our chance to go there.Also today we provide you with a detailed flight log and invoice. Once all plans have been accomplished, we say farewell to Geordie Hill and fly to Queenstown.
You will have the most flexibility with this day if you are able to stay the night in Queenstown. The next best option is to book your flight from Queenstown as late in the day as possible.
FIORDLAND EXPLORER BOOKING CONDITIONS:
This tour is fully inclusive.You have the exclusive use of one of our 180hp C –172 aircraft for the time you are here. The cost covers all Aircraft and Licencing expenses: all fuel and aircraft operating costs, aircraft insurance, plus your BFR and license validation.All instruction, briefings, and fees payable for aircraft landings and airways/ATC services, plus your own navigational and planning charts.Full host and guide services are provided throughout your tour. The cost also includes all accommodation, breakfasts and first class dinners with excellent NZ food and wine.All transfers, vehicle usage, plus farm experience and tour of Geordie Hill Station. Stewart Island boat tour where you will fish for succulent blue cod and experience the native marine and bird life. DartRiver Jet adventure to explore the pristine mountain valley environment first hand. Accommodation on the station is in a separate house or cottage with all facilities. This is comfortable and private. Breakfast is provided in your cottage on a self-serve basis and the cottage is serviced daily. Drinks and dinner at Geordie Hill are at the main Station homestead. Occasionally we will vary this: you may have dinner provided in your cottage or perhaps an evening barbeque by the river.The only extras will be optional tourist activities, lunches and minor incidentals.
This itinerary is intended to be flexible to allow for weather. It will be conducted as the weather allows, and days will be swapped to make the best use of weather in any location on any particular day. The last day at Geordie Hill may be used as a buffer day to make up for any time lost due to weather.
New Zealand instructor or guide is provided as required for cross-country, bush and mountain flying. This is to be at our discretion. You will have the use of the aircraft on your own as pilot in command for local flying. This use is also at our discretion.
For pricing and availability on this tour please click here to go to our enquiry form.
