UFLYNZ

Christmas shopping ideas, Wanaka Style.

uflynz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:19:32 +0000

Are you travelling around NZ, in a campervan, minivan or nice air conditioned car? Sitting at home, somewhere in the world right this minute thinking “How will I get Aunty Jo’s Christmas present by this Saturday….and what willl I get for Uncle Patrick, little Sammy and Susy’s daughter in law”?

I decided this year in the age of doing it online that my gifts would arrive to me by post sine I had ordered them so long ago. That idea is fine if you did remember to do that and if you aren’t traveling around NZ in a minivan. If you happen to arrive in Wanaka in the next few days and look up to the skies in disbelief that you haven’t even brought your travelling boy/girl friend, wife daughter or even your motherlaw (who is travelling with you on your honeymoon), then here are a few little tips about where to find chrissy presents in Wanaka. “Good idea, that gets the thumbs up” I hear you say? If on a budget and you would like to make something, we have lovely drift wood on the beach that with a little glitter from the local Paper Plus Store looks very Christmas-e. While you are at the Store, they have great books.

If you have a little coin check out our great Waste Busters recycling centre, I just got my delightful Father in Law a rainbow coloured picnic table umbrella-just don’t tell him it cost me $2, I guess I could have bargined down to .50C.

Abit more cash, something to eat perhaps? The local Four Square store has great food delights-very friendly staff and a great location-right in town. If you feel the need to splash out on the day then try Aspiring Jewellers, right on the lake front for that special something to really knock her over…(propose on the lake front perhaps)?

What ever you are going to give this Christmas, remember it is the little things that count! Have fun and drive safe.

Thumbs Up

Wanaka welcomes Amercian Travel Writers Society.

uflynz — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 08:10:04 +0000

Founded in 1955, the Amercian Travel Writers Society was formed for keeping up travel communication all over the world. This weekend welcomes the travel writers to town, many of them have never been to Wanaka before or even New Zealand. They arrived just in time to see the snow, low on the mountains again beside our pristine Lake Wanaka. If you meet any of these people, remember they are writing about us as Kiwi’s and we welcome them and anyone from their country to experience the New Zeland that we love.

Wanaka Locals know how to have Fun.

uflynz — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 22:44:15 +0000

Need something to do in Wanaka?

Imagine living in Wanaka full time? You would have time to do just about anything you thought up. This day Pete, Sam and another friend decided they would like to go for a hike up Mount Roy. Why not, afterall it is a good day out and the views are amazing. We often see Mount Roy and the best views from the plane when we are flying but to actually walk up Mount Roy-which is a verticle slog-makes the view even more rewarding when you get there. Once there the boys decided to take the easy street back down, again why not? have time may as well have fun….So they doned their ski gear and put that verticle advantage to good use. Needless to say it didn’t take quite as long to get down as it did to go up.

Need something to do in Wanaka?

Skiing in Wanaka-local style

My New Zealand Tour in the U-FLY plane this week.

uflynz — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 05:17:04 +0000

I could touch this!

First let’s start with my last Sunday afternoon…because I was looking forward to a nice relaxed evening. I was to fly up to Rotorua on business on Air New Zealand but I decided to take a scenic flight. I didn’t think about the school hols so when I saw the prices, I went ‘Oooh, maybe not this week’.

Wayne suggested I pick up the phone and ask a good friend this question…”do you have much on this week”? “Why”? was the response-next day I was in his plane and we were off! It was like…WOW! I have lived in NZ all my life and I can see why people love our SCENERY!

The Southern Lakes

Suddenly, I am a tourist in my own country, we flew up the east coast of both the South and North islands and made Rotorua in just over 5 hours. Next day after my meetings we were back in the plane and making the straight line back to Wanaka. We landed in Wanaka just over 5 hours later, we had stopped breifly to pick up fuel and so I grabbed the sandwhiches out of the boot. I love to live in this wonderful scenic place called New Zealand, except I get to call it Home! If you would like me to personally show you around check out our flight tours. http://www.u-flywanaka.co.nz/index.html

Flying down the N.I.

What our Clients have said about us this week.

uflynz — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 04:31:34 +0000

A “must do”-has to go on the “bucket list”!! Great experience, wonderful pilot, lovely personal service. The way to see Wanaka! Roy, NZ.

Thoroughly Enjoyable, view was absolutely awesome, flight was great. Commentary was excellent, friendly service. Highly recommended. John. Australia

Absolutely amazing! I can not recommend it enough, I had a wonderful time, can not thank you enough for such a fantastic flight experience!!! Easy to fly and great scenery, very appreciated. Lia. UK.

This is fantastic, If you love Flying and great views do this!!! There is no better activity in NZ! Thank you very much U-FLY team. Scott. UK.

The best experience yet! The plane was so easy to fly! Tayla. Sydney, Australia.

What to say? Best experience ever, worth every cent! Thank you so much! Dom, Australia.

Absolutely wonderful views, great to fly the plane. My kid and Wife loved and enjoyed it! The pilots, Ruth and Wayne were absolutely fab and guided us and did whatever we asked for. Worth the Trip, Cheers. Gauver. India

Thank you very much, a fantastic experience and I particulary enjoyed the pilots patience and guidance in letting me have a shot. Lara. UK

Thank you so much! It was such a great experience. Nothing better than that! Cool. Thomas. Germany

Wanaka Warm places to Go

uflynz — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:10:20 +0000

Try the library, for some peace and quiet-and some good reading, they have internet, magazines and DVD’s too.
Save up your coins and take them into your bank once a week-have you noticed how warm it is inside the bank? If you think that you’ll drink 4 less coffees a week you’ll put away $72 a month.
Think ahead for your Mum’s birthday present, go and have a browse in Paper Plus-nice and warm and they have free local papers outside that make good reading then good fire lighters.
Go for a wine tour, pick up the free brochure at the information centre and take a sober driver.
During the week, check out the Vege shop and the Wanaka butchery opposite each other in Reece Crescent, they have warm friendly people and good produce. You’ll have a warm walk up from town as they are off Plantation Road-good exercise.

: A place to go for peace and warmth

Wanaka Winter Wonderland

uflynz — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:16:32 +0000

In my last post I talked about seeing the hills and mountains around Wanaka for the last time before the snow! Now it is here. It stared falling on Wednesday night. The nip was in the air and then yesterday we had it right down into the township on Wanaka. What a way to see the Mountains, I thought. Anyone would love to fly over their favourite mountain in the glistening snow and sunshine, the wanaka ski fields are underway!

But first I needed to see how people were reacting downtown….what I saw I think the Wanaka Chamber of Commerce president Leigh Stock said it perfectly- the “white stuff” was putting a “smile on dials” of people waiting to ski .

Cardrona Skifield is open today and Treble Cone will be just around the corner. After receiving 35cm of snow in the last 36 hours Treble Cone will have a limited opening of the platter lift and beginners area on Sunday 10^th July. The Amisfield bubbles will await the opening of the home basin for those of you concerned about this.

Mountain food & beverage, rental and snowsports school will all be operating. The Learners lift is free of charge at Treble Cone. Scenic chair rides will be offered from noon – 1pm with visitors able to enjoy the stunning views over Lake Wanaka from the sheltered base area.

The new Wanaka office on Dungarvon St overlooking Pembroke park will switch to winter hours and be open from 3 to 6pm daily for season pass pick up and new visitor inquiries and ticketing.

We see happy people flowing into town and tonight I pulled up to the water front to see this scene: So Winter is Open in Wanaka!

More snow for Lake Wanaka Mountains

Snow from my window

Last Chance to view Lake Wanaka before the snow.

uflynz — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 04:41:01 +0000

Yesterday it was lovely and warm and I decided to take a tour of our lovely town of Wanaka. If you have not been to the look out, make it a must do. If you do not know how to get there, ask any shop person or a local. The view shows our gorgeous town. Or how about a flight over Wanaka?

It looks like from the weather that is changing here that we are in for some unsettled weather. The air is cooling down and there is a bit of a change in the mood…We may really be having a snow fall soon!

Change on the horizon

: Last chance to see the town before the snow!

TRENZ delegates fly with U-FLY.

uflynz — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 19:53:49 +0000

U-Fly’s scenic flights over the beautiful mountains and crystal clear Lake Wanaka, highlight some of the finest alpine sightseeing in the South Island of New Zealand (NZ).

Recently during the Tourism Trade conference in Queenstown, delegates from all over the world decided to fly with U-FLY to see what it was all about- around the Stunning lake Wanaka region. Most people’s first question is ‘what is it all about’?

Because it is a tourism activity it is designed to be easy and incrediably fun. You do not need any expereince in flying as the delegates were soon to find out. After a pilot briefing we take off and climb up to 330 Meters above the ground heading west. Passing over the stunning Glendhu Bay area, the Motatapu, the ski area of Treble Cone and into Mount Aspiring National Park we can then view the glaciers in their true glistening glory. For more information on how to see the Glaciers near Wanaka: http://u-flywanaka.co.nz/gold_tour.html

Our experienced pilot will encourage you to do as little or as much flying as you like. This is a completely unique New Zealand South Island tour that you will never forget. You don’t need more than a few minutes to learn to fly this bird. The brand new plane is light and easy to fly. The delegates experienced the highlights trip http://u-flywanaka.co.nz/highlights_tour.html and in my next update I will tell you what they said about the team at U-FLY…

Dropping fishermen and tramping enthusiasts off by plane.

uflynz — Sat, 21 May 2011 22:39:58 +0000

A sudden burst of inspiration, driven by a forecast for four calm, sunny days, saw our friend Pete Groves booking me for a flight into a backcountry grass airstrip for an autumn adventure. What better way to combine sightseeing, flying Wanaka, fishing and hiking in the Hunter River valley – one of the most beautiful areas of the South Island.

Of course it was no problem for us, as we frequently fly into the backcountry strips as part of the programme for our Mountain Flying students … and it’s beautiful. I made a quick call to the landowner for permission to use the Boundry Hut airstrip, which he kindly granted, and soon we were climbing into the Tecnam aircraft and taking to the sky above Wanaka.

It was a stunning scenic flight at about 2000 feet above Lake Hawea with views into two other famous fisheries – Timaru Creek and Dingle Burn – but the Pete’s goal was the Hunter River, which is the main river flowing into Lake Hawea. He was excited to see the river from the air – and to see it was flowing clear and the water level was low.

We overflew the airstrip to check it’s condition and to chase away a single cow, then a quick circuit and we touched down into a strong valley breeze.

Pete put on his backpack and fishing gear, and started off upstream for his three day adventure – staying at the Ferguson and Forbes Huts, and then hiking out over a steep mountain pass into the Wills River valley which flows out to the Haast River. The scenery in this part of the Southern Alps is stunning with beautiful rivers, thick native bush, steep mountain peaks and many glaciers all within easy view.

It was 52km of hiking and climbing for Pete (he only caught one fish!) but for me it was an easy flight back to homebase at Wanaka Airport in time for the next U-FLY passenger.