Christchurch best spotting places?

[thranduil]

Hi!

My name is Luca and I'm from Italy.

First of all I'd like to apologize for my terrible English, but I hope you can understand me!

I registered in this forum because it's the only one I found about aviation photography in NZ: I'm planning to spend my next holidays in New Zealand and, being an enthusiast planespotter, I'd like to spend some hours taking pictures of your "exotic" liners in CHC.

So I'm asking your advice on what are the best spotting places around Christchurch Airport.

Plus, I heard about a nice WWII fighter pilots museum in Southern Island, but I cannot find it...

Thanks a lot!

PS: It's not exactly "New Zealand Aviation Photography" but if you'd like to see some (nearly acceptable) pic of some european planes (military or not) I'm here!

[Splitpin]

QUOTE (thranduil @ Jul 13 2010, 10:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi!

My name is Luca and I'm from Italy.

First of all I'd like to apologize for my terrible English, but I hope you can understand me!

I registered in this forum because it's the only one I found about aviation photography in NZ: I'm planning to spend my next holidays in New Zealand and, being an enthusiast planespotter, I'd like to spend some hours taking pictures of your "exotic" liners in CHC.

So I'm asking your advice on what are the best spotting places around Christchurch Airport.

Plus, I heard about a nice WWII fighter pilots museum in Southern Island, but I cannot find it...

Thanks a lot!

PS: It's not exactly "New Zealand Aviation Photography" but if you'd like to see some (nearly acceptable) pic of some european planes (military or not) I'm here!

Welcome Luca.......i would be happy to show you around (i live in christchurch) and I know there maybe a couple of others who would also offer some advise.
You can send me a message (here) or email with your plans, and I'll see what can be done.

Cheers
Marty

[Ian Warren]

Hi Luca and big hello and welcome , I'm also in Christchurch , The airport has a road all the way around with many parking and vantage points , as for Warbird Museums , be four in the South Island starting from the top

Blenheim - WW1 at Omaka 4 hour drive north of Christchurch
Wigram RNZAF Museum in Christchurch
Ashburton Museum 65 km south of Christchurch
Wanaka Warbirds Museum , about 6 hour drive from Christchurch

Cheers , Ian

[Ian Warren]

Thanks a lot, I'm not exactly planning to visit NZ next week - it will be in mid November, when your tramping routes are free from the snow

but my grandfather always told me "if you have time don't waste your time", so I'm trying to stuff all the New Zealand I can in just two weeks and this of course takes time!

QUOTE

Blenheim - WW1 at Omaka 4 hour drive north of Christchurch
Wigram RNZAF Museum in Christchurch
Ashburton Museum 65 km south of Christchurch
Wanaka Warbirds Museum , about 6 hour drive from Christchurch[/quote]
Ian & Marty, please choose for me the one I cannot miss: I think the one I heard about is Wanaka

I will probably be driving all around Southern Island, so distance from CHC is not an issue

Last edited by thranduil on Wed Jul 14, 2010 4:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Venge]

I can not be near as helpful as the people in the previous replies, but just wanted to say Welcome to our forums

[Syncop8r]

Venge, you need to do something about that bug on your signature.
I have broken three LCD monitors already trying to smack it.

[Ian Warren]

I think Andy 'Trolly' had the very same one yonks back .... i really did try and swash the bug before realizing !

[Venge]

QUOTE (Syncop8r @ Jul 14 2010, 01:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Venge, you need to do something about that bug on your signature.
I have broken three LCD monitors already trying to smack it.

lol!
Will look around for a new one, until then its gonna cost you big time ......

[Splitpin]

"Ian & Marty, please choose for me the one I cannot miss: I think the one I heard about is Wanaka "

Luca......thats a hard thing to pick.They are all great , and each has something the others dont. I guess it depends on your area of interest.........hard call to make.

Marty

[thranduil]

Hello!

I'm back - nearly everything has been reserved - plane, car, whalewatching, milford sound cruise....

Now I can only hope for nice weather (and no quakes - the same strenght of one you had in CHC would result in a terrible disaster here in Italy where buildings are older and cities much more densely populated).

I decided to go for the RNZAF museum in CHC - lots of nice warbirds still missing from my checklist and a nice shop (I want to show my friends a nice RNZAF roundel tshirt)

I'll fly Emirates, Milan to Dubai to Sidney (on a 380!) and finally land in Christchurch on November 21 at 15:15.
In order to take pictures what is best, stay inside the airport or get the car as fast as possible and drive around the fence?

Cheers

Luca

[Ian Warren]

Luca ,

RNZAF Air Force World Museum is a good choice , you have tours that take you in the restoration hangers , morning tour at 11.00 AM and afternoon at 1.00PM , depending on the day and if want or require a personal guide , PM me , i'm only down the road , 2km .

The quakes have subsided , looking at the airport you would not think so , major changes and construction going on you would think it was hit by a quake , there are good and many places to get photos in around the Antarctic Operations , USAF Hercs and C17s even occasional C5 Galaxy .

Cheers , Ian

[thranduil]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Sep 30 2010, 05:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

there are good and many places to get photos in around the Antarctic Operations , USAF Hercs and C17s even occasional C5 Galaxy .

that would be great!

[IslandBoy77]

Hi Luca. Welcome to the forums! I can't help with the Christchurch / South Island stuff you want to do, but wanted to add my welcome. If you need a place to bed down for a night in Napier, you are welcome to drop by. All the best, and I hope we treat you well while you're here.

[thranduil]

QUOTE (IslandBoy77 @ Oct 1 2010, 10:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Luca. Welcome to the forums! I can't help with the Christchurch / South Island stuff you want to do, but wanted to add my welcome. If you need a place to bed down for a night in Napier, you are welcome to drop by. All the best, and I hope we treat you well while you're here.

Thank you all!
Five weeks only to my Kiwi holidays!

I received an incredibly warm welcome both here and in a trampers forum, I'm starting to think that I will have a very pleasant stay in NZ...

...not that I had any doubts before, of course!

[Ian Warren]

Luca , i could be out off action for a meet , good bump on the head has taken myself outta work for last couple months , five week is still a ways off , fingers crossed i can join you at Wigram .

[Splitpin]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Oct 14 2010, 08:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Luca , i could be out off action for a meet , good bump on the head has taken myself outta work for last couple months , five week is still a ways off , fingers crossed i can join you at Wigram .

If your not up to it Ian....pass him onto me....no problem at all

[Ian Warren]

Marty , Good plan - Thanks Matey , I am not enjoying these last couple weeks , be great to meet , good to have you back me up , Wiggy is your turf .
If you meet and want to stop through , quick call

[thranduil]

Just one week before leaving, on a jet plane!

BTW, I was afraid I was going to miss my first ride on a 380 after the Quantas RR engine failure, but luckily it seems that Emirates' 380s are powered by GEs.

I think I'll be in Wigram on my last day in NZ (Dec 05th) and on the same I'll be planespotting near CHC - hoping in a C5

[thranduil]

When I woke up this morning I heard about the terrible quake in Christchurch.

I'm watching images of collapsed buildings and rescue men digging in rubble.

I wish you all are well.
I'm not exactly a religious guy, but the only thing I can do now is to prey.

Get well soon CHC.