We took two Cessna 172s (JMY and KOL), and one Diamond DA-20 Katana (CSD). Left Hamilton at about 10am Friday, on track Taumaranui. Turned overhead Taumaranui, straight to Palmerston North for a touch'n'go, and then onwards to Paraparaumu.
The weather was decidedly average on the Friday so we decided not to risk crossing the straight that night, with forecasts for two fronts hitting Kaikoura right when we were supposed to get there. The Kapiti Aero Club kindly let us use their facilities to debrief, and even came and unlocked for us at 0630 on Saturday, to allow us to get going only 25mins past MCT.
Saturday the weather was much improved, and we set off early. Whilst KOL and CSD crossed the Straight from Ohau Point direct to the Tory VOR, in JMY we decided to be cheeky and get up nice and high so we could cross direct to Cape Campbell in reasonable safety. Wellington Tower was very accommodating in allowing us up to 6500 feet, although we were forced to maintain 5500 due cloud. Next off we tracked down the coast to Kaikoura for a Touch'N'Go. Tiny skinny little runway, with a reasonably rough surface on the seal. And then straight "under the hood" for me for some Instrument Flight time, where-upon we managed 6500 feet inland, and performed a "Lost" procedure at Hanmer Springs.
After recovering from there we diverted back to our original destination of Christchurch. Was very interesting to see the way the controller had to sequence us in with 2 jets departing and one coming in to land. A quick lunch and re-plan at the Canterbury Aero Club, and we were off again. This time to Dunedin, via Timaru and Oamaru. The weather had started getting rough at this stage, with high winds, and flying the approach into Dunedin the GPS onboard CSD was reportedly reading between 40 and 60kts of headwind! In JMY we had to try and fly the approach as quickly as possible, in order to clear the runway before the 737 right behind us landed.
A night in Dunedin, and some initially doubtfull weather, but we set off again at about 9.30 am, thanks to Mainland Air for letting us through their hangars and providing up to date weather information. This time we were direct to Timaru for fuel, then Kaikoura to change pilots and re-fuel. The weather was certainly not amazing, but we were determined to make it. Cloud base of 2200feet just out of Kaikoura thankfully cleared up by the Straight. We were also overtaken by a DA40 from Massey just before Cape Campbell (they are quick!).
This time it was up the coast past Woodbourne before crossing the straight at near the narrowest point at a measly 2500 feet, track the coast to Paraparaumu for lunch and a refuel, then to Hamilton via the coast as far as Wanganui, diversion to Ohakune, then resumed track to Taumaranui, and arriving in Hamilton finally at around 1830.
But enough babble, it was an awesome trip and here are some photos:
(Will add more as I collect them from the other cameras
)
.. You shot past my place , whats the story ? ... nothing better to do i could have been the camera guy 
