Introduction
Seattle to Honolulu
Honolulu to Auckland
Auckland to Christchurch
Wellington to Rotorua
Auckland to San Francisco
San Francisco to Seattle
Thursday 17th October 2013
A very rushed morning after a morning run around Wellington Harbour (training) and watching the sun rise and the city wake up. A rushed pack of my bag and a few errands around the city (mission to get things going but unfortunately that did not work all that well. I wish it could of happened a little bit easier but unfortunately, it was not to be. At the appointed time I was in the lobby of the hotel, waiting for the bus departure with everyone else. We were off to the airport heaps earlier than we needed to be but as I had no say in it, I just did as I was told. No group check in or anything like that, but a group bus transfer was on the cards.
When we got to Wellington Airport I did the right thing and got myself sorted out, I waited forever at the Premium Desk and for some reason they just never came to serve me. What the hell! Bad call Air New Zealand. But eventually I got helped and checked in, with my A3 number added to the boarding pass, *G status showing, bag on its way to Rotorua and I waited for the others to finalise. I had offered to guest in whoever wanted to come with and one person ended up taking up the offer.
Headed to the Koru Club which in Wellington is actually pretty nice. Good runway side location with plenty of floor to ceiling windows and plenty of space. A spacious lounge with plenty of seating options and a really good food spread for that time of the morning. Lots of the usual snack options that you find in Australia (Fruit, really good hand made cookies) and some of the more morning tea options as well like fresh scones and slices. The lunch options were also on the verge of being handed out which was pretty cool as well.
Lots of snacking options (to many really) and several different coffee options being by the pot or a barista service, what more do I need. A couple of cups of coffee later and a good chat with one of the group (I may have been conned into half a scone) and then before we knew it, it was time to head for the gate. As we left the Koru Club, boarding was called.
Air New Zealand (Operated by Air Nelson) – NZ8584
Wellington to Rotorua
1150-1255
Bombardier Dash 8-Q300 (ZK-NEW)
Economy Class – Seat 5A
Boarding: 1135 (Gate 7)
Power Out: 1157
Take Off Roll: 1200 (Runway 34)
Top of Descent: 1234
Touch Down: 1251 (Runway 18R)
Shut Down: 1253 (Gate 2)
Walking down towards the single digit gates at Wellington you head out to the gates that don’t require security and I do love that rule in New Zealand for any flight with less than 50 people, no security required. Awesome!! Popped out right at our gate and within a few moments I was scanned through (after a brief pause for my boarding pass to respond correctly and then I was out onto the tarmac. The usual Aussie/Kiwi reaction to a camera on the ground by the staff (No photos, no photos!) and a few pictures as soon as I had passed the staff and I was waiting to get onboard.
I was worried that my camera bag would not fit in the overhead lockers as it was quite big and I know I had issues on the Horizon Dash 8 back in May, I wasn’t sure how it compared to the Q300. Thankfully under the seat in front was big enough space for the camera bag and my backpack into the overhead bin. Got to love some juggling. Laptop out and into the seat pocket, getting myself situated and a few photos, time to settle in.
We waited for a little bit while the last of the paperwork was fixed and finalised and then the doors were shut and we were off to Rotorua. As the props powered up right next to me, the vibration obviously began but that is always a reassuring thing on a turboprop aircraft. If the vibration stops, that is probably not a good thing. Half the flight was filled with our group and I would be suprised if anyone behind me was paying attention to the safety demonstration as to be honest, there wasnt really one. Instructions to read the safety card was it and that was pretty much it. Powering out from the gate and headed towards the southern end of the runway for our Northbound departure out over Wellington.
No holding at the runway point, just a quick flick of the throttles to takeoff power and the props spinning up. We were airborne just past the Koru Club I had just barely left and climbing out past the city with a slight right turn but not by much. The city off on my side meant that I could enjoy the departure as we climbed out, off into the skies above. The first ding went off about 30 seconds later signifying electronics are ok and then advised of the service onboard today of tea, coffee, water and a cookie as well (not that I was going to eat the cookie, it would go into the stash).
I took the offered coffee (I am quite happy with the Air NZ coffee and the fact that it is french press over instant is a good thing) and watched as my cup vibrated its way across the tray table and also grabbed a water when offered. We flew north along the coast and a lot of clouds below us unfortunately. The flight was very non eventful as we cruised north, I wrote most of the trip report before we had even hit cruise altitude and I instead sat back with my coffee and water and relaxed. Eventually it was TOD (top of descent), power to idle, dip the nose down and down she goes. A quick clean up by the lone crew member and a hand out of the traditional sweets onboard Air New Zealand and we heading fast toward the cloud deck.
Passing through the thick cloud deck we were getting bumped around a little but nothing at all that bad. I am sure some of the people may have worried but I couldnt care less, it was not even remotely bad. As we popped out below the clouds we seemed to track north over the city and the lake. Being able to spot some landmarks on the city was good but having never flown into Rotorua before it was hard to guage runway location or even what direction we were going to land. It seemed the airport was on the other side of the aircraft as we dropped gear half way over the lake and all I had on my side was water.
Right turn with gear deployed and flaps to full, we started our final turn onto the final approach and we made the last minute descent and touch down onto the runway at Rotorua and then that distinctive sound as they threw it into full reverse pitch and wound up the engines to help slow us down. We cleared the runway at the lone taxi location and headed towards the tiny tiny airport, which I swear is New Zealands smallest International Airport (2 flights a week to Sydney). It didn’t take long for the crew to shut down and let us all free and suprisingly the smell did not smack us all in the face. It was there a little but not at all that bad as I had remembered, it must be stronger in town compared to the airport.
Took a number of photos before I walked into the Terminal and we met our escort for the next part of our journey and by the time I went to collect my bags it had just dissapeared onto the belt portion where it heads back out around for its 2nd lap. Dammit. Got my bag on the second loop and then it was off into the city, not before leaving a little something on the airport 😉
