Paraparaumu
Not the most inspiring of towns but Paraparaumu is significant in that the local airfield is there and today I've managed to persuade auntie to drive me down for a look around. There's also a museum there, she tells me, so an hour here then should be pleasant enough. 20 minutes driving South on highway 1 and its well signposted. A small coastal town, not really on the tourist trail and definitely not on the worldwide backpackers trail! Usual shopping precincts, giant chain stores and a few independents mixed in with the American fast food joints.
Classed as an airport since there are passenger flights with Air New Zealand to Auckland, but security is surprisingly laid back. Plenty of recreational flying - a glider club and 2 flying clubs here. Kapiti flying club is the first hangar, door is open and a casual invitation to the office upstairs where there isn't much going on actually. A spell of bad weather is heading this way, so not much flying going on, but I can come back anytime and get airborne.They seem friendly enough so, i might just do that - its about 75 UKP for a 30 minute trial flight, enough time to get a few photos of the local area and nearby mountains.
The museum is a small affair, in a shed beside the hangar, but it does comprehensively tell the story of New Zealands aviation past, civil and military. An interesting 20 minutes looking at the clippings related to paraparaumu airfield, a host of finely crafted aeroplane models and a few wartime artifacts.
Next, a sandwich and coffee. A drive down to the beach and its easy to park since the main holiday season has passed. A host of restaurants, fish and chip shops and cafes around here, pretty typical of a seaside town in England except here it all looks well maintained, new and clean.
Not the most inspiring of towns but Paraparaumu is significant in that the local airfield is there and today I've managed to persuade auntie to drive me down for a look around. There's also a museum there, she tells me, so an hour here then should be pleasant enough. 20 minutes driving South on highway 1 and its well signposted. A small coastal town, not really on the tourist trail and definitely not on the worldwide backpackers trail! Usual shopping precincts, giant chain stores and a few independents mixed in with the American fast food joints.
Classed as an airport since there are passenger flights with Air New Zealand to Auckland, but security is surprisingly laid back. Plenty of recreational flying - a glider club and 2 flying clubs here. Kapiti flying club is the first hangar, door is open and a casual invitation to the office upstairs where there isn't much going on actually. A spell of bad weather is heading this way, so not much flying going on, but I can come back anytime and get airborne.They seem friendly enough so, i might just do that - its about 75 UKP for a 30 minute trial flight, enough time to get a few photos of the local area and nearby mountains.
The museum is a small affair, in a shed beside the hangar, but it does comprehensively tell the story of New Zealands aviation past, civil and military. An interesting 20 minutes looking at the clippings related to paraparaumu airfield, a host of finely crafted aeroplane models and a few wartime artifacts.
Next, a sandwich and coffee. A drive down to the beach and its easy to park since the main holiday season has passed. A host of restaurants, fish and chip shops and cafes around here, pretty typical of a seaside town in England except here it all looks well maintained, new and clean.
 |
| Gliding Club |
 |
| Museum |
 |
| A few circuits before the bad weather arrives.. |
 |
| Auntie eyes up ice-cream |
 |
| Cute bird |
 |
| Driftwood Beach |
 |
| Rare Seagull apparently |
 |
| Paraparaumu street scene |
No comments:
Post a Comment