DESTINATIONS
NEW ZEALAND’S SOUTH ISLAND
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CORONET PEAK Roman Berner enjoys New Zealand’s number-one spot All photos: Felix Wölk
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eather systems in New Zealand’s South Island are like nowhere else. One reason is the quickly changing frontal systems, which at these strong wind latitudes travel unobstructed. That is until they meet the New Zealand Alps, which rise to 3,800m. These often block the wind and create Föhn on the other side. At the same time, thermic activity inland sucks in the air, creating a strong sea-breeze effect around the whole island. That sea breeze can penetrate even the remotest spot on the interior of the island. As a result, flying windows can be short and infrequent. Thermal flying in the lee is a wellestablished practice here. Queenstown and Wanaka are prime examples, where you fly in a bubbling mass of lee-side thermals that bravely resist the wider over-arching meteorology and wind. January is regarded as the best month for flying inland. This is early summer in the
CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL GUIDE 2020 NEW ZEALAND
southern hemisphere, when the air is not too stable and the sun is already strong.
Queenstown
Coronet Peak in Queenstown is New Zealand’s most popular flying spot. It’s partly because Queenstown is the centre of South Island’s outdoor activity tourist scene, and it is also a relatively easy place to fly compared with other places, with paragliding schools and countless tandem operations. Note that airspace rules are tight, with an airport nearby. Thermals create a microclimate on the west side of Coronet Peak. Even when a clear easterly situation prevails at higher levels you can fly here. Because of the westerly aspect thermals tend to develop later in the day, but they then last a long time. On good days it works everywhere, long into the evening. The main issue is the sea breeze, which can push in. This can create a large area of good climbs, but also brings with it a strong surface wind that can make landing difficult.
