flying high

We took full advantage of Nanoo Gubba's (my parents) visit and their offers to babysit while they were here this month. We had a great time showing them around, and we miss them. While they looked after the kids, Amy and I used the voucher I won almost a year ago to fly to Awaroa Lodge in the Abel Tasman National Park. I won the voucher in a local photo contest.

Tasman Helicopters is owned by Tally's. Tally's is the largest employer in Motueka. They use their helicopter for flying their big wigs around the area. When Tally's big shots are on the golf course, the helicopter flies paying guests to the exclusive Awaroa Lodge.


The above picture is our not-so-stressed pilot driving his expensive fancy flying machine out of the custom built (also expensive) hanger. He has a pretty cush job. It takes him 13 minutes to fly his pasengers to the lodge. Then he can relax for three hours until it's time to fly home again. It's not a bad place to sit and relax either. He took his running togs and went for a run on the magnificent bush trails through the park while he waited for us to enjoy our luxurious lunch and walk down the beach.

This was the first time for both Amy and I in a helicopter.


It was exciting and completely surreal when we started lifting off the ground.


In no time at all we were over the park. The views were incredible.



We landed in a clearing at the edge of the bush, where a beautiful bush path led to the lodge.


After a quick look around the lodge, we went to check out the closest beach.


As we expected, it was beautiful with hardly anyone else there.


This was as close to swimming as we got...


The weather was gorgeous with no cloud in sight, although the sea breeze was brisk in the shade.


After a delicious lunch, we had enough money left over to buy Amy a birthday present. She picked out a white carved swirl necklace.


We had just enough time for a short walk through the magnificent bush back to the helicopter...



before we were transported back over the majestic coastline and into Motueka.

Since Nanoo Gubba had taken Beck and Quinne to Nelson, we hung around to watch the next group of passengers take off.


We jealously watched them quickly and gracefully float over the horizon back into the wild Abel Tasman Park.


We look forward to doing it again, but probably taking the water taxi and a picnic lunch instead of the helicopter. Unless I win the photo contest again.