It has been two weeks since the Bazflyers arrived back at their home-base on Taupo airport (NZAP). Since then BAZ has been the subject of a very through 100 hourly inspection, wash and general clean-up. All set for the next adventure…!
The 4,800 km journey in BAZ from William Creek in South Australia back to Taupo in New Zealand took a little over 16 flight hours with perfect weather conditions the entire way. Following a sunrise departure the first en-route stop-over was two nights at Broken Hill. The city of Broken Hill has developed as a vibrant Mecca for artists and filmmakers, a long way from its roots as the site of the richest deposit of silver, lead and zinc the world has ever seen. We checked-out the iconic nearby settlement of Silverton where the legionary movie Mad Max was filmed. We lunched at the Broken Earth Cafe a'top of the huge mountain of mine tailings that dominates the town. The uniquely designed miner's memorial sited on-top of the mountain of mine tailings is a stark reminder of the human capital expended in mining the rich underground lode on which the global giant BHP, Australia's largest corporate company, was established.
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| Silverton Hotel |
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| Miner's Memorial |
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| Broken Hill Sunset |
The Bazflyers made another sunrise departure leaving Broken Hill, took a short stop-off for fuel at Dubbo and landed at Coff's Harbour early in the afternoon. Time for a Friday afternoon visit to see an elderly relative living in a local retirement residence followed by an early night in preparation for another sunrise take-off the next morning. Departure time from Coff's Harbour was dictated by the need to be at Lord Howe Island for Customs clearance out of Australia at 9:30 am and a sumer-time eastbound time-zone shift.
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| Sunrise Departure |
The two hour flight over water to Lord Howe Island and further three hours to Norfolk Island was a routine affair in superb flight conditions. Familiar faces met BAZ's arrival on Norfolk Island and after refueling and obtaining our onwards flight clearance for a first-light take-off the day after tomorrow, the Bazflyers settled into a relaxing 2-night stay on Norfolk Island. However, there was to be no early night prior to our Monday sunrise departure due to a mandatory TV appointment to watch the Rugby World Cup final…and the AB's won!
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| Lord Howe Island |
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| Auckland Harbour from 8000 feet |
The emotions of landing BAZ back at Taupo airport after an amazing Coral Sea journey was a mix of excitement and anti-climax. It was great to be home but simultaneously it signaled the end of the flight of a life-time. Sixty-three hours of flying heaven.
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| Landing back at Taupo |
