We’re were walking along the waterfront at Te Anau where we saw a float plane moored off. We just couldn’t resist a flight over the Fiordland. It was a beautifully sunny clear day, so we booked our flight, and soon with great excitement we’re boarding the plain. The girls had never been on a small aircraft and we’d also not been on float plain before. We decided that as we were flying near water the risks were low !
We boarded the plain on the pontoon and slowly floated off to start our flight up Lake Te Anau and into the Middle Fiord. From water to steep bush, we flew over the Murchison Mountains and to the South Ford giving us great views of the hidden lakes as we banked around. We came down again to Lake Manapouri, so peaceful and unpopulated as the green of the lush bush meets the deep clear blue lakes, beautifully fringed by the white sandy beaches – quite perfect. We followed the Waiau River back to Te Anau where we safely landed. I felt as if it was a dream – I wish I could fly.
