Waikato Latest Topics

Slope - Sanatorium Hill (Maungakawa) - Cambridge

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:31:00 +0000

This site takes a Southerly, usually very cold!!! Where I live currently I can see the flying site out my lounge window. Access to the site from Cambridge SH1, easiest directions are (from the north) follow SH1B or SH1 from Hamilton into Cambridge township to the roundabout by KFC, turn left and go down to the bottom of the hill on the main road, TURN left off the main road into Albert Street and climb back up the hill. Shortly after climbing the hill turn right into Thornton Road (it's the first road on the right, you are now heading directly towards the flying site, you will see it on the hill in front of you near the top. Follow Thornton road beyond the built up housing area, take Maungakawa road on the left, it's Y junction (Still heading towards the top of the hill). You will head through another housed area, as you pass Fencourt road on the left the road drops suddenly down and around to the right (on this corner is the entrance to the Cambridge model airfield) keep on going up the road (it gets very windy, and steep beyond the model club). When you have reached the top of the hill (Finally!) you need to make an almost 180 degree turn up into Gudex Memorial park and follow the dirt road right to the very end, park on the grass on the RHS. Photos show the transmitter station at the top. On the RHS of the road there is a rock right next to the fence (you can hop over the fence easily at this point or go further up and climb over the gate). The farmer at this site likes to be phoned before anyone goes onto the property - Mark has the phone number for the Farm owner and the Farm manager. If there is stock in the flying paddock, then you will probably not be allowed to fly there. Anyway, once over the fence by the rock, head down towards the gap in between the trees and bush (by the smaller transmitter) - step over the electric fence (wire is usually hot!) and there is the site - see photos.

Slope: Pukemore, Huntly / Orini

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:13:20 +0000

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Continue+on+SH+1&daddr=pizzini+road,+orini&hl=en&geocode=Cbstetu8CGMdFRYgwv0dnh1xCiFQ2_lqSpD4_Q%3B&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=-37.61056,175.197601&sspn=0.069217,0.153809&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.576147,175.217857&spn=0.138498,0.307617&t=p&z=12

Zoom in on the terrain map of this site and Pukemore and it shows a landing area, this is the flying site. It is an uphill landing strip that is used by crop dusters for farm spreading. Access is via a farmers track again. Now I must stress it has been YEARS since I have been to this site, but from memory and google maps orientation it takes a NORTH EASTERLY. This is not a very common wind direction, however the site is awesome when the wind is on! Since it has been so long since I've been there, I'm not sure of exactly which farmers track to take. I know it leads past the farmers milking shed which is close to the road. Last time I went up here it was easily accessable by a FWD vehicle, but again, that was YEARS ago! Marcel might have a better idea of the road number, however I think access is off Rutherford Road.

Roger

Waikato Flying sites - start here...

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:52:11 +0000

This is a master list of the Waikato flying sites, use this thread for main listing of flying site directions, then go to the flying site thread for directions to get there etc.

Raglan, Wainui Reserve = Westerly site, will take slightly SW, but is best in slightly NW. - Great flying site with excelent access and landing zones, watch out for flying quilts!

Ruapuki and Tauwhare are SW sites, Tauwhare will also take a NE in the valley behind so is a good DS site. Both sites require some walking up-hill!

Pukemore = NE and is a HUGE slope with awesome lift even in light conditions. Drive to the top will require 4wd in damp conditions, although there is a smaller site lower down the hill which is also very good.

Te Kawa has a SE face and a Northerly face, the latter is considerably smaller now due to the growth of trees over one quarter.

Matamata also has a good SW slope up on the Kaimais by the quarry but requires 4wd and there is a donation required to use the access road.

Te Kawa Mountain - Te Awamutu

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 07:10:29 +0000

Hi, does any one think Te Kawa Mountain - Te Awamutu will be good flying tomorrow???

SLOPE: Ruapuki

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:39:29 +0000

Follow the road to Raglan, however before getting there you need to turn off on the road to Bridal Veil Falls. Several kilometers down the road there is a little township, there is a road on the right just as you enter the township there is a road signposted to Ruapuke - take it. This road gets windy, and there are several unsealled sections. Follow the road until you get to the bottom of the hill (ocean visible from the top of the hill), there is a single lane road leading over a bridge on the left, follow it to the carpark at the end. Park your car and you're on foot from here. Follow the beach track towards the beach, and then follow the path up the fenceline up the top of the ridge. There is quite a defined area where you can stand and fly and a good landing area behind it - Wind direction is South Westerly.

Slope: Raglan - Wainui Reserve

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:27:34 +0000

Need I say more...? Raglan is probably one of the best coastal flying sites in the North Island, if not the best. Most of you Auckland guys know how to get there now, however...

Raglan itself is easy enough to find, from Raglan township head out around the harbour towards the big mountain on the main road to the beach. A few k's out of town there is a straight stretch of word slightly uphill, look for a signposted road about halfway up the straight signposted to Wainui Reserve. The road leads down a hill, over a one land bridge and around to the left up a hill again. At the top of the hill, turn right at the round about and follow the road around to the car park at the end of the road. The Flying site is right in front of the car park, please exercise care if flying around paraponters, wind direction is best in a North Westerly, however is a Westerly facing slope. Exercise caution if test flying new models, this site is known to eat models that crashland AND there is a walkway below the flying site which is frequently used.

SLOPE: Te Kawa Mountain - Te Awamutu

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:16:52 +0000

You'll need directions if you haven't been there before, but you need to find your way to Kihikihi on the other side of Te Awamutu - you can see the mountain from there, the difficult part is directing you to the correct driveway. I will attempt to locate it on google maps from the road view and report back. The weather and wind is cold (today anyway), bring appropriate clothing. The lift off this site is spectacular and it is a good DS site. Wind Direction required is SE.

SLOPE: Tauwhare Mountain

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:38:51 +0000

Directions to Tauwhare slope from SH1B

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=-37.744725,175.367889&daddr=Tauwhare+Rd&hl=en&geocode=%3BFS-qv_0d0jZ1Cg&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=14&sll=-37.756398,175.359306&sspn=0.034541,0.076904&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.760944,175.413208&spn=0.069077,0.153809&t=p&z=13

SW site, DS Possible

Tauwhare

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:16:54 +0000

Just a note to anyone going to fly Tauwhare. (Mainly us Ham fliers). I went for a fly today and was speaking to the farmer. He would like us to park on the side of the road before the bridge as he has trucks coming in over the next couple of weeks and doesnt want the road blocked etc by the sheds.

Cheers

Bruce