Hi All,
Last Thursday morning my Grandfather passed away so in his honour I decided to make the 17 hour trip (13 in car and 4 in boat) from Auckland down to Christchurch.
Living in Auckland you don't get much of the spectacular scenery that is throughout this country so it was good for a city boy to get out on the open road and clear his head.
Another thing I discovered was just how many Aviation heritage centres, Airforce museums and Memorabilia exhibitions this small nation has, the highlight among them definitely being the Sir Peter Jackson's Knights of the Sky collection at Omaka aviation heritage centre including many items actually owned by Hermann Goering.
I have included a collection of photos I took on my cellphone so please excuse the quality as I was in poor lighting conditions as some of you may know trying to take photos at these sort of places can be challenging.
I also included a few of various NZ scenery shots to show you how diverse and beautiful it is and also why us kiwis are so proud to live here.
Enjoy.
View of Mount Ruapehu on a fine day along the Desert Road. (Central North Island)
These 3 aircraft were at Wigram Airforce Museum in Christchurch which my Uncle kindly showed me around being an aviation nut himself
Scenery on the way back up the Kaikoura Coast. (Upper East coast of South Island)
I saw a sign just before arriving in Blenheim advertising Peter Jackson's collection and had a couple of hours to kill before my ferry left. Let's take a look inside...
I was told this is an original Caproni used in the war.
Etrich Taube scene. Weta workshop provided the awesome looking mannequins throughout the entire exhibition, the same academy award winning company who made the orcs and other various costumes in Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit
Various aircraft. Who can name them?
Various uniforms worn during the war
Uniform of German Ace Walter von Bulow-Bothkamp
An original Curtis MF Flying Boat. So cool!
Various Allied aircraft
Giants of the Sky!
There was this amazing scene set in the snow where German soldiers were inspecting a crash site and the 2 pilots greeting each other. Mind blown!
Great Fokker Dr.I collection
Original letter written by Max Immelmann to his mother
Various other Uniforms
All original belongings of the one and only Hermann Goering
Another amazing scene. The crash site of The Red Baron. Soldiers gathering what souvenirs they can.
More eye candy
View of Wellington City from Mount Victoria lookout. (Lower North Island)
Waiouru Army Base Museum drive by
Bookmarks