Auckland Volcanoes

/in /by
The past month, while in lockdown for Covid-19, has been one of the busiest work-wise for me in a while. But I have also found time to finish a project four years in the making – editing/assembling the photos I’ve taken over the past four-years of every Auckland volcano, ordered by latitude: from north to south. 

Without viewing at full resolution it is difficult to make out the names of the 53 volcanoes. They are, in order:

Annoyingly Facebook lowers the resolution so the names are hard to read. They are, in order:
 
  1. Lake Pupuke
  2. Rangitoto
  3. Te Kopua o Matakamokamo, Tank Farm
  4. Onepoto
  5. Takaroro, Mount Cambria
  6. Takarunga, Mount Victoria
  7. Maungauika, North Head
  8. Motukorea, Browns Island
  9. Whakamuhu, Glover Park
  10. Albert Park
  11. Grafton
  12. Pukekawa, Auckland Domain
  13. Taurere, Taylors Hill
  14. Ōrākei Basin
  15. Maungarāhiri, Little Rangitoto
  16. Maungawhau, Mount Eden
  17. Ōhinerau, Mount Hobson
  18. Te Pou Hawaiki
  19. Te Kōpuke, Mount Saint John
  20. Ōwairaka, Mount Albert
  21. Te Tauoma, Purchas Hill
  22. Ōhuiarangi, Pigeon Mountain
  23. Maungarei, Mount Wellington
  24. Maungakiekie, One Tree Hill
  25. Te Tātua a Riukiuta, Three Kings
  26. Te Kopua Kai a Hiku, Panmure Basin
  27. Rarotonga, Mount Smart
  28. Te Apunga o Tainui, McLennan Hills
  29. Te Hopua a Rangi, Gloucester Park
  30. Ōtāhuhu, Mount Richmond
  31. Puketāpapa, Mount Roskill
  32. Styaks Swamp
  33. Matanginui, Green Mount
  34. Pukewairiki
  35. Te Puke ō Tara, Otara Hill
  36. Robertson Hill-Sturges Park
  37. Te Pane o Mataaho, Māngere Mountain
  38. Hampton Park
  39. Boggust Park Crater
  40. Māngere Lagoon
  41. Te Motu a Hiaroa, Puketutu
  42. Waitomokia, Mount Gabriel
  43. Kohuora
  44. Pūkaki Lagoon
  45. Pukeiti
  46. Ōtuataua
  47. Crater Hill
  48. Cemetery Crater
  49. Maungataketake, Ellett’s Mountain
  50. Ash Hill
  51. Matukutūruru, Wiri Mountain
  52. Matukutūreia, McLaughlins Mountain
  53. Puhinui Craters

Opinion: The in-flight Wi-Fi dilemma – Do you really need to be connected? (NZ Herald)

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by
Read more

Travel opinion: Flightcheck – Palmerston North to Auckland on Air New Zealand NZ5118 (NZ Herald)

/0 Comments/in , /by
Read more

Travel opinion: Lounge Check – Three premium lounges at Hong Kong International Airport (NZ Herald)

/0 Comments/in , , /by

While in Hong Kong airport, Tim McCready compares the facilities and service in three lounges open to Air New Zealand passengers.

When I checked in for my Air New Zealand Business Premier flight from Hong Kong to Auckland, I was told I had access to three lounges: United Airlines, Thai Airways, and Cathay Pacific.

Challenge accepted.

United Airlines Club lounge

My first visit was to the United Airlines lounge. I initially thought the space was quite small but soon realised walls separate the lounge into different areas. This layout provides a good sense of privacy for relaxing before a flight, and a very quiet feel to the lounge.

On one side of the lounge, huge windows provide great views of the tarmac and the planes as they come and go. On the other side, the mezzanine lounge overlooks the departure hall and gates — as the world’s eighth-busiest airport by passenger traffic, there is no shortage of activity to keep an eye on, to pass the time before a flight.

There were plenty of seats of all varieties scattered around, and although it was a busy time at the airport, I didn’t struggle to find a space. The lounge also had a small shower room and a business centre.

The selection of food was underwhelming, but adequate for a short stay. The Thai green curry I tried was delicious; the cauliflower soup left a lot to be desired.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid lounge

The Thai Airways lounge is just around the corner from United’s. It also benefits from its position: great views out towards the planes, and the ability to people-watch below in the departure hall. Compared to United, this lounge felt much less private — there is a roped-off area for First-Class travellers but the rest of the lounge is wide open. The eclectic chair colours — bright green, orange, blue and yellow — were a jarring eyesore but the chairs were very comfortable.

Though the food selection was wider than that provided by United, it was still fairly standard. There was a reasonable selection of drinks to help yourself to. The bathroom had a single shower (which was occupied while I was visiting). A large business centre was available for use as well as a couple of massage chairs. I was tempted to give them a try but was also well aware of my need to fit another lounge in …

Cathay Pacific: The Bridge

Cathay Pacific is a member of the Oneworld alliance, rather than Air New Zealand’s Star Alliance, however Air New Zealand’s alliance with Cathay allows Airpoints Elite and Gold, and Business Class passengers access to its lounges on certain flights. Cathay has several lounges in Hong Kong airport (The Deck, The Wing, The Pier and The Bridge). I visited The Bridge, located closest to where Air New Zealand flights typically depart from.

The Bridge is just a few minutes’ walk from the United and Thai lounges, but as I descended the escalators into the lounge check-in area, I knew immediately I had saved the best for last. The lounge is enormous and is divided into a North and South Wing.

Each contains multiple zones, which provide a great sense of privacy and a feeling like you’re at home in one of the world’s top hotel lobbies.

Floor-to-ceiling windows span the length of the lounge, providing unobstructed views out to the tarmac. The natural colours inside the lounge — wooden floors with oak and brass accents — give a warm feeling that is often missing in airports, while the custom-made lounge chairs, bookshelves, art and sculptures throughout give the lounge a very sophisticated feel.

The food was spectacular. The North Wing is home to The Bakery, which offers freshly baked bread and pizzas, a generous buffet of Western and Asian dishes and a fresh salad bar. The Long Bar overlooks the tarmac and features an extensive wine and tapas list.

Bartenders are on hand to mix up a drink from the cocktail list — the espresso martini went down a treat.

The South Wing’s Coffee Loft has muffins, biscuits and pastries, as well as barista-made coffee. This wing also contains The Bistro — a second dining area with buffet — along with a fully equipped business centre and shower facilities.

There are nine shower rooms available, and despite the lounge being busy I didn’t need to wait to use one. They come equipped with everything you need to freshen up before a long-haul flight and are cleaned and restocked after each use.

The verdict:

This one’s easy. Thai Airways and United Airlines provide an adequate — albeit fairly standard — airport lounge, but if you have access to Cathay Pacific’s lounge, take advantage of it. It is truly world-class and showcases the very best of what an airport lounge can provide. Just make sure you leave enough time to explore everything that is on offer.

Travel opinion: Flight Check – Flying from Auckland to Brisbane aboard Air New Zealand (NZ Herald Travel)

/0 Comments/in /by

Tim McCready travels from Auckland to Brisbane on Air New Zealand 739.

The plane: One of Air New Zealand’s Airbus A320-232s. My plane was 15 years old — you could tell from the fitout that it wasn’t one of the airline’s newest, but it was very tidy. The flight was full, aside from a couple of empty middle seats.

The airport experience: Auckland Airport is in the midst of a major redevelopment — it feels as though the airport experience changes every few weeks. Although the departure terminal was a construction zone, you could see behind the plastic drop sheets that the transformation will see it become a real feature for the airport.

There was no queue whatsoever for the Air New Zealand bag drop, and customs and security were seamless. I was let loose in duty-free within minutes.

My seat: Having a window seat over the wing meant I had a very smooth flight across the Tasman, despite warnings from the flight deck that we could be in for a rough ride. The seat was comfortable, and the tray tables seemed larger than others I’ve experienced on the same route or on most long-haul economy flights. I had a fair amount of work to get done, so the space was appreciated.

The flight: We departed about 30 minutes late, after waiting for the late arrival of a few passengers from a connecting flight — but we landed just ahead of the scheduled time. I have been on the other side of that situation before, which makes it hard to hold it against the airline when you eventually see a handful of very relieved, sweaty people clambering down the aisle. With no headwind, our total time in the air was just under three hours.

Food and drink: I travelled with The Works option, and was given the choice of honey soy chicken with rice or a beef casserole with roast potatoes. I chose the beef — which according to a colleague on the flight (who described the chicken as “very oily”), was a wise decision. The meal was substantial, especially for a 4pm departure where it felt too late for lunch but too early for dinner. The meal came with Kāpiti ice cream. Although I love their icecream , the flavour was their latest summer creation: Chamomile and Salted Kāmahi Honey. I’m not a fan of chamomile, nor a strong honey flavour, and I found it very sweet. The most awkward thing on flights where you have an optional meal upgrade, is when the person sitting next to you hasn’t upgraded. My neighbour in the middle seat found herself in the unfortunate position of being wedged between people eating meals, and had to have the crew explain politely why this wasn’t an option for her.

The entertainment: Although there were a reasonable number of older films on board, the recent releases felt light. I got halfway through Tag (the premise wore thin after 20 minutes), and Leave No Trace (lost my attention), before settling on One Hour Photo – a Robin Williams classic I hadn’t seen since digital cameras became ubiquitous (the movie has dated incredibly quickly).

The bottom line: Air New Zealand does these transtasman flights well.