The South Island has a backbone of magnificent alps, with glaciers, fiords, gushing rivers and mirror lakes. You can raft white water, bungee jump, watch whales, swim with dolphins, hike bush tracks. Allow two weeks minimum to enjoy the beauty of the South Island by car. If you would like personal assistance with planning your trip, email Sue Wild . There are over 25 gliding centres or clubs, spread from the far north to the southern tip.
Most regions offer a mix of thermal, ridge and wave flying.
The best-known centre is Omarama in the South Island, which hosted the World Gliding Championships in 1995. Visit the Gliding New Zealand website for further information and contacts or visit Gliding Matamata , the website for the local gliding club - Piako. The competition airfield lies in a wide, flat valley of dairy and stock farms. Matamata is 150kms south -east of New Zealand's largest city Auckland. For a description of the area from a pilot's perspective, click here .