Our newest member Patrick from Germany lived a couple of months in New Zealand and presents you a new guide from Christchurch with 13 different photo positions. Christchurch is the second biggest airport in New Zealand behind Auckland and welcomed 5.5 million passengers in 2012. So if you going to visit this area, don’t forget to make a stop at this interesting airport.
The city is the gateway to the South Island of New Zealand. That’s why Christchurch has a lot of national and a couple of international flights. Flights from and to Australia are especially popular. Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Emirates and Qantas serve the larger cities on the Australian east coast, and seasonally Air New Zealand also serves Perth on the west coast. Other international destinations are Emirates to Dubai via Sydney and Bangkok, Singapore Airlines to Singapore, Fiji Airways to Nadi and Air New Zealand to: Nadi, Port Villa, Tokyo, Rarotonga, Osaka, Nagoya and Naha. There are several Air New Zealand and Air New Zealand Link flights to many desitinations all over New Zealand, and Air Chathams flys to the Chatham Islands with their Convair 580s once a week.
There are also some sheduled freight flights to Christchurch; Qantas Freight on the routing SYD-AKL-CHC-SYD (shown on the homepage), some domestic flights by Airwork NZ (B733F and/or Metroliner and/or F-27F in the late evening weekdays) and Air Freight NZ (Convair 580/5800 often day stop and depart in the late evening hours). During the New Zealand summer there are also the Antarctic planes operating out of the military apron. The usual planes are: USAF with C-17A and LC-130H, FAA Challanger N86, for the Italian program Safair L-100-30, RNZAF C-130H and B752 and one of the Skytrader A319’s.
Written by Patrick Weis / Visited August 2012-January 2013
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| Airline Variety |
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| Photo Locations |
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| Weather |
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| Airport Informations |
Runways |
02/20 |
11/29 |
02/20 |
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3.288 m (10.785 ft) |
1.741 m (5.712 ft) |
515 m (1.690 ft) |
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Asphalt – primary |
Asphalt – secondary |
Grass – Aeroclub |
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| Terminals |
Terminal |
Aeroclub |
Garden City Helicopters |
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Alle national and International Flights |
All light planes and sometimes national Buisnessjets and a few Helicopter operators |
Ambulance Helicopter flights and flight Training |
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| Spotting Informations |
Ladder |
sometimes 1-2 steps necessary depends how tall you are |
| Car |
recommended as the afthernoon locations are far away from the terminal |
| Restrooms |
Terminal, Aeroclub or Mc Donald’s |
| Drinks/Food |
Mc Donald’s near the terminal, Some restaurants in the Terminal, Aeroclub only dirnks in cans |
| Hotels |
a few Hotels and Motels near the airport |
| Season |
we suggest September/Oktober – April as this is the high season for the long haul services, as there are additional flights during the New Zealand summertimetable. |
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| Runway Usage |
02/20 – Asphalt
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mainly in use for arrivals from both directions. Heavy planes (larger than A320/B737) only depart here in both directions |
| 11/29 |
only 29 in use (up to A320/737) if there are to heavy crosswinds for 02/20 |
02/20 – Grass
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small probs only |
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Spot #1 – Fire Station – 02 Arrivals&Departures |
| WHERE |
This spot is located in a corner right next to the airports fire Station at Grays/Avonhead Rd. You can park your car right next to the street here. Its a long walk from the terminal to this spot! You can easily spot above the fence here as the fence is very low. Be instructed that there is often heat haze on the runway. |
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| WHAT |
You can see all larger aircraft taxiing past you to runway 02, and all action on runway 02 |
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| TIME |
Best light conditions from sunrise to 12/1 p.m. |
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| MISC. |
There are only rubbish bins there and no shaddow. Take the rest with you. Best is you can relax in the car. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
10-300 mm (400 mm for Beech 1900D and smaller on the runway) |
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Spot #2 – Ryans Rd – 02 Arrivals |
| WHERE |
From the airport use highway 1 and turn right into Ryan Rd and contiune until you see the approach. Park on the grass on the side of the road and spot the inbound planes. |
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| WHAT |
This spot is good for arrivals on runway 02 if there is too much heat haze on Spot 1 |
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| TIME |
Light conditions are prefect until 12/1 p.m. |
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| MISC. |
There is nothing but some shaddow from trees on the side of the road |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
100-400 mm |
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Spot #3 – Pound Road – 02 afternoon Arrivals&Departures, Line up |
| WHERE |
If the sun turns around at spot #2 just continue on the Ryan Rd and then turn right into the Pound Rd.
There is a low fence like on Spot #1 but on some corners you need a onestep ladder or you spot through the gate a bit further down the road. You can park the car right next to the street on the grass. |
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| WHAT |
This is the best spot for touchdown and lineup for the runway 02 in the afternoon. Also sometimes the fire trainer Fokker F-27 is parked at this spot. |
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| TIME |
Light conditions are good from 1 p.m. till sunset |
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| MISC. |
There is nothing here than the spot here. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
70-400 mm |
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Spot #4 – 29 depature& unroll afternoon |
| WHERE |
Continue on the Pound Rd until it turns left. Park your car next to the street on the grass. Don’t park after the traffic bar! |
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| WHAT |
This spot is great if they take off on runway 29 and are heavy loaded. Otherwise the planes are very high. Also a good spot if they unroll for the taxiway. Normally not used for heavy aircrafts like the Emirates B777-300er as they can’t use the taxiway! |
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| TIME |
Good spot from 3 p.m. |
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| MISC. |
There is some shadow on the other side of the road. Bring the stuff with you! |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
18-200 mm |
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Spot #5 – 29 depature& unroll morning |
| WHERE |
Once again continue on Pound Rd to the other side of RWY 11/29. Park your car next to the street on the grass. Don’t park afther the traffic bar! |
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| WHAT |
All departures and arrivals on ruwnay 11. You can also take face to face shots here. Also there are low flying helicopters from the nearby hangars. |
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| TIME |
Good spot in the morning until early afternoon. |
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| MISC. |
There is some shadow on the other side of the road. For facilities you can use the nearby Aeroclub |
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FOCAL LENGTH
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18-200 mm |
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Spot #6 – Aeroclub Terrance |
| WHERE |
To reach the Aeroclub follow the Pound Rd until you see Helipro, turn right into the street and you will see the Aeroclub. Park your car in front on the large carpark. Go inside the building go up the stairs past the toilets and go into the big cafeteria and you will see the terrance. |
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| WHAT |
This Place is good for 02 and 20 on the grass and asphalt runways depatures and arrivals in the afthernoon and 29 depatures in the morning hours. Also you can take shots of the parked plane at the Aeroclub. |
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| TIME |
Light conditions are prefect from good from 1 p.m. for 02/20 and 29 depatures from sunrise till 2 p.m |
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| MISC. |
There is everything you need except food. You can buy drinks at the machine at the stairs downstairs. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
18-400 mm |
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Spot #7 – Jessons Rd – 20 arrivals & depatures |
| WHERE |
Follow the Pounds Rd from the Aeroclub until you see the Jessons Rd sign on the right hand site turn into the street and follow it until you see the airport fence. Park your car on the grass on the side. |
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| WHAT |
This place is good for 20 arrivals and depatures. Depends on the pilot they are touching down in front of you. The bad thing on this spot is that you hear the planes very late. |
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| TIME |
Light conditions are good from 1 pm until sunset |
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| MISC. |
The are rubbish bins and some trees for shadow. |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
50-200 mm |
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Spot #8 – 20 arrival afternoon |
| WHERE |
This place is next to the bussy McLeans Island Rd. Park on the grass next to the street and not on the cycle path! |
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| WHAT |
From this spot you can only spot planes on arrival for rw 20 in the air in the afternoon. Here you can see the planes earlier then on point 7. |
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| TIME |
Light conditions are good from 1 pm until sunset |
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| MISC. |
There are only trees for shadows |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
70-300 mm |
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Spot #9 – 20 arrival morning |
| WHERE |
This spot is located at the end of Harewood Rd easily reached from the terminals. There you can park your car next to the other cars. Then walk up to the low gate there |
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| WHAT |
This place is good for 20 arrivals in the morning hours with some nice mountain scenery if the mountains are clear of clouds |
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| TIME |
Light conditions are prefect from sunrise till 12 a.m. |
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| MISC. |
There is nothing |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
100-400 mm |
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Spot #10 – Military apron Wairakei Rd and NZ Post |
| WHERE |
For this spot park your car at the Peter Leeming Rd or the airport carpark and walk up to the Wairakei Rd. Also you can walk there from the terminal |
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| WHAT |
In the Wairakei Rd you can take picture of some military aircraft parked on the apron. Also you can walk further up to the NZ Post there you can also shoot through the fence the parked aircraft on the apron. Also you can take pictures until 2 p.m. of planes taxiing to or from the runway in an verry close angle. As this is a private ground so leave this spot if someones tell you to leave. But there is not a problem as long as you take your pics and go again. |
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| TIME |
Light conditions are prefect from sunrise till sunset depends on the angle. |
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| MISC. |
Facilities only in the terminal |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
10-200 mm |
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The Post:
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Spot #11 – military apron terminal site |
| WHERE |
You can also park your car in the Peter Leeming Rd or at the airport carpark (15 min free) if you’re here by car. |
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| WHAT |
On this spot you can take pictures of the military planes parked on the apron from another angles. Also you can take a picture with the sun in the back when Emirates is leaving. |
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| TIME |
Light conditions are prefect from sunrise till sunset depends on the parking position |
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| MISC. |
You find everything you need in the Terminal |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
18-200 mm |
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Spot #12 – 29 arrivals morning |
| WHERE |
For this spot park you car in the Ivan Jamieson Pl on the site of the street and walk for the right angle you like to have |
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| WHAT |
This place is good for aircraft arriving on runway 29 in the morning/early afternoon. |
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| TIME |
Light conditions are good from Sunrise till 2 p.m. |
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| MISC. |
Nothing here |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
70-300 mm |
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Spot #13 – Avonhead Rd – 29 arrivals&depatures |
| WHERE |
Use the direction for spot #1 but for this spot park your car on the site of the Avonhead directly at the fence to get the approaches. |
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| WHAT |
There you can take pictures of planes lining up for 29 depature or on touchdown for 29 arrival. |
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| TIME |
Light conditions are prefect from 3 p.m. until sunset |
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| MISC. |
There are some rubbish bins along the fence |
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| FOCAL LENGTH |
70-200 mm |
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11 Comments
Hi, I would to take some photos of the aircraft arriving or leaving Christchurch Airport connected to the summer program to Antarctica. Any information would be appreciated
Hi Maurice!
We just have the information mentioned in our guide, sorry!
Regards
Christchurch now has an Emirates A380 instead of the 777 and it flies from Dubai-Sydney-Christchurch.
you can’t use spot 13 or for they have been closed of but you can go though a little gate and you can see 29 arrivals
The only heavy flights are the China Southern B788, the NZ 763 to Perth on some days, the EK 77W, the SQ 77E and charter flights and diversions
No, there is China Airlines A333, Cathey Pacific A359, Air New Zealand 789, Emirates A388, Singapore Airlines B772 and more about to start like Aisiana
Cobham Intermediate is also good to go plane spotting.
If you go to the field which is what you will see after going through the classes.
It is a good location for 29 arrivals as they fly very low and you have a good view of the aircraft which means you can take several shots of each aircraft.
ANZ don’t fly a 777-300 or 200 in any more Henery and Patrick
Thanks for the update Ryan, it’s a little while ago since my stay at CHC.
Cheers
Patrick
I really like those images, but about what year were these taken because I am a frequent plane spotter at Christchurch airport (check out my channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOWiT3zCLh65qF6H05yoG2Q ) and I wanted to know what time the ANZ 777-300 comes in and departs. Thanks, Henry
Deat Henry,
these shots were taken during my Work and Travel year in Nz from August 2012-January 2013 during the time I lived in CHC.
I think there is still no regularly 777-300er flight from ANZ into CHC just Emirates. The All Black B777-300er was a special
Charter when I was there. The 777-200er of ANZ are more often in CHC. Just Check: https://www.christchurchairport.co.nz/en/flight-information/international-flight-schedules/ for the international Flights and Types. That was the plan I used most of the time for my spotting.
Cheers
Patrick