Service at Wings & Waves

Besides making the best cafe style coffee in Bayswater, at Wings & Waves we run the only real PG shop in NZ, sign you up for the NZHGPA, give you flying info or service or repair your gear. A WLan connection is available for your laptop. We stock a large variety of equipment from all around the world, including an exceptional variety of harnesses from Kortel, Swing, Gin, SupAir.

Many visitors appreciate a day of instructions on strong wind launching and ridge soaring, as well as an introduction to our flying sites. Visiting pilots can join our school for the day. You would benefit from a site briefing, weather briefing, instruction or guidance, radio use for the day and possibly transport. We charge $120 per day per person with your own equipment or $190 with equipment supplied by us. This is an easy way to have the best chance to be at the best flying site at the right time, get familiar with the conditions and make the most out of the day flying - especially if you are visiting only briefly.

If you are a rather proficient pilot and can look after yourself, you are also very welcome to tag along for free. Or we may be able to hook you up with our free flying pilots - in that case you may want to make sure you have a map and you are mobile to make it easy for the pilots to meet up with you.

If language is an issue: Eva speaks German, Yuka speaks Japanese. Eva's French is rather dreadful, mind you...

While we aim at being in our shop every day until 3pm at least, we could also be out flying or kiting when you get there. After all, we are a bunch of keen pilots and kiters, not office people or shop assistants. To avoid disappointed, please ring before you visit us!

Renting PG equipment

Airlines are getting increasingly strict on luggage allowances and charge large amounts of money for access.

If you are only visiting for a short time, you may want to consider renting some equipment. We rent out used or demo or ex-demo gliders at a reasonable rate. If you are not too fussy about which model you want to fly, we are likely to find you a good glider in good condition for a small amount. We have some gliders which we traded in for new Gin gliders, e.g. a Gin Zoom or Nova Mamboo or Nova Phelix or similar. We can also get new model gliders for you, but that will obviously be more expensive. Weekly rates may be as low as $120 to $200.

Let me know when you come over, what equipment you usually fly and I can suggest something to you.

Alternatively, you can buy new equipment during your holiday, use it while you are here and after your holiday, we will ship it to your home for no extra cost. Ask for a quote!

Flying in NZ

New Zealand offers a huge variety of flying sites, from long 30km coastal soars near Auckland, to beautiful XC flights in hilly country side to remote mountain flying on the South Island.

Our winter (June to August) is rather wet and coldish, spring (September to December) can be beautiful for flying, but also still cold, wet and windy and rather changeable, January to March are the most settled months of the year. You would expect the most flyable days during this period.

Still, you can never guarantee what the weather will do, so don't quote me on any of this.... NZ has so many activities to offer that you can surely enjoy a wonderful trip, with more or less paragliding depending on your luck with the weather.

NZ Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association and CAA

Unlike many other countries, NZ authorities require all visiting pilots to join the NZHGPA as a visiting member. This membership is valid for 4 months and costs NZ$50. It offers some third party insurance, but since it has a huge access and is only valid in NZ, many other insurances may offer better cover. Even if you have better insurance, you are still required to join the NZHGPA (sorry, not our idea). You can contact the NZHGPA or fill out a form and pay at our office when you get to Auckland.