Coronet's the main flying site here in Queenstown.
The main takeoff is called "carpark" because it's the parking lot for Coronet Ski Field. It's an easy drive up on a tar sealed road. The parking lot's huge and dirt, so they're more than ample room to set up. You can easily topland there. It has dual takeoffs on a big grassy nub.
A bit further down the range twards the landing field is "Rocky Gully". It's a bit higher (100ft?) and closer (a third of the way to the landing) but it's a dirt road and not really maintained though easily 2wd. Rocky's less spacious but often less crowded.
Most people fly from Carpark or Rocky. Nearly all the tandems do. There is an other option though. You can hike up the ski field and take off on the top. It takes a few hours. I did this last year. It's good fun, but only once in a while. This year, they're running one of the chair lifts. The summer pass is $250. Me and Arno (partner in crime) happily dug into our wallets on day one.
Carpark and Rocky are South facing. They take a good bit of direction since not only are they nubs, but the valley winds tend to blow up the face even in a strong Northerly.
The top however is all facing.
It's literally the peak. Every direction is flyable.
Sometimes the upper winds are too strong to fly the top and Carpark and Rocky are working due to the valley winds. The top is generally flyable tough. We've only ridden the lift down once (and then took off at Rocky).
There is yet an other option (for PG3s)...
All of Coronet is launchable. It's above treeline and covered in tussaks (tall grass). Every now and then, someone gets bored and hikes up a bit from Rocky... or Rocky or Carpark's a bit crowded, so hell, just hike up a bit. It's also all toplandable, though this kinda means you get to hike a bit too, so why not just scoot over to Carpark?
If you bomb out or are just feeling like some exercise, the lower range just above the landing field peaks just above the treeline. There's a nice horse trail up most of it and a bit of a steep hike the last bit. Takes about an hour.
Yesterday I was feeling like some exercise ;)
I joined a small group heading up the lower range. It was a bit nicer than the summit hike in that it's shaded since you're below treeline. Then you come peeking out over the trees at the last bit... that's a heck of a sight. We flew out and thermalled up over the range. Just as there's something special about throwing yourself off a mountain, there's something satisfying about hiking up one to jump off. Not something I want to do every day, but it's fun once in a while.
Cheers
Jim
The many faces of Coronet Peak (long)
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