Murchison can safely call itself the hang-gliding capital of New Zealand as it again hosts the national championships and pilots launch from its mountain with the same name.
The New Zealand Hang Gliding National Open Championship is taking place this week, with pilots taking off from the top of Mt Murchison where they have 360 degrees for takeoff.
Tasman Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club president, Kevin Rooke, says the Murchison area is a “special place to fly” and a world-class site for hang-gliding.
“A lot of people don’t really have much spectacular flying for most of the year, but then they come here and can get a PB (personal best) or get a flight that is quite memorable.”
Co-organiser Tom Mulder describes Murchison as the hang-gliding mecca and not just because of the “excellent” thermic conditions for flying and spectacular scenery.
It’s also the appeal of the riverside campground where they can have a dip in the river after a day’s flying, and the friendly locals.
“It’s kind of the perfect place to get good weather. For flying, you want good sunny days and you want to see cumulus clouds in the sky and a good cloud base and you want to see that for as many days as you can for the week,” Tom says.
“Murchison invariably turns that on for us.”
To top it off, the mountains, valleys and lakes are great to view from above.
“It’s spectacular; the scenery is amazing.”
He says the plan is to continue holding the national competition in Murchison into the future.
