Rich couldn’t wait to get to Wanaka as this was the place that he had booked a flying lesson. Luckily for me, a passenger got to go in the plane for free during the lesson. Like I said, lucky me!

I didn’t tell Rich that the last time I was in a small plane, during a sightseeing flight over the Nazca lines in Peru, I threw up into the sick bag provided. He didn’t need anything else to worry about other than flying the plane as far as I was concerned.

“Don’t mind me, I’ll just walk around and take some photos.”

The morning of Rich’s flying lesson he was excited and I’m pleased to say, relaxed. He was chatting away with the guy at the training school and was as attentive as I expected once Glen his instructor started off his lesson.

‘Don’t mind me, I’ll just walk around and take some photos’ I whispered to Rich as Glen started off walking around the plane and explaining all the parts, how they work and what to do to manoeuvre them.

Rich’s first flying lesson, at Wanaka Airport

An interesting quote at the flight training centre!

Rich’s plane coming to pick him up

Rich getting shown around the plane by his instructor

Rich looking relaxed in the pilot’s seat

Rich had a thirty minute flight and I was impressed with the detail that Glen went through. He didn’t push one button or flick one switch though, he had to do everything from the off, including the taxi onto the runway for take off.

Of course it was all under Glen’s careful direction. It was once we were on the tarmac and he was preparing for take off that I realised he was not only going to fly the plane but do the take off and landing as well!

“I had a nano second panic about the fact that my husband had never flown a plane before.”

Maybe I should have listened more when he was telling me all about his planned flight training in the days leading up to this point in time. That would have prepared me more I’m sure.

Instead I had a nano second panic about the fact that my husband had never flown a plane before and I was sat in the passenger seat of his first flight. Then I remembered that my husband is Richard Lamb, one of the most careful and meticulous people I know and if anyone was going to follow Glen’s instructions precisely, it was him. Panic over.

“I sat back and enjoyed being flown around by my husband.”

I can’t speak for Rich but I found the flight brilliant, after all I wasn’t concentrating hard flying the plane. I got to gaze out of the window and see for miles. We got a great view of Lake Wanaka and far beyond thanks to the fantastic weather we had too.

Rich and Glen were chatting away together during the flight and I’m happy to admit I zoned out of their conversation which I could hear through my headset and I sat back and enjoyed being flown around by my husband.

Rich taking off!

Rich settling into his training flight

Great views of Lake Wanaka from high in the sky

Rich settling into his first flying lesson

Sonia enjoying the sightseeing tour

The pilot and his passenger!

Glen giving Rich instructions for landing

I have to admit that I was impressed with Rich (and Glen) throughout the flight. The taxi, take off, flight and landing were all fantastic and the thirty minutes flew by (ha ha).

The smile on Rich’s face at the end of the flight told me everything I needed to know. He loved every second of it!

Rich and the first plane he has flown

Happy husband and wife post flight

Rich’s certification of training

On our drive back to the town centre from the airport we stopped off at a lavender farm. This isn’t a place I’d ever think to visit but when we drove past the fields of lavender it looked so pretty I just had to go and walk around it and take some photos.

Rows and rows of lavender plants lined the fields of the farm, some rows straight and some arched, they added a wonderful purple pattern to the green fields.

“The lavender farm was the perfect place to unwind.”

The farm had it’s own veggie patch as well with a resident scarecrow called Charlie. I liked Charlie a lot, he looked like a cool scarecrow.

The farm shop was stunning, decorated in nothing but white furniture and purple lavender accessories in every form possible, soap, books, cookies, candles, potpourri, dried flowers and perfume to name but a few.

After the thrill of Rich’s flying lesson, the lavender farm was the perfect place to unwind, relax and mentally come back down to earth.

Beautiful lavender striped hills

Purple everywhere!

The lavender farm veggie patch with Charlie the scarecrow

Wanaka lavender farm

The gorgeous lavender farm shop

Lavender drying in the farm shop

The bees love lavender

We finished our fantastic day in Wanaka with a walk by the lake in the late afternoon sun. There was quite a wind by the lakeside and I was thankful that the morning had been still and calm.

There was a great sculpture at one end of the beach titled The Hand That Nurtures, I leaned into it for a photo to show just how big it was!

Sonia and Rich enjoying a lakeside walk

Sonia and The Hand That Nurtures sculpture

Wanaka Lake

Wanaka had served up excitement, relaxation and stunning views. We may only have been there for a short time but it was certainly a great time.