Finding a School
Hang Gliding Schools
Hang Gliding is a combination of adventure and a stress-relieving sense of freedom from being earthbound. There are a number of Hang Gliding Schools throughout New Zealnd, see our list of schools to find one near you.
Paragliding Schools
Paragliding is a fun and exciting sport suitable for everyone. Have you first lesson at a local Paragliding school and start your training to become a qualifed pilot. With a huge selection of schools across the country, find one near you.
Hang Gliding Schools
You cannot teach yourself to fly safely but a club instructor or commercial school with modern equipment can teach you quickly and safely.
Initial training is usually from flat ground to low slopes, followed by higher flights as your ability and confidence allows. Training to a stage that allows pilots to fly unsupervised can take from 7 days to a couple of months or more depending on available time and weather conditions. As well as the practical skills needed to fly the hang glider, schools teach meteorology, flight theory, piloting skills and air law.
The NZHGPA has 4 solo pilot ratings:
- Beginner (Hang 1) is a student pilot rating that allows student pilots to fly at Beginner and Novice rated flying sites under the supervision of an instructor.
- Novice (Hang 2) allows pilots to fly at Beginner and Novice rated sites unsupervised and Intermediate rated sites under the supervision of an instructor.
- Intermediate (Hang 3) allows pilots to fly at Beginner, Novice and Intermediate rated sites unsupervised and Advanced rated sites under the supervision of an instructor.
- Advanced (Hang 4) allows pilots to make their own judgement of site and weather suitability.
More information about hang gliding can be found here.
Auckland/Hamilton Hang Gliding Club
Club-based hang gliding instruction for the Auckland & Waikato region. Teaching hang glider ground handling, tethered training, dynamic simulator, trainer slope, tow-training, solo hill soaring & tandem intro flight.
Owner: Sean Oliver
Phone: 0276708301
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @skyrider
Instagram: @skyriderag
Canterbury Hang Gliding School
Importers of leading brands of hang gliders. All hang gliding & paragliding equipment. Hang glider hire & repairs. Hang glider/skyfloater instruction.
Owner: Bill Degen
Location: Christchurch
Phone: 03 326 6411
Mobile: 021 247 2676
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hgpg.co.nz
Nelson HG Adventures
Owner: Glenn Meadows
Location: Nelson
Mobile: 027 275 1022
Email: [email protected]
Thames Coast Paramotors Ltd
Paragliding Instruction Paramotoring Instruction Hang Gliding Instruction PAP Dealer for Supply and Service of PAP Paramotors and accessories. Apco Dealer for Paramotor & Free Flight Wings, Harnesses & accessories. Helix Carbon Propeller Agent. email: [email protected]
Owner: Rick Hawkeswood
Location: Thames
Phone: +6421682766
Mobile: +6421682766
Wellington HGPC
Club-based instruction for those interested in participating in the sport. For HG call Grant Tatham as below.
President: Matthew Williams 027 552 5205
Secretary: Geoff Williams 021 409 104
Treasurer: Grant Firth 021 422 698
PG SO: Irwin Imhoff 022 087 2173
HG SO: Grant Tatham 027 636 3491
Airspace: Ian Miller 022 176 8205
Comms: Warren Fitzgerald
Owner: Wellington HGPC
Location: Wellington
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.whgpc.nz
Paragliding Schools
You cannot teach yourself to fly a pargalider but luckily we have schools throughout New Zealand. Initial training is carried out on a flat field, then quickly progresses up shallow slopes to high flights. It is not unusual for students to progress to high flights on the first day of training. Training to a stage that allows pilots to fly unsupervised can take from 7 days to a couple of months or more. As well as the practical skills needed to fly the paraglider, schools teach meteorology, flight theory, piloting skills and air law.
The NZHGPA has 3 solo pilot ratings:
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PG1 is a student pilot rating that allows student pilots to fly at PG1 and PG2 rated flying sites under the supervision of an instructor.
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PG2 allows pilots to fly at PG1 and PG2 rated sites unsupervised and PG3 rated sites under the supervision of a PG3 rated pilot.
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PG3 is an advanced solo rating required to become an instructor or tandem paraglider pilot.
Do I need a license to fly? Yes. The NZ Civil Aviation Rule Part 106 requires that each pilot of a hang glider or paraglider shall:
- Be a bona fide member of a hang gliding organisation;
- Hold an appropriate hang glider or paraglider pilot certificate;
- Comply with the privileges and limitations of their certificate and any applicable ratings; and
- Comply with the operational standards and procedures of the hang gliding organisation.
The NZHGPA issues flight certificates, including instructor certificates, under the delegation granted by the Director, NZ Civil Aviation Authority.
More information about paragliding can be found here.
Auckland: Glide Pro
Learn to fly with GlidePro International Paragliding School in Muriwai, West Auckland!
Bruno and his local crew will help you discover and enjoy Paragliding in a beautiful environment. We combine Introductory Trial Tandem Flights and Discovery Days with comprehensive Paragliding training, leading you to faster success in your PG 1 & 2 certifications. Thanks to our practice slopes, some located in wind-protected areas, we can provide beginner lessons even in stronger conditions.
Bruno, a former member of the French HG team and world championship participant, can teach you in your preferred language: French, Spanish, German Russian and, of course, English. We offer new and second-hand gear, and students with their own equipment are welcome. All of our practices meet the NZHGPA and international standards. We import high-quality and world-leading equipment, adding to your safety and fun, and as a full-time paragliding school, we make the best of the weather available to us. Realise your dreams – call us!
Owner: Bruno Metz
Location: Auckland
Phone: 020 415 988 27
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.glidepro.co.nz
Auckland: Sky Wings
Paragliding School: We are the longest operating paragliding and paramotoring school in New Zealand. We offer introductory days – a trial tandem flight may be included if requested as part of the introductory day – gift vouchers and all instructional courses including PG1, PG2 and paramotoring. We have been teaching paragliding full time for 31 years and have developed very effective and safe instruction techniques. Skywings Shop: We stock some of the world’s leading brands of paragliding equipment and accessories, and have the largest product range in the southern hemisphere. Stockists of gliders by PHI and Nova, and harnesses and accessories by SUP’AIR.
Paramotoring: SkyWings has successfully taught paramotoring for 28 years – stockists of Miniplane and PAP
Owner: Hunter Hawker
Location: Auckland
Mobile: 021 855 345
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.skywings.co.nz
Auckland: Wings and Waves
Paragliding School: We offer beginner to advanced courses and trips in NZ and overseas. We teach to the highest international standards.
Sky Shop: We stock and display a great range of paragliding equipment, imported and NZ made. We also manufacture paragliding accessories in Auckland, repair and maintenance service.
Kitesurfing: Importers of European kitesurfing equipment and dealer for local and imported gear: Naish, Windtech, Hotworks and others. Beginner courses available.
Wir sprechen auch Deutsch!
Owner: Eva Keim and Reuben Muir
Location: Auckland
Phone: 09 446 0020
Mobile: 021 727 013 and 0274 727 013
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wingsandwaves.co.nz
Christchurch: Cloudbase Paragliding
Owner: Grey Hamilton
Location: Christchurch
Phone: 0275324874
Mobile: 0275324874
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cloudbaseparagliding.co.nz
Lyttelton, Christchurch: Parapro
Christchurch based aviation school offering: Paragliding, paramotoring and speedflying courses. Equipment sales and flying tours.
Owner: Dave Dennis
Location: Lyttelton
Mobile: 027 602 2558
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.parapro.co.nz
Mangawhai Heads, Northland: Fergs Paragliding
Our simple but professional instruction is delivered by me, Mike. It enables you to train to NZ and worldwide levels in paragliding . We are the only Northland based school and predominantly offer tandem trial flights, weekend and school holiday intsruction for PG1 and PG2 local paragliding site guiding and tours. We do some limited cross country flight training and combine this with equipment rental and sales. So if you want to come fly come see us. For more info click below.
Owner: Mike Ferguson
Location: Mangawai Heads
Phone: +6421995682
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fergsparagliding.com
Napier: Airplay Paragliding
Learn to paraglide with Airplay. If you’re interested in anything to do with Paragliding…WE DO IT …..Are about to do it… or will arrange it for you. Instruction, tandems, equipment, tours, free advice.
Owner: Barry Sayer
Location: Napier
Phone: 06 8451977
Mobile: 0274 512 886
Email: [email protected]
Nelson Paragliding
Paragliding school and APCO dealer.
Owner: Stew Karstens
Location: Nelson
Phone: 03 54 41182
Mobile: 027 446 3930
Website: www.nelsonparagliding.co.nz
Email: [email protected]
Ōpōtiki, Bay of Plenty: Kiwi-Air
NZ’s easiest way to fly!
Owner: Michel Verhagen and Aniko Hegedus
Location: Ōpōtiki 3198
Phone: 07 929 5807
Mobile: 021 104 6208
Website: www.kiwi-air.co.nz
Queenstown: Infinity Paragliding
Hi and welcome to Infinity Paragliding. Learn to paraglide with Infinity. Located in the Queenstown and Wanaka area of the stunning Southern Alps of NZ. We have the best training facilities and sites in NZ as we fly in the mountains with a world class landing area! We provide beginner (pg1) to solo pilot rated courses (pg2) and also more advanced courses (pg3) and tandem pilot training. We also provide free information to all visiting pilots and can provide tours of all our local flying sites. All our courses conform to and often exceed the NZHGPA and international standards. We stock and retail Advance paragliding equipment. We are a full time paragliding school with our focus purely on our students.
Owner: Chris Connolly
Location: Queenstown
Phone: 022 676 5599
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.infinityparagliding.co.nz
Picton Paragliding
Owner: Picton Paragliding
Location: Picton
Mobile: +64274480888
Email: [email protected]
Website: pictonparagliding.nz
Tauranga: Mount Paragliding
Owner: Darrell Packe
Location: Tauranga
Phone: 027 249 2702
Mobile: 0272492702
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mountparagliding.co.nz
Thames Coast Paramotors LTD
Paragliding Instruction Paramotoring Instruction Hang Gliding Instruction PAP Dealer for Supply and Service of PAP Paramotors and accessories. Apco Dealer for Paramotor & Free Flight Wings, Harnesses & accessories. Helix Carbon Propeller Agent.
Owner: Rick Hawkeswood
Location: Thames
Phone: +6421682766
Email: [email protected]