A Magnificent Man and His Flying Machines…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

How mean of me…

You’ve seen the aeroplane  tables inside Pilot Pete’s Pancakes and Planes Café, and the quirky, humorous  and colourful outside but what does the rest of the inside look like?

As you can well imagine, the  aviation theme continues…

…and How!

This isn’t like any pancake or burger joint you’ve ever walked into before…

…there are planes on the walls,  planes hanging from the ceiling and the place just rocks flying machines of almost every variety imaginable.

From making a model to taking a flying lesson you can do it here…

If on the outside you ever doubted that there was a passion for flying here, then all of them can be instantly dispelled once you step over the threshold. How cool is this place?  Me… I just wished I lived close to this place…  I love it!

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Hopefully NOT in the air! …

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The Skies the Limit at These Tables…

I seem to come across interesting tables during our various travels… in Cape Verde there were these in a local restaurant : http://kiwidutch.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/new-456/  and now I’m delighted to see that Pilot Pete’s Pancakes and Planes Cafe has also exhibited some colourful table creativity… So let’s reach cruising altitude and come fly with me as we take a look…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

You Don’t Have to be an Air Ace to Make a Perfect Landing Here…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

This is your slightly retrospective virtual tour of New Zealand as taken by Family Kiwidutch in December 2011-January 2012.

In recent posts you will have followed our journey to and around Napier in the east coast of the North Island, and then inland via State Highway 5, through Taupo and now onwards to Rotorua.

We are at the point in the journey where we have left Taupo behind and Rotorua will soon be our next port of call.  It’s been raining in fits and starts as we drive and we haven’t stopped since having a typical kiwi meat pie and a hot cuppa in the hilltop café some time ago.

It’s no surprise then then that Little Mr. starts complaining that he need’s a rest stop, and once he starts, his sister chimes in that she might need one rather quickly too.

Fortunately for us  the words are barely out of their mouths when we chance upon what might possibly be the most eye-catching café in the entire central North Island,  and so with giggles and smiles we pull into the car park.

We are here between Christmas and New Years, and so there are some extra decorations  on the outside, but even if there weren’t,  this place is will tickle your funny bone with it’s aviation theme. It’s clear from the outset that a passionate pilot is involved with this place… This is Pilot Pete’s Pancakes and Planes Café …. let’s take a look at the fabulous outside…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

A Reindeer to assist with Christmas time  night-flights I assume… (dual purpose as runway beacon / landing lights too!)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Someone appears to have lost his sleigh and hitched a ride here instead… ( …or moonlights daylights as a wing-walker)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The main road in both directions…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Even the  junior members of your flight crew can go solo…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)