2025-October: Ham Meetings in Australia and New Zealand
2025-October: Ham Meetings in Australia and New Zealand
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My wife Janet and I recently concluded an incredible 32-day adventure down under.
While this wasn’t meant to be a dedicated radio trip, I hoped to meet a few well known hams and sneak in a few QSOs along the way.
First Stop: Perth, Western Australia
We kicked things off in Perth, staying with friends – not hams but an old work colleague and his wife. Last time we visited Perth in 2018, I gave a talk at the local radio club and had a go on their excellent club station. I remember tuning around 40m at 9:30pm and being struck by how isolated Perth is—only two stations heard: one from the US West Coast and one from Japan. Quite the contrast to a busy European evening on 40m!
This time, although I knew propagation would be challenging, I packed light radio gear “just in case”: an Elecraft KX3, a small PSU, and a compact antenna.
After a brief transit in Singapore, we landed in Perth and were warmly welcomed by our friends. Following a day to recover, we set off on a 6-day road trip through Western Australia—looping down to Albany and passing through Walpole, Margaret River, Dunsborough, and Busselton. The highlight? Seeing sperm whales up close on a whale-watching tour off Busselton. Absolutely unforgettable. The downside? No time for radio.
Right: The unforgettable moment we saw a fully grown sperm whale jumping just to the side of our boat.
Making Time for Radio in Perth
Determined to get on the air before leaving, I arranged a meet-up with local hams: Steve VK6VZ, Kev VK6LW, and Phil VK6GX. Janet and I took the bus and train to Midland, where Steve kindly picked us up and drove us to the Parkerville Tavern—a favourite spot we’d visited back in 2018 on our previous visit.
There we met Phil, Steve, Kev and his wife Jules. After a great lunch and catch-up, Kev invited us back to his QTH for coffee—my chance to finally transmit from VK6! While the ladies chatted in Jules’s art studio (a gem in its own right), we headed to the shack nestled in bushland.
Time was tight, but I managed a few QSOs on 14025, beaming long-path to Europe. Propagation was kind, and I logged about half a dozen contacts as VK6/G4IRN, including a few G contacts which was nice. Mission accomplished!
Below:
Well known CW DXers and contesters having lunch at the Parkerville Tavern near Perth.
(L-R): John G4IRN, Steve VK6VZ, Janet G4IRN/2, Jules VK6LW/2, Kev VK6LW, Phil VK6GX.
Below:
In the VK6LW shack (L-R): Kev VK6LW, John G4IRN, Steve VK6VZ, Phil VK6GX.
It was a delight to make some QSOs back to the UK as VK6/G4IRN.
Right:
The VK6LW tower and beam (L-R)
Phil VK6GX, Jules VK6LW/2, Kev VK6LW, John G4IRN, Steve VK6VZ.
Kevin and Steve are both regular conributors to the RSGB's RadCom magazine.
Next Stop: New Zealand
After 10 days in Perth, we flew overnight to Auckland—just a small hop on the map, but five time zones away. I’d been in touch with Ian G3WVG, who happened to be with his wife Kim, visiting their daughter and new granddaughter in Auckland. Ian and his son-in-law Lewis met us at in Arrivals at 7am, just as promised. We dropped our bags at the hotel and, since check-in wasn’t until 3pm, headed to Ian’s daughter’s place for breakfast and a tour of Auckland, including a ferry ride to Devonport for lunch.
Road-Tripping Through ZL
Our New Zealand itinerary was packed: 11 stopovers over 3 weeks across both islands, ranging from one to three nights for each stop. It was a whirlwind, but I’d done my homework and noted where ZL DXers and contesters lived in case we could meet up. Napier looked promising for catching up with Gary ZL2iFB—and it happened to coincide with CQ World Wide SSB.
I posted on the ZL DX email group to see who else might be around. Among others, replies came in from Jacky ZL3CW and well-known DX’er Holger ZL3IO. Jacky had recently moved QTH, and suddenly a visit looked possible.
On day three of our road trip, we travelled from Coromandel to Rotorua—famous for its geothermal activity and skin-rejuvenating mud. We were booked for a mud-bath that afternoon, but with an early start we squeezed in a visit to Jacky and Sue near Tauranga. It was great to see them and hear about Jacky’s plans for a new station and WRTC, though time was short and we had to press on.
Visit to Tauranga
(L-R): John G4IRN and Jacky ZL3CW.
On the Air from ZL
In Napier, I met Gary on Sunday morning, and we headed up to Holger’s elevated QTH, the ‘Kiwi DX Lodge’. With CQWW in full swing, it was an SSB-only outing. Holger’s station sits near the top of a mountain with stunning views toward the Americas and long-path Europe—though sadly, I was there at the wrong time of day for peak propagation. Nevertheless it was good to air ZL/G4IRN and great to catch up with Gary, who I hadn’t seen for over 20 years.
After three nights in Napier, we continued through Wellington and took the ferry to the South Island. I’d hoped to use my Elecraft setup again, but our schedule was too tight. We’d deliberately packed in as much of New Zealand as possible.
All in all, it was a fantastic trip—full of memorable sights, great company, and a few satisfying moments on the air.
Visit to the Kiwi DX Lodge (L-R):
John G4IRN and Gary ZL2iFB.
Gary is not only known for being a fine CW operator but is author of the excellent 'FT8 Operating Guide':
https://www.g4ifb.com/FT8_Hinson_tips_for_HF_DXers.pdf
Visit to the Kiwi DX Lodge
Right :
(L-R): Holger ZL3IO (also ZL7IO) and John G4IRN
(See http://www.kiwi-dx-lodge.com/)
Below:
Further pictures below of the Kiwi DX Lodge and its fantastic take-off to Europe on the Long Path.
John Warburton G4IRN
(December 2025)
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