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A delegation from China's Hubei province flew into Balclutha Airport in July and came away calling it one of the best flights of their lives. The visit — a charter run by Queenstown operator Air Milford — has drawn fresh attention to what a small regional airfield can do for a part of Southland that rarely appears on international itineraries.

The trip was organised to give Hubei University dignitaries a look at three Southern Institute of Technology campuses in a single day: Invercargill, Telford and Queenstown. A commercial road trip wasn't going to cut it. So SIT chartered a flight from Invercargill to Balclutha on July 1, then on to Queenstown — a schedule that would have been impossible by car.

Air Milford Operations Manager and Chief Pilot Antony Sproull flew the group himself. He made a decision mid-flight that turned a routine transit into something the visitors clearly weren't expecting.

"When we took off from Balclutha we would normally just track straight west back to Queenstown, but I thought it was a special opportunity to divert and see the Telford campus from the air," Sproull said.

He took the plane down to around 1,000 feet and circled the property twice. "We did a figure-eight across the campus at about 1,000 feet so both sides of the aircraft could get a good view. It really highlighted the scale of the property."

From the air, Telford's historic homestead stood out immediately. "From the air the original homestead is very distinctive because of its striking red roof. Even if you haven't flown in the area much, you can't miss it."

The ground visit left its mark too. "The first thing that struck me was the serenity. It's a really peaceful place with a great atmosphere," Sproull said. "The grounds were immaculate and the historic homestead is quite special. Then you realise just how big the operation is. From beekeeping and dairy training through to accommodation, there's a huge amount happening there."

The visitors were equally taken with the flight itself. "They absolutely loved it," Sproull said. "The group from China said it was the smoothest flight they'd ever experienced and one of the best flights of their lives. There were lots of photos, handshakes and excitement afterwards."

Sproull was also struck by Balclutha Airport — a strip alongside the Clutha River, minutes from the town centre, run by people who came down to look at the plane. "The hospitality was fantastic," he said. "The chief flying instructor and members of the flying club were incredibly welcoming and helpful. While I was there, people came down to see the aircraft, ask questions and take photos. It felt like a genuine connection with the local community."

The contrast with larger airports is the point, as far as Sproull is concerned. The drive from Invercargill to Balclutha normally takes an hour and a half to two hours. "We flew it in 25 minutes," he said. "But the real value is the perspective you get from the air. You see the rivers, the plains, mountain ranges and coastline all in one journey. The scenery is incredibly diverse."

For SIT, the July visit was a proof of concept: Telford, which sits in rural South Otago and rarely draws passing traffic, can be put in front of international partners in a morning without eating the whole day. Sproull sees broader potential in that.

"Many New Zealanders have driven through Balclutha, but they've never visited the airport and they've never seen Telford," he said. "Aviation opens that up and makes it accessible. You can achieve a lot in one day. The scenery, the history, the people and the hospitality all combine to create something unique."

SIT has been working to grow Telford's profile and student numbers. A charter flight that has visiting academics calling it one of the best of their lives is not a bad way to make the case.