Whether you are a skilled virtual pilot or just like crashing your way around the world, Microsoft Flight Simulator is outstanding. It is also a technical achievement with its exact recreation of the Earth and stunning graphics. In Microsoft Flight Simulator World Update XII, New Zealand is getting all the focus.
World Updates for Flight Sim are treasure troves of content. These are massive game upgrades that bring more aircraft, airports, locations, and more. When Microsoft Flight Simulator focuses on one country, it means that the region gets an overhaul with photo-realistic imagery.
And that brings us to World Update XII: New Zealand. Players can now experience major sites from the country in higher quality. Those locations include Aoraki/Mount Cook at 12,218 feet, Sky Tower in Auckland, the Bay of Islands, and much more. There are even quirks such as the Hobbiton Movie Set where the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed.
Microsoft says it tapped into the latest geographic data to recreate New Zealand in stunning realism. That includes satellite photos and digital elevation models. Like all World Update releases, this New Zealand expansion is free to all Microsoft Flight Simulator owners. It is worth noting that the game is also available on Microsoft's Game Pass service.
Full Changelog
World Update XII: New Zealand has the version number 1.30.12.0 and comes with the following extensive changelog:
TIN (triangulated irregular network) cities:
- Auckland
- Christchurch
- Hamilton
- Nelson
- Queenstown
- Tauranga
- Wellington
Points of Interest
- Akaroa Dolphins Cruise
- Akaroa St Patrick's Catholic Church
- Akaroa Waterfront
- Auckland Harbour Bridge
- Auckland War Memorial Mus.
- Balclutha Road Bridge
- Beehive
- Big Lemon and Paeroa Bottle
- Cape Egmont Lighthouse
- Cape Reinga Lighthouse
- Cardrona Ski Resort
- Castle Point Lighthouse
- Christchurch Cathedral
- Coronet Peak Ski Area
- Cromwell Big Fruit Sculpture
- Dog Island Lighthouse
- Dunedin Law Courts
- Dunedin Railway Station
- Durie Hill Memorial Tower
- Edith Cavell Bridge
- Farewell Spit Lighthouse
- First Church of Otago
- Fo Guang Shan Temple
- Forsyth Barr Stadium
- Hell's Gate
- Hobbiton Village Matamata
- Hole in the Rock
- Hopwood Clock Tower
- Huntly Power Station
- Invercargill Water Tower
- Kawarau Gorge Suspension Br.
- Kerikeri Mission Station
- Larnach Castle
- Majestic Centre
- Mohaka Viaduct
- Mount Cargill Transmitter
- Mount John Univ. Observatory
- Mount Kaukau Transmitter
- Mus. of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa
- New Plymouth Power Station
- New Zealand Parl. Library
- New Zealand Parliament House
- North Harbour Stadium
- Ohaaki Power Station
- Ohakune Carrot
- Otira Viaduct
- Rakaia Bridges (road and rail)
- Rugby League Park
- Sky Tower
- Skyline Queenstown
- Sugarloaf Transmitter
- Taiaroa Head Lighthouse
- Taramakau Road-Rail Bridge
- Tekapo A Power Station
- The Church of Good Shepard
- The Remarkables Ski Area
- Tiritiri Matangi Lighthouse
- Titahi Bay Transmitter
- Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter
- TSS Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipu
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Wellington Regional Stadium & Railway Station
Handcrafted airports:
- Gisborne Airport (NZGS)
- Milford Sound Airport (NZMF)
- Martins Bay Aerodrome (NZMJ)
- Gorge River Airstrip (NZQE)
- Rotorua Airport (NZRO)
- Lake Tekapo Airport (NZTL)
- Whangarei Airport (NZWR)
- Westport Airport (NZWS)
- Quintin Lodge Airstrip (T004)
Bush trips:
- New Zealand's North Island in a Textron Aviation Beechcraft Bonanza G36
- New Zealand's South Island in a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter G950
- A historic recreation of the country's first air route in a Douglas DC-3 Classic
Discovery flights:
- Auckland, the country's largest city, in a Cessna 152
- Queenstown in a Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopter
- Lake Benmore in a DG Aviation DG-1001E neo glider
Landing challenges:
- A strong wind landing at Wellington Airport (NZWN) in an Airbus A320neo
- An epic landing at the Ryan's Creek Aerodrome (NZRC) in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk
- A technical landing at Gorge River Airstrip (NZQE) in a Savage Cub
- A famous challenge in an Airbus A310-300 at Christchurch Airport (NZCH).
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