Advice on VFR flying north out of Melbourne

[wombat13]

Visiting Melbourne early April and will hire a SEP for local VFR flying. First time flying outside of UK. Limited post JAR PPL (A) experience.

Will have about eight hours in total over a single day. No night rating. Any suggestions on where to visit or important differences I might expect from UK VFR flying (apart from the weather.....) would be appreicaited.

Thanks

[DirectAnywhere]

One of the best day's out from Melbourne is to the Brown Brother's winery at Milawa.

Roughly 1 hour 10' in a 172 or similar. The winery has a strip from where it is merely a short stumble to the epicurean centre which does brilliant lunch and wine...not much chop for you I admit!! Oh, and watch the powerlines on final.

"Safest" way avoiding tiger country is north through the Kilmore Gap and up the Hume Highway to Wangaratta and then South.

The more picturesque way is out via the Glenburn gap or preferably further south over Healesville, the Black Spur, Alexandra and continue NorthEast from there. Beautiful country with a look at Australia's Alpine country. Only a few patches in a single where there is nowhere to land but very weather dependant with big hills.

[Ang737]

Hi Mate

Grab yourself a VTC, and VNC when you arrive. They list all of the VFR tracking points around Melbourne. Definately drop into Milawa this time of year is lovely.

A worth while trip is the Great Ocean Rd coastal flight. Land at Warrnambool for lunch and head home inland.

Enjoy !!!

Ang ;)

[Chief galah]

Wombat,
Check your PM.
CG.

[916senna]

You might find this handy for a primer
http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/pilotcentre/training/flyingaround/default.asp#

[Di_Vosh]

Check your PM's

DIVOSH!

[N2000]

Wombat

Have a look at http://www.casa.gov.au/pilots/pilotgde.htm

It has guides for Melbourne, and other cities, with piccies of the reporting points, etc.

The staff at the Royal Vic Aero Club at Moorabbin are helpfull, as are the CASA staff at Moorabbin.

www.rvac.com.au

Happy Landings

N2000

[wombat13]

Thanks for the responses and PM's to my request for info'. Please keep them coming.

Looking forward to getting down there and taking to the skies.

Kind regards

Wombat13

[djpil]

Two more suggestions for you:

1. Go west along the coast, as ang737 suggested, to the Twelve Apostles.
Fly to Tuki for lunch - if you're comfortable with the one way sloping grass strip. Sheep station and trout farm.
http://www.tuki.com.au/
If you can tear yourself away from Tuki its a short flight to Ballarat and taxi to Sovereign Hill - find it on the internet.
Alternative to Ballarat is the RAAF Museum at Point Cook.

2. Fly direct to Asses Ears Lodge. Steve will organise horse rides, 4WD tours, lunch, rock climbing etc.
http://www.assesearslodge.com.au/
There's even a photo of me sitting outside the lodge.
As close to the Outback as you'll get in a day trip from Melbourne.