Australian trips worth doing? Still exist? (Sydney)
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Australian trips worth doing? Still exist? (Sydney)
So this is a bit of an anachronism. Ordinary people flying cross country for fun - did that end in the 80s?
My brother and I (we're both in our 20s) have PPLs and are insane enough to think about hiring a plane (near Sydney) in December to fly to some interesting places for about a week. Probably an Arrow or similar. Have done several similar trips in Southern California, which were incredible. Normally when I fly in Australia, it's sightseeing in local areas.
Problem is, most airports I flew to during training in Australia fit the following generic description:
1) 7km+ from town
2) Dusty flight office with a combination lock opened with CTAF code
3) Said flight office contains a solitary styrofoam cup on the ground, and a CASA safety seminar poster from 1999 on the wall
4) There are no visible signs of fresh paint, or prosperity
5) There is at least one GA aircraft rotting into the ground next to the bowser
6) Getting fuel requires the drilling of an oil well, or the sacrifice of your first born, or both
7) A grumpy local stops by to tell you you've parked in the wrong place, though concedes the sign that directs you was stolen a few years ago and not replaced
I'm willing to concede that our hobby is one of yesteryear - but surely there must still be trips worth doing, to places that (if not humming) are pro GA and suitable for a flying holiday? Are there any signs of life out there?
Thinking of hopping down the coast, but all the above still applies!
My brother and I (we're both in our 20s) have PPLs and are insane enough to think about hiring a plane (near Sydney) in December to fly to some interesting places for about a week. Probably an Arrow or similar. Have done several similar trips in Southern California, which were incredible. Normally when I fly in Australia, it's sightseeing in local areas.
Problem is, most airports I flew to during training in Australia fit the following generic description:
1) 7km+ from town
2) Dusty flight office with a combination lock opened with CTAF code
3) Said flight office contains a solitary styrofoam cup on the ground, and a CASA safety seminar poster from 1999 on the wall
4) There are no visible signs of fresh paint, or prosperity
5) There is at least one GA aircraft rotting into the ground next to the bowser
6) Getting fuel requires the drilling of an oil well, or the sacrifice of your first born, or both
7) A grumpy local stops by to tell you you've parked in the wrong place, though concedes the sign that directs you was stolen a few years ago and not replaced
I'm willing to concede that our hobby is one of yesteryear - but surely there must still be trips worth doing, to places that (if not humming) are pro GA and suitable for a flying holiday? Are there any signs of life out there?
Thinking of hopping down the coast, but all the above still applies!
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Do you like/drink wine??
Airstrip - Brown Brothers
Airstrip Details ? Maygars Hill Winery
A bit further...
AVOCA WINERY AIRSTRIP| PYRENEES | MOOMAMBEL | SUMMERFIELD
WGT is usually ok to stop for fuel or o/n... give them a call. If you are into a bit of oz history... Glenrowan is down the road and you can say hi to Ned!
Rutherglen is near to COR and has some interesting history and more winery's...
Enjoy!!
Airstrip - Brown Brothers
Airstrip Details ? Maygars Hill Winery
A bit further...
AVOCA WINERY AIRSTRIP| PYRENEES | MOOMAMBEL | SUMMERFIELD
WGT is usually ok to stop for fuel or o/n... give them a call. If you are into a bit of oz history... Glenrowan is down the road and you can say hi to Ned!
Rutherglen is near to COR and has some interesting history and more winery's...
Enjoy!!
Alchemy 101, You've clearly been badly disappointed in the past. My experience of flying GA around Australia with a mate since 1987, has always been positive. And lots of fun!
The internet is your friend to find interesting and fun places to fly GA to, in Australia.
Perhaps obtain an AOPA 'Pilots Touring Guide'? Lots of good idea destinations to be found there. It's not all doom and gloom.
If you are flying an Arrow, you could fly from the Sydney area to YWMC return within about a week or so, WX permitting. I'd suggest a few more days to also explore Wilpena Pound and Arkaroola in the Flinders Ranges.
(Last year when I was at Arkaroola, I walked half way from the village to YARK with an eighty year old lady pilot who walks faster than 57 year old me. If you and your brother are in your twenties, you should have no problems if you have to walk into towns from 7km. With Telstra G3 you can usually ring a motel for a free pick up anyway. (Organise beforehand.)
Looking forward to hear how your trip went.
PS: Triadic, good advice!
The internet is your friend to find interesting and fun places to fly GA to, in Australia.
Perhaps obtain an AOPA 'Pilots Touring Guide'? Lots of good idea destinations to be found there. It's not all doom and gloom.
If you are flying an Arrow, you could fly from the Sydney area to YWMC return within about a week or so, WX permitting. I'd suggest a few more days to also explore Wilpena Pound and Arkaroola in the Flinders Ranges.
(Last year when I was at Arkaroola, I walked half way from the village to YARK with an eighty year old lady pilot who walks faster than 57 year old me. If you and your brother are in your twenties, you should have no problems if you have to walk into towns from 7km. With Telstra G3 you can usually ring a motel for a free pick up anyway. (Organise beforehand.)
Looking forward to hear how your trip went.
PS: Triadic, good advice!
The south coast is great, Moruya and Merimbula especially from now on through to about April. Accomodation can be pretty tight down there during the peak times so book early if you want to stay.
Have fun and fly safe.
Have fun and fly safe.
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The coastal flifgt south from Moruya to mallacoota is one ofthe most memorable flights I have every made. Spectacular coast - really beautiful and not over developed.
Further east from Merimbula is Marlo (Victoria), a fishing town well off the main highway, with a good pub for accomodation, and a nearby airstrip.
Also, Tasmania is worth a trip. Great scenery.
Further east from Merimbula is Marlo (Victoria), a fishing town well off the main highway, with a good pub for accomodation, and a nearby airstrip.
Also, Tasmania is worth a trip. Great scenery.
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While you are doing the wineries you could drop into the Goulburn Valley Aeroclub at Shepparton for a BBQ Friday evenings, Saturday lunch or Sunday Breakfast. We have a good bar and there is a caravan park with cabins across the road or a motel almost next door.
From Shepp you could head to the Asses Ear for a relaxing overnight
Welcome....
Down to ApolloBay for a swim and surf then follow the spectacular Shipwreck Coast east back to Tyabb on the Mornington Peninsula for a dose of aeroplanes before heading back north and home.
On the run to Tyabb, you cross over the Heads (entrance to Port Phillip) and down towards Cape Schank this is pretty impressive coastline too, as you fly over Cheviot Beach where Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared.
Enjoy
Kaz
From Shepp you could head to the Asses Ear for a relaxing overnight
Welcome....
Down to ApolloBay for a swim and surf then follow the spectacular Shipwreck Coast east back to Tyabb on the Mornington Peninsula for a dose of aeroplanes before heading back north and home.
On the run to Tyabb, you cross over the Heads (entrance to Port Phillip) and down towards Cape Schank this is pretty impressive coastline too, as you fly over Cheviot Beach where Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared.
Enjoy
Kaz
The golden days of GA may be past -- they were probably over before I started learning to fly -- but you can still have a lot of fun flying around Australia.
Had an excellent trip last year from south-east Australia to the Kimberley and return. Would happily do it again although next time might include more coastal flying and less desert.
We were made particularly welcome at Mount Hart station (WA), Kings Creek station (NT) and William Creek (SA).
Had an excellent trip last year from south-east Australia to the Kimberley and return. Would happily do it again although next time might include more coastal flying and less desert.
We were made particularly welcome at Mount Hart station (WA), Kings Creek station (NT) and William Creek (SA).
You don't need a flashy new aircraft, new flying schools and sealed runways to have an enjoyable flying trip in our great country. It's all about the company you take and the people that you meet and talk to
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if you want to go out west, Camaroo camel station, Bindara station south of broken hill, and a few other stations out that way, a little further you get Arkaroola, and to the north, the dig tree. or even cameron Corner, taxi up to the pub. and 50 mtrs to accom.
for a little closer to home, A few wineries very close to Mudgee, with excellent accommodation on field. to the north is Camden haven, great fishing next to the runway, and again, accommodation on field, and a campfire if you want.
Even Narromine, nice aero club, good food on friday nights, and a campfire in the caravan park.
south there is, as mentioned, moruya, on the beach, fly in, stay the night, have a surf, fly home. as well as a few others.
a little further from Syd, in Vic, is Asses ears, taxi up to your accommodation, or if you have a bit more cash, Lake Mungo (in NSW)
Even Jindabyne, has accommodation on field now. great mountain flying, or now, with plenty of snow on the peaks.
for a little closer to home, A few wineries very close to Mudgee, with excellent accommodation on field. to the north is Camden haven, great fishing next to the runway, and again, accommodation on field, and a campfire if you want.
Even Narromine, nice aero club, good food on friday nights, and a campfire in the caravan park.
south there is, as mentioned, moruya, on the beach, fly in, stay the night, have a surf, fly home. as well as a few others.
a little further from Syd, in Vic, is Asses ears, taxi up to your accommodation, or if you have a bit more cash, Lake Mungo (in NSW)
Even Jindabyne, has accommodation on field now. great mountain flying, or now, with plenty of snow on the peaks.
Australian trips worth doing? Still exist? (Sydney)
Triadic, my man, this could be my undoing....Maygars Hill has an airstrip? OMG, I LOVE their wine....a wheels-up methinks, so I might not be able to leave?????
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These are some fabulous suggestions - thanks to all! I'll nut out an itinerary but currently thinking a trip South would be the go, staying fairly coastal for the view.
Alchemy101,
If you are going to do a NSW South coast trip, I suggest that you also plan to fly the 500' above ocean coastal Sydney 'Victor 1' route. In Class G..
Please check ERSA. There are also available Sydney Harbour scenic flights.
If you are going to do a NSW South coast trip, I suggest that you also plan to fly the 500' above ocean coastal Sydney 'Victor 1' route. In Class G..
Please check ERSA. There are also available Sydney Harbour scenic flights.
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Go on and do it, its a fantastic way to see places that ordinary people don't see.
I used to get a beer cooler from any place I stayed at overnight, after a few years you will get a good collection and a few fond memories from the " good old days"
I'd air tour weekly if I could !
I used to get a beer cooler from any place I stayed at overnight, after a few years you will get a good collection and a few fond memories from the " good old days"
I'd air tour weekly if I could !
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Triadic, my man, this could be my undoing....Maygars Hill has an airstrip? OMG, I LOVE their wine....a wheels-up methinks, so I might not be able to leave?????
Ian had a an article published in the last AOPA magazine. He still has the Cherokee 140 he had when I first met him at Dixons Creek in the mid 70s.
Kaz
And Jenny is also a pilot, both fixed wing and balloons. She is a member of the ABF Hall of Fame, and former proprietor of Balloon Flights Victoria. She is or was an instructor of both categories, with CPL & CIR.
Edit: I seem to think she was also involved (perhaps on the Board or Organising Committee, whatever it was called) in the early days of the Avalon Airshow.
PS. I met her some years back when we were both members of a Board totally unrelated to flying. Lovely lady, dynamic and passionate.
Edit 2: Didn't Ian have a Tiger Moth, or was that Jenny's? Or is my memory totally off?
Edit: I seem to think she was also involved (perhaps on the Board or Organising Committee, whatever it was called) in the early days of the Avalon Airshow.
PS. I met her some years back when we were both members of a Board totally unrelated to flying. Lovely lady, dynamic and passionate.
Edit 2: Didn't Ian have a Tiger Moth, or was that Jenny's? Or is my memory totally off?
Last edited by Allan L; 28th Aug 2016 at 09:14.