National Parks with airfield inside or close by

[Motorola]

Hi, I would like to fly a light aircraft to airfields close to or inside National Parks to go hiking, initially in NSW.

Would anyone know of any parks with an airfield inside or close by, or a list of same please?

Thanks, M

[compressor stall]

You could look at Geehi, at the foothills of Hannels Spur heading up, up and up to Mt Townsend. It's a full on climb and bush bash though, not just a pleasant overnight hike. and take care coming back down that you are on the correct spur...

I'm not sure of the condition (or permission required) of the strip, and access to the hike can be tricky crossing the river, especially the blackberries although a fire might have cleaned it out since I was last there.

[catseye]

- Gardens of Stone National Park. Land at Rylstone and a cab can drop you at the start of the walking tracks. w
- Kosi National Park. land at jindabyne and a cab to start your walk.
- Barrington Tops. Land at Gloucester and cab to start.

Katoomba is currently closed otherwise Blue Mountains National Park.


Pls take a beacon!

[muddergoose]

Do you get permission from the Parks Authority when you go to these places? It always pays to get permission.

[mikewil]

If you have an iPad with OzRunways you can view most ALAs, zoom to the parks you are interested in and see whether there are any ALAs around the place. They often have pretty good information regarding their usage depending on what level of package you have subscribed to.

[growahead]

Maria Island, east coast of Tasmania. The strip is about 5-10 min walk from the National Parks office. From the strip you can walk directly to Fossil Cliffs, and the mountain Bishop and Clerk.

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=1481

Less than 20 minutes flight from Hobart/Cambridge. Just watch the geese on the strip, and allow for poor braking as you slide on the fresh deposits.

Highly recommended.

[Ascend Charlie]

Kingsford Smith International, just across Botany Bay from the Royal National Park

[Lead Balloon]

^^^ That right there is funny. ^^^

Arkaroola's a declared wilderness area. A 'must visit' destination, once you go further afield than NSW.

[Flying Ted]

Lake Mungo is a must visit but maybe not hiking (you need to have a guide you visit the dunes)

Grampians.

Mallacoota. The airfield is on the park boundary.

[gerry111]

If you take up Lead Balloon's good suggestion to visit Arkaroola in S.A. I have another not that far away.. That's a fly over Kati Thanda, AKA Lake Eyre National Park. Perhaps talk to the gals and guys pilots at YWMC?

[compressor stall]

Yes,+1 for Mallacoota I forgot about that. You can hike to the west to the campsites on the beach. Watch for scorpions in your tent though.

[Stanwell]

Wedderburn, NSW.
While the OP hasn't given an indication of his walking skills, the nearby O'Hare's Creek walk is beautiful, though challenging, in parts.
Keep in mind that there are no 'kiosks' along the way, but.

[no_one]

Its a pitty that we dont have something like the Recreational Aviation Foundation in the USA.

Recreational Aviation Foundation

They lobby for airstrips in national parks to be opened and then organise volunteers to fly out to maintain them. See below for example:

RAF opens new airstrip in Arkansas ? General Aviation News

If we had the same places like Yerrandarie, Geehi, or Gospers might be options.

[triton140]

I know the OP was talking NSW, but Friendly Beaches (YFRI) in Tasmania is worth a try. It is in the Freycinet National Park and the owners are welcoming.

[Aussie Bob]

Its a pitty that we dont have something like the Recreational Aviation Foundation in the USA

No One, it is more than a pity, almost a tragedy. Strips like Geehi, Dalhousie, Snowy Range are all out, Maria Island is a bloody hassle if you want to conform, Bathurst Harbour can be the scene for petty bureaucracy, the list goes on. Ditto I am sure for Gabo Island etc etc. National parks don't seem to want aeroplanes, end of story.

My guess is so few pilots even want to visit these places that if we got together a lobby group you could count the members on one hand.

[Sunfish]

Visit New Zealand to see what a country with vision can do. Every town seems to have a turbine helicopter operation just waiting to take you into the highlands for fishing, sightseeing or hunting. And get this…….. They even LAND in national parks! Furthermore, you can get out and walk on the top of glaciers and mountain snowfields! Imagine that.

But wait there is more! These guys even land their aircraft on beaches, river bars and mountain tops!

We could never have that in Australian national parks, it might offend the bushwalkers!

[MikeJulietHotel]

You mean like this?


Best holiday I've had in ages, courtesy of the Marlborough Aero Club.