If you had to come down the inland route (boring boring) another possible departure is Phillip Island. The strip is gravel and rocks, so be careful of your propeller. Fuel is VERY expensive and they hit you up for a landing fee. However if you are coming from the west and the weather up the Latrobe Valley is iffy, it is convenient. You just need to weigh the fuel cost against the extra track miles if you go to Bairnsdale. Bairnsdale is good, but avoiding Sale airspace may add more track miles, depending on your routing.
By rock-hopping and climbing to 9500ft you will probably find your 'wet footprint' is only 5nm or so on the most critical part of the crossing to FLI. Not that some of the rocks would permit a forced landing, but a ditching close by would lessen the time splashing around while the great whites sniff you out....
Last edited by gas-chamber; 22nd Sep 2010 at 03:59.