dogcharlietree,
Refer to CAO 40.2.1 - you can plan NVFR as long as you meet the following
14 FLIGHT BY NIGHT UNDER NIGHT V.F.R. PROCEDURES
14.1 A particular grade of command instrument rating authorises the holder of the
rating to fly an aircraft of the category concerned within Australia as pilot in
command, or co-pilot, using the navigation aids endorsed in the holder’s
personal log book in the following circumstances:
(a) Private and aerial work flights under night V.F.R. procedures provided the
pilot meets the aeronautical and recent experience requirements applicable
to a night V.F.R. endorsement.
(b) Charter flights under night V.F.R. procedures, provided the following
aeronautical and recent experience requirements are satisfied:
(i) Aeronautical Experience. The pilot’s aeronautical experience shall
include 10 hours cross country flight time using night V.F.R.
procedures including a minimum of two navigation exercises (of at
least 300 nautical miles or 3 hours duration), as either pilot in
command or in command under supervision. Each exercise shall
exceed a distance of 100 nautical miles from the point of departure
and shall provide at least one landing at an aerodrome other than that
of departure, located in an area remote from extensive ground
lighting.
(ii) Recent Experience. The pilot’s recent experience shall include three
take-offs and landings by night within the preceding 90 days, and
either a night cross country flight (of at least 100 nautical miles or 1
hour duration) within the preceding six months or a flight check by
night with an approved person also within the preceding six months.
14.2 The holder of a co-pilot instrument rating may act as co-pilot on flights by
night under V.F.R. procedures, and exercise the privileges of a night V.F.R.
endorsement provided the aeronautical and recent experience requirements
applicable to the type of operation and class of rating are satisfied.
Don’t forget the CARs requirement that you must have done 3 night TO & LDG to carry any other person (ie not just pax, can be a student) in the past 90 days.
Some CASA district offices will issue you with a ME NVFR rating based on a valid ME CIR without a flight test, costs about $20. All they seem to want to do is get the NVFR rating test form and your logbook and give your the unrestricted (i.e. ME) NVFR rating. (CASA seem not have a consistent approach to this some will only do this if you have held a NVFR restricted to SE and a ME CIR)
Just be careful as some insurance companies take the view that you cannot do a visual approach at night if you do not have a night visual rating and plan IFR (sounds silly). This is one of the reasons I understand CASA will issue an unrestricted night rating based on an unrestricted (day and night) ME CIR.
You can plan an aircraft above 5700 kg VFR at night, you may have been confused with JEPP ATC Flight Planning 1.9.1 IFR aircraft above 5700kg can only be operated into aerodromes that have an approach, they do not a need a NAVAID, GPS NPA will suffice in the aircraft and pilot(s) can do it. The only requirement is in JEPP ATC Flight Planning 1.2.2. You must put a SARTIME in if going more than 120 nm from your point of departure JEPP ATC Flight Planning 3.10 (c).
Company operations manuals also may have a restriction on flight planning requirements for aircraft above 5700kg, a lot of them say that all flights must be planned IFR, even circuits.