Advice needed for Victoria Day Trip

[AirBumps]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for advice on somewhere to fly for lunch here in Victoria. Somewhere thats got food and drink nearby the field so I don't need to hire a car or take hiking equipment.

Anybody with any ideas. Leaving from Moorabbin.

Cheers,

[Jabawocky]

I have to beat VH-XXX in here...........:}

Tooradin!

http://www.tooradinflyingschool.com.au/?Page=Restaurant

probably plenty more I would think......

J:E

[tio540]

Flinders Island

[Wanderin_dave]

Apollo Bay, see the 12 Apostles while you're down there

[Liklik balus]

You can't beat Milawa just E of WGT. Brown Bros. has a winery/restaurant 100m from the strip.....excellent food! You can walk 500m into town for a look around, all in all a great place for a lunch. It will impress your pax and only about 1hr flying time. Bon apertit!

[cudza101]

I have to second the Milawa recommendation. Relatively close, good facilities and good food. If you get a clear day you can go DCT and you'll be munching on grain fed potatoes within an hour.

[AirBumps]

Thanks Guys,

Tooradin is a little too close. Milawa Winery sounds good. I've never been up to YWGT before.

I've contacted the people at Brown Bros who put me onto their website, includng the section of the strip, just wondering if anybody had an advice or words of caution form flying in their?

Cheers,

[Schmacko]

:E Fly to South Australia because there's nothing that meets your description in Victoria

[cudza101]

Very rough schmacko - if you can find a place in the Barossa that comes with the convenience of Milawa let me know.

AB,

You won't actually be landing at YWGT but I assume that you're just saying this for the sake of it. Milawa itself is relatively straight-forward... it's a relatively long strip with plenty of margin and it's generally well-prepared; however, be careful of the powerlines if you're approaching from the north - they're deceptively close to the threshold.

[glenb]

Have a look at the TUKI trout farm. Catch your own trout and they cook it up for you in a great setting. They have their own very long strip with a slope on it that you would expect in new gµinea.

[Walrus 7]

I second Apollo Bay. The strip is sealed now and they've put that pesky powerline underground (if you're listening Otway Council, thank you!). The town is but a gentle stroll away. Just watch the standing waves in a westerly.

Lakes Entrance: take a picnic and land at Clem Smith's strip (PPR) or get a taxi into town for lunch.

Echuca: another taxi ride but such good eating.

Walrus

[AirBumps]

Thanks for the replies guys,

I was looking at Apollo Bay but couldn't find anything anywhere on the field. I'm guessing the strip is privately owned?

[Wanderin_dave]

RE Apollo Bay give Apollo Bay Air Adventures a call 0352377370 or PM me, though I haven't flown in there for a couple of months. Heading down next week though if you want some up to date info after then.
It's about a 30-40 min walk into town from the strip, worth it though. Love that town!

[Capt Wally]

.............yep Apollo Bay, great spot although fast becoming stuffed like Lorne !:{

I agree with another in here. YFLI although isn't located within Vic (2 headed country down there) would have to be one of the best places to go for a flying visit. It's not a day trip really (too much to do) but well worth at least a W/E. Just one word of advice tho. If yr planning a trip down there in the middle of the year, well almost anytime of the year for that matter plan to have a few days up yr sleeve in case the wx closes in. If yr IFR & equiped as such then you have options, but VFR could mean an extra little stay!:-) Been there done that years ago, 2 days turned into 4 !!!:bored:
The beauty about flying within Vic is that you don't have to fly for too long to get anywhere decent. Even places as simple as YECH is just a little ride away with the might Murry offering plenty of food & wine, the latter not for you tho Mr pilot !:)

CW:)

[bentleg]

I have done Milawa twice.

Plan to fly in before lunch. Airstrip details here (http://www.brownbrothers.com.au/airstrip/airstrip.aspx). Airstrip pic here (http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k129/bentleg/milawa.jpg).

Enjoy Brown Bros Epicurian lunch (http://www.brownbrothers.com.au/ourplace/epicureancentre.aspx) - a number of small courses each with a matching glass of wine - superb menu. (http://www.brownbrothers.com.au/ourplace/epicureanmenu.aspx)

Then retire to Milawa Lodge Motel (http://www.milawagourmet.com/mil_lodge/)for a snooze (they will pickup from airstrip - but its only an 800m walk). Enjoy a beer and evening meal at the the Milawa Hotel. There is also premium (expensive) accommodation at Lindenwarrah (http://www.lindenwarrah.com.au/), almost opposite Brown Bros. I have not stayed there.

There is no Avgas at Milawa.

[VH-XXX]

My vote is for Lakes Entrance.

Heaps of places to eat, nice scenery, nice flight, 2 airstrips to choose from, both are good - 1 bitumen new and the other grass, close to town (short taxi ride). Lots of 90 mile beach to fly down on the way there and back. How can I say.... it's often "deserted" beach if you get my drift.

Apollo bay is about a $15 taxi ride from town, 700 metres, downhill / uphill depending on how you look at it. Need to ring ahead because there's lots of seafog there at the moment which makes it hard to get in sometimes. It sticks to the beach like s*hit to a blanket, even all day.

[djpil]

Asses Ears Wilderness Lodge at the Grampians Airfield (http://www.assesearslodge.com.au/home.html)

[400ER]

Mount Beauty (YMBT) gets my vote. Nice airfield in the Kiewa Valley, very scenic and a 5 min walk to town.

[John Eacott]

AB,

Another vote for Milawa or Mt Beauty, both lovely spots in the NW. Milawa would be preferable for a Good Lunch, but there are some top spots in Mt Beauty also. The bakery can get a bit noisy and crowded, not really a refined sort of place, but the local tourist office is 5 minutes from the strip, and are very helpful. YMBT is one way, approach and depart to/from the north, so don't get caught out if the wind isn't favourable ;)

[Capt Wally]

YMBT, yes of course, great spot, but only in VMC. Love slipping into that place just clearing the mountains to the west then pull all the stops out for a rapid decent, circle & land to the sth..........phewwwwww what a ride ! Nasty place if you have to depart IMC............follow that valley 'till at least 6000 ft! holding an acurate hdg & max clb!


CW:)

[AirBumps]

Thanks for the tips guys, some fantastic trip advice in here. Good work

[training wheels]

How about YMEN? There's a Subway just outside the terminal, not to mention Coles! Plenty of food and drink around! :}

[Capt Wally]

.......geeeeeeeez 'training wheels' you crack me up !:D One has to wonder as you taxi in (sth side) at night and view the Coles Liquor land sign all lit up!! .....just what a pilot needs after multiple approaches !

Has anyone seen that place these days?............Talk about being Foxed !:bored:

Won't be long before YMEN has only a museum there reminding us that it was once an airport !

CW:)

[jetstar1]

I had a wicked meal at an olive farm in Drysdale a few weeks ago that had an adjoining strip. I will try and chase up some details, because I'm keen to make a trip there myself. Otherwise if anyone has the goss' you might save me a few phone calls?

j:ok:1

[ABX]

I have to agree with :}Little Balls:} and everyone else who has suggested Milawa. I have only driven there so I can't comment first hand on the strip, but the food, wine, scenery and enjoyment are all pretty much understated here, it is a place I never tire of.

John Eacott's further suggestion of Mt. Beauty is also a good one (he should know, goodness knows how many hours he has put in flying there), the town is pretty, good food, plenty to see.

AB, I hope you'll favour us all with a trip report when you get back?

Have a good day wherever you decide to go.:ok:

ABX

[AirBumps]

Ended up going into Milawa. Couldn't fault it at all. Strip is fine, plenty of room for tie down, 100m walk to a great meal and its all only an hour from Melbourne... Theres heaps of strip details on the brown bros website as was said above...

I think Apollo Bay will be next, just need to sort out a contact for the field....

Thanks all

Airbumps

[UnderneathTheRadar]

PM me for details on Apollo Bay....

[VH-XXX]

You don't need a contact for Apollo Bay, it's council owned. Victor Bongiorno is the man in the know however. Make sure if you're landing down hill that you have a head wind as many a pilot has gone around down there.

[bentleg]

You don't need a contact for Apollo Bay, it's council owned


:confused: How can you be sure the strip is A OK for landing?

My practice is that if a field is NOT licenced, I ALWAYS contact the owner for the strip condition and permisssion to land (even when owned by a council). :)

[rjtjrt]

Fuel (Avgas) availability Apollo Bay area?
Can anyone advise if Avgas is available at Apollo Bay or anywhere in the vicinity?
John

[jetstar1]

If anyone is interested in the Cafe I mentioned earlier...

Kalamata Cafe, Drysdale - www.lighthouseoliveoil.com.au/kalamata

Airstrip Details - http://www.lighthouseoliveoil.com.au/?p=airstrip

Airstrip Map - http://www.lighthouseoliveoil.com.au/upload/file/LHairstripmap2.pdf

Cheers :ok:

[Mark1234]

Visited Kalamata Cafe yesterday as inspired by the previous poster.. sadly after the kitchen closed, but enjoyed the coffee in any case. Definately recommended as a pitstop to liven up the 'lap of the bay with non-flying friends' routine... I will be back :ok:

[UnderneathTheRadar]

No fuel at Apollo Bay - nearst options are Geelong, Colac and Cobden - don't know about Peterborough but I suspect not.

UTR

[AirBumps]

PM sent UTR