Dubbo to Gold Coast..Best VFR route.
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Dubbo to Gold Coast..Best VFR route.
Morning All,
Long time lurker, first time poster!
About to leave cold Melbourne for warmer climates in the family flying machine. Day 1 is a potter up to Dubbo for an overnight break before day 2 see's us head to the Gold Coast. I notice on the WAC (VFR operation this one) that there is lots of big hilly tiger country on the direct track. Thinking of going via Moree then across. Is this the best option to at least minimize exposure to large hills and lots of trees?
Anything I need to be aware of flying in that part of the country?
I've done the trip up the coast last year, so I'm familiar with the area once we get near the coast.
Cheers.
Mark...
Long time lurker, first time poster!
About to leave cold Melbourne for warmer climates in the family flying machine. Day 1 is a potter up to Dubbo for an overnight break before day 2 see's us head to the Gold Coast. I notice on the WAC (VFR operation this one) that there is lots of big hilly tiger country on the direct track. Thinking of going via Moree then across. Is this the best option to at least minimize exposure to large hills and lots of trees?
Anything I need to be aware of flying in that part of the country? I've done the trip up the coast last year, so I'm familiar with the area once we get near the coast.
Cheers.
Mark...
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Dubbo to Gold Coast VFR
Schlutorflyer:
My main suggestion is to be wary of the type of weather system that exists when you cross the Great Dividing Range. Often the weather to the west of the range can be good, however from the top of the range down to the East Coast sometimes has rain, cloud and low visibilty depending on the type of pressure system off the Coast.
Pick good weather and enjoy the flight.
Tmb
My main suggestion is to be wary of the type of weather system that exists when you cross the Great Dividing Range. Often the weather to the west of the range can be good, however from the top of the range down to the East Coast sometimes has rain, cloud and low visibilty depending on the type of pressure system off the Coast.
Pick good weather and enjoy the flight.
Tmb
G'Day Mr 'S', and welcome to the site.
If you are not 'comfortable' about winging it to Moree etc then heading East, would you consider a 'slight diversion' down the 'scenic route' via Dunedoo, Hunter Valley - pleasant scenery - West Maitland aero club for hospitality on the way if req'd - then a scenic up the coast - weather permitting of course...
The other way is not 'technically difficult', but via the Hunter may be more 'enjoyable'....
Be wary of turb assoc with strong winds over and in the lee of the bigger hills...if the 'Westerlys are blowing....
Cheers, and let's know how you go...
If you are not 'comfortable' about winging it to Moree etc then heading East, would you consider a 'slight diversion' down the 'scenic route' via Dunedoo, Hunter Valley - pleasant scenery - West Maitland aero club for hospitality on the way if req'd - then a scenic up the coast - weather permitting of course...
The other way is not 'technically difficult', but via the Hunter may be more 'enjoyable'....
Be wary of turb assoc with strong winds over and in the lee of the bigger hills...if the 'Westerlys are blowing....
Cheers, and let's know how you go...
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Tmpfish and I did that route last year stopping at Dubbo, did it in the one day from Moorabbin, then on into Brizzy inter after Gold Coast in a single 120 knot machine. We kept a little to the left of track until the last bit into Cooly where we came in from a more westerly heading. Quite a bit of turbulence on descent into Cooly as they had us barely 1000ft above terrain in the final stages with a moderately strong westerly behind.
Have fun, it's a fairly easy flight and less stressful in terms of tiger country than heading into Bankstown from the south west over Mittagong area.
Have fun, it's a fairly easy flight and less stressful in terms of tiger country than heading into Bankstown from the south west over Mittagong area.
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Maybe not what you want, but I'll make a few suggestions that put you over beautiful countryside, but don't necessarily have a lot of landing areas. If you're sick of the coastline and you have great weather, low level up the inland Newcastle lane is fun, The mountains behind Coffs are a pretty flight at low level across Ebor and down towards Grafton. (I know, you don't want the tiger country, but there's lots to look at.) On the last step, just outside the OOL zone, you can scoot over Mullimbimby, past Mt Warning and past a nice rocky cliff at the top end of the Currumbin valley, or a little further west, the Numinbah valley goes almost N-S and is fun to fly down and over Hinze Dam, but it looks like a dead end as you approach because of a slight curve in the valley.
Have to twist my arm or have crappy coast weather for me to go over the flat country around Narrabri and Moree, although the mountains past Coonabarabran and just NE of Narrabri are great. There's not a lot to see west of the ranges and the navigation is a doddle. If the coastal weather is iffy, then plan on the west side of the ranges and cut through Cunninghams Gap on the hwy between Warwick and Beaudesert, then drop over Tamborine into OOL. Often with a SE flow at this time of year, low cloud will pile up on the coastal low areas on the S side of the NSW/Qld border (over Lismore, Grafton and Casino and as far west as Armidale and Tenterfield), but it will be VFR west of the ranges and on the N side of the border. Just have to come around the ranges on the west side and cut across to the coast on the Qld side.
Have fun.
Have to twist my arm or have crappy coast weather for me to go over the flat country around Narrabri and Moree, although the mountains past Coonabarabran and just NE of Narrabri are great. There's not a lot to see west of the ranges and the navigation is a doddle. If the coastal weather is iffy, then plan on the west side of the ranges and cut through Cunninghams Gap on the hwy between Warwick and Beaudesert, then drop over Tamborine into OOL. Often with a SE flow at this time of year, low cloud will pile up on the coastal low areas on the S side of the NSW/Qld border (over Lismore, Grafton and Casino and as far west as Armidale and Tenterfield), but it will be VFR west of the ranges and on the N side of the border. Just have to come around the ranges on the west side and cut across to the coast on the Qld side.
Have fun.
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Once all the cr@p Victorian weather clears.
Dubbo across the back of the Warrumbungle ranges early in the morning is quite pretty on a nice morning, then across the Pilliga scrub and into Moree. From there track to Warwick (Fuel available, just phone ahead to make sure they are there at the flying school). Then down over the Gap, if wx is a bit dodgy there a plenty of ways through, but be careful if its really dodgey....stay at WCK.
Down around the Gatton way head around the south of Brisbane and into the coast.
PM me if you need any further local tips...Happy to take a phone call
Dubbo across the back of the Warrumbungle ranges early in the morning is quite pretty on a nice morning, then across the Pilliga scrub and into Moree. From there track to Warwick (Fuel available, just phone ahead to make sure they are there at the flying school). Then down over the Gap, if wx is a bit dodgy there a plenty of ways through, but be careful if its really dodgey....stay at WCK.
Down around the Gatton way head around the south of Brisbane and into the coast.
PM me if you need any further local tips...Happy to take a phone call
