Locations
Currently this site is focussed on SE QLD flying sites. However my intention is to capture as many sites throughout Australia. If you know of a suitable site, please email the details of your flying area to gp_cosgrove@hotmail.com
There are many headlands and mountain areas, which create enough lift for slope gliding. It's recommended that you fly within a club, which offers insurance whilst flying at their approved flying zone. Many of the listed sites below aren't approved zones, therefore fly at your own risk.
Google Earth must be installed to view the kmz files.
Queensland - South East Queensland
Woody Point: E / SE
The slope isn't much to look at all e.g. photo, however it can really provide good lift. It has suitable landing area. Good view of Moreton Bay.
Disadvantage: Is close to road and there are a number of smaller trees and tall pines on the fringes.
Location: Gayundah Park
Address: Opposite the Corner Gayundah Esplanade & Annie St
Photo: Image 1
Google Earth: kmz file (must have Google Earth installed)
Shorncliffe: NE / E / SE
Shorncliffe is a fairly rocky cliff with low shrubs. The cliff provides good lift, even on a fairly average day. Best for a NE to E wind. There are a number of areas that are suitable along the cliff. Around the corner you can even fly a SE, however I would be tempted to go to Woody Point on the SE.
Disadvantage: Yet again, close to the road and walking track. The other consideration is landings can be a bit rough. There is only a narrow strip to land on and it's a combination of rocks, grass and low shrubs.
Location: Shorncliffe Parade, Shorncliffe
Address: Opposite the corner of Cotton St and Shorncliffe Parade
Google Earth: kmz file (must have Google Earth installed)
Mt Mee: SE / E
Simply a great location which provides a tone of lift. It's one of the best locations in SE Queensland that I've flown at. The height that it provides gives you an unreal altiude to drop from and sweep through the valley.
Disadvantage: If you go down somewhere other than the landing area you are stuffed.
Location: Mt Mee
Address: Get onto Pedwell Rd Mt Mee. You can either turn onto it from the main Mt Mee Rd or if coming from Caboolture you turn left att Wamuran, follow Campbells Pocket Rd up the hill, it climbs and twists then dips down over a bridge, then up again and after a few corners you turn right into Tidwell Rd. Follow it for 4 or 5 k's until after a big uphill you come to a T junction with Pedwell Rd. Turn right. The road will drop down a hill into bushland and after 600m the bitumen ends. From the end of the bitumen it's 900m to the flying site which you can't miss. There are trees either side of the road, then it dips into a saddle where the right side of the ridge is all cleared with a beautiful view to the SE. But be careful on the dirt because there are ruts and some steep twisty bits. If the road is wet there are some mudholes and it can be slippery. Watch out for holes in the grass when you park at the site. Go through or over the gate and fly on the grassy slope about 50m to the right of the gate.
Photo: Image 1 | Image 2 | Image 3
Google Earth: kmz file (must have Google Earth installed)
Kings Beach (Caloundra): S / SE
On top of a rocky cliff, with a pleasant outlook over Kings Beach. Can achieve a nice amount of lift at this location.
Disadvantage: Road, tall pine trees behind slope and very small landing zone.
Location: The Esplanade Kings beach
Address: Opposite the corner of Latona Ave and The Esplanade, Kings Beach Caloundra
Google Earth: kmz file (must have Google Earth installed)
Moffat Beach (Caloundra): N / NE
A great cliff, that slopes and curves down into the half horse shoe bay. Gives a great view up the coast. You can get really good speed descending down the rim of the cliff into the small bay. Has a nice grass landing patch, which is easy to land when the wind is N/NE.
Disadvantage: Small road behind you, however retrieval is the biggest disadvantage, get in the car and drive down. You really don't want to crash at this location.
Location: Moffat Beach
Address: Opposite the corner of Bennett St and Queen of Colonies Parade, Moffat Beach Caloundra
Google Earth: kmz file (must have Google Earth installed)
Maleny (Bald Knob): SE ENE SW W
Club access only, great flying location. It gives good thermal flying and you can achieve good height at this location. The variety in wind direction makes it perfect. Great views of the glass house mountains and sunshine coast.
Disadvantage: I have heard that they're restricting access to any future members.
Photo: Image 1
Maleny (Brandenberg RD): NE NW
Great lift, large landing zone. This area is where club members from Maleny fly when the wind is from the N. Nice location.
Disadvantage: Deep valley if you have a problem, big walk.
Location: Maleny
Address: Corner of Brandenberg Rd and Hovard Rd, Maleny
Google Earth: kmz file (must have Google Earth installed)
Beechmont : SE-NE
The site at Beechmont is called Rosins Lookout and is on Beechmont Rd. Take exit 69 which is the Nerang exit, turn right at the lights and follow the Beaudesert Nerang Rd until you get to Beechmont Rd. The site is about 20mins along this rd on the left hand side at Rosins Lookout.
Travel time from Brisbane is approx. 1.5 hrs and from the Gold Coast is approx. 45min's.
The 2005 Brisbane UBD map reference is map 45 grid ref M18 in the Gold Coast section.
Google Earth: kmz file (must have Google Earth installed)
Mt Tamborine: NW-SW
The site at Mt Tamborine is at the Mount Tamborine lookout on Main Western Rd at North Tamborine just south of Lahey Rd.
Approx travel time from Brisbane is 1hr and from the Gold Coast is 45mins.
The 2005 Brisbane UBD map reference is map 23 grid ref. L4 in the Gold Coast section.
Google Earth: kmz file (must have Google Earth installed)
Alexandra Headland: N/NE
A good slope, steep cliff which provides a nice amount of lift.
Disadvantage: Road, and odd landing area.
Location: Alexandra Headland, Mooloolaba
Address: Opposite the corner of Bukatilla St and Alexandra Parade, Mooloolaba
Photo: Image 1 | Image 2 | Image 3
Google Earth: kmz file (must have Google Earth installed)
Rainbow Beach: NE
The whole section of beach around Rainbow faces N/E and it has really high steep dunes over 100m high. So when the wind's NE the place is full of paragliders and hanggliders ... the Aust Champs for HG's is there every January.
The sandblow is only 1km south of the town. To get there you drive a couple of minutes to the water tower where the wide, gravel walking track starts (don’t walk it barefoot). It takes less than 10 min to walk to where the track ends with a really spectacular entrance into the middle of the sandblow about 300m from the beach cliff. Turn left and head towards the ocean. Alternatively you can drive or walk down the beach and climb up from the bottom.
For a full report and photos, click here.
Point Vernon
Point Vernon, the northern coastal suburb of Hervey Bay Qld, offers two slope sites for you to fly near the water. The first is the NNE facing slope around from the head of the point on the Esplanade. Its easy to find your way there from the CBD with a tourist map and by following the prominent road signs.
This slope is where Kelly Street T joins the Esplanade, its a little after the beach and park facilities, which are just after the sharp left hander, and to your right while driving- you will know the slope when you see it. Its maybe 60 feet above sea level. The nearby beach down to the right has nice fringing coral reefs to snorkel close to shore, and the park facilities behind the beach are now excellent, featuring new shaded BBQ area's, showers, toilets, and kids playground equipment. Gatakers restaurant further around the point to the west, or the Pt Vernon espy take away shop half way along the eastern side offer food and refreshments for all budgets.
There is nothing too tricky about flying PV North, the LZ is pretty good for foamies and the paved walkway behind does not get much pedestrian traffic, as usual though someone is bound to want to stop and chat to you about your glider sooner or later, but this is a pretty quite place overall with nice views of Fraser and the Pacific.
The other smaller site faces east and you would have passed it to your right while heading up to PV North, its about 2/3 of the way along the Pt Vernon Esplanade. This little slope is almost directly opposite house # 129 The Esplanade. It doesn't really start to work though until the wind is steadily above 15 or so knots from the East quarter. The point where you launch and fly is close to a straight 6 metre precipice, so please be careful !
You can land frontside, but there is a lot of greenery behind you, so the best bet is to either catch your foamy if it will allow it, land on one of the bare patches left or right, or to land on the nice firm little beach just below. Getting up and down to the beach presents no problems. Its a fun little slope that pumps nice steady lift under a good eastish breeze. Atmosteve would love some flying company here, so if you are planning to fly the area please feel free to contact him by PM if you would like some flying company.
Photos: Image 1 | Image 2 | Image 3 | Image 4
NSW- Northern
Bryon Bay : N / NE
On the Bryon Bay bypass is great slope onto of the hill, which the main road winds up. At the top is the lookout, which looks back at Bryon Bay and up the north coast. Best on a NE it provides good lift.
Disadvantage: Most times I go down on (holidays) it's either raining or the wind is in the wrong direction.
Google Earth: kmz file (must have Google Earth installed)