Australian National Site Guide - Mid North Coast
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New South Wales - Mid North Coast - 9 sites
| Name | Location | Type | Conditions | Rating | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bartletts Reserve - NE Bonnys | South of Port Macquarie. | Small Coastal Ridge | PG4 / HG Advanced | 18m asl | |
| Crescent Head | About 350km northeast of Sydney. | Coastal | E-S | ||
| Grants Headland - SE Bonnys | South of Port Macquarie on Ocean Drive. | Coastal Dune | E-SE | PG3 / HG Supervised | 35m asl |
| Harrys Lookout | In Port Macquarie. | Coastal Ridge | ENE-ESE | PG3 / HG Supervised | 35m asl |
| Indian Head | South of Port Macquarie. | Coastal Ridge | SSE-ESE | 35m asl | |
| Middle brother | SW, SE | PG4, HG intermediate | SE 1800' / 548m, SW 1590' / 485m asl | ||
| Nellies | Overlooking the Lansdowne Valley, 20km inland from St Johns River. | WNW-SW | 1680' / 515m asl | ||
| North Brother Lookout | Near Laurieton. | Mountain near coast | NNE-E | PG4, under PG4 please contact local CFI / HG Supervised | 465m asl |
| Rocky Beach | In Port Macquarie. | Small Coastal Ridge | ENE-ESE | PG4. Not suitable for HG. |
| Small Coastal Ridge | |
| 18m asl | PG4 / HG Advanced |
Landowners - ?
Contact
MNCF, Joel Price (0418 837 028)Responsible
MNCFBartletts Reserve - NE Bonnys
Good for afternoon north or north easterly sea breeze.| Coastal | E-S |
Landowners - ?
Contact/Responsible - ?
Crescent Head
A miniature Stanwell Park type of headland. Awesome smooth lift. There used to be a SAFA sign on the headland at the E launch. This is now gone but Kempsey Shire, the local council, are still OK with us using both launches. Some good flying from both sites. S launch is more for novice pilots, E launch is out over sea and landing near the golf course (to the north) so more for experienced pilots. No contacts needed...just do it!Takeoff
S launch
(SE-S) An old hangie ramp, suitable for paragliders, too. Opposite the last house as you head up to the water tank on Skyline Crescent. The council have confirmed in writing that we are welcome to clear any regrowth to keep it flyable. Ok for all levels, but watch the powerlines behind near the road.E launch
(E-SE) Goes out over the sea - not for inexperienced pilots. Bomb out near the golf course to the north.| Coastal Dune | E-SE |
| 35m asl | PG3 / HG Supervised |
Landowners - ?
Contact
MNCF, Joel Price (0418 837 028)Responsible
MNCFGrants Headland - SE Bonnys
A fun little coastal site with easy top landing. Ideal for an afternoon play in a floater. Best for southeasterly breezes.| Coastal Ridge | ENE-ESE |
| 35m asl | PG3 / HG Supervised |
Landowners - ?
Contact
MNCF, Joel Price (0418 837 028)Responsible
MNCFHarrys Lookout
Best in the afternoon with east or north easterly sea breeze.| Coastal Ridge | SSE-ESE |
| 35m asl |
Landowners - ?
Contact
MNCF, Joel Price (0418 837 028)Responsible
MNCFIndian Head
A good SE novice site. Easy takeoff with beach below. Best in a southerly breeze.| SW, SE | |
| SE 1800' / 548m, SW 1590' / 485m asl | PG4, HG intermediate |
Landowners
Launch: NSW National Parks. Landings: Private.Contact
MNCF, Joel Price (0418 837 028)Responsible
MNCFMiddle brother
The SE launch has a ramp and the SW has an earth mound. Common to have a flight north toward Kempsey or to a local beach from here. (VHF radio is required.)
Overlooking Johns River, this is the middle of three isolated small mountains. The take off was carved out from a state forest with a ramp installed by local pilots. The area was handed to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, now known as the Department of Environment Climate Change and Water. They have a policy of removing ramps and replacing them with more natural surfaces, grass or crushed rock.
Takeoff
SW
SW launch is reached by taking the Middle Brother turn off the Pacific Highway and following the Middle Brother Road. A Tee intersection will be reached, take the left hand turn onto TV Road (named for the Television transmission tower at the end of the road). There will be a small track off to the right. It's really 4 wheel drive from that point on but you might be ok with a rugged 2wd in dry weather. There's a fork a little way in, take the right fork. Follow the road to a turning bay, there will be a strong metal gate on the left. Walk around the gate and about 150 m down hill to the take off. If you find yourself somewhere with buildings you've taken the wrong turn.Hazards/Comments
Hang gliding has been going on here since the 1980s, however since the local school switched from hang gliding to paragliding there has been a decrease in activity at this site. Often quite overgrown, count on significant gardening prior to launch. National Parks is apparently ok with gardening as long as it doesn't extend beyond the already gardened area. No chemicals are to be used, this site has been endangered by use of herbicide.
Mountain site with the normal attendant risks. The ramp is quite slippery, probably due to lack of use. Care should be taken. There is a gap between the end of the ramp and the cliff. A very aggressive launch is required.
Also infested with leeches so bring salt. It's also alive with snakes. All reptiles are protected by law, do not harm any, the owners will take a very dim view of any such activity and this will further endanger the site.
Local club requests all pilots carry radio tuned to SAFA frequency.
| WNW-SW | |
| 1680' / 515m asl |
Landowners - ?
Contact
MNCF, Joel Price (0418 837 028)Responsible
MNCFNellies
An inland site that provides some of the most enjoyable winter and spring flying relatively close to the coast. Absolutely fantastic when a weak seabreeze and westerly are doing battle. Flights back to the coast are very enjoyable.| Mountain near coast | NNE-E |
| 465m asl | PG4, under PG4 please contact local CFI / HG Supervised |
Landowners - ?
Contact
MNCF, Joel Price (0418 837 028), David Wainwright CFI - Contact for PG2/3 (+61 429 844 961), Chris Rogers CFI - Contact for PG2/3 (+61 407 918 099)Responsible
MNCFNorth Brother Lookout
The best known and premier site of the region. Great flying early in the day before the sea breeze comes in, late morning with light north easterly and mostly clear skies.
Guest pilots to be accompanied by local or frequent MNCF member whilst landing zone is not visible from launch and is on private land, briefing before flying is required. Be respectful drive slow, keep gates how you find them eg. open or closed.
| Small Coastal Ridge | ENE-ESE |
| PG4. Not suitable for HG. |
