looking for candid advice for getting around and into Brisbane.

[RFguy]

experienced replies only please, no speculation.

I have a couple of things to do in brisbane, and the RPT schedules are a pain for my schedule. of course, the plane is even worse potentionally than any quantas schedule....

putting practicalities aside

flying up from the SW (Cowra) and studying the Brisbane VTC

 

relevant documentation :

 

flying the brisbane region. this is an excelent document . Bravo CASA.

https://www.casa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-07/stay-ontrack-flying-the-brisbane-region.pdf

 

archerfield info

https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/16-106FAC_Tips-for-flying-at-Archerfield_WEB.pdf
 

brisbane hotspots

https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/VCA_Hotspot_Brisbane.pdf

 

BNE VTC

https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/aipchart/vtc/Brisbane_Sunshine_VTC_12JUN2025.pdf

 

- I see the following, please comment .

 

- Archerfield , Caboolture / Redcliffe are the options

 - Amberley RA1 type  restricted zone seems to hollow out a big chunk when active, otherwise a good transit if I am not too high to get mixed up with climbing and descending 737s. Yeah you can get a clearance but I dont want to be an ATC pain.

and bordered  also by Greenbank R627

- The BNE class C is full of traffic on weekdays, not like canberra airspace.

- Caboolture it isnt much of a diversion given the long trip to just go around the Amberley airspace 

- There are a few VFR routes around the city

Then I need to go and see my mother. down too Ballina or Byron (Tyagarah).

from caboolture, there's a scenic VFR route over Morten Islan, STradebroke . I have CASA approved lifejackets. that gets me to the next mixer, GC airspace. 

Looks like I can jump into the next VFR rouite west of tweed heads

 

-glen

 

 

 

[FlyBoy1960]

You could always go to Heck Field, then to get to Ballina you can take the inland VFR route.

so from Cowra just make your way towards Warwick, then turn towards Jacobs Well and that will keep you around the back end of Amberly, over one row of mountains and descend into the Gold Coast/Heck Field.

 

It's all very easy to go  this way but if you need to get to Redcliffe just over fly Heck Field and join the coastal route northbound up to Morton Island and then into Redcliffe or Caboolture

[Blueadventures]

Warwick YWCK,  Boonah YBOA (maybe and closer) Watts Bridge YWSG.

[facthunter]

Lot of traffic near some places using different frequencies North of Brisbane and issues with RPT into Ballina getting low. Nev

[Reynard]

With 50 cent train and bus fares across SE QLD, it opens up a few opportunities for other airfields, if time is not your enemy. Even if you need to Uber to/from an airfield to a train station it may start to make sense. I was just looking at something similar last week in Brisbane, but the need evaporated when the car I was interested in was sold.

[rodgerc]

Archerfield or Redcliffe will be your best options….Then use the 50 cent trains/buses.
 

The highway construction around Caboolture is a congestion nightmare at present.

 

Kilcoy is a good 1-1/2h drive from Brisbane and Watts Bridge will add another 1/2h to that.

 

Heck Field is 3/4h to 1h drive depending on time of day. 

[skippydiesel]

Cautionary Summer Story

 

Probably 10 years or more ago, bit hazy on the details - I flew The Oaks, NSW to Rainbow Beach, Qld,  in summer.  It was an very a pleasant experience econamy cruising at 100 knots indicated, in my ATEC Zephyr, high above the heat and turbulence.

 

Going north, I fueled in Armidale, NSW,  before heading, I think, to Toowoomba. From there I kept below 8500ft (from memory much lower) to follow the arc of uncontrolled air space between Amberley & Oakey (or was it Brisbane/Amberley?). My memory of that leg was not  pleasant with heat and a lot of low level turbulence. I was pleased to emerge out of the northern end and climb to a smoother/cooler altitude.

 

The return trip, the following day, had unexpected drama.

 

I planed to go inland to avoid a repeat of the low level turbulence, so headed for Chinchilla -Armidale - The Oaks. All was well until just east of Chinchilla the whole of the airspace south turned red.  I must have missed the notice or it was a snap exercise. Could I go further to the west - an extension I hadn't planned for and may not have had the fuel to do without another fuel stop?

 

Decided to land and sort myself out. Chinchilla was like a morgue. As I sat sweltering in my Zephyr trying to make a plan, a bloke approached - local pilot. He told me that all I had to do was stay below 2000ft (?) and follow my origional track south, under the active military airspace.

 

Off I went. Wow! I thought the low level turbulence was bad the day before - nothing compared with the hammering I endured going south. Once again the relief on emerging from under the active zone and climbing to smooth/cool air was pure luxury.

 

As I approached Armidale I had, for me, an unusual interaction with Brisbane ATC. I was asked to make contact with an RPT aircraft about to land or already landed, at Armidale. Apparently the RPT crew had not cancelled SARWATCH and ATC unable to make contact. I did my best - no response from RPT. Advised Brisbane. Minutes later Brisbane called - the crew had finally made contact/cancelled SARWATCH.

 

Refuelled at Armidale - rest pf the trip, uneventfully/silky smooth.

 

Plan for low level turbulence 😈

[FlyBoy1960]

45 minutes ago, rodgerc said:

Heck Field is 3/4h to 1h drive depending on time of day. 

Or 10-15 minutes to Ormeau Train station then 50 cents anywhere

[Garfly]

A route like this is often used between Warwick and Redcliffe; threading a path between Amberley and YBBN.

 

 

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