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.