Post by thevon on Oct 7, 2007 22:42:42 GMT 10
Hi guys, just got back this arvo from a coupla weeks away, taking the tribe up to stay with some friends who live in the rainforest behind Kuranda. Our disabled daughter Sarah didn't come with us; she had respite care, so we had a great time doing all sorts of stuff. Our friends' house is a shed that has been gradually extended as they've had kids etc, and we stay in another open sided shed which has really basic amenities but great views and bush all around. We climbed Mt Bartle Frere, the highest mtn in Qld. Swam in crystal pools under waterfalls, in Mossman Gorge, in Lake Eacham, Davies Creek, Crystal Cascades, etc etc. Great to see creeks with oodles of fresh water.
Naturally on the 2-day trips up and back I was scanning the horizon for flying spots but I hardly saw anything! Once past Gympie, everything is so forested, you hardly see a flyable spot anywhere. Really I couldn't see anything. But I guess that doesn't mean much - since you probably wouldn't ever know of our local spots if you were just driving through. North of Mackay there were a couple of possibilities which would be worth checking out if you were in the area - one near "The Leap" on the nth outskirts of town, and also good looking ridge to the east of the highway at Pindi Pindi, near Calen.
At Cairns there's a small hill W of the Hwy just near town at Earlville which was where a guy first showed me RC gliding about 23 yrs ago - it's still there, but there are lots of houses around now, so I dunno if it's any good.
North, on the way to Port Douglas,, on the twisty coastal road, is the scenic and famous Rex Lookout which is a popular hangliding spot. There's no doubt it produces the lift and you could have a good fly there, but you'd wanna be desperate ... it's really a crappy spot with rocks everywhere, and a really busy road behind.
However the Atherton Tablelands got me most excited. Like Maleny it's comprised of steeply folded ridges and valleys which were once lush rainforest country,cleared for dairy country. Sad but true, the clearing of our richest forest has created the most beautiful farmlands and the juiciest flying possibilities. Just sth of Atherton itself is a good looking hill, with DS potential. To the east, on the way to Yungaburra is a series of hills called the "Seven Sisters" most of which are too shrubby but there's one complex of hills and ridges that could be good.
But the highlight is the SW corner of the tablelands. There is a series of steep razorback type ridges running from the very high Crater Lake area down towards the Malanda/ Millaa Millaa road with impossibly steep creek valleys between. Incredibly beautiful area. Each time we drove thru there was a stiff breeze coming up the valleys. The ridges twist and turn so I think you'd find sites to fly in S to SE to N winds, and I'm sure that somewhere in there, in the right wind direction there would be a magic DS spot.
Not the sort of thing to be trying with a van full of kids, but if you had a day or 2 to squander around the tablelands it would be worth taking some planes.
Judging by the number of birds of prey seen circling in thermals, there must be some very good thermal flying possibilities around Mareeba.
But mostly I reckon we live in a pretty good area for flying!
Naturally on the 2-day trips up and back I was scanning the horizon for flying spots but I hardly saw anything! Once past Gympie, everything is so forested, you hardly see a flyable spot anywhere. Really I couldn't see anything. But I guess that doesn't mean much - since you probably wouldn't ever know of our local spots if you were just driving through. North of Mackay there were a couple of possibilities which would be worth checking out if you were in the area - one near "The Leap" on the nth outskirts of town, and also good looking ridge to the east of the highway at Pindi Pindi, near Calen.
At Cairns there's a small hill W of the Hwy just near town at Earlville which was where a guy first showed me RC gliding about 23 yrs ago - it's still there, but there are lots of houses around now, so I dunno if it's any good.
North, on the way to Port Douglas,, on the twisty coastal road, is the scenic and famous Rex Lookout which is a popular hangliding spot. There's no doubt it produces the lift and you could have a good fly there, but you'd wanna be desperate ... it's really a crappy spot with rocks everywhere, and a really busy road behind.
However the Atherton Tablelands got me most excited. Like Maleny it's comprised of steeply folded ridges and valleys which were once lush rainforest country,cleared for dairy country. Sad but true, the clearing of our richest forest has created the most beautiful farmlands and the juiciest flying possibilities. Just sth of Atherton itself is a good looking hill, with DS potential. To the east, on the way to Yungaburra is a series of hills called the "Seven Sisters" most of which are too shrubby but there's one complex of hills and ridges that could be good.
But the highlight is the SW corner of the tablelands. There is a series of steep razorback type ridges running from the very high Crater Lake area down towards the Malanda/ Millaa Millaa road with impossibly steep creek valleys between. Incredibly beautiful area. Each time we drove thru there was a stiff breeze coming up the valleys. The ridges twist and turn so I think you'd find sites to fly in S to SE to N winds, and I'm sure that somewhere in there, in the right wind direction there would be a magic DS spot.
Not the sort of thing to be trying with a van full of kids, but if you had a day or 2 to squander around the tablelands it would be worth taking some planes.
Judging by the number of birds of prey seen circling in thermals, there must be some very good thermal flying possibilities around Mareeba.
But mostly I reckon we live in a pretty good area for flying!
. lol.
